dont you talk about buying used amps? like old av receivers (sony pioneer kenwood yamaha) arent theese good for 'music only'? cause i think a cheap good quality sound system, is buying a used powerfull old 'modern' amp for 100$ and some good used speakers for 100$
@@Jason787 I don't think he's trying to be misleading. He has mentioned his affiliate position on many of his videos. He does put alot of work into his productions.
@@Jason787 He is paid for using these links. He's literally just getting free gear and dropping referral links in the comments. OF COURSE a $1,000 amp is a super easy recommend if you didn't pay for it. Most of his videos lack the actual product and is just reading off a spec sheet. Low effort content.
@@sergiobisonte With a channel labeled "cheapaudioman" -- Anyways here's a referral to a $1,000+ amp. He has fell of the wagon and become desperate it seems as of late. Daily uploads? lol. They're just mass advertisements now. What happened?
@@AgentLokVokun i just bought a used ebay powerfull kenwood 20 year old av receiver in great condition for 45€... I have some old yamaha surround system speakers. And i will buy a bluetooth receiver, to listen music from the pc too. i will have more than enought good music at my living room for 50€. I know this old av receivers are useless to plug on a tv cause they dont have hdmi. But arent they good for music only? For me this is the best buck for your money
So glad to see you finally give a Rotel a go. I have owned Rotel separates/integrated for 20+ years. They are built like a tank and can last a lifetime. I even had an older RSX-1057 take flight down some stairs. Chipped my concrete floor. Plugged it back in and fired right up with just a corner scuff. I really wanted to try some British amps this recent upgrade, but I can't get myself to take the chance and bought the the A12 with not regrets. Rotel is one of the best kept secrets.... I bought some British speakers instead! - Great video C.A.M.
This is EXACTLY my take on the A11 Tribute. I’ve had mine for about a year. Thought about upgrading the phono stage. Nope. Just fine. BT sounds remarkably great. Clean and balanced with any source. At first I thought mine had a volume issue because I would regularly go into the low 70s. Nope, that’s the way it’s calibrated. I can’t see upgrading any time with this integrated
For only a Benjamin more, the YAMAHA A-S801 is a much better choice. It lacks Bluetooth but you get a really nice DAC, better phono stage, better amplifier with more power, and A LOT better sound.
from the UK here based on your review and the drop-down price in richer sounds England I just bought the Rotel A11 and was only £429 what a bargain .orded a few days ago and it will be with me today. keep up the good reviews
Had a11 for 8 months. Added a Schiit 4-band eq; and enjoying “creamy” class A/B power at moderate listening levels (aroun 50db). We tried the major class D amps under 1600K; and class A/B amps Audiolab and Arcam. Audiolab is super detailed, but zero oomph; Arcam had oomph, but veiled all over. We kept the Rotel.
Then you never tried the Nuprime IDA-8? $1250 class D integrated. Hundred watts per Channel and it is their own proprietary class D module. Very impressive and it would outdo the Rotel. By the way it has a linear toroidal Transformer power supply.
Nice one Randy 👍🏽 I picked up the A11 Tribute a couple of weeks ago and then some pre-owned Focal Aria 926's to go with it, I can honestly say I'm finally happy with what I'm hearing having gone through numerous setups over the years. I only stream music by Bluetooth via a ifi Zen blue V2 and the sound is just perfect to my ears, full and natural sounding without using any tone controls. I'm able to listen to music until the early hours without disturbing anyone as the sound is so clear and engaging even set at a modest level of 35. Wonderful Amp that I'd recommend.
Dude...you just have a really relatable way of reviewing things! You don't come off snobbish or elitist like so many do. I really hope that you are able to continue your journey down this audio rabbithole. I look forward to your reviews every time. Even when you do headphones...I'm just not a headphone guy, but your reviews are always valuable. I signed up for your patreon last week, and I don't do that for ANY reviewers. I probably won't make much use of it, but I wanted to support you in some small way. You really are a cut above, brother. Peace ✌
Great review. After trialing the ‘a series’ at my local audio shop with various speakers (trying to match up with my Axiom M60s at home), I eventually got the A14. Your description matches what O heard. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I love punchy sound and U-shaped EQ lines (Yeah, classic rock! Still have my Dad’s Sansui G receiver!), but the tone controls on this unit will give me exactly what I want, and I’ll have the clean sound to boot! Plus, it’s so slim my wife will love it in our living room (or hate less than my current pre/power combo). Also decided to replace the Axioms (they’ll go to my theatre/rec room/studio space) with a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7Gs. I just really liked the way they sounded paired with this amp (I feel they gave me that natural U curve a bit more). Plus, they got our new living space (in white) better than my walnut Axiom towers. Thanks for the review. Keep rockin man!
Enjoyed this review, it's a nice clean looking integrated . I've been eyeballing the Rotel CD11 Tribute CD player lately which is it's stablemate. The volume control isn't a pot but a digital control that increments in 1db steps, that might be why it "feels" different.
I own the Rotel Tribute CD player - purchased a few months back ( I'm in Uk ) It's paired with a decade old Marantz PM6005 - 45wpc @ 8ohms / 60 @ 4ohms (I suspect the Rotel Tribute amp puts out around 66 wpc Randy ) Had I not got the Marantz I would have bought the matching amp . The Rotel CD player is also very clean with fantastic micro detail Really sings with new Mission QX2 Mk 2 speakers with its insightfu ring radiator 38mm tweeter ! Fantastic build quality & value . I definitely demo the Rotel Tributes if you can 😃
I bought mine on sale just before New Year (still had to use more Canadian dollars than US dollars, though). It has replaced my Vintage UK Sony TA-540E that I brought with me from home and hooked up to a voltage transformer almost half its size. I'm using it with a Dual 607 turntable -- probably going to change that, one of my biggest regrets was leaving my vintage Rotel turntable behind me when I crossed the Atlantic -- an old Samsung DVD player for CDs and an Apple Airport Express for streaming Apple Music from my desktop. My speakers are a pair of Q Acoustics 3030i and everything sounds great. The only thing that was bothering me was how much I have to turn up the volume to get good presence -- especially when using the turntable. so your comments in that regard are reassuring. Thanks for the review, engaging as ever. It's always nice to have your choices validated.
I've owned the A11 Tribute for about 5 months and it's an excellent amp. In Bluetooth receiver is excellent when mated to an aptX device (Samsung S8 in my case). The BT function has the ability to auto turn on the amp, providing it was the last signal source used. This is extremely handy and adds additional value to the product. The setup A12MK-II at $1099 includes a built-in DAC (optical and USB) for hookup to a TV and PC. The auto turn-on capability extends to those functions in the A12, so that likely makes it more worth the added expense than acquiring an external DAC. I have this amp mated to a pair of ELAC UB 5.2s running the Paradigm Room Correction module. The Paradigm module is a steal @ $199 and also includes DTS Play-Fi, which if you can tolerate the gaps in playback is decent. Back to the BT for a minute. I've been listening to a near-CD quality stream from WCRB in Boston for months and it's better than any FM broadcast I've ever heard. Also, using Qobuz as a source, the audio quality is excellent even when compared to Audrivana Studio coupled to an iFi Zen Signature DAC. For casual listening, I could see someone using BT and calling it a day.
@@jamms2966 For me, it's been tremendous. If you use a Samsung phone, with aptX and Dolby Atmos and set it to music, it's surprisingly good. Every morning when I'm starting my day, I can refresh the WCRB stream and I hear the A11 turn on. Because it's BT, I have full control over the volume.
@@larryh9525 Just remember that AptX advantage is that you are streaming at 44.1Khz.. Dolby atmos might be sampling the file to 48Khz just be converted again to 44.1
@@absolutium Hi, I agree about the upsampling. However, What I'm primarily streaming is WCRB (FM signal at 44.1K, 320kbs) and the added tonality of Atmos rivals the best FM tuners I've ever heard. Also, when dealing with Android, everything gets upsampled to 48K, so there's really no way around that unless you're using USB Audio Player Pro. With UAPP, you can bypass Android's upsampling if you're hardwired to the DAC, but in my case (for an FM signal) Atmos/BT sounds better. If you're using Android with Tidal or Qobuz, UAPP definitely sounds better than running audio through Android.
The external remote is for hooking up a RF receiver like an IR1005A. It's so you can hide the amp, or have it in another room and place the IR receiver in a more ideal location. Much love from the land down under, your suggestions on the Geshelli J2 was bang on!
Thank you very much Randy, I've been drooling over the Tribute for a year. Seeing a new review for this Rotel (by you no less) is absolutely fantastic, I hope to own one soon 😁
I have something similar to the tribute. I have the (Rotel A12mkII) you mentioned that you didn't think the tribute was smooth. However the a12 I personally feel is very smooth detailed great mid-range male vocals. Looking for a good pair of speakers, watching your other videos about affordable loudspeakers. Keep up the good work.
