Rotel RB-991 Rotel RC-995 Rotel RCD-971 review

[@rideswift]

Ive been running Rotel pre amp (RC 1070), power amp (RB 960 BX, and RB 956 AX) system with an NAD 502 CD player and Paradigm speakers and sub for 25 years. IMO, this system would be hard to beat for twice the cost I paid. It has been 100 % reliable too.

[@shaunrichards744]

I had the Rotel rcd-971 cd player. It had a really smooth and rhythmic sound.

[@jimihendrix1575]

I have used Rotel equipment for DECADES! Bullet-proof components. Fantastic sound! I have now stepped up to Simaudio Moon components. Finally entered 'Hi-end". Hope they prove as reliable. Cheers!

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

Why people like the Rotels? Just listen to them and you'll understand why. BTW, RC-995 does come with a remote control. So does RCD-971. And this set is from the late 90-s. The last generation that used the Black Gate capacitors.

[@marcse7en]

Modern CD Players are usually considered inferior to the old classics, such as the Philips CD 104 with TDA1540 14 bit DAC. I have four of those! The TDA1540 is a mono DAC, and players use two, one for each channel. Philips followed up with the TDA1541 16 bit stereo DAC, which is also highly regarded. I have several TDA1541 machines too!

[@Mr_T_Jay]

'Companies stagnate when sales people run the show' - Steve Jobs. Top engineers were fired and accountants took over. Cost cutting = cheap and plastic crap. This happened to most of the electronics giants. I miss so much CD 104 purchased in 1983 and sold in mid 90-ties. Rock solid build and design. Removing CD-104 cover as a young electronics engineer in the early eighties was like a journey into the outer space. Yeah TDA 1540 and then 1541.

[@jimbasler1054]

I'm more into late 70's silver faced receivers,with analog tuner dial...... But this Rotel has a good look to it,and it has plenty of power!!!

[@theaustralianconundrum]

I had this RCD-971 back in 2001 and it was my first "real" hifi CD player and I was impressed at how much more bass it had compared to the older vintage 80's units. Recently I now purchased my RCD-1572MKII for AU$1,100.00 on Black Friday sale and it just smokes that old unit. The old one had Signal / Noise Ratio of 107dB and dynamic range of >99dB and channel separation of 110dB. My 2022 model has S/N Ratio of >118dB and dynamic range of >99dB and channel separation of >118dB and the recent unit now weighs 7.34kg compared to this old RCD 971 @ 5.4kg. The two are night and day! Technology and good components really shine some two decades later. Current model is 100 times more silent in S/N and 40 times more channel separation. Amazing!

[@gino3286]

Hi thank you very much for your really great demo videos ! i understand that historically Rotel power amps have been better rated than preamps I do not know what is difficult with preamps. But very good ones are much more common that very good power amps. And tubes in preamp position can be mindblowing. I am using a cheap tube buffer in front of my fully solid state integrated amp and i like very much what this little thing gives to the sound. Very much. Kindest regards, gino

[@maxiusz]

Andrew please upload this B&W sound comparisson to ergo rcl on good amp and lots of good song like you do in old vids ;) We are waiting....

[@vintagestereo]

that was my plan too

[@PrimeHiFi]

I see you like Robert Cray! I love his music. Another great video, Andrew! Cheers

[@fidellopezbarquiel7958]

This is my stereo equipment since 1999 😀

[@silviopimentel7247]

Thanks for the advice. Wish I could bye you a beer 🍺 in northerdam 😊 great stuff. I miss the Netherlands ✌

[@blackmetalwarrior5787]

Шикарные усилители, пожалуй самые красивые из всех, что я в жизни видел.

[@nicolaemariangruia5543]

Hola conoses esta etapa ? Como te parese para unas columnas sonus fsber principia 7??un saludo

[@RonRivet]

I just purchased a Rotel RC-972 for a great price. I`m curious to hear how it sounds with my all Rega system for fun. I`m looking forward to trying it out! I will most likely sell it after trying it out.

[@J0hnny8ravo]

We’re still waiting for some feedback on that.

