This Amp Made my Head Explode! Rotel A11 MK ii is the best integrated amp under $1000... maybe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2023
- Rotel A11 mk ii howl.me/ckrnTMVOxLA
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Randy, did you find the A11 Tribute noise floor a bit high? (I did). You said the new MK2 is "dead quiet". Did you notice much of a difference between the two?
Besides more bass, do you feel that the A11 MK2 is significantly more open/airy sounding vs the A11 Tribute? More detailed/transparent?
Hi Randy.
Any chance you will review the nad 316beev2v? I know it’s older, but would love your opinion on this compared to all the other budget amps you have reviewed. All the best
I’ve owned the A11 Tribute for a little less than a year and listening to music on it actually makes me deeply emotional. Rotel have done a spectacular job in my opinion. (Setup: Rotel A11 & CD 11 Tribute, DALI Oberon 3 Speakers and IsoAcoustics Aperta 200 stands).
Which amp you are using now?
@@Junan.Reclaimed As listed Above, I'm using a Rotel A11 Tribute with a CD11 Tribute CD player and DALI Oberon 3 speakers on ISO Acoustics 200 stands.
Does the MK 2 sound any better?
@@Junan.Reclaimed Rotel A11 Tribute, I listed my entire setup in the original comment.
@@angelheart1129 That was my question, I do not have a MK2.
What I do like about this amp is that the tone controls are physical ! you don't have to enter a dumb menu in order to use them! less digital = More intelligent
Finally! Someone who understands!
I have a Rotel amp and preamp that I bought when I was in the military back in the early 90s that is still my primary audio components to this day and still sounds as good as ever! Love your channel!
Thanks for serving!
Thanks for the Rotel review. I have the RB1582 MKII amp and RB1572 MKII preamp and had such a good experience I recently bought the RCD1572 MKII CD player. Love Rotel equipment. Well built, look great and accurate stats with plenty of power, wide dynamic range and head space with no noise or issues. Highly recommended!
I bought an A12 about a year ago and I’m really happy with it. I run my Thornes TD160 with a Ortofon Bronze into my B&W CM9 speakers. The phono preamp in the Rotel is top notch. I don’t stream so can’t talk about that. Very happy with it, for now. Of course eventually I’ll get bored and want to upgrade, but don’t we all.
Love Rotel equipment. Had a RC1090 pre and RB1070 power, it was my primary system for a couple of decades. Keep up the good work Randy.
I went back and watched some of your vids from two years ago, man have you grown!
That's a very nice amp. I have the Sony STR-DH190 receiver because it has a phono stage input as well. I'm pretty happy with it. Great show! 🤘🏻
I picked up a gently used mk. 1 A12 a couple years back on Ebay and although I'm always looking for a power amp to pair with it I can't really justify it. Sounds awesome and has all the connections most would need. Can't beat the Rotel in-house built toroidal transformers.
It’s nice to see one button for each input so you don’t have to cycle through all of them.
Personally I'd rather have clean front end. Most people are only using a few inputs regularly and rarely are you constantly switching between them constantly.
who needs more than 1 input nowadays?
Coaxial for the streamer, optical for the TV, Phono for vinyl and if possible a second coaxial for the cd player (but you rarely see that so most of the time it will be a second toslink)
How do you get by with only one input?
for me only one - for the streamer - for TV I have yamaha AV reciever, I don`t use CD anymore or tape or phono @@TheMaevian
@@quazar912 Whatever works for you, works, but many people need multiple inputs. I had a receiver that was pre-HDMI, and I used a ton of the inputs on that, as well as having two switch boxes. I miss analogue A/V. (I did use the digital audio connections, as well.)
I have the A12 MKii...It literally makes my lights dip when I turn it on. The transformer is the size of a Gravitron ride at the carnival. It is rated at 60 Watts per channel but the overhead is insane and functionally it is a monster. I have bigger more powerful, more expensive amps that it crushes in real world listening. I am sure the 11 is very similar with just a little less power. These things are really easy to recommend.