Pretty sure the "ext rem in " is meant for a small external sensor to work with the remote control.This input allows you to attach an external remote sensor in case the unit is kept in a cabinet where the front of the unit is blocked and doesn't allow you to access it with the remote control.Years ago I worked as a Comcast tech and all of the old set top boxes had these as well.
Having owned my A11 Tribute for 12 months, I am in full agreement with your assessments. Mine is matched with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.2s, a SVS sub, and a Topping E30 DAC for streaming duties. I haven't experienced the onboard phono pre-amp due to cable-length issues connecting my Denon turntable (which has fixed output cables, unfortunately), utilising a Rega Fono Mini pre-amp instead. I love the very clean sound of this amp, and prefer the "Tone bypass" setting for the majority of my listening.
I was looking hard at this model! I went with Rotel separates (1552 + 1570) instead. They're great. I don't know why the Rotel brand isn't a bigger name; maybe they skimp on marketing. Fun fact: did you know that Rotel is still owned by the Japanese family that created it? Yup, no Sound United shenanigans at Rotel. Rotel are OGs
Rotel has been around for a very long time...and yes...they seemingly aren't a household name, but they are and always have been very well regarded. I use a Rotel tuner in my setup and it is EXCELLENT! Most tuners that you see are very basic and lightweight...mine weighs a TON. not that it means everything, but it speaks to the engineering and build quality. You can't go wrong with anything Rotel, in my experience.
Rotel has been around a long time and is a very popular brand in entry level hifi - Magnolia sells it as does many local audio stores. I gave my dad the 1072/1062 combo in 2007 - he loved it, he passed on and now it's my main system for audio and 2 channel video. My next upgrade will be something like Musical Fidelity or Hegel in a year or two.
Rotel is a big name among people who like hifi equipment. There are many many brands with same issue to break out of hifi cycles: Atoll, Krell, etc. They make great products but no one outside of the community knows what it is.
I have had mine for about a year now and it has been flawless, I updated to the latest firmware and that resolves a clicking sound when pausing bluetooth media. No reason to look for anything else for a while 👍
I would be very interested in any reviews of the Outlaw Audio products. Definitely is not much out there they have two items I think many of us would be interested in your opinion on. There new 2220 monoblock amp that has insane specs and price and likely is a Vidar killer. The other is the super loaded RR2130MkII receiver not sure if you could get some to review but they are items that are in your reviewing wheelhouse that many of us would be interested in your opinion on.
Technics used to use a remote cable bringing additional component function to the receiver remote. Are there unused buttons on the remote? Great video, always enjoy listening to you. I consider you a non related family member who always has intriguing conversations to make any mundane family event a reason to attend. Keep up the great work!
Rotel is quality gear. i have the A12 in silver and its basically the same but with DAC and 60wpc. my only gripe is the front pannel metal is very easy to mark/blemish and the top texture means its a bit harder to wipe down... but thats nit-picking I run speaker A-B to my biwire speakers. Also, on the rotel site it says they support 4-ohm speakers but only if thats the ONLY speaker connected at a time. if you use 2 zones then they MUST be 8ohm min.
@@marko-182 To change the brightness of the front display, press the MENU button to toggle to the DIMMER Setting. Then press the - or + buttons on the front panel to change the display brightness.
I think Rotel implements the logarithmic way of the volume control which is more meaningful. You get better control when you want to fine tune the lower volume but it is not necessary to have that level of fine tuning when the volume is already too high. A very thought through implementation. Not many people will understand this logic. Also the way we hear as human is also logarithmic. Awesome Rotel.
I've owned Rotel gear for years. This is the way their volume controls have always worked. Took a little getting used to at first, but now it's no big deal.
Great review!, Got both the A11 and CD11 in black, paired to Dali Oberon 5. listening to CD’s is the best you’re going to get without going broke, I listen to jazz and big band groups and it’s great sound separation and clear. . Paired to the WiiM streamer and much improved sound from crap sources like iHeart radio. Attached a cheap No name DAC and the Ageing TCL TV via toslink for streaming tv and Xbox. Sounds cleaner and more pleasant than cheap 5.1 surround packs, so unless you need surround it will manage well as a 2.1 setup as well. Still considering a turntable. But if you like CD’s and phono and 2.1 setup and not worried about using a DAC… it’s the end game for budget to mid level component setups if you want super clean clarity and old school quality. I prefer discs so digital is not a priority.
Checking on the specs, I see that it is a Class A/B, and I think that is an excellent thing. A good phono section is another very good thing. Reading between the lines - if this can drive two pairs of 8 ohm nominal speakers at 50watts/ch; then it is "rated" at 50w/ch into a pair of 4 ohm speakers.
Really comprehensive and well sourced review. Everything you described of this Rotel also reminds me of the Creek Evolution 50a…even the volume pot attenuation tending to be set higher.
Sounds like a nice modern update of the features you used to get with a vintage receiver. Appreciate the more gradual volume control - I'm barely able to turn the volume control on my current 50x2 IE above 11:00, and I have to be lightning fast when trying to make small volume adjustments using the remote. Also appreciate that they let the buyer select the quality and feature level of DAC that they want to use. Did you try the Tribute with the Elac DBR 62? You've referred to them as "buttery", but they may be harder to drive with this amp.
I just prefer the 6000a but the rotel has great Bluetooth . I tried using a power amp on rotel and its no go . Something surprised me, the rotel goes really well with yamaha ns bp401 (shocked he'll yes) overall a great amp .
7:25 the 12V trigger is something you can connect to other devices and passes off a signal from the amp when it's turned off. That 12v trigger signal will trigger other connected components to go into standby mode. However, make sure ONLY to connect 12v outputs to 12v inputs or vice versa. Connecting two 12v trigger outputs can cause damage. RS232 is just a standardized serial interface that has been common in the industry for decades and it can be used used for almost anything (a bit like USB) - in this case it's probably used to send remote signals. It's common on pro audio equipment, but it's a bit strange to see it on a HiFi component if you'd ask me... Just a tip: You should also review the Rotel RCD-1572 MKII - I think it's one of the few good quality cd players released in the past few years.
I like it, but as a Total & Permanent Disabled USAF Veteran, I am on a fixed income...so, I can't afford it. Still, a very nice rig...and a good review.
Thank you for a great review! I was pleasantly surprise to hear they sound good with the Lintons, even though they can dip to 3.5 ohms. I don’t care for Roon offered by the higher models, so if it’s powerful enough for the Lintons, it’s a more cost effective solution.
Hola Randy - recently acquired Rotel A11 & wiim mini based on your reviews - do you recommend using a dac in connecting wiim to A11 - if so what dac do you recommend - thanks!
Randy....2 integrated amps that are out there that fly WAY under the radar are the Outlaw Audio RR2160 and Nuprime IDA-8. Outlaw is only $999! 27lbs , 110watts into 8 and 165watts into 4. Class AB..Built in Dac. Nuprime is $1250, Class D.....with their own proprietary power module, 100watts into 8 and 4 ohms, Built in DAC, they use a linear torodial power supply. Any chance you can review these? They offer an exceptional value. What you are all about:)
Rotel is considered to be entry level audiophile grade equipment I've owned two Rotels and my sound system in my office is one of them. I'm listening to this video thru the Rotel
When I was shopping for an amp, my choices came down to the Rotel A11 Tribute and the Cambridge Audio ARX-85. I went with the Cambridge Audio amp but it could have gone either way.
Heard the Camb. A. paired with some Wharfedale speakers, it sounded OK and I could not tell the difference between it and a Yamaha R-N803? Sadly the CXA81 when measured is not on par with other amps from the same price range, don't know about the AXR. The problem is the built quality, most complain that it is a throw piece of equipment when in fails and I am talking about even the older Cambridge Audio amps.
great review - really thinking of picking it up over Marantz PM6007 / Denon PMA600. Sad to hear NAD doesn't compare, but I shouldn't be surprised. Would really like to hear a show-down between Rotel, Cambridge & Arcam.
I just bought the A12 a few months ago. Very happy with it with a couple of issues. First off I wish it had a Mono switch for when I spin Mono LPs. I play LPs almost 90% of the time. I When I had my Adcom’s I never had to turn it up more than 1/4. Now I need to push this to 55 or 60 to drive my Snell Type E IV. Other than that it’s fine.
you can tell when you are at the sweet spot as its not AS HOT. sounds contradictory but its hotter when its LOW / VERY HIGH level but its just warm when its in the 'sweet spot'.
Anyone wondering how the Fosi ZA3 compares to the Tribute…let me just tell you the Tribute wipes the floor with the Fosi amps in comparison. It’s not close. The Fosi amps are great but do yourself a favor and get a “real” amp as soon as you can. Running Wiim Pro into Denafrips Ares II and into Martin Logan 15 speakers. The Tribute sounds significantly better than my Arcam AVR 10 as well.
