😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 📌Considering the ROTEL? Find one here bit.ly/3Qk5Egx 🔌Still want more? Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.
My ears perked up when you said that the Apple TV remote stopped working with it after a few days. I've had this happen before with my own audio gear (an Integra AV Receiver and a Paradigm soundbar). It's possible this can be fixed by restarting the remote. On the most recent models, you can do this by holding the Home and Volume Down buttons for five seconds until the indicator light on the Apple TV remote blinks. Release the buttons and wait for the "Connection Lost" message to appear on screen. Then wait for the remote to boot up. When the "Connected" notification appears, you should be able to use the remote again (you may need to press the Back or Home buttons to wake up the remote) with the volume controls on your amp/receiver. I don't know if this would fix the issue in this instance, but it has worked for me several times. This is good to know if you can't use HDMI CEC to control your devices for whatever reason.
Very thoughtful of you to go ahead and relay this information. Thank you, I'll remember this one. If it's been a couple of days since I've turned on the Apple TV, I tend to go its settings and clicking on the restart. It only takes less than a minute, and yet, going through this procedure, one is unlikely to experience any glitches.
Well done, you are one of the very few reviewers who reviews Rotel amps! Which imo are at or close to class leading at every price point. Right up to the amazing Rotel P5/S5 combo which can hold its own against any amp I have heard to date.
About 6 or 7 years ago, I bought a Rotel A14 display model from a local dealer and got it for about the price of today's A 11. That was a great little amp. I imagine the A 11 is pretty similar. For most people, an amp like this is plenty to do to the job. I thought the Rotel was a very crisp, clean sounding amp. Definitely not fatiguing to listen to. Just a pleasant no frills amp.
I do get it why Rotel don't include a HDMI connection. It's a dedicated two channel amp that's why they at least include optical and coaxial connector. Also Rotel focus on the A series as turntable and Cd player playback with book shelves speakers. I have the flagship A14MII it's a great sounding amplifier.
Thanks for the review. I have had a positive experience with my Rotel separates. Rotel’s power ratings are real and I can tell when I need to push my Arendal 1723 towers which crave good clean power. They have nicely driven other towers and bookshelves including B&W and KEF. Rotel for the win!
Rotel have always been solid, no nonsense products. I used to do marketing for B&W speakers (in the early 2000’s) and in their factory reception they always had a rotel integrated amp driving a pair of their floor standers as background music. I always remember thinking to myself “that little rotel is doing a great job”.
Oh I remember going to CES and CEDIA in the early 2000s and always seeing Rotel and B&W exhibiting in the same room or booth. Either Rotel or Classe. This was before Sound United when I believe all those brands along with McIntosh and Snell (if memory serves) fell under DM Holdings.
Good morning Andrew and Kristi. Another good review. Rotel’s always seem to get the important basics right even if they lack a feature here or there. Something appealing about these more stripped down sort of old school integrated amps. Keep up the great work. Thanks.
Excellent dissertation, Andrew and Kristi! I was looking at an integrated amp from NAD or Rotel because I wanted a tape loop. But then I ran across an HDMI audio extractor to feed signal to my cassette deck which I can use with my Yamaha A760 with an Audio input to give me a tape loop. I still like the height of the Rotel and NAD integrated amps and if I purchase a turntable and discover that my AVR phono input is lacking then I shall be looking for an integrated amp and pre-outs to feed my AVR. Thank you for making my Sundays more enjoyable. Live long and prosper.
I enjoyed this video a lot! Firstly, I didn’t know about the possibility of the Apple TV remote to learn the IR volume codes of an amplifier. It changes how I used to consider HDMI as mandatory. Secondly, the information about the noise floor is golden. I was considering Sourcepoint 8 with this Rotel, but now I might consider a different combination. Thank you!
To eliminate hiss from any amp, try grounding an open input to the phono ground. This can eliminate through speaker noise. Some transformers simply hum, so non speaker noise is harder to address. There are engineers building optimized formers if you send them one. I haven’t been so fortunate, but I get the desire to eliminate. I have one of these coming, I’m excited.
I liked the Tribute preout for a sub. But sold it to get a Parasound with bass managaement and the high pass filter for the main amp. Rotel just had that clear detailed soundstage and imaging that I miss.
I'm currently driving KLH Model 5's with the A11MKII, and the setup sounds really good. I love the amp's minimalism, lack of screen, and volume dial light. And I'm also using my Apple TV remote to control the volume. . . and mine also stopped functioning that way shortly after. Turns out all I needed to do was restart the Apple TV remote by holding the TV and volume down buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds. It's been controlling the amp volume ever since (even when the Apple TV is off) - and thank goodness, because I have NO patience for that eyesore of a 90's style Rotel remote in the box. Unfortunately, on some quieter recordings through these 6 ohm speakers, I'm having to crank the Rotel nearly full blast to get as close to the performances as I want to, which leaves me feeling like I don't have much headroom with this amp. I have an Arcam Radia A25 on order, so I'm eager to see what that extra power can do for the Model 5's.
@@JeffHeon Confirmed! Volume controls with the Apple TV remote on the Arcam A25 work wonderfully. Better than the Rotel A11MKII, because on that model, a motor in the amp had to move the physical volume wheel making it slower to respond to input. On the Arcam it's instant.
Another great video in the can from you and Kristi . This was so fun . I love my 1592 MKII you guys showed me too. I love my A8 for streaming with it connected to a Topping DX9 for its ability to connect to anything cable wise with headphones . The Rotel powers my 700s you guys showed me and I fell in love with. But what a great review and your perspective to go with it is awsome at showing its abilities and usefulness ,also its abilities like lack of HDMI. I cant wait to see what you guys bring to the table for us all next . ❤
Long time viewer here. It felt strange not having Christie's take in this one haha. Haven't tried the Mkii but after living with the tribute for a couple of years I'm not surprised you think so highly of this one. Properly good value pieces of equipment.
Enjoyed the video. Friday we get Kristi's take on it and our questions answered. I like the clean styling and simplicity. Features wise it goes toe to toe with the Emotiva BasX TA1 ($499). The TA1 adds preamp capabilities and a sub out. Price wise the Rotel compares to the Emotiva BasX TA2($899). The TA2 is class a/b with 135 watts, bass management and preamp capabilities. My only question is how they would compare in sound and presentation. It would be nice to see an Emotiva review on the TA1 or TA2.