PS. the A12 MkII has pre-outs.
Rotel’s one of those brands that don’t make a lot of noise, just consistently delivering quality and value, year after year.
Still owned and operated by original founder’s family, which is getting rare nowadays
I think there might be something wrong with the electrical in your house. You should definitely have that checked out. Not joking.
He’s right I have an old adcom 555 ll power amp, the lights get dimmer when I turn it on, it does in every house that I lived in
@@cbayardelle The 555 was 200wpc, w/a monster toroidal. I used to have one of those in an _apartment_ no less, and it didn’t do that. I also had a Rotel RB990, 200wpc, again a monster toroidal, and again no lights flickering or dimming, on a 15amp circuit. Something’s wrong with the wiring, I guess it depends on what kind of wiring is in your houses, that is scary.
Electrical is good. It's been gone over and is relatively new. No other component I own even my monster amp with more than 3x's the power, has that effect when I power it on. @@declanfarber
Funtastic review Randy, enjoyed the vivid comparison and descriptions of the aspects of the new Rotel a11!🔥🔥👍🏽
this is my kind of review!!!!!!! greatttttttt!!! i have an old Rotel RA 971 int amp. thanks Randy!
Very nice review. From now on this amp is one of my options for my b&w 603 v1 speakers. I am impressed on what you said about the phono stage of the amp
Between your rec and Steve's, I think I'm sold on the A10 Mk ii for my first major upgrade. FWIW, I think it looks beautiful. Love how little Rotel's design language has changed over the years.
A10mkii or A11mkii?
Good informative review. I think a better comparison would be against the similar sized, build quality and priced Audiolab 6000a. Here’s to hoping you consider a review!
Thank you so much for validating my recent purchase of a restickered A11 ( wondered who made Encel brains when Australian Encel has shrunk/sorta died ++) but thankfully the remote is gorgeous in comparison 🎉 love ya work
I like when a product is not over designed, but the sound is good. A bit NAD over it.
Is the sound good ?
@@r423sdex I think so.
Compact and gorgeous. But that's enough about Randy, the amp is good too.
Yet another excellent review, Randy!!
Well... interesting indeed, however, at that price range I wonder if it can at least be on the same league with the PS Audio Sprout 100, which not only is an excellent integrated delivering 100 W at 4 Ohms and with subwoofer output, but it really sounds amazing and delivers awesome image and very cool and wide three dimensional soundstage.
Love my RA-2020 with the RE-2000 equaliser.
The flashing 80's leds are awesome.
Just picked up the Rotel A11 Tribute and I am so happy with it. I have it paired with a Wiim Pro streamer and a Denafrips Ares II DAC and it just all sounds fantastic into my Martin Logan 15 bookshelfs.
Been on my list a while. Thanks for this timely review. You are still twisting my rubber arm. 🤣. I really appreciate your time and information about this amp. Take care, brother.
I like good tone controls, allows you to dial in the sound.
Thanks for the review, Randy. 👍
Love the give away. Congrats on the 200K. It is going to happen!
When I first got into HIFI in the UK in the early 80's. Aside from the usual suspects of traditional British brands, so Naim, Rega, Quad, Linn, Audiolab, Arcam and so on.
The highest regarded next tier for UK audio fans included the real value Japanese amps. This was very much the likes of Marantz, Denon and Rotel.
Rotel especially were always regarded as high quality back then. I believe all these years on, although now assembled out of China, not Japan. It doesn't surprise me they have regarded, a strong product, with a high pedigree.
Personally having owned the Rega Brio (current edition, post 2017). That retailed at £700, and is now close to being replaced, and available on local 😂discount at £550 in the UK. I would personally take that as my top sub £1000 amp tbh. It is only analogue, with next to no features. But purely sonically it is very very good, produces tonnes of current, even at 50w, and easily drives 85db 4 Ohm speakers, plus being a Rega, and given their Turntable history its only feature is a still very strong phono stage built in.
But frankly the good things still said sonically about the Rotel Amps in the same price range doesnt suprise me at all. They were always very well regarded this side if the pond, and were a well respected company who always equally cared most about the sound.