My first hi-fi system revolved around a Rotel RX 850 receiver, and to this day I still regret selling it on eBay as it had better sound than virtually anything else I can recall hearing. I eventually replaced it with a used $2000 Marantz home theater receiver that I bought at a steal on eBay, but I should’ve just kept the Rotel rather than let it go for some thing like $100. The one thing I have a bit of trouble believing about this review is that any 50 W per channel Rotel amplifier would have trouble driving any speaker under may be $1500. A fundamental of Rotel ‘s design philosophy is to put in very heavy, high current power transformers in all of their amplification units and Rotels have always punched far above their weight class. Before I sold my old 30-watt/channel RX-850, I did a comparison with the “100 watt per channel“ Yamaha home theater receiver my sister had just received as a Christmas present through a pair of Paradigm Monitor 7 floorstanders, and there was no comparison. Although I didn’t have a sound meter available for any specific statistics, to my ears the Rotel would play 50% louder than the allegedly three times as powerful Yamaha without distortion whereas the Yamaha began producing audible distortion at what could probably be described as only moderately loud listening levels. Last year I bought an used RA-02 Rotel integrated amp off eBay, but the seller foolishly shipped it in the original Rotel box that proudly described what was inside the box and it disappeared from the USPS tracking system when it hit the regional USPS shipping center, rather obviously swiped by a crooked Postal Service employee. I picked up a more powerful Cambridge Audio Azur 651A integrated amplifier with a built-in USB DAC and I like that quite well, but I suspect the Rotel would have had clearer sound as the Cambridge Audio is a bit warm.
The last firmware update for this amp and the cd11 fixes alot of bugs and the amp sounds much better for it. However Rotel's update procedure is like going back to the 90's (clunky and untrustworthy, would be nice to see somthing a bit more in the right decade for updating.
Hi, I subscribed your channel. I’ve been interested in a rotelle since I heard one. I bought a pair of B&W speakers from someone who had a rotelle set up stereo separation and clarity was amazing and he said do yourself a favor, build an all British system. he had some money. I think he had B&W diamond Spirit speakers I could hardly pick up the magnets were so heavy I’m not in the position spend $5000 for a whole system. The reviews I’m getting are that the rotelle does not have enough base I listen to hard rock I like my chest to pound, I also will listen to classical jazz any type of guitar oriented music. If you get this message would you steer me away from the A1 Mark or am I going to have to add a sub to get tight chest pounding base and is the 50 W enough do I need to jump to 80watts? Thanks. I’ll continue to watch your bids either way.
Just replaced my broken Marantz PM 6005 with the Tribute (600€ in France) - plugged to Mulidine floorstandings ...And What I get is a cleaner and punchier sound, less mellow than the Marantz... Very natural sounding amp ... tighter base line ... Using a SMSL SU8 dac plugged to roon and a Naim CD5X Very impressed by the results, especially by the level of details ...
Hi. I am enjoying your vids and since I am in the market for a new amp and allready having a high value Pro-Ject turntable, I am a little bit “moved” to look for a Pro-Ject for vinyl only (intergrated) amp. But never see this brand coming by. Arent tjey not that good or? Would love to see a review of their, maybe, line of non-turntables devices and what combination will do the trick and your opinion of them. Thanks
Hi Randy, really like your channel. Wanted to ask you and your followers how this compares to the Cambridge axr100. These 2 are on my short list. Also would like to pair with Elac unifi 5.2, unless something better has came along. Thanks and keep up the good work
Own this Rotel and Audiolab 6000a. The 6000a is a bit better in SQ. The bass is more nuanced and it has a more even presentation overall. But the Rotel counters with a really big sound especially with the bass boost sound modes. It also has tone controls the 6000a lacks, which provide a handy way to tailor your sound to the situation. I use the 6000a in my stereo set up for it's audiophile precision, and the Rotel A11 Tribute in my home theater to power the front channels where I can take advantage of it's flexibility. Both excellent, but the A11 at $400 less is a smoking deal.
I had a similar experience with both amps. Audiolab was much more nuanced, but lacked oomph. We traded a bit of that nuance for the muscular sound Rotel a11 provided. Would be interesting to try Audiolab with a power amp.
@@gokhanersan8561 Hi Gokhan, my Rotel A11 broke (less than yr old). I switched inputs and it didn't work after that. Rotel took care of me though and had me send the amp to a shop for service. I just got it back. In the meantime, I had the 6000a powering my Focal Chora's and it was absolutely terrible with them (thin and harsh). When the Rotel came back in so did the sweet music! Bottom line, I think the Rotel pairs well with fast, forward, thin speakers and the 6000a pairs better with thick and slow speakers like the Polk R200's.
@@bearclaw5115 That must be why some people are still swearing by Audiolab. Well, These days I want to upgrade to bigger speakers, and wondering if a11 could handle 4 ohm speakers or not. Or would I have to upgrade to the bigger Rotel amps is what I am wondering.
I agree! Got the equivalent NAD C368 for the integrated Bluesound, but I’m not exclusive. I also like a Rotel amp I have in a different system. I have read great reviews of the equivalent Outlaw. Hmmm…What to get next?! 🤔 Speakers? Maybe replace my vintage Spica TC-50s? @cheapaudioman, could you review some Tekton speakers? There are many under $2k, and their highly popular full-range Lore is 1/2 that, shipped.
Excellent review of a great product. This Rotel has been on my very short list to replace my beloved SX550 when the time comes to retire it. Great looks, plenty of connections, blue tooth, remote and clean good sound and priced right, no negative points IMO.
No Michel, that's what the 12v trigger is for. Here is Rotel's explanation: EXT REM IN Jack This 3.5mm mini-jack receives command codes from industry-standard infrared receivers via hard-wired connections. This feature could prove useful when the unit is installed in a cabinet and the front-panel sensor is blocked. Consult your authorized Rotel dealer for information on these external repeaters and the proper wiring of a jack to fit the mini-jack receptacle.
It is so cheap, you can hear it's transformer humming. If you don't want to hear it, you have to turnt the music on. The sound is good but not "Tribute".
It’s between this and the Yamaha A-S801. Which would you choose? Building my first audio system since my college days in the ‘80s. And I have a lot more money. 😆 Great review.
Really Impressed with the remote control tricks!! When I get Really excited when rocking out on either my Yamaha rxa2040 /Polk r 200s system or the Crazy Bose Concertos lifestyle system I've put together I pretend like my Bose remote controls drumsticks lol 😆 I plan on making a vid comparing the two systems.
Appreciate the review but why would I spend that much money on that when I just won a bid on Ebay for $500 for a pristine refurbished Pioneer SX-780 from 1979? Nothing can replace the receivers of the 70's through early 80's......nothing.
A12 - I have the A12 which, I admit is now being used as a secondary system powering monitor audio silver 100’s in the lounge and Origin Acoustics director D85’s out on the deck. Only use it with a Node 2i. The sound is awesome. It used to power my rig in my Vinyl room before upgrading. Couldn’t recommend Rotel more.
I’m new to the audiophile world. I was inspired to someday have a decent stereo set up because my best friends grandfather had a set of Klipsch Cornwalls in a listening room. I will never forget the first time he played them for me. Anyway, I’m to poor for Cornwalls, so I ordered the CSS torii speaker kit. I need recommendations on an integrated amp that will not only run the Torii, but also be capable of running the TDX2 towers at some point after I save some coin.
I just picked up one for $400 AUD (price new here is $989AUD) the one I got is practically new. Barely used by previous owner. Extremely happy as I have been wanting one for some time. Pairs nicely with my Q Acoustics 3020i. 👌💯
I use my Rotel A14 as a preamp coupled to an Akitika power amp. This gives me the features and flexibility of the Rotel but the warm almost ‘tube-like’ sound of the GT102 going into Wharfedale 12.1s. Sounds great in my opinion.
Please, please, PLEASE, for the LOVE OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, will someone DO A VIDEO that explains what's the best way to use the remote hole found in a receiver's rear??? um... You know, the 3.5mm "Remote In" a.k.a. "IR Flasher" found on MANY receivers, amps, subwoofers, etc... Not the 12vt Trigger, nor RCA Orange/Yellow/Purple/Celadon/Amaranth/whatever color found on Marantz, Denon, etc.... I know it works with remotes like a Logitech, but no one seems know if you have to have a blaster box, IR blaster, Flasher Blaster, Master Blaster, or if you can use a plain old flasher if it says IR flasher. I did a lot of online research looking for flashers and I only have more questions now about other things. I'm told my mind has been in the gutter ever since but I don't see it. Anyway, maybe, Randy, you could undress for us newbs, noobs, or is it nubes? the topic of Flashers? Not to be confused with Mooners, bare naked drinkers, crack smoking bears, audio tweaking derrieres, or audiolics with substance abuse issues. I think you know all there is to know about audio, so why flash right by the flasher port? Answer the tough questions, Randy! Like what happens if a flasher's jacket falls off and the male 3.5mm thingy is exposed? Is it still a flasher, or is it bare naked? What are blaster boxes and why are they connected in a room full of flashers flashing? Does flashing another flasher have the desired effect? If this were DC, do you think the Flash ever flashes someone just to be shocking? I have so many questions that I believe only you can help me with. I love you, Randy. U-D CLASS-E AH-DIO-Man to me. Reverend Paul, p.s. The F.A. "Sharing is Caring" meeting, where anonymity is priority 1, has been canceled due to the new Covid 91 strain, and not last week's public indecency incident. Everyone a part of this email chain please send this to all your friends so they can find anonymity too.