More good work from Mr Robinson. How many other reviewers would even hint that perceived amplifier differences might be due to difficult loudspeaker impedances?
Seems like a nice integrated amp to start with or as a desktop solution. I need to replace my over the hill AVR first but I may take a look at this or the Tribute for other applications. Thanks for a good review as always Andrew.
You talked about the Rotel as a great entry into Hifi. Totally agree. I have the original A11 tribute, which is fantastic and really got me back into 2 channel listening. Now starting to feel the pull to upgrade, and I think that getting into Room EQ wizard and PEQ curves is probably the next step. Based on your review, I'm thinking about the Eversolo DMP-A8 as a pre-amp/streamer. Would the A11 still be ok serving just as an amp? How much would I realistically have to spend on an amp to notice a significant sonic upgrade vs the A11 and any suggestions if I go that route? I listen at reasonable (i.e. not crazy loud) volumes, wide variety of music. As an aside, really appreciate the channel. As I've gotten back into audio it's really helped me understand what to listen for and look for in music and how to tweak my setup, even with the equipment I already have. It's a great balance between the purely measurement folks and the totally subjective.
These integrated amp and speaker reviews make me wish I could just order a bunch of this stuff and listen to it then rotate it back out into the used market. But.....I also like staying married. Always a true pleasure listening to these reviews.
Hope at least 1 is Class G and that you explain it fully. It is similar to Class H in some ways, but while H is just about adding efficiency, G is first and foremost about adding quality (on the first rail), and any efficiency gains are incidental. Arcam has a good write up about it.
Most reviewers make it sound like it is about maximizing efficiency and power, but it is really about getting a Class A experience for low to medium volume listening. It sounds amazing to my ears, but looking forward to hearing what Andrew and Kristi think.
Andrew how about 2 channel performance with similar priced AV receiver? Like a Cinema 60 for example. I just can’t see the need for this many non digital integrateds in market if an AV can get close. Great review as always
Look, you know I am biased towards Rotel. I adore my 1592 and just wish it lived a little while longer (thanks to my lovely daughter spilling juice on it years back at this point). And I don’t want to sound like a broken record either, but Rotel is right now in a weird position: they want to keep their heritage, classical views and understanding of HiFi while the market has clearly been shifting heavily towards modernizing. And I genuinely hope that they wake up and move towards it as well soon. I’m not asking for giant screens, modern design (I love the look of old school hifi), but rather HDMi, a properly good streaming app and a working remote programming. They’re nailing the sound quality already. All that’s left is just feature set that the modern audience needs. That being said, if I had the choice between this and WiiM amp, I’d choose this Rotel a thousand times over. Great review and talking points! Hope everyone’s Sunday is as lovely as it can be, and Happy Mothers Day to all you beautiful, strong, brave and smart ladies we call mom! You’re the saviors of the world and the rulers of it too! We love you!
Good review. As someone who bought the A11 Tribute based on your earlier review, I'm not sure I'd buy the A11 MK2. When Rotel did the Tribute they should have included at least one optical input for a TV; that was definitely a swing and a miss. I agree that the update should have included HDMI ARC. The lack of preamp outputs forever locks the purchaser into 50/wpc forever. If someone wanted this amp, they'd be better off going with the A10 MK2 (or the NAD) and purchasing a Wiim Pro Plus.
Hi Andrew you have a great channel with very interesting content and views on hifi guy, fully agree with you that don’t understand that Rotel omitted the sub output, yes kniw have digital units and dac too , and can also understand not having 2 sets speaker outputs , but great have actual time controls. I have a11 tribune and sounds pretty good and had good reviews . Regards mark
I really dun get the insistence to get hdmi input from the tv to the stereo. I connect the tv audio to my sound system via optical which works very well. I would not want the tv to turn off my dac or amp. I also do not want my amp to turn off the tv. Is it the auto source switching that is attractive or is it a better sound quality?
I have always been a fan of Rotel. Starting way back with their vintage silver receivers. I still have the old RB-991 & 981 amps stacked away in gear I never let go. Always good bass with Rotel amps. I liked the performance of a couple of their newer power amps but they have low input impedances. 10k on the last one I auditioned. Too low for someone that likes to mix n match.. especially with occasional tube preamps. I'm sure this integrated is as solid as everything else they make. I feel that they make quality equipment.
Hey Andrew, Great review. I would also like to add that even 1 sub out is not enough. 2 should be default. Also IOTA VX has announced the SA40 and PA40, A/B amp and integrated that's 150W into 8Ω and 300W into 4Ω. They can also be bridged which doubles the power. Price 640€ and 800€. Hope you review them. I was thinking about buying the Rotel RB-1582 MkII amp, but I'm gonna hold to see how the SA40 performs for 1/3 of the price. Cheers.
I know thse questions are not related to the video, but it seems the best way to have them answered as a reply or during the unplugged, so there they are: 1) I've read Denon sounds desribed as more analytical or warm . Is this AVR vs. Integrated amps, or more of different 'voicing' for different brands (warmer than Yamaha, but not as much as Marantz, etc)? 2) Are you as surprised as I am in finding KEF LS60 is not more popular? I thought it would appeal to multiple groups of users (B/O fans, Movie fans who was going to add separate amps for LR, users coming from desktop systems/ power speakers.. ), but it seems the opposite is true.
This amp is a fantastic performer for the price in a small room. I'm using the optical input from chromecast audio as my primary source. This is mid Fi excellence. A big step up from Chinese stuff and a taste of HiFi sparkle and imaging with smooth volume control. I have a 6000a in another system and the Rotel amp is at least as good with the same speakers. They are similar size and aesthetics.
Faaaccckkk, I was waiting for a Anthem review 😂, but yes really love rotels line of products, and really like the aesthetics of the brand because i can always match whatever with a cd player,pre amp, and etc. I have 3 sliding racks in my credenza and id like to have one brand all the way down other than the streamer. Man only if i had the rotel 1592 and it has bass management and hdmi. SOLD. Crazy how they put hdmi in the new ras5000 but what all the new products dont get it? What about the x3??? Ughhh killin me. 😢
For your Apple TV Remote issues... I have the same with my Samsung TV. The solution (for me) is to restart the Apple TV Remote. The IR blaster sometimes crashes on mine...
