Rotel RSX 1550 receiver with Monitor Audio RX6 or APEX

[holywoodcowboy]

Hi, New posting but have spent a few weeks reading the Home Cinema forum. Some great advice on hear, through which I have narrowed my search for home cinema 5.1 speakers down to Monitor Audio RX6 or APEX, just havent made my mind up which yet. I can get away with floorstand speakers, but love the look of the APEX. I want a 5.1 system, and I watch film, listen to music, and play PS3 equal amounts, a few times a week. So music is probably as important as film from an amp. I do not want an all singing all dancing amp with all the latest gymics, just a really good well powered system. I have my eye on the ROTEL RSX 1550 receiver (£1300), a beautiful 5.1, no gymics amp. Will this amp suit the Monitor Audion RX6 and APEX speakers, and will it sound good in home cinema and music? Thanks in advance

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi, New posting but have spent a few weeks reading the Home Cinema forum. Some great advice on hear, through which I have narrowed my search for home cinema 5.1 speakers down to Monitor Audio RX6 or APEX, just havent made my mind up which yet. I can get away with floorstand speakers, but love the look of the APEX. I want a 5.1 system, and I watch film, listen to music, and play PS3 equal amounts, a few times a week. So music is probably as important as film from an amp. I do not want an all singing all dancing amp with all the latest gymics, just a really good well powered system. I have my eye on the ROTEL RSX 1550 receiver (£1300), a beautiful 5.1, no gymics amp. Will this amp suit the Monitor Audion RX6 and APEX speakers, and will it sound good in home cinema and music? Thanks in advance

Hi holywoodcowboy

If you can accomodate them then the Silver RX6 AV12 offers better overall performance with movie and music soundtracks then the already impressive Apex sub/sat speakers 🙂

As for amplifiers also have at look at Yamaha's superb RX-V3067. Although the RX-V3067 has more features then the RSX1550 however importantly i feel the RX-V3067 forms a superb tonal match with either of the Monitor Audio speaker packages :bigsmile:

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hijack this thread....

Musicraft, I am in the same boat as holywoodcowboy...

I will be buying the RX6 AV package... and I ahd decided to go for a Pioneer SC-LX83 amp.

I was told that it will suit me better than the Yamaha for my taste. I don't like sound to be too boomy but I like a detailed sound and clearness of speech (if that makes sense?)

So is the Pioneer a better choice than the Yamaha for me?

PS: Where I live I cannot demo anything. I listened to the RX6 with a Cambridge Audio AVR but that's about it.... So I am buying according to reviews and people's suggestions/opinions!

Thanks

 

[Frank Harvey]

I was told that it will suit me better than the Yamaha for my taste. I don't like sound to be too boomy but I like a detailed sound and clearness of speech (if that makes sense?)

Spot on.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Musically, the RX package is going to be better than the Apex. When set up well, the Apex will sound good with music, but isn't going to be able to match the warmer midrange of the RX's. It's this warmer midrange of hi-fi speakers that smothers detail in film soundtracks, so with movies, if you like detail, the Apex will win out. As always though, this is personal preference. Having said that, movies are mastered on sub/sat speaker systems, so if you want to try and recreate what was intended in the studio, the Apexes will get closer to that sound.
As far as matching with the Rotel, either package will be fine. If you do like better detail and grip, do consider the RSX1560. It's a little more, but uses digital amplification like the Pioneer SCLX83, highly regarded by myself and WHF. Digital amplification is faster, more neutral, and grips speakers better, as well as being more efficient. There are a few happy users of Monitor Audio's RX6 package and the Pioneer LX receivers on this forum, as well as a number of our customers.