I don't understand the DAC situation.. not just with this amp but in general. With amps without a DAC, can't I just use the headphone out of my laptop and run an 1/8" split into the RCA inputs and be good? With a DAC.. are you going USB-out from a laptop into a USB-in on a DAC.. and then going.. RCA into the amp? I'm assuming the benefit is better sound quality? Many thanks. - UneducatedAudioman
How many of you guys have had your favorite college basketball team burst your audio upgrading plans? Stop gambling now if it isn't going well, or not only won't you be able to upgrade anytime soon, but you might even have to sell some of what you own now. Don't let that 7 foot two player on the opposing team send you back to using zipcord for cables or playing 8 tracks. The basketball referees have completely taken over the game. Every time you turn around, they're interrupting the action for 4 minutes , putting on the headphones and going to the replay monitors to see whose fingers touched the ball last. It's really nauseating, as are the deluge of commercials, lengthy referee discussions etc. They've successfully made a fun game to watch into a travesty. I know, it gives you fat guys enough time to go and get more snacks, but Geez! Every year, for many, March Madness is more like March Sadness. It would be impossible for me to lose a lot, since I don't ever bet a lot. Maybe I lack guts. Speaking of guts, why doesn't Randy show the guts of some of the equipment being reviewed? Audiophiles just love to see Huge Beefy Caps and Metal Film Resistors. The metal film ones used to bet blue. Watch the impedence of the speakers you're using. Speaker manufacturers are given leeway as to rated impedences + or minus a certain amount. Your 4 ohm rated speakers may be ones that dip well below that; legally! Rotel has always seemed to be a darling of the U.K.. review magazines. Some say there is stiffer competition over there too. Probably more great U.K.and European equipment than U.S. equipment. European speakers drivers virtually have a stronghold within the higher end quality sector. So lets say you've been doing ok with your sports bets. Do you use your winnings to upgrade now, or do you bet more this weekend in hopes of getting something even better? Or do you do they unthinkable and ask your wife? A lot of the Texas teams got knocked out this weekend; but they sure did put up a valiant fight. So many good teams out of Texas. TCU actually covered on the points against AZ. Arizona got lucky in overtime when a missed shot bounced straight up and one of their 7 foot monstrosities grabbed it over the hoop and slammed the door shut. Isn't it ridiculous how Arizona has not 1, but 2, over 7 foot players; and instead of them hanging around the basket, they're usually running around way out on the perimeter somewhere? Also ridiculous is that they got out-rebounded by players a foot shorter in height That and countless other bonehead happenings have removed them as a favorite in my mind. TCU almost did it. Their head coach previously coached the Pitt Panthers to 14 winning seasons in a row. Under several new coaches the Panthers look they're headed for 14 "losing" seasons in a row. Too bad you can't place bets on teams bound to lose and get good odds on it. For those who don't have exceptionally good cables, an integrated amp lets you use one less interconnect than seperates, and even darn good cables degrade the sound by a beg amount. Transparency and openness collapse to name two things. There's more lost too. It's refreshing to see something that looks so good visually as the Rotel. So much plain jane looking stuff these days. Something that looks special on the outside, always gives me a good feeling; that a lot of thought might have gone into its design on the inside too.
Hi Randy, I now have a11 cd11 set up and does sound great with my b&w 602 s3 speakers , also have ifi zen V2 dac, using my iPhone for streaming, now also have B&w 606s2 anniversary, as you know has 2 sets of speakers output I can have either or when listening to, great interesting video. Regards mark
I purchased this unit to use at my second home (camp) at Crutchfield for $650, I like it way more than I thought I would and I'm thinking of keeping it in my main set up instead. Starting down the Rabbit hole again.
Ok I've checked out the link its beautiful and on my list of I wants. So to change the subject my guess you are 25 to 30 yrs younger than me. I'm aware of your Drumming past and if you have never listened to grand funks closer to home you owe it to yourself to do so . It's been a long time since I heard drums right,left,and behind its a great performance by a great band give a listen I think you will enjoy it. If you do you will thank me. Best to ya.
I have a question regarding the A11 Amplifier please. The manual states that 4 ohm speaker load can be used but as long as it's only 1 pair of speakers. My question is, can that pair of 4 ohm speakers be bi-wired using the Amplifiers speaker A and B terminals? or only A or B ?
Have a Rotel 1520 which was the early 2000's equivalent to this. Beautiful amp but my experience is that it is pretty underpowered and ultimately underwhelming. Switching from the 1520 to a cheaper class D with a lot more power really woke up my speakers and "lifted the veil". It's not a pretty but a $30 chinese tube pre (FX-01) combined with a XTZ A-300 power amp blew away the Rotel in every department for roughly half the investment. I'd love an integrated that sounded as good and helped me clean up my frankenstien setup but I can't see going back to one of these relatively high dollar integrated with all the high powered class D stuff coming out of China and elsewhere exist. I use an Emotiva Stealth SP-1 which is an input switcher and phono pre and again the phono pre of this blows doors on the one built into the Rotel. Just another perspective.
@@MrEcoconstructus No I'm using a IcePower based XTZ Edge A2 300. Waiting to see if someone comes out with a more powerful dual mono TPA3255 based amp.
@@robertgruber982 yes i was thinking about this solution 2x3255 AMP a it seems to be the chipest way to go. Just need to valid it. a youtuber try it just with r and l and sound seems to be perfect without monoing the AMP. Thanks.
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=========www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
dont you talk about buying used amps? like old av receivers (sony pioneer kenwood yamaha) arent theese good for 'music only'?
cause i think a cheap good quality sound system, is buying a used powerfull old 'modern' amp for 100$ and some good used speakers for 100$
@@Jason787 I don't think he's trying to be misleading. He has mentioned his affiliate position on many of his videos. He does put alot of work into his productions.
@@Jason787 He is paid for using these links. He's literally just getting free gear and dropping referral links in the comments. OF COURSE a $1,000 amp is a super easy recommend if you didn't pay for it. Most of his videos lack the actual product and is just reading off a spec sheet.
Low effort content.
@@sergiobisonte With a channel labeled "cheapaudioman" -- Anyways here's a referral to a $1,000+ amp.
He has fell of the wagon and become desperate it seems as of late. Daily uploads? lol. They're just mass advertisements now. What happened?
@@AgentLokVokun i just bought a used ebay powerfull kenwood 20 year old av receiver in great condition for 45€... I have some old yamaha surround system speakers. And i will buy a bluetooth receiver, to listen music from the pc too. i will have more than enought good music at my living room for 50€. I know this old av receivers are useless to plug on a tv cause they dont have hdmi. But arent they good for music only? For me this is the best buck for your money
So glad to see you finally give a Rotel a go. I have owned Rotel separates/integrated for 20+ years. They are built like a tank and can last a lifetime. I even had an older RSX-1057 take flight down some stairs. Chipped my concrete floor. Plugged it back in and fired right up with just a corner scuff. I really wanted to try some British amps this recent upgrade, but I can't get myself to take the chance and bought the the A12 with not regrets. Rotel is one of the best kept secrets.... I bought some British speakers instead! - Great video C.A.M.
A12 ownder here too.
Love my A12! Completely blew me away how much better it does than all my AVRs for pure dedicated listening!
@@HomeTheatre101 I would normally say that too, but all my AVRs are also Rotels!
This is EXACTLY my take on the A11 Tribute. I’ve had mine for about a year. Thought about upgrading the phono stage. Nope. Just fine. BT sounds remarkably great. Clean and balanced with any source. At first I thought mine had a volume issue because I would regularly go into the low 70s. Nope, that’s the way it’s calibrated. I can’t see upgrading any time with this integrated
Very cool. Glad that we had similar experiences.
For only a Benjamin more, the YAMAHA A-S801 is a much better choice. It lacks Bluetooth but you get a really nice DAC, better phono stage, better amplifier with more power, and A LOT better sound.
What kind of speaker are you using w the A11? Thanks
The BT sounds surprisingly good.
It's only 50 wpc. Do you think it's lacking power? I'm considering it with some bookshelf speakers.
from the UK here based on your review and the drop-down price in richer sounds England I just bought the Rotel A11 and was only £429 what a bargain .orded a few days ago and it will be with me today. keep up the good reviews
Had a11 for 8 months. Added a Schiit 4-band eq; and enjoying “creamy” class A/B power at moderate listening levels (aroun 50db). We tried the major class D amps under 1600K; and class A/B amps Audiolab and Arcam. Audiolab is super detailed, but zero oomph; Arcam had oomph, but veiled all over. We kept the Rotel.
