Интегральные усилители — Rotel RA-1592MKII

The RA-1592MKII is an integrated amplifier in Rotel's 15 Series, announced in April 2021 and shipping from May 2021 at GBP 2,295 or USD 3,200. The MKII update brought design elements from Rotel's higher Michi range into the 15 Series, and the amplifier pairs its Class AB power stage with digital conversion, MM phono amplification, Bluetooth and network control.

Key specs that matter

Output is 200 W per channel into 8 ohms and 350 W per channel into 4 ohms, with THD below 0.008%, intermodulation distortion below 0.03% and a damping factor of 600. Frequency response is 10 Hz to 100 kHz within ±0.5 dB on line inputs and 20 Hz to 20 kHz on phono. Sensitivity and impedance are 5.2 mV and 47 kohms for moving magnet phono, 340 mV and 100 kohms for RCA line inputs, and 540 mV and 100 kohms for the balanced XLR input. The pre-out delivers 1.9 V at 100 ohms. Signal to noise ratio is 80 dB for phono, 103 dB for line and 102 dB for the digital section. Power consumption is 500 W, and standby is below 0.5 W, or below 2 W with network wake. The chassis measures 431 x 144 x 425 mm and weighs 17.63 kg, with silver and black versions.

Engineering and use context

Rotel builds its own toroidal transformer for the supply, which also uses slit-foil capacitors. Digital inputs feed a Texas Instruments 32-bit and 384 kHz DAC through three coaxial and three optical inputs up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, a PC-USB input running up to 24 bit and 96 kHz in USB Audio Class 1 or 32 bit and 384 kHz in Class 2 with a driver, and a front USB socket for Apple devices. MQA and MQA Studio files decode up to 24 bit and 384 kHz, and Bluetooth supports aptX and AAC. Roon Tested certification is listed. On the analogue side there are three RCA inputs named CD, Tuner and Aux and one XLR input. Outputs include speaker pairs A and B, a pre-out, two mono subwoofer outputs and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Tone controls can be bypassed, and an HT bypass sets fixed gain so the amplifier can serve the front channels of an AV processor. Control options include two 12 V triggers, one configurable as input or output, RS232 and Ethernet.

Pairing

Thanks to its current delivery into difficult loads and a high damping factor, the RA-1592MKII drives low-impedance floorstanders. The phono stage is for moving magnet cartridges only, so moving coil users need a step-up device.

Alternatives

The Rotel RA-1572MKII is the smaller 15 Series integrated amplifier, rated at 120 W into 8 ohms and 200 W into 4 ohms in Class AB, with the same TI DAC.