Also if you already have a dac, you might prefer to go with the a10 mkii and save a few bucks. Same amp section, only without the dac. btw new fosi and wiim on the way. More gear for you to poop on! 😀
Try the Mission 778X. $549. MM phono stage. 45 Watts per channel. Optical x 2. Coax x 1. Pre out x 1. USB (type B). Bluetooth 5.0 APTX. Inbuilt Dac. Line Level x 2. Recommended speakers - Q-acoustics 5020.
Great vid. Considering it’s only 50 watts the lack of pre outs is disappointing. Especially with small speakers that the amp would most likely be paired with.
Great video as always guys, one for the unplugged video maybe, but could you touch upon the tone controls and the adjustments they make? Is it quite a smooth slope or does it really make a difference? I find some Amps tone controls work more drastically than others.
I have a follow up question about the Titans. If you add a sub or subs to the Kefs would you prefer them to the Titans? I know the cost is higher but just asking from the perspective of the sound.
Well I have to play the devil's advocate again 🙄 with such low wattage and only 2 channel listening an average AV Receiver can pump out that same wattage at 2 channel listening. So my question is what benefits are you really getting from buying an amplifier like this Rotel? How would it benefit someone like me in my setup? Also the benefits when watching movies in surround sound. You know all of the equipment I run I really have to ask before I make a decision if I want to even bother traveling down this road! Thanks Andrew great video p.s. good afternoon Kristi.
I own both the Rotel A11 mk2 and Nad 316 v2 and in the sound department the Nad sounds better by a classical mile and with 10 watts p/c less than the rotel !
I do have an off-topic question that is not related to Rotel specifically. Why should I get a 2-channel DAC/amplifier if I already have a home theater receiver that does just about everything that I want? I do not have a separate listening space for listening to music because not only do I listen to music from my computer going to my receiver, I use it for watching TH-cam videos, play games that make use of 5.1 surround sound, and watch movies. My primary source for my home theater receiver is my computer. My Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, and my Zidoo Z9X Pro Media Player is considered my secondary source. Note that I do not use surround upmixing for 2-channel music playback.
Receivers are really for multi channel content. Small integrated's like this Rotel are for 2 channel stereo listening. I'm willing to bet that unless your receiver is in the 3-5,000 range, this amp will sound better than your receiver. Receivers have to do to many things and require so many expensive licenses that the budget for great sounding components is not there.
@@bearclaw5115 My receiver has pre-outs for an external amplifier and having a 2-channel integrated amp is FAR too redundant for me. My Denon AVR-X3400H does everything I can throw at it and my computer is my "network streamer."
Being this is a rotel product I'm confident it's a fine sounding product, but for under a $1000, the yamaha 801 is tough to beat. The arcam sa20 is another killer value since the price has dropped.
Agreed. The Arcam SA20 is now in the $900 range since it's discontinued and in closeout, and it's mostly in class A for the first 10-15 watts, so it sounds very sharp.
I was in this exact position 3 months ago seeking an integrated amp. The opinions on the Rotel and Denon was divided. I settled on the Marantz PM6007 which I thought should have been a contender in this line up. The lower end Rotels are not regarded particularly high.
A question that may be suited for unplugged… How much time and effort go into speaker placement for reviews? Are you moving speakers 1mm at a time like we have read about in The Art of Rational Speaker Placement Setup Guide by Bob Robbins?
I badly need advice!! Im currently running a denon x3700 as a preamp, going to a rotel rb1582mkii, with audyssey engaged up to 350hz… if my primary focus is 2 channel music listening, would i get a big step up in quality if i got myself a rotel preamp like the rc1572?? Thanks i love you all
I really like the design on this one! The screen was badly integrated and looked weird, love the smaller height and simple design, Kristi, what's your take on the design?
Great review. The Rotel s14 is on sale for $200 more at the moment. Which one do you recommend? Im leading towards the S14 to power my Kef R7 as it's a streamer as well.
I’ve always used an AVR for HT as well as two channel listening, which i hear is a “No, No” in the audiophile world. Currently I have a Marantz 1505 driving Focal Aria 906 bookshelf’s. I would like to step up my stereo listening experience, would i get better stereo sound with an A11 over an AVR? If not how much higher up the food chain would i need to go to hear an improvement?
The absence of a sub out is far worse, for me, than no HDMI. Glad to see tone controls, almost gone in most cases. To replace a vintage unit, just for 2 channels listening, I did purchase an Audiolab 6000A which I returned, I didn't like the overall sound of it, including its DAC. I ended up with a Cambridge CXA 61, bought brand new for a very discounted price and I am very happy with it. I did consider other brands like Rotel, Yamaha, Marantz but once with the CXA I was happy, and I just quit the search. Now the question is... what to do with the SX780, I have to find another corner of my house, get a source and a couple of speakers out of retirement and just enjoy that too. Yes, folks, it never ends!
Yamaha also has better sign-to-noise ratio (99 dB vs 90dB), which is something Andrew mentioned while listening to the A11. Rotel does have a better warranty (5 years vs 2 years).
Hi Andrew, would you recommend a Rotel A12 or Marantz NR1200? The thing I like about the NR1200 is the hdmi support / arc and airplay support which the Rotel doesn't offer, but is the sound from the Rotel significantly better? particularly for the phono stage?
Rotel A11 MK II has may changes compare to Tribute, technically. I can't say it is upgrade in any way, in fact I wonder if they have gone back to A10 and added a DAC to make it A11 MK II. Then in that case, A11 Tribute should be better just in terms of sound quality. 1. Damping factore reduced by 20, S/N ratio down to 90 db, compared to 100 on Tribute. And input sensitivity increased, perhaps all this is causing the hissing noise. For me, this shouldn'tbe the case with premium amp like this one. Tone controls on Tribute allowed +/-10dvlb, vs MK Ii which is only +/-6db. 2. 4 Ohm power rating for Tribute shows 95W/ch, whereas it is 62W/ch for the MK II as per Rotel website. 3. Only one set of speaker out. No A/B on A11 MK II 4. No pre amp out that was available on A11 Tribute. 5. Usability feature: As the display is gone, one can't set default start up volume. Also can't adjust tone from the remote. Preset tones not available that were present in Tribute like Rotel boost, max etc. All in all, I see that latest Claas D/AVR offer way too much without compromising much on sound quality, unless ypu use purely analog source - turntables. But most today use streamers.