Then you never tried the Nuprime IDA-8? $1250 class D integrated. Hundred watts per Channel and it is their own proprietary class D module. Very impressive and it would outdo the Rotel. By the way it has a linear toroidal Transformer power supply.
@@ryanschipp8513 who sells that? I was also eyeing RogueSphynx, have you heard that one?
Nice one Randy 👍🏽
I picked up the A11 Tribute a couple of weeks ago and then some pre-owned Focal Aria 926's to go with it, I can honestly say I'm finally happy with what I'm hearing having gone through numerous setups over the years.
I only stream music by Bluetooth via a ifi Zen blue V2 and the sound is just perfect to my ears, full and natural sounding without using any tone controls. I'm able to listen to music until the early hours without disturbing anyone as the sound is so clear and engaging even set at a modest level of 35.
Wonderful Amp that I'd recommend.
Love the fact they made this as a tribute to Ken Ishiwata. I still use a KI Signature Marantz CD Player designed by him.
Dude...you just have a really relatable way of reviewing things! You don't come off snobbish or elitist like so many do. I really hope that you are able to continue your journey down this audio rabbithole. I look forward to your reviews every time. Even when you do headphones...I'm just not a headphone guy, but your reviews are always valuable. I signed up for your patreon last week, and I don't do that for ANY reviewers. I probably won't make much use of it, but I wanted to support you in some small way. You really are a cut above, brother. Peace ✌
Got it and was not disappointed and just before it went up in price £389 now£589 goes well with monitor audio silvers
Great review. After trialing the ‘a series’ at my local audio shop with various speakers (trying to match up with my Axiom M60s at home), I eventually got the A14. Your description matches what O heard. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I love punchy sound and U-shaped EQ lines (Yeah, classic rock! Still have my Dad’s Sansui G receiver!), but the tone controls on this unit will give me exactly what I want, and I’ll have the clean sound to boot! Plus, it’s so slim my wife will love it in our living room (or hate less than my current pre/power combo). Also decided to replace the Axioms (they’ll go to my theatre/rec room/studio space) with a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7Gs. I just really liked the way they sounded paired with this amp (I feel they gave me that natural U curve a bit more). Plus, they got our new living space (in white) better than my walnut Axiom towers.
Thanks for the review. Keep rockin man!
Enjoyed this review, it's a nice clean looking integrated . I've been eyeballing the Rotel CD11 Tribute CD player lately which is it's stablemate. The volume control isn't a pot but a digital control that increments in 1db steps, that might be why it "feels" different.
I own the Rotel Tribute CD player - purchased a few months back
( I'm in Uk )
It's paired with a decade old Marantz PM6005 - 45wpc @ 8ohms / 60 @ 4ohms
(I suspect the Rotel Tribute amp puts out around 66 wpc Randy )
Had I not got the Marantz I would have bought the matching amp .
The Rotel CD player is also very clean with fantastic micro detail Really sings with new Mission QX2 Mk 2 speakers with its insightfu ring radiator 38mm tweeter !
Fantastic build quality & value .
I definitely demo the Rotel Tributes if you can 😃
I bought mine on sale just before New Year (still had to use more Canadian dollars than US dollars, though). It has replaced my Vintage UK Sony TA-540E that I brought with me from home and hooked up to a voltage transformer almost half its size. I'm using it with a Dual 607 turntable -- probably going to change that, one of my biggest regrets was leaving my vintage Rotel turntable behind me when I crossed the Atlantic -- an old Samsung DVD player for CDs and an Apple Airport Express for streaming Apple Music from my desktop. My speakers are a pair of Q Acoustics 3030i and everything sounds great. The only thing that was bothering me was how much I have to turn up the volume to get good presence -- especially when using the turntable. so your comments in that regard are reassuring. Thanks for the review, engaging as ever. It's always nice to have your choices validated.
Very good and detailed review, many thanks. I’m thinking of purchasing this to replace a ‘deceased’ Rotel unit.
I've owned the A11 Tribute for about 5 months and it's an excellent amp. In Bluetooth receiver is excellent when mated to an aptX device (Samsung S8 in my case). The BT function has the ability to auto turn on the amp, providing it was the last signal source used. This is extremely handy and adds additional value to the product. The setup A12MK-II at $1099 includes a built-in DAC (optical and USB) for hookup to a TV and PC. The auto turn-on capability extends to those functions in the A12, so that likely makes it more worth the added expense than acquiring an external DAC.
I have this amp mated to a pair of ELAC UB 5.2s running the Paradigm Room Correction module. The Paradigm module is a steal @ $199 and also includes DTS Play-Fi, which if you can tolerate the gaps in playback is decent.
Back to the BT for a minute. I've been listening to a near-CD quality stream from WCRB in Boston for months and it's better than any FM broadcast I've ever heard. Also, using Qobuz as a source, the audio quality is excellent even when compared to Audrivana Studio coupled to an iFi Zen Signature DAC. For casual listening, I could see someone using BT and calling it a day.
nice
very helpful/useful details, Larry! the auto turn on seems like it would be a terrific feature
@@jamms2966 For me, it's been tremendous. If you use a Samsung phone, with aptX and Dolby Atmos and set it to music, it's surprisingly good. Every morning when I'm starting my day, I can refresh the WCRB stream and I hear the A11 turn on. Because it's BT, I have full control over the volume.
@@larryh9525 Just remember that AptX advantage is that you are streaming at 44.1Khz.. Dolby atmos might be sampling the file to 48Khz just be converted again to 44.1
@@absolutium Hi, I agree about the upsampling. However, What I'm primarily streaming is WCRB (FM signal at 44.1K, 320kbs) and the added tonality of Atmos rivals the best FM tuners I've ever heard. Also, when dealing with Android, everything gets upsampled to 48K, so there's really no way around that unless you're using USB Audio Player Pro. With UAPP, you can bypass Android's upsampling if you're hardwired to the DAC, but in my case (for an FM signal) Atmos/BT sounds better. If you're using Android with Tidal or Qobuz, UAPP definitely sounds better than running audio through Android.
The external remote is for hooking up a RF receiver like an IR1005A.
It's so you can hide the amp, or have it in another room and place the IR receiver in a more ideal location.
Much love from the land down under, your suggestions on the Geshelli J2 was bang on!
I love my vintage Rotel amp. They make great amps! Thanks Randy! 👍
Morning, G!
I'm a Rotel RC-1572 MKII owner. It is one sweet pre-amp which works very well with my Adam Audio T8V's.
Thank you very much Randy, I've been drooling over the Tribute for a year. Seeing a new review for this Rotel (by you no less) is absolutely fantastic, I hope to own one soon 😁
I have something similar to the tribute. I have the (Rotel A12mkII) you mentioned that you didn't think the tribute was smooth. However the a12 I personally feel is very smooth detailed great mid-range male vocals. Looking for a good pair of speakers, watching your other videos about affordable loudspeakers. Keep up the good work.
Pretty sure the "ext rem in " is meant for a small external sensor to work with the remote control.This input allows you to attach an external remote sensor in case the unit is kept in a cabinet where the front of the unit is blocked and doesn't allow you to access it with the remote control.Years ago I worked as a Comcast tech and all of the old set top boxes had these as well.
i agree
Having owned my A11 Tribute for 12 months, I am in full agreement with your assessments. Mine is matched with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.2s, a SVS sub, and a Topping E30 DAC for streaming duties. I haven't experienced the onboard phono pre-amp due to cable-length issues connecting my Denon turntable (which has fixed output cables, unfortunately), utilising a Rega Fono Mini pre-amp instead. I love the very clean sound of this amp, and prefer the "Tone bypass" setting for the majority of my listening.
I also got the 12.2s and I'm searching for an amp. How does the A11 pair with the Diamonds? Do you recommend the combo?
@@GabrielDima98 Yes indeed, I'm very happy with my setup
I’ve got the A14 as a preamp going into an Akitika GT102. Sounds great through Wharfedale 12.1s
I was looking hard at this model! I went with Rotel separates (1552 + 1570) instead. They're great. I don't know why the Rotel brand isn't a bigger name; maybe they skimp on marketing.
Fun fact: did you know that Rotel is still owned by the Japanese family that created it? Yup, no Sound United shenanigans at Rotel.
Rotel are OGs
that's cool
Rotel has been around for a very long time...and yes...they seemingly aren't a household name, but they are and always have been very well regarded. I use a Rotel tuner in my setup and it is EXCELLENT! Most tuners that you see are very basic and lightweight...mine weighs a TON. not that it means everything, but it speaks to the engineering and build quality. You can't go wrong with anything Rotel, in my experience.
Rotel has been around a long time and is a very popular brand in entry level hifi - Magnolia sells it as does many local audio stores. I gave my dad the 1072/1062 combo in 2007 - he loved it, he passed on and now it's my main system for audio and 2 channel video. My next upgrade will be something like Musical Fidelity or Hegel in a year or two.