 

[holywoodcowboy]

Thanks Rick and David. My room is 5 metres by 4.6 metres. My listening distance is approx 3m to 3.25m from the front speakers. Is this room a suitable size and is that a suitable distance to listen to a system such as the silver RX6 with a powerfull amp such as those suggested? Thanks again

 

[Frank Harvey]

That's only very slightly smaller than our main demo room - the RX6 package will be fine in that size room. As far as the receiver is concerned, it's not about ultimate power. A better receiver, other than more inputs and features, will have more power and headroom on tap, so sudden bursts of music or film effects will be reproduced quicker and more effortlessly. The receiver will sounded more potent at lower levels as well as higher levels. Every receiver I've ever had have been far more powerful than my room has ever needed. Speakers can be very demanding, and if you don't give them what they need, they're not going to give their best.

 

[richardw42]

If I had that much to spend on a receiver, the Marantz 7005 would definitely be one to try. If it sounds half as good as it looks could be a winner.
That said yamahas are bound to suit.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Thanks Rick and David. My room is 5 metres by 4.6 metres. My listening distance is approx 3m to 3.25m from the front speakers. Is this room a suitable size and is that a suitable distance to listen to a system such as the silver RX6 with a powerfull amp such as those suggested? Thanks again

Hi holywoodcowboy

Your welcome.

I am now going to be busy so i'll respond to you later on today. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Thanks Rick and David. My room is 5 metres by 4.6 metres. My listening distance is approx 3m to 3.25m from the front speakers. Is this room a suitable size and is that a suitable distance to listen to a system such as the silver RX6 with a powerfull amp such as those suggested? Thanks again

Hi holywoodcowboy

Your welcome.

I am now going to be busy so i'll respond to you later on today. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi holywoodcowboy

I am sorry for my late reply as i have been very busy.

Anyway unless your room is very heavily furnished then the Silver RX6 AV12 package should be suitable. It is highly unlikely that you'll use anywhere near the power levels required before these amplifiers begin to struggle. Whilst power related matters such its quality, quantity etc. are important however care also has taken to tonally match the amp with its source components and speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Frank Harvey]

Tonal matching is a personal preference.

 

[holywoodcowboy]

Thanks again guys for your valued input. It is confusing for a beginner like myself, with all the beautiful kit available out there, it is easy to get lost in it.

Here in Northern Ireland we are limited to a degree. Different stockests all stock different kit, every time I go to a different shop, they say that their kit is better than others, sooo confusing. It is hard to here all kit with all speakers. I cannot audition Monitor audio in situ in a cinema 5.1 system, just stereo, with the Yamaha 2067, RX6 sounded extremely good compared to my old floor standers. I have heard the ROTEL 1550 with various B&W speakers, floor standing and book shelf. I am concerned about the base management of the B&W, but ROTEL sounded great.

I have a KURO LX5090 and want to compliment it with good quality cinema sound processing. I have B&W 602.5 floor stand speakers (a blast from the past!)and a denon amp/cd system which is all getting relegated to the spare room. So I have the space for the floor standing MA Silver RX6 system, which in itself looks fantastic (piano black), but I have also seen the APEX, in piano black, and I have fallen for it, it is a thing of beauty, and would blend in with my decor, and match the big Pioneer on the wall.

I shall try to audition a few more pieces of kit and then commit to something, or else I will be auditioning for ever.

Thanks for the advice, very helpfull,

Cheers,

...cowboy

Have

 

[holywoodcowboy]

PS: the ROTEL 1550/1560 in black or silver is stunning looking piece of kit!

 

[holywoodcowboy]

To David, do you think the ROTEL would tonally match the MA APEX and Silver RX6, and in your experience do you think they would do each other justice, or would the cheaper Japanese models do them just as much justice, and save me a few quid, or should I be spendng as much as I can afford?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Hi holywoodcowboy

Sorry for the delayed reply, I'm working at the Gadget Show Wed-Sun 9-6, so I'm not on as much as I'd like to be!

