Rotel’s newest amplifier – the RAS-5000 super-integrated – builds on the corporate’s better-late-than-never adoption of streaming performance while promising 140wpc of Class A/B energy into 8 Ohms and 220wpc into 4 Ohms.
From the press launch: “Audio high quality is assured by cautious choice of top-grade parts together with the normal, Rotel specified over-sized toroidal transformers…The specifically chosen energy provide delivers ultra-low-noise energy to all vital circuits, with giant present reserves for the amplifier output transistors to make sure audio is delivered with deep, managed bass vitality with distinctive constancy.”
Rotel can be being coy about which ESS Labs DAC chip sits on the centre of the RAS-5000’s inside DAC circuit. Maybe the Japanese/Chinese language producer is making an attempt to move off the tide of prejudicial ideas from those that would ‘see’ a DAC’s sound high quality based mostly solely on its silicon while cheerfully ignoring the standard of the ability provide and analogue output stage. I can’t say I blame ’em. It’s like making an attempt to mission a automobile’s 0-60mph pace from its wheel mannequin.
The ‘Premium’ ESS DAC circuit right here helps PCM as much as 24bit/192kHz and MQA and we entry it by way of rear panel coaxial, TOSLINK and USB sockets in addition to an aptX Bluetooth enter.
Not solely.
The RAS-5000 internalises a wi-fi/Ethernet community streamer that helps Spotify Join, Tidal Join, Apple Airplay 2, Roon Prepared and Google Chromecast with Qobuz and Web radio stations folded into an accompanying UPnP app. This characteristic set suggests the presence of a Stream Limitless board however Rotel hasn’t stated as a lot — that’s merely my greatest guess. Cowl artwork and tune/album metadata are displayed on the entrance panel.
Additionally on the RAS-5000’s menu is the all-important HDMI ARC socket which, when hooked into to our TV’s ARC socket, strikes all distant management performance to the TV’s wand. HDMI ARC is a comfort characteristic whose market efficiency shouldn’t be underestimated. Rounding out this super-integrated’s characteristic set are single-ended RCA analogue inputs and a pre-amplifier output.
The RAS 5000 goes on sale this month by way of Rotel’s international seller community for US$2999, €2999 or £2799. Your alternative of black or silver.
Additional info: Rotel
