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Rotel RC-1580/Rotel RB-1582 Amplifier reviewJapanese company Rotel has always paid close attention to the pragmatics - price/quality ratio. This trend has come in full force in the new 15th technology which is under picky opinion of our experts now. It is based on the Balanced Design Concept that combines the laws of physics and engineering. Certainly the "brain" of the system is the RC-1580 preamplifier. Its size is identical to the size of other integrated amplifier and it has a classical component layout with the centrally located motorized volume control. The signal level is monitored with a blue "droplet" of the light-emitting diode on the controller periphery. The display pattern of the involved input is organized in the same way. By the way, you can connect even seven sources of the line stereo signal (including two tapes with the end-to-end channel) and the turntable (there is the MM/MC input with the setting of the cartridge characteristics). Another nice bonus is the 3.5mm input for the external player on the faceplate and the balance control. Actually it should be said that there is the ultramodern design hidden under the traditional appearance of the preamplifier. In particular it can be switched on with a command from an external LCD receiver and control another device (with the same power amplifier) by virtue of the 12 V trigger signal. Finally it easily fits into the system controlled from the PC (via Computer I/O port). The power supply is equipped with a powerful toroidal transformer. The Rotel RB-1582 power amplifier represents a set of muscles. It is assembled due to the "dual mono" scheme: the amplification paths are set along the side walls of the case; the central place is occupied with the cheese-like toroidal transformer. Connection with the preamplifier is possible only within the single-ended bus bar. Perhaps, this was the only compromise that we could find. The sound is fantastic. And at the same time there is no attempt to embellish something in order to soap down the audiophiles. The system motto: to bring the arranger's idea to our ears without missing any notes. Thus there is the total indiscriminateness for the basic material and the ability to replay any kind of music in such way that fatigue does not occur even after the hours-long listening. Price: $2300 ![]() |