Rotel releases A12, CD14 and RCD-1572 as MKII models with new DACs

Rotel unveils A12, CD14 and RCD-1572 AS MKII models with new DACs
(Image credit: Rotel)

Rotel has upgraded two CD players and one integrated amp to take them into their second generation. The aptly named A12MKII integrated amp and CD14MKII and RCD-1572MKII CD players follow the other MKII products Rotel launched last year to celebrate the brand's 60th anniversary, and feature improved circuitry and enhanced audio components.

All three newcomers feature the same Texas Instruments 32-bit DAC as the company's existing MKII components. They too benefit from power supply refinements, new coupling capacitors, and circuit board layout isolation techniques that promise to "lower the noise floor and reduce distortion." As a result, Rotel is promising performances with lower distortion, wider soundstages and improved depth.

As well as the new DAC, the A12MKII has a new digital processor and digital interface chipset – Rotel claims it has made 12 changes to the power amplifier in order to maximise performance. That's not quite as many as the 25 tweaks it made to the higher-end A14MKII but impressive nonetheless.

Meanwhile, the MKII CD players have upgraded CD drive mechanisms, new CD controller chipsets, and tuned critical acoustic components alongside the new DAC. 

In terms of connections, the CD14MKII and RCD-1572MKII offer RCA outputs and single coaxial digital outputs so they can operate as CD transports supporting off-board digital-to-analogue processing. The RCD-1572MKII also boasts a fully balanced, fully differential XLR output.

All three launch this month in silver and black finishes. The A12MKII costs £949 ($1099, €1099, roughly AU$1800), the CD14MKII is priced £649 ($899, €749, around AU$1200) and the RCD-1572MKII costs £995 ($1099, €1099, about AU$1900).

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Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

  • Ivabigun
    Can anyone tell me any information regarding the Rotel RCD 1572 mk2 in comparison to the former model ?
    Will " What hifi " being doing any reviews of the 15 series mk2 upgrade models for comparison to their predecessor models ?
    Reply