[@silviopimentel7247]

We really like rotel here in Canada 🇨🇦 👌

[@marcse7en]

The fins on the front of the power amplifier are heatsinks for the output transistors. Presumably placed at the front for looks.

[@mikehermesmeglio]

Yes. It's so it matches the looks of the RB-993 which is the 3 channel version. The third channel does use the front heatsinks for output devices.

[@tonydeniro284]

How does the recording light/led light up? I cannot figure it out, as no matter what position I set selector, it will not light up. Do you have to actually be recording for it to light up?

[@ahmadalawadhi538]

we miss you long long time . hope you are ok Mr andro. olways I wiet your video I feel so happy

[@NeyDogg]

Andrew missed ur videos. A beautiful system.I think u need to get a rug or carpet to cut down the sound reflections off the hard surfaces

[@Dave30867]

✔👍 hope you are in good health .

[@vintagestereo]

i have since 2 months a miniscus in both my knees, overtrained

[@1968krug]

Unbelievable how many people keep putting anything on top of a toasty warm amplifier

[@greyhound3561]

Interesting to see the RB 1080 looks the same and has roughly the same performance as your RB 991 - I`ve just built up a Rotel pre/power amp system with Oppo UDP disk player and a Project t/table, I have Bowers and Wilkins 684S2`s which work perfectly in my smallish loungeroom, It looks like you have a good system there, I think I`ll look for an RC-995 !

[@vintagestereo]

the rb 991 is a thx amplifier and that's why I don't recommend it

[@camper234]

​What are the disadvantages of thx? @@vintagestereo

[@turntableman100]

Andrew, Rotel is used to be made in England but now they made in Japan the company was established in 1961. And now they part a same group as B&W speakers 😊☺️😊

[@johns.7609]

Good to know thanks!

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

Actually that's Japanese company that has the design facility in England. It used to have manufacturing in Japan and Taiwan but now it's in China.

[@marcse7en]

Pretty sure Rotel is Japanese!

[@afelcandy]

@@IliyaOsnovikov Yes, they own and run their manufacturing facilities in CHINA.

[@afelcandy]

@@IliyaOsnovikov Yes, they own and run their manufacturing facilities in CHINA.

[@peterr.7429]

Always enjoy your videos, well done, regards from Western Australia

[@rask2577]

Not extremely fair review. This pre/power amp can be seductive combo. This review (like many others) is based on personal preferences and experiences of reviewer, using limited components in chain. Why to compare it with multiple priced Accuphase etc? I like it more then Akai AM-73 I had connected to the same speakers. What Akai reviewer is referring to? What Sansui? If TOTL models, refurbished cause of their age, we are talking in double prices. The speakers match is also important as usually if preamp without tone controls. Assumptions. Too many variables to make final conclusion of the reviewer. With humble KEF Q500 this combo sound seducing - smooth, dynamic, with lot if details, soundstage, reliable timbre, providing strong drivers control. I use Marantz SA8005 as source though. Short tracks and youtube audio quality doesn’t do proper judgment of abilities of the combo. For the price you can get those component, they are extraordinary value (never listened the Rotel CD player though) For everyone watching this review, please take the opinions of the reviewer with reserve. There are surely high end amps bettering this combo, but as usually, it comes to personal preferences and financial abilities of people. It is the same that it is highly unfair to compare my second system KEFQ500 speakers with my first system Red Rose Classics cause of huge price difference.

[@vintagestereo]

akai am-93 and any totl integrated sansui with a second hand price from 450/800 euros is much better as this combo also the accuphase e-206 what have a second hand price of 550/600 is better....It was not only me...my friend simon picked it up for me close to his house and he was the one telling me the sound was not really spectacular, didn't believed him but came to the same conclusion when he brought it for me a few months later...first try sansui and some cheaper accuphase's ...I advise people what sound is the best in a certain price range. This rotel combo cost 500/600 euro second hand but there is better sound in this price range...I don't know the akai am-73 but have the am-93 and am-95, both better sounding as this rotel....this rotel wasn't recapped, all the sansuis and accuphases i have are also not recapped so it's a fair match