I am glad that that still rings true.
Another great review
Hi Randy , another great video, I wonder this compares with a11 tribune , it’s great they have put proper controls vol tone controls back on. I noticed they dropped the the A B 2 sets of speakers option and bit surprised not have pre out and sub woofer o/p . Does the mk2 have just the one aux I/p as you know the tribune has option to have 2 aux inputs switchable on remote or front panel. You are correct with dac chip set . I hope if eventually Rotel brings out the T11 mk2 they put in the 12v trigger I/p it’s available on a11 as the my 2 as well Kind regard mark
Rotel has made some of the best sounding amps for DECADES
In Australia, Encel is an Australian hifi company that used to build hifi's and had a store in Melbourne. They've since become a distributor for a number of brands including Rotel but have recently released an amplifier called the 'Encel Brains', which is evidfently based on the Rotel A11 Mk2. That perhaps has a slightly more stylish exterior(the front and rear layouts are identical) that really leans into the hifi as decor and the vinyl revival.
Love that amp. i'm still using the Rotel A10 here in Holland. But the A11MKii will be my next amp. with my B&W 706 S2 they are a great match.
Great vid Randy 👍
Thank you for the thorough review! Do you like this a lot better than the A11 Tribute? Thanks
Thanks for another great video. I have a question though - Disregarding the phono preamp - Is the overall sound quality of the mk 2 significantly better than the A11 tribute ? I don't listen to vinyl so was curious if I should still make the effort to get the much harder to find (in my country) mk2... Thanks in advance :)
Nailed it again!!🎉
I own a RA-1062 and I love it. I have to reconsider my comment. I thought the A11 and the RA1062 were comparable. And over the years some features had been dropped and others were added. But the right comparison should be RA1062 vs A12 Mk2 and here Rotel just upped the ante. All modern connections and still the same basic functions. Good job.
There's a little story, in one review, the author said "I heard the RA1062 thought that thing was ONLY $900." In my case I heard the RA1062 and thought it only cost me 40€ 😁
Been hoping for a Rotel review.
I would be curious how this compares to my AXR 100 from Cambridge Audio. I've been pretty pleased with it. No sub out or preamp just like this one.
Good review. I think it would’ve been a good comparison to use the Emotiva BasX, integrated amp. It’s a little closer in price than the Yamaha, and it seems to have a near identical, physical format as well as much more closer matching inputs.
DAC Texas Instruments PCM5102A
I love the A11 Tribute and was surprised the A11MKii had so much less features than the Tribute (no A/B speaker posts, fewer source inputs) but if I understand you correctly, the sound quality (esp lower end) and BBT knobs seem to be a plus!!?!
A11 Tribute had binding posts for 2 pairs of speakers, pre-amp out for Subs, dated RS32 connection -- but no coax. A11 MKii adding physical BBT knobs and marker on the volume is great. Suspect about sound quality being more dynamic, but not 100% surprised. Good review!
Great review. Now you need to do some equalizers, because who else will, and compare new to vintage.
Thinking of upgrading to an integrated and digging this design . Do you think sonically it is an upgrade from an Akitika power amp? They have similar specs.
You should compare it to the A12 MKII, that one has a pre-out and 5 digital inputs (2x coax, 2x optical and 1x USB)
Dated? No way! Perfect, to me. Basic and unassuming.
Thanks!
in my young days rotel i always went for rotel the old rotel i love it
Thanks Randy
Randy, on the tone scale of warm/cool. What`s your listening opinion on where this amp lands?
I run an A14mkii (it was b-stock because it has a tiny scratch on the front)
I run it into ls50 metas and if you happen to find it a little unenthusiastic for some rock music I’d recommend boosting the bass and the treble both up +2 or 3 in the tone section. It will liven up a lot for that punk rock sound.
It’s great in tone bypass for more well recorded things though.