Absolute nonsense. Any good sub has speaker level inputs with the benefit of user-controlled crossover frequency instead of the fixed frequency typically available on most amps.
Hello Andrew and All! What do you think which one should I buy? Cambridge AXA35 vs Rotel A8 (speaker Fyne Audio F301) I prefer rock/metal music but I listen to a lot of other things too! Please help!
Both are great choices, but it purely depends on your taste. The AXA35 is fuller and warmer and far from neutral, but the A8 is more analytical and detailed. I would try both and stick with the one I like more.
I currently have a two channel system and Pro-ject turntable plugged into my Pioneer SC-LX502 AVR. As someone just getting into the space what’s the biggest advantage to bringing in an amp like the Rotel to replace the AVR for dedicated music listening? Do I save up for a better amp to see a larger upgrade in performance over what I have now?
I am evaluating adding an amp to the pre outs of my AVR and see if I get an overall improvement in sound quality. I own a 5.1 speaker system. How would you approach the seek of the right amp for this scenario? Thanks 🙂
Great video. Off top question. I have Apple TV, Sony7000es, and Sonos port also 2 Sonos amps. How do I watch a football game and be able to listen to the game on my Sonos amps. Is that possible or am I a dreamer
Good question. I would have to look into that. My gut reaction is to use the second zone into the Sonos Amp and then set the audio output to all zones, but I do not have my 7000ES in front of me right now to confirm or check this.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you for the response I will figure it out. I hate calling tech support especially when it’s between 2 companies. Meaning Sony will tell me to call Sonos and Sonos will tell me to call Sony. When I probably don’t even need the port because Sonos is built into the 7000es. lol you guys are great. Dog moms need recognition too today Happy Mother’s Day K
Andrew, I have some older Elac EL141 with some sentimental value. Will the Rotel A11MKII drive them properly? If not, any suggestion which Amplifier in the under 1K range will work best?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews That’s interesting to know. I hope the stereo 70 does well and we see its features move up the line and other manufacturers catching on.
I appreciate the comparisons & the attention to sound differences. Most helpful when forced to shop online. Recently picked up the Marantz Stereo 70s (open box) for essentially the same price as the A11 MKII. How would you say the sound compares?
I would have liked to see a “Loudness” button feature on this amp. Did you miss having that for low listening volumes or are you not a loudness button/knob guy? (The Yamaha models have that I believe) Enquiring minds want to know. 😁
@@kodtech that display is a joke. It looks like a 2003 Nokia phone and I really hate its looks, only because of that ugly display that they decided to put on it. The new mkIIs look way better
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🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.
My ears perked up when you said that the Apple TV remote stopped working with it after a few days. I've had this happen before with my own audio gear (an Integra AV Receiver and a Paradigm soundbar). It's possible this can be fixed by restarting the remote.
On the most recent models, you can do this by holding the Home and Volume Down buttons for five seconds until the indicator light on the Apple TV remote blinks. Release the buttons and wait for the "Connection Lost" message to appear on screen. Then wait for the remote to boot up. When the "Connected" notification appears, you should be able to use the remote again (you may need to press the Back or Home buttons to wake up the remote) with the volume controls on your amp/receiver.
I don't know if this would fix the issue in this instance, but it has worked for me several times. This is good to know if you can't use HDMI CEC to control your devices for whatever reason.
Very thoughtful of you to go ahead and relay this information. Thank you, I'll remember this one.
If it's been a couple of days since I've turned on the Apple TV, I tend to go its settings and clicking on the restart. It only takes less than a minute, and yet, going through this procedure, one is unlikely to experience any glitches.
Well done, you are one of the very few reviewers who reviews Rotel amps! Which imo are at or close to class leading at every price point. Right up to the amazing Rotel P5/S5 combo which can hold its own against any amp I have heard to date.
About 6 or 7 years ago, I bought a Rotel A14 display model from a local dealer and got it for about the price of today's A 11. That was a great little amp. I imagine the A 11 is pretty similar. For most people, an amp like this is plenty to do to the job. I thought the Rotel was a very crisp, clean sounding amp. Definitely not fatiguing to listen to. Just a pleasant no frills amp.
Finally got to see one of these in person today. Gorgeous piece, just wish the buttons and knobs felt more “buttoned down” and solid.
I do get it why Rotel don't include a HDMI connection. It's a dedicated two channel amp that's why they at least include optical and coaxial connector. Also Rotel focus on the A series as turntable and Cd player playback with book shelves speakers. I have the flagship A14MII it's a great sounding amplifier.
Thanks for the review. I have had a positive experience with my Rotel separates. Rotel’s power ratings are real and I can tell when I need to push my Arendal 1723 towers which crave good clean power. They have nicely driven other towers and bookshelves including B&W and KEF. Rotel for the win!
Rotel have always been solid, no nonsense products. I used to do marketing for B&W speakers (in the early 2000’s) and in their factory reception they always had a rotel integrated amp driving a pair of their floor standers as background music. I always remember thinking to myself “that little rotel is doing a great job”.
Oh I remember going to CES and CEDIA in the early 2000s and always seeing Rotel and B&W exhibiting in the same room or booth. Either Rotel or Classe. This was before Sound United when I believe all those brands along with McIntosh and Snell (if memory serves) fell under DM Holdings.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have the Snell K.5s and have been watching your videos in my search for an amp to drive them.
Good morning Andrew and Kristi. Another good review. Rotel’s always seem to get the important basics right even if they lack a feature here or there. Something appealing about these more stripped down sort of old school integrated amps. Keep up the great work. Thanks.
Excellent dissertation, Andrew and Kristi! I was looking at an integrated amp from NAD or Rotel because I wanted a tape loop. But then I ran across an HDMI audio extractor to feed signal to my cassette deck which I can use with my Yamaha A760 with an Audio input to give me a tape loop. I still like the height of the Rotel and NAD integrated amps and if I purchase a turntable and discover that my AVR phono input is lacking then I shall be looking for an integrated amp and pre-outs to feed my AVR. Thank you for making my Sundays more enjoyable. Live long and prosper.
