Tweaking a '97 Rotel integrated amp

Posted by Thermionic27609 (A) on November 7, 2010 at 13:38:46

I was recently given a 1997 Rotel RA-970BX integrated amp that had channels dropping in & out, and I fixed that problem with a little DeOxit on the switches. It now works just fine. I had originally helped a friend pick out this amp thirteen years ago, and he just replaced it with a Cambridge Audio amp.

I was wondering if there are any useful upgrades anyone has tried with this type of Rotel integrated. Its bass control is very good, but it doesn't quite make a stereo image appear between the speakers like my VTA-70 modded ST-70 does. It tries, but it's not quite there.

The volume control is an obvious candidate, but it lives in a valley between two electrolytic capacitors, limiting the replacement choices. Has anyone tried the BI Technologies pots that Handmade Electronics carries? I'll have to measure the space carefully.

The only other obvious thing (to me) to do would be to replace the bridge with a soft-recovery bridge or Schottkys. The original signal path electrolytics are Black Gate F types, so I wouldn't think there would be much in the way of better choices--depending on your opinion of BG.

Might pot/bridge upgrades yield improvements, or is there something in the overall circuit topology that limits performance to a more significant degree? It's hard to describe, but there's something about this amp that seems a bit "stiff" to me. It's as if it's conveying all the sonic information very accurately, but not the feeling of the performances, if that makes sense.

I'm a professional audio tech--as a result of the recession--but I usually work on older, tubed equipment. Nor, in the absence of a schematic (I've requested one), do I know very much about Rotel's circuit designs.

Thanks for any feedback!

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - Tweaking a '97 Rotel integrated amp - Thermionic27609 13:38:46 11/07/10 (1)

RE: Tweaking a '97 Rotel integrated amp - kenster 17:02:25 11/08/10 (0)

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.