Rotel is a big name among people who like hifi equipment. There are many many brands with same issue to break out of hifi cycles: Atoll, Krell, etc. They make great products but no one outside of the community knows what it is.
@@monkeymouse1403 sorry about your dad, Mouse
I have had mine for about a year now and it has been flawless, I updated to the latest firmware and that resolves a clicking sound when pausing bluetooth media. No reason to look for anything else for a while 👍
I would be very interested in any reviews of the Outlaw Audio products. Definitely is not much out there they have two items I think many of us would be interested in your opinion on. There new 2220 monoblock amp that has insane specs and price and likely is a Vidar killer. The other is the super loaded RR2130MkII receiver not sure if you could get some to review but they are items that are in your reviewing wheelhouse that many of us would be interested in your opinion on.
Good review Randy.
Much Respect for Ken.
Technics used to use a remote cable bringing additional component function to the receiver remote. Are there unused buttons on the remote? Great video, always enjoy listening to you. I consider you a non related family member who always has intriguing conversations to make any mundane family event a reason to attend. Keep up the great work!
Rotel is quality gear. i have the A12 in silver and its basically the same but with DAC and 60wpc. my only gripe is the front pannel metal is very easy to mark/blemish and the top texture means its a bit harder to wipe down... but thats nit-picking
I run speaker A-B to my biwire speakers.
Also, on the rotel site it says they support 4-ohm speakers but only if thats the ONLY speaker connected at a time. if you use 2 zones then they MUST be 8ohm min.
I have the A12 and it drives every speaker I have tried on it. It is built like a tank. Rotel is a quality company.
Can you turn off backlight of display on a12?
@@marko-182
To change the brightness of the front display, press the MENU button
to toggle to the DIMMER Setting. Then press the - or + buttons on the front
panel to change the display brightness.
@@charlierowell9910 tnx 🙂
Personally, I’d rather have a neutral amp so you know the flavor of speaker you’re running 💁😊 Good work👍
I’ve had the A12 Tribute for a few years now, and I’m very happy with it-checked “all the boxes” I was looking for
The busiest man in audio reviews! Thanks for the review.
You bet!
I think Rotel implements the logarithmic way of the volume control which is more meaningful. You get better control when you want to fine tune the lower volume but it is not necessary to have that level of fine tuning when the volume is already too high. A very thought through implementation. Not many people will understand this logic. Also the way we hear as human is also logarithmic. Awesome Rotel.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more.
I've owned Rotel gear for years. This is the way their volume controls have always worked. Took a little getting used to at first, but now it's no big deal.
Love your reviews of amplificationfiers! Especially A/B.
Great review!, Got both the A11 and CD11 in black, paired to Dali Oberon 5. listening to CD’s is the best you’re going to get without going broke, I listen to jazz and big band groups and it’s great sound separation and clear. . Paired to the WiiM streamer and much improved sound from crap sources like iHeart radio. Attached a cheap No name DAC and the Ageing TCL TV via toslink for streaming tv and Xbox. Sounds cleaner and more pleasant than cheap 5.1 surround packs, so unless you need surround it will manage well as a 2.1 setup as well. Still considering a turntable. But if you like CD’s and phono and 2.1 setup and not worried about using a DAC… it’s the end game for budget to mid level component setups if you want super clean clarity and old school quality. I prefer discs so digital is not a priority.
Awesome paring. I run the A11 / CD11 tributes with DALI Oberon 3 speakers, so I understand the pure bliss that you are experiencing.
This is currently under $600 here in the uk which makes it very good value based on this review.
Checking on the specs, I see that it is a Class A/B, and I think that is an excellent thing. A good phono section is another very good thing.
Reading between the lines - if this can drive two pairs of 8 ohm nominal speakers at 50watts/ch; then it is "rated" at 50w/ch into a pair of 4 ohm speakers.
yes, on the website it says 4ohm is ok if its just one pair in use.
Really comprehensive and well sourced review. Everything you described of this Rotel also reminds me of the Creek Evolution 50a…even the volume pot attenuation tending to be set higher.
Rotel is a dam good audio company that’s not mentioned enough in my opinion.
Designed, or at least tweaked, by the late audio guru Ken Ishiwata, master designer for Marantz for many decades.
Sounds like a nice modern update of the features you used to get with a vintage receiver. Appreciate the more gradual volume control - I'm barely able to turn the volume control on my current 50x2 IE above 11:00, and I have to be lightning fast when trying to make small volume adjustments using the remote. Also appreciate that they let the buyer select the quality and feature level of DAC that they want to use.
Did you try the Tribute with the Elac DBR 62? You've referred to them as "buttery", but they may be harder to drive with this amp.
I just prefer the 6000a but the rotel has great Bluetooth . I tried using a power amp on rotel and its no go . Something surprised me, the rotel goes really well with yamaha ns bp401 (shocked he'll yes) overall a great amp .
7:25 the 12V trigger is something you can connect to other devices and passes off a signal from the amp when it's turned off. That 12v trigger signal will trigger other connected components to go into standby mode. However, make sure ONLY to connect 12v outputs to 12v inputs or vice versa. Connecting two 12v trigger outputs can cause damage.
RS232 is just a standardized serial interface that has been common in the industry for decades and it can be used used for almost anything (a bit like USB) - in this case it's probably used to send remote signals.
It's common on pro audio equipment, but it's a bit strange to see it on a HiFi component if you'd ask me...
Just a tip: You should also review the Rotel RCD-1572 MKII - I think it's one of the few good quality cd players released in the past few years.
I like it, but as a Total & Permanent Disabled USAF Veteran, I am on a fixed income...so, I can't afford it. Still, a very nice rig...and a good review.
A11 Tribute or Axr 100 ?
This is a two-fer. Product review and audiophile terminology primer. nice.
Thank you for a great review! I was pleasantly surprise to hear they sound good with the Lintons, even though they can dip to 3.5 ohms. I don’t care for Roon offered by the higher models, so if it’s powerful enough for the Lintons, it’s a more cost effective solution.
I have a pair of lintons I do want to buy this amp are you happy with this amp Thanks
Oh I was only reacting to Randy’s video. Unfortunately I have neither the A11 amp nor the Lintons.
It would be so cool to compare it to Rega Brio, hope you get some Rega amp to review.
Hola Randy - recently acquired Rotel A11 & wiim mini based on your reviews - do you recommend using a dac in connecting wiim to A11 - if so what dac do you recommend - thanks!
Randy....2 integrated amps that are out there that fly WAY under the radar are the Outlaw Audio RR2160 and Nuprime IDA-8. Outlaw is only $999! 27lbs , 110watts into 8 and 165watts into 4. Class AB..Built in Dac. Nuprime is $1250, Class D.....with their own proprietary power module, 100watts into 8 and 4 ohms, Built in DAC, they use a linear torodial power supply. Any chance you can review these? They offer an exceptional value. What you are all about:)
I agree. I have the original Outlaw RR2160 (not the new MKII). I’d love to see Randy review that receiver, and maybe do some speaker pairings with it.
Beautiful piece of gear.
It sure is!
Rotel is considered to be entry level audiophile grade equipment I've owned two Rotels and my sound system in my office is one of them. I'm listening to this video thru the Rotel
When I was shopping for an amp, my choices came down to the Rotel A11 Tribute and the Cambridge Audio ARX-85. I went with the Cambridge Audio amp but it could have gone either way.
Heard the Camb. A. paired with some Wharfedale speakers, it sounded OK and I could not tell the difference between it and a Yamaha R-N803? Sadly the CXA81 when measured is not on par with other amps from the same price range, don't know about the AXR.
The problem is the built quality, most complain that it is a throw piece of equipment when in fails and I am talking about even the older Cambridge Audio amps.
great review - really thinking of picking it up over Marantz PM6007 / Denon PMA600. Sad to hear NAD doesn't compare, but I shouldn't be surprised. Would really like to hear a show-down between Rotel, Cambridge & Arcam.
Love my Rotel A-12, beautifully blends my B&W 606 S2 and REL T9x!
I really want this in the cd combination option $1600 AUD for a new hifi is pretty good considering its enthusiast graphics card level pricing lol
Thanks for the review. Not related but... Why don't you review Rega products? Thanks
I just bought the A12 a few months ago. Very happy with it with a couple of issues. First off I wish it had a Mono switch for when I spin Mono LPs. I play LPs almost 90% of the time. I When I had my Adcom’s I never had to turn it up more than 1/4. Now I need to push this to 55 or 60 to drive my Snell Type E IV. Other than that it’s fine.
i run mine fixed level 85 volume and a SMSL SU-9 dac is the pre-amp
@@ukspawn666 - So I shouldn’t worry about frying it. Thanks
you can tell when you are at the sweet spot as its not AS HOT. sounds contradictory but its hotter when its LOW / VERY HIGH level but its just warm when its in the 'sweet spot'.