Sound quality...not features....Rotel has been up to that for decades ..nice one Andrew
Finally got my computer running so late but helping the algo's with a post! Have a great time!
I can confirm that the NADc316bee is a steal!! Im running with a Node 2i, and PSB alpha towers. I want for very little!
I like that the volume button has a light which helps when watching movies or listening to music at night.
I enjoyed this video a lot! Firstly, I didn’t know about the possibility of the Apple TV remote to learn the IR volume codes of an amplifier. It changes how I used to consider HDMI as mandatory. Secondly, the information about the noise floor is golden. I was considering Sourcepoint 8 with this Rotel, but now I might consider a different combination. Thank you!
To eliminate hiss from any amp, try grounding an open input to the phono ground. This can eliminate through speaker noise. Some transformers simply hum, so non speaker noise is harder to address. There are engineers building optimized formers if you send them one. I haven’t been so fortunate, but I get the desire to eliminate. I have one of these coming, I’m excited.
@B0rQ, in order to do this, where do you connect the other ends of the RCA jacks, and where would you connect the other end of the grounding wire?
@ one end of the wire connects to your phone ground post, if you have one. The other end wraps around an unused rca input. No rca connectors required
Great review! My A14 MKII is on it's way. Hopefully it will pair well with my B&W 606 S3...
Looks nice with Q Acoustics 5020 in rosewood & black; add an Echo Link. and BT pair with an Amazon Fire Cube for TV/movies...One stop solution
I liked the Tribute preout for a sub. But sold it to get a Parasound with bass managaement and the high pass filter for the main amp. Rotel just had that clear detailed soundstage and imaging that I miss.
I'm currently driving KLH Model 5's with the A11MKII, and the setup sounds really good. I love the amp's minimalism, lack of screen, and volume dial light. And I'm also using my Apple TV remote to control the volume. . . and mine also stopped functioning that way shortly after. Turns out all I needed to do was restart the Apple TV remote by holding the TV and volume down buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds. It's been controlling the amp volume ever since (even when the Apple TV is off) - and thank goodness, because I have NO patience for that eyesore of a 90's style Rotel remote in the box.
Unfortunately, on some quieter recordings through these 6 ohm speakers, I'm having to crank the Rotel nearly full blast to get as close to the performances as I want to, which leaves me feeling like I don't have much headroom with this amp. I have an Arcam Radia A25 on order, so I'm eager to see what that extra power can do for the Model 5's.
I’d love to know if the Radia A25 can also be controlled with an Apple TV remote.
@@JeffHeon I'm hoping so. I'll report back when I can - it might not ship until the end of the month due to backorder.
@@JeffHeon Confirmed! Volume controls with the Apple TV remote on the Arcam A25 work wonderfully. Better than the Rotel A11MKII, because on that model, a motor in the amp had to move the physical volume wheel making it slower to respond to input. On the Arcam it's instant.
@@NeverStark Thank you for reporting back. It’s appreciated! Enjoy your system 😎
@@NeverStark thanks for the follow up. Enjoy your system 😎
Another great video in the can from you and Kristi . This was so fun . I love my 1592 MKII you guys showed me too. I love my A8 for streaming with it connected to a Topping DX9 for its ability to connect to anything cable wise with headphones . The Rotel powers my 700s you guys showed me and I fell in love with. But what a great review and your perspective to go with it is awsome at showing its abilities and usefulness ,also its abilities like lack of HDMI. I cant wait to see what you guys bring to the table for us all next . ❤
Long time viewer here. It felt strange not having Christie's take in this one haha.
Haven't tried the Mkii but after living with the tribute for a couple of years I'm not surprised you think so highly of this one. Properly good value pieces of equipment.
I hope you join us today at 1PM Pacific for our live show.
Enjoyed the video. Friday we get Kristi's take on it and our questions answered.
I like the clean styling and simplicity. Features wise it goes toe to toe with the Emotiva BasX TA1 ($499). The TA1 adds preamp capabilities and a sub out.
Price wise the Rotel compares to the Emotiva BasX TA2($899). The TA2 is class a/b with 135 watts, bass management and preamp capabilities. My only question is how they would compare in sound and presentation. It would be nice to see an Emotiva review on the TA1 or TA2.
More good work from Mr Robinson.
How many other reviewers would even hint that perceived amplifier differences might be due to difficult loudspeaker impedances?
Nice review as always...cheers!
Appreciate that!
Seems like a nice integrated amp to start with or as a desktop solution. I need to replace my over the hill AVR first but I may take a look at this or the Tribute for other applications.
Thanks for a good review as always Andrew.
You talked about the Rotel as a great entry into Hifi. Totally agree. I have the original A11 tribute, which is fantastic and really got me back into 2 channel listening. Now starting to feel the pull to upgrade, and I think that getting into Room EQ wizard and PEQ curves is probably the next step. Based on your review, I'm thinking about the Eversolo DMP-A8 as a pre-amp/streamer. Would the A11 still be ok serving just as an amp? How much would I realistically have to spend on an amp to notice a significant sonic upgrade vs the A11 and any suggestions if I go that route? I listen at reasonable (i.e. not crazy loud) volumes, wide variety of music.
As an aside, really appreciate the channel. As I've gotten back into audio it's really helped me understand what to listen for and look for in music and how to tweak my setup, even with the equipment I already have. It's a great balance between the purely measurement folks and the totally subjective.
These integrated amp and speaker reviews make me wish I could just order a bunch of this stuff and listen to it then rotate it back out into the used market. But.....I also like staying married. Always a true pleasure listening to these reviews.
We appreciate you watching. Having a constant rotation of gear isn't always as much fun as people think it would be initially.
Afternoon Andrew & Kristi👍
Hi KJ!
If I have to use a word to describe the flow of this review, would be Organic. I even felt relax watching it. Thanks.
Excited to see reviews of Arcam's upcoming radia SA35 and SA45. Hopefully you'll be able to get your hands on one!
