Surround Processor Reviews

Rotel RSP-1570 Surround Processor and RMB-1575 Amplifier HT Labs Measures Rotel RMB-1575 Amplifier

HT Labs Measures Rotel RMB-1575 Amplifier

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 268.5 watts
1% distortion at 317.9 watts

Frequency response:
–0.29 dB at 10 Hz
–0.08 dB at 20 Hz
–0.95 dB at 20 kHz
–4.45 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the RMB-1575’s left amplifier channel, with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 273.4 watts and 1 percent distortion at 319.8 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 484.6 watts and 1 percent distortion at 510.0 watts. An input level of 129.3 millivolts was required to produce an output of 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load, indicating an overall gain of +26.87 decibels.

THD+N from the amplifier was less than 0.008 percent at 1 kilohertz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –104.74 dB left to right and –103.37 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –102.55 dBrA.—MJP

COMMENTS
anirudhs's picture
Submitted by anirudhs on October 9, 2011 - 5:55am

Well. If I could audition audio equipment the way we can test-drive cars, I could decide if it is something that I want to aspire for 10 years down the line, or ignore it altogether because my ears can't tell the difference. Till then, I don't care.

gadgetgeek's picture
Submitted by gadgetgeek on July 21, 2012 - 3:04am

I own both the Rotel 1570 and the "older" Rotel 1077.
I also auditioned the current Rotel ICE amps. I 100% agree with Michael's assessment on the new Ice Amps. However, the Rotel 1077 is a completely different fruit all together.

The Rotel 1077 uses the 250 ASP modules in the front 2 channels from B&O. Stable down to 2 ohms, tons of power, and VERY musical. No harshness whatsoever IMO. Unfortunately, the amp didn't sell well due to its high price and relatively small stature. It didn't look like a powerful amp. That counts.

The newer models with the radiator front, use a cheaper configuration and are prob selling better.
However, IMO, they have taken a huge step backwards. If you can find a Rotel 1077 used, audition it, and I'm pretty confident, it won't sound anything like the RMB-1575.

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