[@rask2577]

Well, here in UK I can hardly get totl Sansui under 1000, and then, they are not the same, which one would suit me best from them all? You see? That would be 1000s spent just for mere comparison to find whether Sansui would suits me better. If any. We are not millionaires, the hifi is just part of the life, to help enjoy the music. If you do, great, if you don’t like it much, move on. But please, your opinion is just subjective, no need to state this is good, but there are MUCH better choices for the price. Cause there might be not. As others might not have the preferences you have, the same liking. The best for anyone watching and reading this is to keep an open mind. My experience with this combo is highly positive, yours not so. Also what I can hear from the clip, is far from what I experience at home. Anyway, thanks for the review.

[@mozeskriebel7170]

Your English is nog not so good, but that comes nog wel. Btw, ik heb een RC-995 die nog geheel is uitgerust met Black Gate condensatoren, maar het schijnt dat latere versies die niet in Japan gemaakt zijn, andere (goekopere ) condensatoren hebben. Het probleem met het snaartje van de RCD-971 heb ik trouwens ook. Ik heb er nu al jaren niet mee gespeeld, maar ik hoop niet dat het snaartje inmiddels vergaan is en er een lading zwarte kleefzooi van overgebleven is, zoals ik met een Yamaha cd speler heb gehad. Die troep krijg je heel moeilijk verwijderd, ook je vingers blijven dagenlang zwart.

[@frederikjacob1985]

Great review! I like rotel in their looks but not in their sound. As in sound for the money i would pick up a marantz any day of the week. I got a model 1090 and a pm7200 (2 different setups) and i guess except one amp that I really really want to have they will never go.

[@silviopimentel7247]

I would like to know what do you think about rotel and luxman? Knowing that one of your favorite is sansui. How would you compare the difference between rotel, luxman and sansui? I know different models offer different sounds but in a general way I guess. Cause here in Canada rotel & luxman are more sought after than most others. Oh and Marantz but I really don't like Marantz at all. Thank you my friend. Cheers 🍻

[@vintagestereo]

One of the best sounding luxman's is the R-1050. I had a few of them and they sound equal as a marantz 2250 with the difference that i prefer the r-1050 slightly above the 2250 because of a the better highs. The biggest receiver is the r-1500 what sounded a bit under the marantz 2275. The power/pre amp Luxman M-383 & C-383 sounded not good. The Luxman LV-105 sounded good for the value(150 euro) the luxman have these days but not more as that. The Luxman LQ 700x sound ust beautifull. I didn't heared any good Rotel untill now The sansuis sounded better as the Luxmans. And with the sansui's I mean the good sansui's, so not the r-50 ore r-70. Also the au-217/au317 sounded not not good, to bass heavy.

[@silviopimentel7247]

@@vintagestereo thank you so much for input. I feel jealous that you guys get stuff so much cheaper 😊👌 thank you & keep up the good work. I hope to come to the Netherlands soon maybe when the world gets better. ✌💯🎵🎶🎧

[@EastAngliaUK]

I still am using my rotel RA 01 amp last used it today.

[@nicolaemariangruia5543]

Hola , buenas que tal esta etapa de rotel rb 991? Un saludo .Lo quero conectar para mover los sonus faber principia 7 y de preamp tengo un matantz sr 6014 para ver pelicula

[@magicznadziurka]

Hi Andrew just quick question about combo between my canton ergo 91dc and rotel rb981 + rc971. Can u tell me that combo will work and sound good ??

[@vintagestereo]

I was not very pleased with the sound of the rb-991. Rotel looks nice but isn't the very best sound

[@magicznadziurka]

@@vintagestereo thx buddy for quick response If that combo doesn't sound good then I try grinding a9000 I heard a lot of nice opinions about that amp Keep doing good work 💪💪

[@Pitterson7]

​@@vintagestereo Подскажите, какой усилитель вам понравился больше чем rotel rb 991? И чем отличается rotel rb 991 и rotel rb 990?

