2. amps-preamps
  3. 182715-1264

What happened to Rotel?

I feel Rotel's product quality has significantly gone down hill along with their service. I would never purchase a Rotel product ever again. I purchased a Rotel RSP-1576 only four years ago and now the volume occasionally VERY low, barely audible even turning the volume to near max. Completely unplug it would resolve the issue and make the volume return to normal. I tried to obtain warranty services through Rotel but was told I need a physical receipt despite I submitted it upon product registration. Their service is absolutely horrible and would try to deny your warranty claim for any little reason they can find. Worst of all, they don't have an actual office here but only a distributor, so their actual manufacturing entity isn't bound by US Consumer laws and there's no way to file a lawsuit against them. STAY AWAY FROM THIS BRAND

angelgz2
crustycoot
644 posts
 

While I sympathize with your disappontment in the service you've gotten, an observation I'd like to throw out there to all readers is that smaller companies like Rotel, Anthem, NAD, and others have their limitations where Home Theater is concerned.  In my experience, software glitches are more common with these brands than with the big names...Denon, Sony, Marantz, Yamaha, Onkyo, Pioneer.  As HT tech has gotten more complex, the difference between "boutique" brands and the big boys has widened...in favor of the big boys.  The value proposition is also hard to ignore, but basic functionality is more at issue here.  What I recommend to my clients is using big name AV brands as "front end" and if they want higher performance, add outboard power or better still, an HT Bypass 2-channel system.

philfreak
9 posts
 

I bought a Rotel  amplifier about 25 Yeats ago on trial. I had it for a day and returned it, it sounded thin and had no muscle. 

philfreak
9 posts
 

I bought a Rotel  amplifier about 25 years ago on trial. I had it for a day and returned it, it sounded thin and had no muscle. 

jl35
4,011 posts
 

been using my RMB 1095 5 channel amp since I bought it from a friend in 2004, sounds and works great...never really liked Rotel stereo stuff, except their CD Players...currently have CD11 Tribute which is great inexpensive player...agree it's complicated to get warranty service without a receipt

shutupuface
33 posts
 

Another Old Guy here. I can definitely appreciate your feelings on this matter. I checked Rotel’s website (as I am sure you have already done) and unfortunately, it does require a copy of the original receipt for warranty work. However, IMO your online registration SHOULD have been enough.

It seems as though more and more companies have gotten away "Customer Service" in more ways than one. I am sure many of you other old guys can remember when "customer service" used to really mean something. I will use Craftsman tools as an example. You paid a slightly higher premium for their brand, but there was no question if you needed to replace a tool from them.

Before "planned obsolescence" became an "industry standard", companies used to actually compete to make a better product than "da udder guy". In addition, they knew that by building a better product, the customer developed "brand loyalty" as well.

(my parents owned an old Norge refrigerator that lasted 25 years before my mom made my dad buy her another one because the "color" was not in fashion.)

Maybe that is why companies like McIntosh, Marantz, and others are still in business?

And, perhaps that is why brands like Adcom are still selling today because of their reputation of longevity? If I was in your shoes, I would find the address/phone # of Rotel and try to contact a supervisor to explain your situation. If you do not have any luck there, I would continue to make your concerns known on social media. Sometimes, as they used to say, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".

Best regards,

Rob

 

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