Can drive Elac Uni-fi Ref & UB52 well? Which one better match? Thank you
Rega brio…. Has an amazing internal phono.
i own th A10 for years...great amps indeed .
What does warm or buttery mean? I can imagine what punchy means but it wouldn't surprise me if I'm wrong!
Anyone wondering how the Fosi ZA3 compares to the Tribute…let me just tell you the Tribute wipes the floor with the Fosi amps in comparison. It’s not close. The Fosi amps are great but do yourself a favor and get a “real” amp as soon as you can. Running Wiim Pro into Denafrips Ares II and into Martin Logan 15 speakers. The Tribute sounds significantly better than my Arcam AVR 10 as well.
Randy ever try to get Outlaw to send you a RR2160?Would be good add to the list of $1K contenders
What cables would you use with it ?. And what an excellent review. I think I am going to get one now.
Outlaw 2160 mkII is the Best deal under $1K!
Yes!
My first hi-fi system revolved around a Rotel RX 850 receiver, and to this day I still regret selling it on eBay as it had better sound than virtually anything else I can recall hearing. I eventually replaced it with a used $2000 Marantz home theater receiver that I bought at a steal on eBay, but I should’ve just kept the Rotel rather than let it go for some thing like $100.
The one thing I have a bit of trouble believing about this review is that any 50 W per channel Rotel amplifier would have trouble driving any speaker under may be $1500. A fundamental of Rotel ‘s design philosophy is to put in very heavy, high current power transformers in all of their amplification units and Rotels have always punched far above their weight class.
Before I sold my old 30-watt/channel RX-850, I did a comparison with the “100 watt per channel“ Yamaha home theater receiver my sister had just received as a Christmas present through a pair of Paradigm Monitor 7 floorstanders, and there was no comparison. Although I didn’t have a sound meter available for any specific statistics, to my ears the Rotel would play 50% louder than the allegedly three times as powerful Yamaha without distortion whereas the Yamaha began producing audible distortion at what could probably be described as only moderately loud listening levels.
Last year I bought an used RA-02 Rotel integrated amp off eBay, but the seller foolishly shipped it in the original Rotel box that proudly described what was inside the box and it disappeared from the USPS tracking system when it hit the regional USPS shipping center, rather obviously swiped by a crooked Postal Service employee. I picked up a more powerful Cambridge Audio Azur 651A integrated amplifier with a built-in USB DAC and I like that quite well, but I suspect the Rotel would have had clearer sound as the Cambridge Audio is a bit warm.
The last firmware update for this amp and the cd11 fixes alot of bugs and the amp sounds much better for it.
However Rotel's update procedure is like going back to the 90's (clunky and untrustworthy, would be nice to see somthing a bit more in the right decade for updating.
Hi, I subscribed your channel. I’ve been interested in a rotelle since I heard one. I bought a pair of B&W speakers from someone who had a rotelle set up stereo separation and clarity was amazing and he said do yourself a favor, build an all British system. he had some money. I think he had B&W diamond Spirit speakers I could hardly pick up the magnets were so heavy I’m not in the position spend $5000 for a whole system. The reviews I’m getting are that the rotelle does not have enough base I listen to hard rock I like my chest to pound, I also will listen to classical jazz any type of guitar oriented music. If you get this message would you steer me away from the A1 Mark or am I going to have to add a sub to get tight chest pounding base and is the 50 W enough do I need to jump to 80watts? Thanks. I’ll continue to watch your bids either way.
Just replaced my broken Marantz PM 6005 with the Tribute (600€ in France) - plugged to Mulidine floorstandings ...And What I get is a cleaner and punchier sound, less mellow than the Marantz... Very natural sounding amp ...
tighter base line ... Using a SMSL SU8 dac plugged to roon and a Naim CD5X
Very impressed by the results, especially by the level of details ...
Was the A11 more "shrill" than the marantz? Thanks!
not at all ... Not harsh but it always depend on your ears and the recording@@richardchandra3641
Hi. I am enjoying your vids and since I am in the market for a new amp and allready having a high value Pro-Ject turntable, I am a little bit “moved” to look for a Pro-Ject for vinyl only (intergrated) amp. But never see this brand coming by. Arent tjey not that good or? Would love to see a review of their, maybe, line of non-turntables devices and what combination will do the trick and your opinion of them.
Thanks
Rotel is good stuff!
I bought a used one and it makes a loud buzzing noise even with just the power cord plugged in. Does anyone know if this is a known fault?
Hi Randy, really like your channel. Wanted to ask you and your followers how this compares to the Cambridge axr100. These 2 are on my short list. Also would like to pair with Elac unifi 5.2, unless something better has came along. Thanks and keep up the good work
Own this Rotel and Audiolab 6000a. The 6000a is a bit better in SQ. The bass is more nuanced and it has a more even presentation overall. But the Rotel counters with a really big sound especially with the bass boost sound modes. It also has tone controls the 6000a lacks, which provide a handy way to tailor your sound to the situation. I use the 6000a in my stereo set up for it's audiophile precision, and the Rotel A11 Tribute in my home theater to power the front channels where I can take advantage of it's flexibility. Both excellent, but the A11 at $400 less is a smoking deal.
I had a similar experience with both amps. Audiolab was much more nuanced, but lacked oomph. We traded a bit of that nuance for the muscular sound Rotel a11 provided. Would be interesting to try Audiolab with a power amp.
@@gokhanersan8561 Hi Gokhan, my Rotel A11 broke (less than yr old). I switched inputs and it didn't work after that. Rotel took care of me though and had me send the amp to a shop for service. I just got it back. In the meantime, I had the 6000a powering my Focal Chora's and it was absolutely terrible with them (thin and harsh). When the Rotel came back in so did the sweet music! Bottom line, I think the Rotel pairs well with fast, forward, thin speakers and the 6000a pairs better with thick and slow speakers like the Polk R200's.
@@bearclaw5115 That must be why some people are still swearing by Audiolab. Well, These days I want to upgrade to bigger speakers, and wondering if a11 could handle 4 ohm speakers or not. Or would I have to upgrade to the bigger Rotel amps is what I am wondering.
would love to see a comparison of the mainstream brands in the 40-50wpc range, like Denon 600ne, this Rotel, NAD, Audiolab etc
I agree! Got the equivalent NAD C368 for the integrated Bluesound, but I’m not exclusive. I also like a Rotel amp I have in a different system. I have read great reviews of the equivalent Outlaw.
Hmmm…What to get next?! 🤔 Speakers? Maybe replace my vintage Spica TC-50s?
@cheapaudioman, could you review some Tekton speakers? There are many under $2k, and their highly popular full-range Lore is 1/2 that, shipped.
Right now for the same price you can get the Rotel a12 with a built-in Dac and 60 watts per Channel. Better deal.
Excellent review of a great product. This Rotel has been on my very short list to replace my beloved SX550 when the time comes to retire it. Great looks, plenty of connections, blue tooth, remote and clean good sound and priced right, no negative points IMO.
great
Hi Randy,. The remote plug can be used as a on/off signal to or from other components like a bleusound Node of like my NAD C275BEE.
Its 12 Volts
No Michel, that's what the 12v trigger is for.
Here is Rotel's explanation:
EXT REM IN Jack
This 3.5mm mini-jack receives command codes from industry-standard infrared receivers via hard-wired connections. This feature could prove useful when the unit is installed in a cabinet and the front-panel sensor is blocked. Consult your authorized Rotel dealer for information on these external repeaters and the proper wiring of a jack to fit the mini-jack receptacle.
It is so cheap, you can hear it's transformer humming. If you don't want to hear it, you have to turnt the music on. The sound is good but not "Tribute".
Im a huge fan of ROTEL and TY for checking them out Randy, your observations were right on the money.
It’s between this and the Yamaha A-S801. Which would you choose? Building my first audio system since my college days in the ‘80s. And I have a lot more money. 😆
Great review.
I returned s-801, that sounded constipated and harsh with Dyn Emit10s. Rotel a11 sounds “creamy” compared to the Yamaha amp.
Really Impressed with the remote control tricks!! When I get Really excited when rocking out on either my Yamaha rxa2040 /Polk r 200s system or the Crazy Bose Concertos lifestyle system I've put together I pretend like my Bose remote controls drumsticks lol 😆 I plan on making a vid comparing the two systems.
Great to hear!
@@cheapaudioman Great video
I would be very interested in hearing your impressions on the Sunrise Lab V8 integrated amplifier.
Appreciate the review but why would I spend that much money on that when I just won a bid on Ebay for $500 for a pristine refurbished Pioneer SX-780 from 1979? Nothing can replace the receivers of the 70's through early 80's......nothing.
Is the sound quality better than Marantz pm6007?
A12 - I have the A12 which, I admit is now being used as a secondary system powering monitor audio silver 100’s in the lounge and Origin Acoustics director D85’s out on the deck. Only use it with a Node 2i. The sound is awesome. It used to power my rig in my Vinyl room before upgrading. Couldn’t recommend Rotel more.