We have some Arcam pieces in house and those reviews are coming.
Finally!!!
Hope at least 1 is Class G and that you explain it fully. It is similar to Class H in some ways, but while H is just about adding efficiency, G is first and foremost about adding quality (on the first rail), and any efficiency gains are incidental. Arcam has a good write up about it.
Most reviewers make it sound like it is about maximizing efficiency and power, but it is really about getting a Class A experience for low to medium volume listening.
It sounds amazing to my ears, but looking forward to hearing what Andrew and Kristi think.
Andrew how about 2 channel performance with similar priced AV receiver? Like a Cinema 60 for example. I just can’t see the need for this many non digital integrateds in market if an AV can get close. Great review as always
Look, you know I am biased towards Rotel. I adore my 1592 and just wish it lived a little while longer (thanks to my lovely daughter spilling juice on it years back at this point). And I don’t want to sound like a broken record either, but Rotel is right now in a weird position: they want to keep their heritage, classical views and understanding of HiFi while the market has clearly been shifting heavily towards modernizing. And I genuinely hope that they wake up and move towards it as well soon. I’m not asking for giant screens, modern design (I love the look of old school hifi), but rather HDMi, a properly good streaming app and a working remote programming. They’re nailing the sound quality already. All that’s left is just feature set that the modern audience needs. That being said, if I had the choice between this and WiiM amp, I’d choose this Rotel a thousand times over.
Great review and talking points!
Hope everyone’s Sunday is as lovely as it can be, and Happy Mothers Day to all you beautiful, strong, brave and smart ladies we call mom! You’re the saviors of the world and the rulers of it too! We love you!
I would have gotten a Rotel if it had a sub out. Went Cambridge instead. Love it!
Saved!!!! Good choice
Good review. As someone who bought the A11 Tribute based on your earlier review, I'm not sure I'd buy the A11 MK2. When Rotel did the Tribute they should have included at least one optical input for a TV; that was definitely a swing and a miss. I agree that the update should have included HDMI ARC. The lack of preamp outputs forever locks the purchaser into 50/wpc forever. If someone wanted this amp, they'd be better off going with the A10 MK2 (or the NAD) and purchasing a Wiim Pro Plus.
Hi Andrew you have a great channel with very interesting content and views on hifi guy, fully agree with you that don’t understand that Rotel omitted the sub output, yes kniw have digital units and dac too , and can also understand not having 2 sets speaker outputs , but great have actual time controls. I have a11 tribune and sounds pretty good and had good reviews . Regards mark
I really dun get the insistence to get hdmi input from the tv to the stereo. I connect the tv audio to my sound system via optical which works very well. I would not want the tv to turn off my dac or amp. I also do not want my amp to turn off the tv. Is it the auto source switching that is attractive or is it a better sound quality?
Yes the A11/A12 a nice upgrade from SMSL or topping amps
I have always been a fan of Rotel. Starting way back with their vintage silver receivers. I still have the old RB-991 & 981 amps stacked away in gear I never let go. Always good bass with Rotel amps. I liked the performance of a couple of their newer power amps but they have low input impedances. 10k on the last one I auditioned. Too low for someone that likes to mix n match.. especially with occasional tube preamps.
I'm sure this integrated is as solid as everything else they make. I feel that they make quality equipment.
Rotel, at least in my experience, makes super reliable gear that always, and I mean always, performs.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsI completely agree
Hello from The Netherlands👋👍 always enjoy your videos
I’ll stick with my Fosi and SMSL dac for now ta
Hello from Singapore. Its midnight here
Thanks for staying up late with us!
Hey Andrew,
Great review. I would also like to add that even 1 sub out is not enough. 2 should be default.
Also IOTA VX has announced the SA40 and PA40, A/B amp and integrated that's 150W into 8Ω and 300W into 4Ω.
They can also be bridged which doubles the power. Price 640€ and 800€. Hope you review them.
I was thinking about buying the Rotel RB-1582 MkII amp, but I'm gonna hold to see how the SA40 performs for 1/3 of the price.
Cheers.
I know thse questions are not related to the video, but it seems the best way to have them answered as a reply or during the unplugged, so there they are:
1) I've read Denon sounds desribed as more analytical or warm . Is this AVR vs. Integrated amps, or more of different 'voicing' for different brands (warmer than Yamaha, but not as much as Marantz, etc)?
2) Are you as surprised as I am in finding KEF LS60 is not more popular? I thought it would appeal to multiple groups of users (B/O fans, Movie fans who was going to add separate amps for LR, users coming from desktop systems/ power speakers.. ), but it seems the opposite is true.
Excellent review with a lot of practical advice, especially in the comparisons portion of the review.
So glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching!
You mentioned d the AXA35 as a possible lower cost alternative to the Rotel. Could you say more about how these two units compare?
This amp is a fantastic performer for the price in a small room. I'm using the optical input from chromecast audio as my primary source.
This is mid Fi excellence. A big step up from Chinese stuff and a taste of HiFi sparkle and imaging with smooth volume control.
I have a 6000a in another system and the Rotel amp is at least as good with the same speakers. They are similar size and aesthetics.
Great review. Thanks! For me, on integrated, musical fidelity. Sooooo good.
thanks for the video!! I hope to see you review the B&W 705 S3 Signature :D
Thank you for your videos. How does it compare with the a11 tribute in terms of sound quality?
Nice turntable. Are you guys headed back out to hit up record shows again? Those videos made me smile.
Good amp for a starter or secondary system, for easy listening. Probably not the main system.
Faaaccckkk, I was waiting for a Anthem review 😂, but yes really love rotels line of products, and really like the aesthetics of the brand because i can always match whatever with a cd player,pre amp, and etc.
I have 3 sliding racks in my credenza and id like to have one brand all the way down other than the streamer.
Man only if i had the rotel 1592 and it has bass management and hdmi. SOLD.
Crazy how they put hdmi in the new ras5000 but what all the new products dont get it?
What about the x3??? Ughhh killin me. 😢
For your Apple TV Remote issues... I have the same with my Samsung TV. The solution (for me) is to restart the Apple TV Remote. The IR blaster sometimes crashes on mine...
A missing sub out is a bigger crime than missing hdmi eARC, IMO
I understand. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely
Happy Sunday, everyone!
