All this is bearing in mind that I have no interest in the music/2 channel/bypass capability of the pre/pro's. All I require is an add on AV processor to my HiFi to share the front speakers and power amps. Daren't even contemplate the active speaker or DSP speaker route, what an upheaval
mmmm
PLUS IT'S ALL IMHO.
I'm waiting for a home demo before I decide. I can say, unsurprisingly considering the price difference, that the G68 slaughtered the 1098 and that Rotel are ruled out of any future plans, this is not the first listen of Rotel by the way, good for the price but not for me.
If you want all the new formats, to buy new from a dealer with full backup, and have a max budget of £2300 then consider the 1098, all I will say is that you are in reach of an ex dem AV8, Tag and 568.
Both myself and my better half were less than impressed with the 1098, for the price I expected much more. The soundstage seemed narrow, almost shut in, the back channels in Gladiator and LOTRFR seemed really lacking.
The Tag AV32 7.1 (not DP) as ever was very precise, the shop were getting rid of their Tag dealership so were keen for me to listen to it in the hope of offloading it I suppose. It wasn't the DP which I haven't demoed, but I have the AV192 twice, this would be the one I would go for if it wasn't for the other options now available and after all their (Tag's) upheavals, I just do not feel confident going down that route.
Unfortunately the G98 failed almost at the start of the demo, not very reassuring for a £3.5K bit of kit, but I will be giving it another go in March hopefully, and then at home.
Later this year I am getting a plasma and hope to arrange an extended home demo of the G68 and poss the new Linn stuff.
I have the feeling that a 568.2 may be on the cards as soon as one comes up at a nice price, the 565 has opened my ears to what I should be aiming for having sat on the fence for so long.
Gus