Need Help choosing receiver

[selfilm]

Hello, I could use the support of everyone here. I have a Rotel RSX – 1067 receiver, which runs a five channel stereo system in my main viewing/living room at my home. There are two powered quad front speakers, two quad passive rear speakers, a polk center speaker, and a separate zone running two Klipsch speakers in our kitchen. The dilemma is that the Rotel just doesn’t sound good anymore. I’m not sure why other than I’ve listened to other units I have (vintage Kenwood Products, Cambridge Audio Products, etc.) and they sound significantly better than this Rotel. It was originally bought as a demo unit from a hi-fi store in Connecticut going out of business, even came with a warranty, and had I had a complete board upgrade when something small went wrong and warranty covered all of that. It has never had any issues since. It has been well cared for over the years, but something is missing in the sound and talking to my repair tech, his input is that a receiver not sounding good is not repairable, you can’t fix something that just doesn’t sound great. I purchased a used Rotel item last year and found the same lacking sound, a deadness to it. That said I am looking for something I could find fairly readily available, either new or used, but cost is a factor so finding it on Facebook Marketplace is probably my best option. I would like it to have as many amp outputs as the Rotel (Fronts, Rears, Center, and at least one Zone). I am a fan of the Pioneer Elite series and they seem to be more readily available through Facebook marketplace, etc. I wanted to know if anybody had recommendations for what to replace my Rotel RSX – 1067 with? I would still need to run these active quad speakers that are in the front off that system as well, so it would need to be capable of managing that (i.e. line out connections to the speakers with RCA connectors vs. pure speaker connections). If you have any advice or input, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance, Scott.

 

[Mike_S]

Budget? Always been a fan of Marantz HT receivers. There are a ton on my local FBM, and Craigslist. Most now have many more channels, like 11 or more, so you will be ok.

 

[twiiii]

Are you talking current models or tube models from the late 60's, or hybrids or fully SS from the 60's to those being built today. More info will help give you a better answer. Of course anything built before the mid 80's will need a thorough going through which will make many choices from before that period very unwise.

 

[selfilm]

Budget? Always been a fan of Marantz HT receivers. There are a ton on my local FBM, and Craigslist. Most now have many more channels, like 11 or more, so you will be ok.

@Mike_S, thanks for the response. I look almost exclusively at FBM, and occasionally Craigslist. I think I wanted to stay under $500 in the used market - seeing a lot of Pioneer Elite units for under $325 (as low as $150). I wish there was a way to test audio output of a system to confirm what I am hearing. That said, it's a gigantic hassle to swap this type of unit. I have a lot running through it now. Was hoping I would get some revelations along the way.

 

[selfilm]

Are you talking current models or tube models from the late 60's, or hybrids or fully SS from the 60's to those being built today. More info will help give you a better answer. Of course anything built before the mid 80's will need a thorough going through which will make many choices from before that period very unwise.

Thank you @twiiii, I am talking AB power amps, nothing D class or digital. Does not need to be Tube, no. I think after 80's is okay if it's robust and real, like the Pioneer Elite setups. What I am starting to wonder is if I should be using separate Amps or am I just getting too crazy with it all.