Rotel RB-1072 ICE ICE Baby!

This lil' amp punches out lively music from yet another Class D design!

100 watt per channel stereo power amplifier that runs very cool. Only 2-3/8” high, it is powerful yet refined. Nice soundstage with depth and very fast.

Jazztimes.com

The RB-1072 ($899) is the entry-level Rotel Class D amp, though calling it entry level is a tad misleading. The amp simply rocks and rolls with grace and 100 potent watts, all from a diminutive little box just barely two inches high. It is a power amp only, so to keep things in the family, we auditioned it with the equally classy RC-1082 preamp ($1,199). Together they constitute an excellent, modestly priced entry point into the world of high-end audio, especially if teamed with Rotel’s companion CD player that we listened to last issue.

The sound? Like other ICEpower amps, the Rotel packs plenty of punch and authority without exhibiting any signs of stress, at least with the various speakers I employed for this review. Bass was always plentiful and the amp kept a firm grip on the speakers, resulting in very tight, musical lows, never tubby, never slow. In that all-important midrange, the Rotel sailed smoothly and effortlessly, projecting female vocals, a critical test of just about any component, with a natural quality usually found in tube gear, while high frequencies never exhibited a trace of glare or harshness.

If the Rotel fits into your budget, it is certainly worth considering for a very tasty plate of true high-end musical performance.

About.com Rating 4.25/5 stars
stereos.about.com:
Reviewed with Rotel RC-1082 preamp

"Natural Sound Quality for Music Enthusiasts"

"I would easily recommend the Rotel RC-1082 and RB-1072 for serious music enthusiasts where audio purity and natural, warm musicality is essential."

Per Rotel: "Rotel engineers have methodically applied our Balanced Design Concept (BDC) to render a very impressive design. The RB-1072 features innovative engineering that has transformed the sound of early Class D amplifiers from less-than-stellar products to real audiophile components. Two of these design accomplishments are *MECC (Multivariable Enhanced Cascade Control) and *COM (Controlled Oscillation Modulation) which substantially reduce pulse amplitude and pulse timing errors. Together, these technological solutions, along with Rotel’s BDC, have helped changed the future of power amplification and allowed Class D switching amplifiers to realize their full potential of high power, low heat, reduced chassis size, and first class sound."

The RB-1072 has 12-volt trigger connections so it can be turned on automatically when the control amplifier is turned on. A cable with a 3.5mm jack on each end interconnects the amp and control amp. Among its other design characteristics, the RB-1072 is a high-current amplifier, delivering up to 11 amps of current to the speakers, and the amplifier has a damping factor of 200.

The RB-1072 has two sets of banana-plug speaker terminals for each channel so it is bi-wire capable.

Specifications: RB-1072 Stereo Power Amplifier

• Power Output: 100 watts x 2 both channels driven, 8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.02% THD
• Intermodulation Distortion: less than 0.2%
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-40kHz (+/-3dB)
• Signal to Noise ratio: 109dB
• Damping Factor: 200
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 17 7/8" x 2 7/8" x 13 2/4"

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