I have two Tribute A11 amps and the matching CD11 Tribute on one.
My small B&W's are great, but the smaller Monitor Audios need a sub.
Also if you already have a dac, you might prefer to go with the a10 mkii and save a few bucks. Same amp section, only without the dac. btw new fosi and wiim on the way. More gear for you to poop on! 😀
TBH I think they pre-outs for a sub/bass speaker and add LDAC codec to the BT receiver, don't really need HDMI adding interference
Try the Mission 778X. $549. MM phono stage. 45 Watts per channel. Optical x 2. Coax x 1. Pre out x 1. USB (type B). Bluetooth 5.0 APTX. Inbuilt Dac. Line Level x 2. Recommended speakers - Q-acoustics 5020.
Non tone controls...a bigger minus
Great vid. Considering it’s only 50 watts the lack of pre outs is disappointing. Especially with small speakers that the amp would most likely be paired with.
Why would it be paired with small speakers. More than capable of powering towers.
Hey Andrew do you think this would be enough to power the Elac DBR62's?
Cool! Happy sunday!
Great video as always guys, one for the unplugged video maybe, but could you touch upon the tone controls and the adjustments they make? Is it quite a smooth slope or does it really make a difference? I find some Amps tone controls work more drastically than others.
No pre outs ? Every Rotel I’ve ever owned over the years had pre outs. Rotel what were you thinking! No sale. Thanks for the review.
I have a follow up question about the Titans. If you add a sub or subs to the Kefs would you prefer them to the Titans? I know the cost is higher but just asking from the perspective of the sound.
Well I have to play the devil's advocate again 🙄 with such low wattage and only 2 channel listening an average AV Receiver can pump out that same wattage at 2 channel listening. So my question is what benefits are you really getting from buying an amplifier like this Rotel? How would it benefit someone like me in my setup? Also the benefits when watching movies in surround sound. You know all of the equipment I run I really have to ask before I make a decision if I want to even bother traveling down this road! Thanks Andrew great video p.s. good afternoon Kristi.
What ever happened to NAD 375 150w just cannot find a decent oldschool amp, Or integrated,
I'd like a review of the Arcam A5 compared to this. Should be similar in price?
Rotel makes really good stuff i would look at the a14 or ra-1572 to start off with
I own both the Rotel A11 mk2 and Nad 316 v2 and in the sound department the Nad sounds better by a classical mile and with 10 watts p/c less than the rotel !
Curious, what’s the distinction in sound between the two? I am considering a low power amp purchase and the 316 is on my short list.
Neither Rotel nor nad
@@gianlucabassi8853
What then, at their price point?
I do have an off-topic question that is not related to Rotel specifically. Why should I get a 2-channel DAC/amplifier if I already have a home theater receiver that does just about everything that I want? I do not have a separate listening space for listening to music because not only do I listen to music from my computer going to my receiver, I use it for watching TH-cam videos, play games that make use of 5.1 surround sound, and watch movies. My primary source for my home theater receiver is my computer. My Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, and my Zidoo Z9X Pro Media Player is considered my secondary source.
Note that I do not use surround upmixing for 2-channel music playback.
Receivers are really for multi channel content. Small integrated's like this Rotel are for 2 channel stereo listening. I'm willing to bet that unless your receiver is in the 3-5,000 range, this amp will sound better than your receiver. Receivers have to do to many things and require so many expensive licenses that the budget for great sounding components is not there.
@@bearclaw5115 My receiver has pre-outs for an external amplifier and having a 2-channel integrated amp is FAR too redundant for me. My Denon AVR-X3400H does everything I can throw at it and my computer is my "network streamer."
Being this is a rotel product I'm confident it's a fine sounding product, but for under a $1000, the yamaha 801 is tough to beat. The arcam sa20 is another killer value since the price has dropped.
My Arcam AVR10 can go head to head with my Yamaha rn 800 which is the same to it's rn-1000 brother
@@BoRerunn I completely believe it.
Agreed. The Arcam SA20 is now in the $900 range since it's discontinued and in closeout, and it's mostly in class A for the first 10-15 watts, so it sounds very sharp.
I was in this exact position 3 months ago seeking an integrated amp. The opinions on the Rotel and Denon was divided. I settled on the Marantz PM6007 which I thought should have been a contender in this line up. The lower end Rotels are not regarded particularly high.
Yamaha makes some great integrated amplifiers...
A question that may be suited for unplugged…
How much time and effort go into speaker placement for reviews? Are you moving speakers 1mm at a time like we have read about in The Art of Rational Speaker Placement Setup Guide by Bob Robbins?
Flagging this for @KristiWright for possible inclusion in Friday's episode. Thanks!
I badly need advice!! Im currently running a denon x3700 as a preamp, going to a rotel rb1582mkii, with audyssey engaged up to 350hz… if my primary focus is 2 channel music listening, would i get a big step up in quality if i got myself a rotel preamp like the rc1572?? Thanks i love you all
My main stereo system is still a Rótele RB06 and RC06, and I have no reason to change it.
I really like the design on this one! The screen was badly integrated and looked weird, love the smaller height and simple design, Kristi, what's your take on the design?
A11 Mkii vs TA1 vs 6000A
which one has better sound? Dont be bothered about the features.
Great review. The Rotel s14 is on sale for $200 more at the moment. Which one do you recommend? Im leading towards the S14 to power my Kef R7 as it's a streamer as well.
I’ve always used an AVR for HT as well as two channel listening, which i hear is a “No, No” in the audiophile world. Currently I have a Marantz 1505 driving Focal Aria 906 bookshelf’s. I would like to step up my stereo listening experience, would i get better stereo sound with an A11 over an AVR? If not how much higher up the food chain would i need to go to hear an improvement?
The absence of a sub out is far worse, for me, than no HDMI. Glad to see tone controls, almost gone in most cases. To replace a vintage unit, just for 2 channels listening, I did purchase an Audiolab 6000A which I returned, I didn't like the overall sound of it, including its DAC. I ended up with a Cambridge CXA 61, bought brand new for a very discounted price and I am very happy with it. I did consider other brands like Rotel, Yamaha, Marantz but once with the CXA I was happy, and I just quit the search. Now the question is... what to do with the SX780, I have to find another corner of my house, get a source and a couple of speakers out of retirement and just enjoy that too. Yes, folks, it never ends!