As I've said before, this is all personal preference, but I'll answer the best I can. Personally, I prefer openness, detail and punch when listening to films - too many people have the sub turned up to high, softening everything, robbing the sound of any sort of real impact and leading edge detail. For this reason, I would prefer the Apex speakers. I like the Apexes with many different receivers, but especially with the Pioneer SCLX83 due to it's ICE digital amplification. Rotel use similar amplification in their RSX1560, so will produce a similarly lean and detailed sound. I also find digital amplification provides more grip. Not that the Apexes won't sound good with the RSX1550! Rotel amplification is pretty neutral, and the amplification of the 1550 will to some extent sound more like digital amplification than many other Class A/B receivers would. The RSX's will also work well with the RX package too, as the RX's are a fuller, warmer sound than the Apexes, and the Rotel will help keep some of that warmth in check.

As far as whether these are overkill is concerned, definitely not. Quality speaker packages relish power, and the better the receiver, the more power on tap, the greater the headroom, and better grip over the speakers will be, making or a more accurate sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi holywoodcowboy ( think I can guess what films you like lol)

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Pioneer RX6 kit, My room is slightly smaller than yours and I find the Pio 82 (I understand the 83 is only marginally better) + RX6 does the job VERY nicely, Films and music have never been better in my home 🙂

 

[holywoodcowboy]

Well, went to a well known discount retailer today and walked out with the bargain of a life time. Full APEX set up (4x apex 10 sats, 1x apex 40 centre, RXW12 sub) and the YAMAHA 3067 AV receiver, and all for just over £2.5 grand!!

I'm still in shock. Makes this an astonishing set up for the price. Just need to get good cables now and get it set up.

Its going to be a good easter weekend for me folks, bring it on . . .

Happy Easter!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you got an amazing bargain there, I have the same speaker set up and just watched Tron 3D and WOW absolutely stunning. I thought about the 3067 as an upgrade to my 1067, but went for the SC-LX83.

Get yourself the Tron Blu ray, it will sound excellent on your setup, I have to say it's the best sound track I ever heard.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi holywoodcowboy

Nice one 🙂 and i hope you enjoy the performance of your RX-V-3067/Apex combination for many years to come.

Btw, for speaker cables i'll suggest that you should consider are standard 79 - 300 - 500 strand OFC type as these will be more than good enough. Fwiw, i use a combination of 79 and 500 strand cables with the RX-V3067/Apex combination and the results are superb :bigsmile:

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you got an amazing bargain there, I have the same speaker set up and just watched Tron 3D and WOW absolutely stunning. I thought about the 3067 as an upgrade to my 1067, but went for the SC-LX83. Get yourself the Tron Blu ray, it will sound excellent on your setup, I have to say it's the best sound track I ever heard.

SC-LX73 not 83 lol

 

[holywoodcowboy]

Good Morning, and thanks for the advice guys, again very much appreciated.

It has taken me over a year of looking into different kit/reading reviews/seeing stuff in the flesh, and now spending my money on an amazing set up. Yeah it is probably over kill for my lounge size, but as already pointed out by David (Frank Harvey) and Rick (Musicraft) I now have enough raw power on tap to cope with any highs and lows a movie/song can throw out.

A stunning looking system too.

I will get some cables today and get this system rocking. What would you recomend for the sub cable? I am a big fan of 'Chord Company' and have several HDMI cables and speaker cable already.

Cheers,

...cowboy

 

[holywoodcowboy]

Good Morning, and thanks for the advice guys, again very much appreciated.

It has taken me over a year of looking into different kit/reading reviews/seeing stuff in the flesh, and now spending my money on an amazing set up. Yeah it is probably over kill for my lounge size, but as already pointed out by David (Frank Harvey) and Rick (Musicraft) I now have enough raw power on tap to cope with any highs and lows a movie/song can throw out.

A stunning looking system too.

I will get some cables today and get this system rocking. What would you recomend for the sub cable? I am a big fan of 'Chord Company' and have several HDMI cables and speaker cable already.

Cheers,

...cowboy

 

[Anonymous]

Is Tannoy f1 good match with Rotel AVR? Does it sound musical?