I love British gear. Your review of the A11 mk2 might as well been for my 30 year old Rx950ax receiver. Same power output, same distortion and equally superb phono stage. It got amazing reviews to boot. It does have pre-outs but no sub connection. However, it's equipped with B speaker connections. Good review on a fine piece of equipment Randy. Next up, review gear from Cambridge audio. Thanks.
It's not British, it's Japanese.
It would be very interesting to hear how this (or the A10 Mkii) compares to the Cambridge AXR100 or even to their AXA35
British gear is ok, but it is insanely overprized!
Love to get some comparisons to the Outlaw audio stereo integrated.
I know that you mentioned in the video comparing to Emotiva IAs, and I’m also curious how this would compare, from just the sound quality perspective, to the Emotiva BasX TA2.
From a functional perspective, not really much comparison needed.
I had the a11 tribute and the ta1 at the same time. Even though I had less features I went with the rotel. It sounded more clear.
Hmm…
I wonder if the phono signal is going through the internal dac? Just a thought, probably not…but? Super nice little amp! 🙏🏼
I'd like to know how this compares to the Keces E40. The Keces is also class AB, $50 less and has a preamp output. It also has a MM phono input, a USB input, and 2 analog inputs. 50W @ 8ohms and 65W @ 4ohms. It also has a smaller input.
Nice review. Rotel has always made nice components. I always thought they were the step up from NAD.
Great review. What would you say is the difference in sound between this and the Yamaha as801/as1200?
Great review as usual.
Sounds like a special product, but was hoping for to a possible reference to the Audiolab A6000 which seems to be one of the leaders at this price range.
Keep up the good work. Very much appreciated.
I thought they were going to send me one but it never happened.
Righto...Thanks for the reply and all the best.@@cheapaudioman
For a subwoofer out just use an RCA splitter it's still doable!
It`s great amp for sure..but is there a huge difference and improvement
in sound from Tribute? I own A 11 Tribute and it really warms my heart.. I love it!!
Some Class A/B amplifier goodness!
For connecting a subwoofer to this integrated amp, you can use the speaker outputs - if your subwoofer can do this.
Can you attach the sub speaker wire along with the normal speaker wires to the same binding posts yeh?
@@Gibonz - yes, if the sub has speaker level inputs, you can do this; and since the sub is only using it as a signal (and not drawing very much current), it doesn't lower the impedance that the amp is "seeing" by any significant amount.
Still own Rotel RA04 - excelent amplifier. will chage it only when I get very good deal for some Accuphase amp.
Great review, Randy. Let me ask you this. In your opinion, do you think the Rotel is worth the extra $300 over the Denon pma 600ne? Thanks.
So is this the end of the road for the A11 Tribute?, Won't be selling my one anytime soon, I love the fact you can adjust the tone controls on the remote.
That's why I'll probably snatch one up. And they're on sale now that mkii is here.
Hi Randy, I was wondering how would you compare this to the A300 smsl that you reviewed a few days ago? I imagine that the Rotel is better but how much? Thanks and keep doing those cool videos!
Btw, did you try the rotel or the a300 on other speakers like the Klipsch Rp600 or the Polk R200? 😬
Hey Andy, plz tell more about the headphone output: if you plug it in, the speakers stop playing?
Rotel makes great stuff! What you need to power our music?
was looking forward to another review of this. two questions: how do you think this would pair with a set of elac dbr6.2? assuming the rotel a10 mkii has the same phono pre, do you think you'd opt to go for the a10 mkii and an external dac? seems like that may be the best overall route for a similar cost.
I was thinking the same regarding a10 mk2 with external dac. Is the a10 mk2 the same amp as the a11 mk 2 besides the digital inputs? Both are 50 wpc
I still have my 1992 rotel ra40bx! Still sounds great after a new fix and capacitors! Great phono stage!
Good informative review. I think a better comparison would be against similarly priced Yamaha A-S701(11.5 KG BEAST).I have A-S 701 5 years and iam very very happy!
Would like to ask. Would u consider doing miniDSP FLEX?
I am a huge Emotiva fan boy but love the design, layout and specs! The only downfall for me is there is no sub out?
