John Darko
Rotel’s latest amplifier – the RAS-5000 super-integrated – builds on the company’s better-late-than-never adoption of streaming functionality whilst promising 140wpc of Class A/B power into 8 Ohms and 220wpc into 4 Ohms.
From the press release: “Audio quality is guaranteed by careful selection of top-grade components including the traditional, Rotel specified over-sized toroidal transformers…The specially selected power supply delivers ultra-low-noise power to all critical circuits, with large current reserves for the amplifier output transistors to ensure audio is delivered with deep, controlled bass energy with exceptional fidelity.”
Rotel is also being coy about which ESS Labs DAC chip sits at the centre of the RAS-5000’s internal DAC circuit. Perhaps the Japanese/Chinese manufacturer is trying to head off the tide of prejudicial thoughts from those who would ‘see’ a DAC’s sound quality based solely on its silicon whilst cheerfully ignoring the quality of the power supply and analogue output stage — akin to predicting a car’s 0-60mph speed based on a photograph of its wheels.
The ‘Premium’ ESS DAC circuit here supports PCM up to 24bit/192kHz and MQA and we access it via rear panel coaxial, TOSLINK and USB sockets as well as an aptX Bluetooth input.
Not only.
The RAS-5000 internalises a wi-fi/Ethernet network streamer that supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple Airplay 2, Roon Ready and Google Chromecast with Qobuz and Internet radio stations folded into an accompanying UPnP app. This feature set suggests the presence of a Stream Unlimited board but Rotel hasn’t said as much — that’s simply my best guess. Cover art and song/album metadata are displayed on the front panel.
Also on the RAS-5000’s menu is the all-important HDMI ARC socket which, when hooked into to our TV’s ARC socket, moves all remote control functionality to the TV’s wand. HDMI ARC is a convenience feature whose marketplace potency shouldn’t be underestimated. Rounding out this super-integrated’s feature set are single-ended RCA analogue inputs and a pre-amplifier output.
The RAS 5000 goes on sale this month via Rotel’s global dealer network for US$2999, โฌ2999 or ยฃ2799. Your choice of black or silver.
Further information: Rotel