By the way the amp is left on non-stop and has been for about 18 months and I leave the volume on 75 and change volume through bluesound App.
I’m new to the audiophile world. I was inspired to someday have a decent stereo set up because my best friends grandfather had a set of Klipsch Cornwalls in a listening room. I will never forget the first time he played them for me. Anyway, I’m to poor for Cornwalls, so I ordered the CSS torii speaker kit. I need recommendations on an integrated amp that will not only run the Torii, but also be capable of running the TDX2 towers at some point after I save some coin.
I’m glad they are branching out from canned tomatoes.
me too.
Yeah, Besides, everybody knows that Sith Audio makes the best audiophile canned tomatoes!
I just picked up one for $400 AUD (price new here is $989AUD) the one I got is practically new. Barely used by previous owner. Extremely happy as I have been wanting one for some time. Pairs nicely with my Q Acoustics 3020i. 👌💯
I use my Rotel A14 as a preamp coupled to an Akitika power amp. This gives me the features and flexibility of the Rotel but the warm almost ‘tube-like’ sound of the GT102 going into Wharfedale 12.1s. Sounds great in my opinion.
I want to use my a11 with a power amp hoping to get a bigger sound. How did your sound change when you coupled a14 with your power amp?
I feel the sound coming from the Akitika power amp is warmer and richer compared to the A14
@@daveweston403 Thanks. Now, next step is to convince my wife to try a power amp:)
Please, please, PLEASE, for the LOVE OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, will someone DO A VIDEO that explains what's the best way to use the remote hole found in a receiver's rear??? um... You know, the 3.5mm "Remote In" a.k.a. "IR Flasher" found on MANY receivers, amps, subwoofers, etc... Not the 12vt Trigger, nor RCA Orange/Yellow/Purple/Celadon/Amaranth/whatever color found on Marantz, Denon, etc.... I know it works with remotes like a Logitech, but no one seems know if you have to have a blaster box, IR blaster, Flasher Blaster, Master Blaster, or if you can use a plain old flasher if it says IR flasher. I did a lot of online research looking for flashers and I only have more questions now about other things. I'm told my mind has been in the gutter ever since but I don't see it. Anyway, maybe, Randy, you could undress for us newbs, noobs, or is it nubes? the topic of Flashers? Not to be confused with Mooners, bare naked drinkers, crack smoking bears, audio tweaking derrieres, or audiolics with substance abuse issues. I think you know all there is to know about audio, so why flash right by the flasher port? Answer the tough questions, Randy! Like what happens if a flasher's jacket falls off and the male 3.5mm thingy is exposed? Is it still a flasher, or is it bare naked? What are blaster boxes and why are they connected in a room full of flashers flashing? Does flashing another flasher have the desired effect? If this were DC, do you think the Flash ever flashes someone just to be shocking? I have so many questions that I believe only you can help me with. I love you, Randy. U-D CLASS-E AH-DIO-Man to me.
Reverend Paul,
p.s. The F.A. "Sharing is Caring" meeting, where anonymity is priority 1, has been canceled due to the new Covid 91 strain, and not last week's public indecency incident. Everyone a part of this email chain please send this to all your friends so they can find anonymity too.
There is a dac if it supports Bluetooth.. rs232 is a control interface.
The Bluetooth on r11 sounds remarkably good.
Rotel A11 Tribute + Elac Unifi Reference + (SMSL Sanskrit 10 MK3 + Topping P50 power supply)+ Wiim Pro streamer. A combination to beat.
I don't understand the DAC situation.. not just with this amp but in general. With amps without a DAC, can't I just use the headphone out of my laptop and run an 1/8" split into the RCA inputs and be good? With a DAC.. are you going USB-out from a laptop into a USB-in on a DAC.. and then going.. RCA into the amp? I'm assuming the benefit is better sound quality? Many thanks. - UneducatedAudioman
How many of you guys have had your favorite college basketball team burst your audio upgrading plans? Stop gambling now if it isn't going well, or not only won't you be able to upgrade anytime soon, but you might even have to sell some of what you own now. Don't let that 7 foot two player on the opposing team send you back to using zipcord for cables or playing 8 tracks. The basketball referees have completely taken over the game. Every time you turn around, they're interrupting the action for 4 minutes , putting on the headphones and going to the replay monitors to see whose fingers touched the ball last. It's really nauseating, as are the deluge of commercials, lengthy referee discussions etc. They've successfully made a fun game to watch into a travesty. I know, it gives you fat guys enough time to go and get more snacks, but Geez! Every year, for many, March Madness is more like March Sadness. It would be impossible for me to lose a lot, since I don't ever bet a lot. Maybe I lack guts. Speaking of guts, why doesn't Randy show the guts of some of the equipment being reviewed? Audiophiles just love to see Huge Beefy Caps and Metal Film Resistors. The metal film ones used to bet blue. Watch the impedence of the speakers you're using. Speaker manufacturers are given leeway as to rated impedences + or minus a certain amount. Your 4 ohm rated speakers may be ones that dip well below that; legally!
Rotel has always seemed to be a darling of the U.K.. review magazines. Some say there is stiffer competition over there too. Probably more great U.K.and European equipment than U.S. equipment. European speakers drivers virtually have a stronghold within the higher end quality sector.
So lets say you've been doing ok with your sports bets. Do you use your winnings to upgrade now, or do you bet more this weekend in hopes of getting something even better? Or do you do they unthinkable and ask your wife? A lot of the Texas teams got knocked out this weekend; but they sure did put up a valiant fight. So many good teams out of Texas. TCU actually covered on the points against AZ. Arizona got lucky in overtime when a missed shot bounced straight up and one of their 7 foot monstrosities grabbed it over the hoop and slammed the door shut. Isn't it ridiculous how Arizona has not 1, but 2, over 7 foot players; and instead of them hanging around the basket, they're usually running around way out on the perimeter somewhere? Also ridiculous is that they got out-rebounded by players a foot shorter in height That and countless other bonehead happenings have removed them as a favorite in my mind. TCU almost did it. Their head coach previously coached the Pitt Panthers to 14 winning seasons in a row. Under several new coaches the Panthers look they're headed for 14 "losing" seasons in a row. Too bad you can't place bets on teams bound to lose and get good odds on it.
For those who don't have exceptionally good cables, an integrated amp lets you use one less interconnect than seperates, and even darn good cables degrade the sound by a beg amount. Transparency and openness collapse to name two things. There's more lost too. It's refreshing to see something that looks so good visually as the Rotel. So much plain jane looking stuff these days. Something that looks special on the outside, always gives me a good feeling; that a lot of thought might have gone into its design on the inside too.
Hi Randy, I now have a11 cd11 set up and does sound great with my b&w 602 s3 speakers , also have ifi zen V2 dac, using my iPhone for streaming, now also have B&w 606s2 anniversary, as you know has 2 sets of speakers output I can have either or when listening to, great interesting video. Regards mark
I purchased this unit to use at my second home (camp) at Crutchfield for $650, I like it way more than I thought I would and I'm thinking of keeping it in my main set up instead. Starting down the Rabbit hole again.
Ok I've checked out the link its beautiful and on my list of I wants. So to change the subject my guess you are 25 to 30 yrs younger than me. I'm aware of your Drumming past and if you have never listened to grand funks closer to home you owe it to yourself to do so . It's been a long time since I heard drums right,left,and behind its a great performance by a great band give a listen I think you will enjoy it. If you do you will thank me. Best to ya.
I have a question regarding the A11 Amplifier please.
The manual states that 4 ohm speaker load can be used but as long as it's only 1 pair of speakers.
My question is, can that pair of 4 ohm speakers be bi-wired using the Amplifiers speaker A and B terminals?
or only A or B ?
Have a Rotel 1520 which was the early 2000's equivalent to this. Beautiful amp but my experience is that it is pretty underpowered and ultimately underwhelming. Switching from the 1520 to a cheaper class D with a lot more power really woke up my speakers and "lifted the veil". It's not a pretty but a $30 chinese tube pre (FX-01) combined with a XTZ A-300 power amp blew away the Rotel in every department for roughly half the investment. I'd love an integrated that sounded as good and helped me clean up my frankenstien setup but I can't see going back to one of these relatively high dollar integrated with all the high powered class D stuff coming out of China and elsewhere exist. I use an Emotiva Stealth SP-1 which is an input switcher and phono pre and again the phono pre of this blows doors on the one built into the Rotel. Just another perspective.
Hi do you use TPA3255 chipset AMP?
@@MrEcoconstructus No I'm using a IcePower based XTZ Edge A2 300. Waiting to see if someone comes out with a more powerful dual mono TPA3255 based amp.
@@robertgruber982 yes i was thinking about this solution 2x3255 AMP a it seems to be the chipest way to go. Just need to valid it. a youtuber try it just with r and l and sound seems to be perfect without monoing the AMP. Thanks.