Rotel RA-931 Amplifier

Should the amplifier attract the attention with its appearance? Well, of course, it has no right to be an "ugly duckling" in the home audio complex, but, probably, it should not stand out much in order not to distract from the main thing - the music. If the guys who created the Rotel RA-931 were reasoning in the same way, they really managed to do it quite good. The calm balanced appearance creates a neutral attitude and the impression of something familiar and habitual. Furthermore, the strictness of the lines will not let it look like a black sheep even together with the exquisite audio components. The application of the controls is clear without explanations, only the input selectors require some thinking. There is no sharp distinction between recording selectors and input selectors, but there are still two switches. One of them (Function) switches all sources except the tape, and the other one (Monitor) has only two positions. In the Source position the input of the Rotel RA-931 amplifier is connected to the source which is selected with the Function switch, and in the Tape position - the tape output. In the same position the recording is made on the source tape which is set with the Function selector. Jog dial is set instead of the usual tone cutout button and it is made in the same style with the tone controls. We are a little upset with the incomplete functional equipment of the Rotel: the absence of tone correction can be compensated to some extent with the tone controls and the muting function can be realized by other means, but the remote control is not just a fun toy and in our opinion its presence is not only useful, but also necessary in the audio complex of this class. The backboard of the Rotel RA-931 amplifier has the interesting terminal positions for connecting the audio speakers.

All the amplifiers usually have the outputs for the extra pair of speakers located below the outputs for the primary pair. But here all of them are located in one line and it greatly facilitates fixing the second pair of wires. However, there are the cutout buttons for any pair of the loudspeakers in other amplifiers. But in the RA-931 we can cut out only the extra pair, while the primary pair cannot be cut out under any circumstances.

Despite some shortcomings which were identified during the visual inspection, it was difficult to find any shortcomings of the "voice". The clear and clean presentation of "Fur Elise" piano play, the nice fullness of the sound will please the ear and the soul of the classical music lovers. And the piano fans can also notice the exact timbre matching with the "live" instrument. It seems that there is no basis for the claims, but the perfectness is something unreal and we have still noticed the speeding up of the assertive bass and the easy "metal" when replaying the high notes. The "condor flight" is made on the "design" height proving that Rotel RA-931 is a big shot. The reproduction of the instruments sounds easy and gives the feeling of flying in the cloudless sky. Meanwhile the noticeable simplifications of flute harmonic return us to Earth. While playing Strauss march the symphonic orchestra is precise and accurate: the military discipline is felt owing to the instruments reproduction. Also it is reached due to the dry passing of the high frequencies.

Rotel RA-931 Amplifier photo