[@Bonky2004]

Mooie set Zelf heb ik ook apparatuur uit de 900 serie waaronder ook deze voor en eindversterker. En nog steeds geen behoefte om iets nieuws te kopen

[@BearsBlend]

Cool video! When i was shopping amps I came across this rotel and a lot of other rotels on marktplaats. I ended up with a quad 606 and 34 becuase my demo experiences with rotel where not that good. To me they always sounded thin compared to other brands. I don't like them at all when hooked up to German speakers like canton or mb quart. They sound a bit better on British speakers like kef or b&w. Is that the cm9 s1 you have in your room? I demoed that one a while ago for a long time and I liked the sound with a more warm amp. I curiouse, what would be your top pick amp you own/ownd? Maybe a top 3 since you had a lot hahah.

[@shaun9107]

KEFF & B&W are quite a bright speaker for this amp , Needs warming up a bit . British speakers I would say CELESTION to warm it up a bit may be ?

[@BearsBlend]

@@shaun9107 how exactly can you change the sound of an amp with a speaker? But kef and b&w are not bright when you compair them to German speakers like canton or mb quart with the same amp.

[@theaudiophilebarista2424]

Bear's Blend I love Quad. I got the 34, 306 combination. Sounds nice with many loudspeakers.

[@BearsBlend]

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 it sure does! I changed my fuse on the 606 with a ceramic fuse with the same specs. It sounds a lot better shockingly

[@theaudiophilebarista2424]

Bear's Blend I will try that some day 😀

[@johnsweda2999]

You need a good DAC with that you can pick them up cheap anything that's 4 -5 years old cheap wouldn't go any older than that tho. What is the equipment behind on the rack looks interesting ? Rotel make some nice equipment good Poweramp

[@vintagestereo]

a sony sacd player, a akai am-93, accuphase e-206. I now also have a akai am-95, didn't test it yet but the accuphase e-206 is surprisingly good

[@marcse7en]

Early Philips multi-bit DACs = Some of the best ever made!

[@dilbyjones]

Perfect

[@luismarques1185]

Qual. O. Preço. Da. Percas. Rb

[@outdoorlife8086homeaudio]

what kind of music do you like? i got tons of cds i could send you couple.

[@vintagestereo]

I love jazz, 70's, 80's 90's pop, soul , r&b, latin, and these days also deep house

[@outdoorlife8086homeaudio]

@@vintagestereo when I gather some up I'll message you. Go from there 👍

[@gasolin75]

Sounds very bright

[@marcse7en]

That's modern CD Players for you! You want a nice mellow Philips multi-bit DAC such as the 14 bit TDA1540. Brightness is a big problem in HI-FI, and not even vinyl is immune! I had a lot of brightness in my early system 40 years ago. Early Japanese CD were very harsh!

[@christiaanstaps8336]

Fantastische set!!

[@aegisofhonor]

certainly a space efficient use of heat sinks, though not sure how many people want to look strait at heat fins on amplifier; looks worse then most Bryston amplifiers to be honest.

[@marcse7en]

A couple of big analogue VU meters woukd be nice!

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

Bryston amplifiers cost times more than Rotels.

[@shaun9107]

Its hard to tell with CD players but is ROTEL suitable for the Club sound tracks ? I have not had one yet . Currently using Technics SU V2X Class A for now . these Digital D Class amps have too much compression filtering such as ONKYO AV . I take it this amp is A-B but I can not tell with CD players . Sounds FORCED quite a bit here .

[@BearsBlend]

There is no compression with class d? Class a is a cleaner power delivery that's why many people think it sounds clearer but it had to do with the internal circuit in an amp. When you compare a good class a to good class d amp the amount of difference is little to none. I'm not talking about the amps that have the option to switch from a to d I'm talking pure class a or pure class d.

[@eDXTRe]

I have the predecessor of the 991 poweramp, the 990BX. I can feed it ANY kind of music from church organ/ violin to dance / drums or guitars. I have the amp connected to a set dynaudio's and i must say it can play low level and sound good. It can play loud and also music with lots of bass, the mid and high stay very clean. I think the suggestion about the source is important, the system lets you hear how good or bad the source is. from a technical point of view the rotel poweramp is realy straight forward and simple, no fancy vu meters , but a lot of power transistors 10 per channel (or 12 if you include the drivers) a big transformer and big caps..... Maybe you could give it another try with a pair of dynaudio speakers and a different source. To my opinion the rotel stuff (900) series is the best you can buy for your money. The rc995 is a completely discrete build class a preamplifier only using a opamp for the phono preamp.

