Предусилители — Rotel RC-1572MKII

The RC-1572MKII is a stereo preamplifier with a built-in DAC from Rotel's 15 Series, launched in 2021 at GBP 1,150 or USD 1,400. Its MKII revision and that of the larger RC-1590MKII together involved more than 75 component changes, with circuits borrowed from Rotel's Michi range, and it combines analogue inputs, a moving magnet phono stage, digital inputs and Bluetooth in a 2U chassis.

Key specs that matter

Harmonic and intermodulation distortion each stay under 0.004%. Sensitivity and impedance are 3 mV and 47 kohms for phono, 200 mV and 100 kohms for RCA line inputs, and 300 mV and 100 kohms for XLR, with overload points of 63 mV, 4 V and 5 V respectively. Signal to noise ratio is 80 dB for phono and 118 dB for line inputs, and channel separation exceeds 85 dB for phono and RCA and 75 dB for XLR. The digital section measures 20 Hz to 20 kHz within ±0.5 dB with 100 dB signal to noise ratio. Outputs are an RCA pre-out at 1 V and a balanced XLR output at 2 V, plus two mono subwoofer outputs and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Power consumption is 35 W. The case measures 431 x 99 x 338 mm and weighs 8.36 kg. Silver and black finishes are offered.

Engineering and use context

A toroidal transformer made in-house and low-ESR slit-foil capacitors form the power supply. The DAC is a Texas Instruments 32-bit and 384 kHz type fed by two coaxial and two optical inputs, each accepting up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, a PC-USB input with USB Audio Class 1 up to 24 bit and 96 kHz or Class 2 up to 32 bit and 384 kHz, and a front USB socket. MQA and MQA Studio are decoded, Bluetooth supports aptX and AAC, and Roon has tested it for compatibility. Analogue connections comprise CD, Tuner and Aux RCA inputs plus a balanced XLR pair, and the phono stage accepts moving magnet cartridges. Bass and treble controls adjust by ±10 dB at 100 Hz and 10 kHz. Two 12 V triggers, Ethernet and RS232 connect the preamplifier to control systems.

Pairing

The balanced XLR output can drive power amplifiers such as the RMB-1585MKII, while the RCA pre-out covers other stereo amplifiers. The two subwoofer outputs allow one or two subs to be added, and an MM turntable connects to the phono sockets without extra equipment. The headphone jack serves private listening without a separate headphone amplifier.

Alternatives

The Rotel RC-1590MKII is the larger 15 Series preamplifier with the same TI 32-bit DAC in a 431 x 144 x 348 mm case weighing 10.1 kg.