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Rotel RA-1572MKII
The RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier brings your music to life with exceptional fidelity delivering 120 Watts of Class AB output into 8 ohms with deep, controlled bass energy. The audiophile grade DAC, analog, digital, aptXTM and AAC Bluetooth, PC-USB supporting MQA and Moving Magnet Phono stage ensure exceptional detail and immersive soundstage.
The RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier is an essential component for music lovers leveraging the best of Rotel’s analog and digital technologies bringing music to life with exceptional fidelity. The role of an integrated amplifier continues to evolve with the RA-1572MKII optimized in every aspect including the power amplifier delivering 120 Watts of robust Class AB output into 8 ohms, audio circuit design innovations, premium audiophile Digital to Analog Converter and a full complement of source inputs.
As typical of Rotel amplifiers, the RA-1572MKII utilizes an in-house manufactured oversized toroidal transformer. The toroidal transformer’s shape helps prevent stray radiation patterns from corrupting audio signals as they pass through adjacent circuits. The transformer feeds a bank of 4 low ESR, high efficiency, T-Network slit-foil storage capacitors for deep, controlled bass energy.
The RA-1572MKII support digital sources utilizing a Texas Instruments 32-bit/384kHz DAC with critically tuned output filter circuits rendering even the most subtle detail. The preamplifier circuits and linear amplifier gain stages have been custom engineered ensuring natural detail, agility and an immersive soundstage. Analog, digital, PC-USB supporting MQA, aptX™ and AAC wireless Bluetooth streaming, XLR Balanced and Moving Magnet Phono stage inputs ensures connection to your favorite sources.
The RA-1572MKII is certified Roon Tested delivering the best experience using Roon software so you can just enjoy the music.
The front panel includes a status display, source and volume controls, Speaker A-B selection for Zone 2, and 3.5mm headphone jack. Ethernet and RS232 connections allow seamless integration with control systems and software updates.
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Professional Reviews 91/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Connectivity
90/100
Value for Money
94/100
With 120W per channel, Rotel’s RA-1572MKII delivers smooth, refined authority: tight bass, crisp detail and spacious, precisely placed images. SoundStage Solo found it capable of driving demanding electrostatics, while StereoNET United Kingdom praised its muscular control, expansive staging and versatile DAC, phono and headphone facilities—a compelling high-value hub for serious mixed-source systems.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Powerful, controlled presentation with tuneful, extended bass and strong dynamics across demanding loudspeakers.
Smooth, slightly warm yet detailed sound, with precise vocal placement and convincing soundstage scale.
Exceptionally broad connectivity, including high-resolution MQA-capable USB DAC, MM phono, headphone amp, balanced input and dual subwoofer outputs.
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Cons
No built-in Wi-Fi streaming, AirPlay/Chromecast, DSP or room correction.
Some recordings can reveal extra sibilance through the phono stage.
The digital volume control offers limited tactile reference and requires large movements for small adjustments.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers find the RA-1572MKII clean, detailed, powerful and musically engaging, with a generally neutral presentation tempered by a touch of midrange and treble warmth. It combines strong drive and convincing scale with well-focused images, although one reviewer heard occasional sibilance and another found its overall presentation somewhat closed-in compared with predecessors.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Ron Nagle describes exceptionally clear reproduction, including the ability to separate difficult vocal harmonies, and calls the phono stage “super detailed.” Roger Kanno likewise found clear sound and superbly natural vocal placement, though he noted some distracting accentuation of sibilants on one recording.
Tonal Balance Musicality
90/100
SoundStage Solo heard a principally neutral balance with a slight midrange-and-treble warmth that made the sound smooth, sweet and pleasing. The presentation is consistently described as enjoyable and refined, but the occasional sibilance and one report of a somewhat squashed or closed-in signature prevent it from being wholly unqualified.
Dynamics
92/100
The 120Wpc Rotel had no difficulty driving PSB floorstanders, and Kanno found convincing orchestral scale, satisfying weight and real punch through its headphone output. Nagle also reports clean, powerful bass with enough output to energize a room, while noting a small perceived dynamic advantage for optical over another connection.
Soundstage Imaging
88/100
Images are described as precisely placed, realistic and well delineated, while Nagle heard a recording expand dramatically to fill the space between the loudspeakers. There are qualifications: Kanno found the stage slightly smaller than through his Oppo’s internal DAC, and Living Entertainment considered the overall presentation somewhat closed-in despite good height and width.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
Reviewers describe a robustly built, substantial 30-pound amplifier in a satin-finished aluminum case. The construction is characterized as utilitarian rather than luxurious, and the reviews say little about long-term reliability or internal component quality.
Features Connectivity
90/100
The RA-1572MKII combines a high-resolution, MQA-capable USB DAC, digital and analog connectivity, Bluetooth, Roon Tested operation, an MM phono stage, headphone amplifier and dual subwoofer outputs. Reviewers praise its flexibility and reliable USB/Roon operation, but note that it lacks the built-in Wi-Fi, AirPlay/Chromecast streaming, DSP and room correction offered by some rivals; the volume control also drew criticism for its limited tactile feedback.
Value for Money
94/100
At its reviewed $2,099 price, multiple reviewers consider the Rotel an unusually strong price-to-performance proposition. Audiophilepure calls it one of today’s best combinations of price and performance, while SoundStage Solo found it the least-expensive integrated it had heard that could properly drive MartinLogan Classic ESL 9 speakers while retaining musical complexity and subtlety.
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Rotel RA-1572MKII
- 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)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
and 197 more verified dealers