Rotel CD14MKII
The Rotel CD14MKII makes compact discs feel vividly alive, pairing rich tonal weight, pristine detail and a remarkably silent background with broad, stable imaging. SoundStage Solo admired its slam, solid midrange and refined highs, while Part Time Audiophile found its open, musical resolution compelling. Coaxial digital output also lets this focused player grow into a serious transport.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
84/100
Features Usability
83/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Delivers rich, full tone, strong bass slam, a solid midrange and clean, refined highs.
Combines high resolution and detail with an open, musical presentation rather than clinical brightness.
Creates notably quiet backgrounds alongside broad, fairly deep imaging and precise instrument placement.
Cons
The plastic remote's frequently used transport buttons are small and tightly spaced.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers found the CD14MKII unusually engaging for a dedicated CD player, combining rich tone, strong drive, expansive imaging and a notably quiet presentation. Its clean, revealing character appears sensitive to system partnering, but the reports consistently describe it as detailed without losing musical ease.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
SoundStage Solo heard rich, full piano, appropriate bass slam, a solid midrange and excellent highs, with none of the high-frequency grain heard from a comparison player. Part Time Audiophile likewise praised a big, open and clear sound that was extended, energetic and detailed without sacrificing musicality.
Resolution Detail
94/100
Part Time Audiophile described the Rotel as a serious digital machine with "crazy resolution and detail," while retaining a convincing sense of performers' physical presence. SoundStage Solo found individual instruments easy to isolate within a broad, fairly deep stage, and praised its precise handling of rapid staccato passages.
Digital Performance
93/100
The most repeated observation from SoundStage Solo was the player’s dead-black background, with silence between tracks that remained striking across several recordings. Reviewers also heard a pristine, clean presentation free of the graininess noted in a competing player, supporting the impression of a carefully executed DAC and output stage.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 83/100
As a dedicated CD player, the CD14MKII keeps operation focused and offers useful integration facilities rather than broad streaming functionality. Its connectivity is practical for conventional hi-fi and custom-install systems, though the remote’s small transport buttons can make everyday control less pleasant.
Streaming Software
82/100
This is a dedicated CD player rather than a streaming platform, and the reviews do not report any app, network-control or library-management experience. Physical operation is generally presented as straightforward, but Audiophiliac specifically found the plastic remote’s play, pause, stop and track-skip buttons too small.
Features Connectivity
86/100
The CD14MKII provides RCA analog output and a coaxial digital output, allowing it to serve either as a complete player or as a transport into an external DAC. RS-232 and 12V trigger connections add welcome integration flexibility for systems that include home-theater or custom-control equipment.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
84/100
The review coverage specifically praises the smooth tray-loading mechanism, and the player appears to be a straightforward, purposeful disc machine. Long-term chassis and mechanism durability are not discussed in depth, while Audiophiliac found the plastic remote acceptable but criticized its undersized frequently used buttons.
Value for Money
93/100
At $899, Part Time Audiophile considered the CD14MKII a continuation of Rotel’s strong value tradition and called it proof that an affordable CD player can remain essential in a modern digital system. Audiophiliac similarly characterized the price as a sweet spot between frustrating budget machines and costly multi-thousand-dollar alternatives.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Dimensions (W × H × D)
- 430 × 98 × 314mm 17" × 3.8" × 12.3"
- Front Panel Height
- 80mm (3.15")
- Power Requirements
- 120V, 60Hz
- Power Consumption
- 15W
- Standby Power Consumption
- <0.5W
- Net Weight
- 6.51kg (14.35lbs.)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
- 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz - 20kHz ±0.5dB
- S/N Ratio (IHF "A" Weighted)
- >118dB
- Dynamic Range
- >99dB
- Digital to Analog Converters
- Texas Instruments
- Channel Balance
- ±0.5dB
- Channel Separation
- >118dB @ 10kHz
- Intermodulation Distortion
- 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Phase Linearity
- ±0.5 degree
- Digital Output
- 0.5V, Peak to Peak
- Analog Output Impedance
- 100Ω
- Load Impedance
- 75Ω
Manufacturer's Description — Rotel
The CD14MKII delivers accurate reproduction of CDs with stunning clarity resolving even the finest details. The Texas Instruments 32-bit DAC is supported by independent power supplies isolating motor controls from sensitive audio circuits reducing noise and distortion. Bring your CD collection including MP3s and let the CD14MKII deliver performance at its best.
The CD14MKII follows Rotel’s tradition of award-winning CD players with innovations to the power supply, and newly tuned acoustic component resulting in a more accurate reproduction of the audio with rich, genuine detail.
Critical Digital to Analog conversion is managed by a premium Texas Instruments 32-bit DAC with independent power supplies eliminating unwanted distortion and isolating motor controls from sensitive audio circuits reducing noise and distortion.
The tray loading CD mechanism, IR remote, front panel controls and graphic display ensure seamless operation.
Bring your CD’s including MP3s and allow the CD14MKII to showcase your music with stunning detail, clarity, and accuracy.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Rotel CD14MKII
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
and 199 more verified dealers