[@nicoastylehifiman]

Nice song bro with the blues style , the question is : who is the better - rotel rb 991 Or - rotel rb 1582 mk2 I have the preamp rotel rc1550 and rc970 and for me the old preamp is better sound 😉🤞

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

New gear does not have any Black Gate capacitors as they were discontinued arround 1999-2000.

[@nicoastylehifiman]

@@IliyaOsnovikov so we must deduce that the old ones are better? 💪👍

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

@@nicoastylehifiman Some old models could be better in a sound quality. But the new gear has way more bells and wistles. However, if you try RC995 you might like it even more than your RC970. For a couple of years I had RA985. Then I went for separates with RC972 and RB981. Many years later by friend's advice I've got used RC995 and liked it so much that recently I've got one more as a spare.

[@nicoastylehifiman]

@@IliyaOsnovikov your feedback is very interesting, indeed my rc970bx seems to me more detailed and dynamic compared to the new model that I also have the rc1550 which has a softer and rounder sound I find. where the two are interesting is that the marriage with the speakers arise really different results depending on its sound color, I might take a rc995 later as you advise me;)

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

@@nicoastylehifiman Just try to get it for a good price. As I recall the first one I've got on eBay for about $240 in a mint condition (maybe without remote) and the second one for even less.

[@dxhighendamplifiers]

Good

[@EastAngliaUK]

does it not have bass or treble nob?

[@lynyrdskynyrd7779]

I thought the same

[@EastAngliaUK]

@@lynyrdskynyrd7779 I think my cambridge audio mk5 or something like that had no nobs to.

[@EastAngliaUK]

@@lynyrdskynyrd7779 was the Cambridge Audio A1 MK3 I had.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

This audiophile quality preamp does not.

[@milosevicbojan07]

I think i had this preamp,i opened it and inside it has only one opamp!!! Whole pream is empty,only circuit board with one opamp! Maybe it's other Rotel preamplifier but it looks the same. The sound was so unnatural and hard,i can't believe someone could built preamp like this. It's not this one preamp,this is good built..

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

This RC995 is not empty at all.

[@milosevicbojan07]

@@IliyaOsnovikov yes, this is the other one, this one is good

[@thevintagehifiambassador8524]

RC-980 Bx

[@eternalseth9063]

👍👌

[@l.s.mmunda7840]

RB Amplifier Banow Bhai

[@christiaanstaps8336]

Wow al 17000 volgers!

[@jhallo7740]

Nice amplifier, but cd players from rotel are nothing special. I have owned the rcd 951. Sound is not the best out there. And the drive's they are using, are cheap sony types, with laser and tray loading faillures after time...

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

The RCD-971 is way better than RCD-951.

[@marcse7en]

Philips swing-arm laser pickup with early multi-bit DAC!

[@rsmatti]

That's one of the worst reviews ever!

[@NosEL34]

I have no clue wtf was going on 😂

[@쿡쿡진]

😄

[@NosEL34]

Sounds like trash lol...although the preamp and amp you have there are solid performers, that Cd player not so much.

[@oddtoresundkvist3996]

It's because there is no room treatment and tiles on the floor, running that system through B&W CM series is to ask for trouble in such an environment. Listen to his voice when he is talking. Everything sounds bright in that room. The Rotel rb-991 is an excellent amp. So smooth and soft treble. Mids ar crisp and detailed. Bass is distinct and tight, not near being boomy.

[@NosEL34]

@@oddtoresundkvist3996 yeah I agree with your statement. Not the same amp but I do have the RB-981 laying around my house somewhere...it certainly wasn't overly bright or harsh sounding. I remember it having pretty good bass as well.

[@gino3286]

you are listening to a recorded sound the recorder is important Like the mic