Ca 61 lacks tone controls too but its a warmer and better amp. Good for you !!!!
@@gianlucabassi8853 Grazie!
I like the low height/slim form factor of this Rotel but the Yamaha at double the power plus a sub out makes more sense.
I can definitely see why someone would go with the Yamaha!
Yamaha also has better sign-to-noise ratio (99 dB vs 90dB), which is something Andrew mentioned while listening to the A11. Rotel does have a better warranty (5 years vs 2 years).
ANDREW QUESTION, WHICH SPEAKERS ARE BETTER KLIPSCH RP-280FA OR DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY D17S
Hi Andrew, would you recommend a Rotel A12 or Marantz NR1200? The thing I like about the NR1200 is the hdmi support / arc and airplay support which the Rotel doesn't offer, but is the sound from the Rotel significantly better? particularly for the phono stage?
Rotel A11 MK II has may changes compare to Tribute, technically. I can't say it is upgrade in any way, in fact I wonder if they have gone back to A10 and added a DAC to make it A11 MK II. Then in that case, A11 Tribute should be better just in terms of sound quality.
1. Damping factore reduced by 20, S/N ratio down to 90 db, compared to 100 on Tribute. And input sensitivity increased, perhaps all this is causing the hissing noise. For me, this shouldn'tbe the case with premium amp like this one. Tone controls on Tribute allowed +/-10dvlb, vs MK Ii which is only +/-6db.
2. 4 Ohm power rating for Tribute shows 95W/ch, whereas it is 62W/ch for the MK II as per Rotel website.
3. Only one set of speaker out. No A/B on A11 MK II
4. No pre amp out that was available on A11 Tribute.
5. Usability feature: As the display is gone, one can't set default start up volume. Also can't adjust tone from the remote. Preset tones not available that were present in Tribute like Rotel boost, max etc.
All in all, I see that latest Claas D/AVR offer way too much without compromising much on sound quality, unless ypu use purely analog source - turntables. But most today use streamers.
For an integrated amp I get not having HDMI. Not having a sub out is unforgivable.
The A12 has pre outs to use a sub - bit.ly/3xpRn7y
Agreed. When you are in such a niche market as it is, why not give it a fighting chance?
I disagree, its each its own
Absolute nonsense. Any good sub has speaker level inputs with the benefit of user-controlled crossover frequency instead of the fixed frequency typically available on most amps.
A tempest in a teapot. Neither HDMI nor sub out are show stoppers for entry level
Hello Andrew and All! What do you think which one should I buy? Cambridge AXA35 vs Rotel A8 (speaker Fyne Audio F301) I prefer rock/metal music but I listen to a lot of other things too! Please help!
Both are great choices, but it purely depends on your taste. The AXA35 is fuller and warmer and far from neutral, but the A8 is more analytical and detailed. I would try both and stick with the one I like more.
@@GabrielDima98 Thank you my friend!
I currently have a two channel system and Pro-ject turntable plugged into my Pioneer SC-LX502 AVR. As someone just getting into the space what’s the biggest advantage to bringing in an amp like the Rotel to replace the AVR for dedicated music listening? Do I save up for a better amp to see a larger upgrade in performance over what I have now?
I am evaluating adding an amp to the pre outs of my AVR and see if I get an overall improvement in sound quality. I own a 5.1 speaker system. How would you approach the seek of the right amp for this scenario? Thanks 🙂
Thanks! That was great.
Hi Andrew.. I was wandering how does the rotel compares with the marantz stereo 70s??thanks
Great video. Off top question. I have Apple TV, Sony7000es, and Sonos port also 2 Sonos amps. How do I watch a football game and be able to listen to the game on my Sonos amps. Is that possible or am I a dreamer
Oh when is the next live stream. Should ask this question there
Good question. I would have to look into that. My gut reaction is to use the second zone into the Sonos Amp and then set the audio output to all zones, but I do not have my 7000ES in front of me right now to confirm or check this.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you for the response I will figure it out. I hate calling tech support especially when it’s between 2 companies. Meaning Sony will tell me to call Sonos and Sonos will tell me to call Sony. When I probably don’t even need the port because Sonos is built into the 7000es. lol you guys are great. Dog moms need recognition too today Happy Mother’s Day K
Hello from Florida… it’s 1950 here…hehe…
I'm glad you gave them shit just like all of us customers would say too
Andrew, I have some older Elac EL141 with some sentimental value. Will the Rotel A11MKII drive them properly? If not, any suggestion which Amplifier in the under 1K range will work best?
How would you compare this to the Marantz Stereo 70?
The Stereo 70 is going to align sonically with the Audiolab or Cambridge, but the 70 has more features.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews That’s interesting to know. I hope the stereo 70 does well and we see its features move up the line and other manufacturers catching on.
I appreciate the comparisons & the attention to sound differences. Most helpful when forced to shop online. Recently picked up the Marantz Stereo 70s (open box) for essentially the same price as the A11 MKII. How would you say the sound compares?
The Marantz likely will sound or give one the sensation of a fuller slightly more warmer tone compared to the Rotel.
I'm not AR but I like the Stereo 70 much better.
I would have liked to see a “Loudness” button feature on this amp. Did you miss having that for low listening volumes or are you not a loudness button/knob guy? (The Yamaha models have that I believe) Enquiring minds want to know. 😁
I've never used features like that so I don't or didn't miss it.
Loudness ? Marketers do not want this Magic button!
A11 Tribute is a better choice: Pre OUT, better sound, cheaper... and a display, and fw update possibility... 😄
Nooooo!!!! Its a nonsense amp...no coaxial or optical input.. for me the display is a minus...i love the good old knobs...
@@kodtech that display is a joke. It looks like a 2003 Nokia phone and I really hate its looks, only because of that ugly display that they decided to put on it. The new mkIIs look way better
@GabrielDima98 Dude, now I have both of them, and I don't retract my 1st statement. PS: I've never had a nokia phone 😄
@@kodtech now I also have the mkII and I don't like its sound very much with my speakers lol. It sounds pretty thin with my Diamond 12.2s