You really want to ask the manufacturers does it driver a 2 ohm load ? And does it give you a perfect square wave and what's its slew rate voltage, and at what power? tells you more about the amp than just driving 4ohm load
Great review as always. While I do appreciate a minimal aesthetic, I agree that this design does seem a bit outdated.
Their tomatoes are a handy thing to keep in the pantry. Great addition to chili, enchilada sauce, lots of stuff.
😂 I pair Rotel with Velveeta cheese and sausage for my listening dip ❤
@@mikelanier5617 YES!!! I like some pickled jalapeños in there as well. Never tried sausage. Now on my list.
But have you tried Red Gold's tomato-tomatillo blend? It's better than Rotel.
i have allways liked Mexican and Spanish food,but i dislike snakeoil chefs!
The Rotel A12 MK II is $1200 and has line out and 60 watts @ 8 ohms. Might be worth a listen if you want a sub out.
If you had a thousand for an amp what would you buy , clear vibrant , great bass producing ,with decent speakers ( evo 4.4) for a dac cd collection , no vinyl just cds
I am looking at this the TA2, and the AS801. What do you think for driving the new svs ultra evolution bookshelfs
While its power may be more than adequate for many people and loudspeaker pairings, the relatively small increment in power at 4 ohms suggests that there isn’t that much headroom on the power supply, which is definitely not something usual for a more expensive Rotel unit.
And while this is not and expensive amplifier, it isn’t a bargain either.
Maybe it can provide something on sound quality that compensates for that, but that would imply to compare with similarly priced products from other well established manufacturers.
Being around this business for as long as I’ve been, I find that many stereo amplifiers have increased their prices more than their performance, which ends up being related to the (low) number of units sold worldwide these days.
I’m not implying that this isn’t a good product or good buy, but I’d argue that you could spend more and get a better value (bang for your buck).
hi, what would you recommend ? cheers
Looking to upgrade.
I have klipsch mclaren fives with svs sb3000, looking at klipsch 8000f II and polk r700, need to figure out a good amp/receiver that is great with two channel with sub, but also be able to at least do a 7.2 / ps5 and work good with my svs sb3000.
I hope you can test a Purifi amp soon.
Great review. Have you done a review of The Marantz model 50? Between the MK ii and the Model 50, which one is your choice? $$$ is no object.
I’ll stick with my Emotiva TA1 I really like the overall design and features. BTW Emotiva just reduced their prices on their speakers, grab them while you can!
And with the introduction of the Mk II, the A11 Tribute now is $150 off on Crutchfield.
Link to the shower cleaning product?
Another feature that the Rotel Amp doesn't have is AV Bypass so that you can connect it to a AV Receiver.
Wish more amps had AV Bypass, because most AV Receivers Suck in 2ch Stereo
You can set many Rotel amps to fixed input which makes your inputs like mains in
Is it powerful enough to drive 4 Ohms floor standing speakers, like the ELAC FS 247.3?
Test out the Tonewinner AD-7300 II for stereo and HT
Randy would you be able to compare the A11 Mk-II to a Cambridge Audio AXA35 or 85 ?
Will this sound better than a 30 year old Rotel RB-960BX dual mono 60wpc with a 30 year old Anthem TLP-1 pre-amp? I always wonder if age makes a difference.
This vs yamaha as701 or 801? Down to preference?
It felt like you softened the comparison between the Rotel and the Emotiva a bit. Do you do Emotiva ads or promos?
How much of a difference is there between the A11 and the A11 tribute? Dunno if it worth the extra or not...
I just came to say the thumbnail for this video make you look like you got flame red braids piled up on top of your head. Have a happy Friday!
Crutchfield has the Rotel A11 Tribute on sale for $650.
Thanks expensiveaudioman!
@@Fidelity_Sound you answered your own question bud
@@Fidelity_Sound ROFL. 799 is nothing to me. That does not make it cheap. *hug*
I hope you can try the new Schiit Kara preamp with Tyrs.
That pcm5102 can be surprising too..