Rotel RB-1552 MkII

HiFi News found the sound notably open and clear, with a delightful sense of air and space. It also singled out the excellent retrieval of harmony-vocal detail and the natural decay of reverberation around electric guitar.

The amplifier's open, airy character lends recordings an engaging and uncluttered feel. However, Robert Plant's vocal was heard as somewhat nasal and less full-bodied, suggesting that tonal weight is not its strongest suit on every recording.

With 130W per channel into 8 ohms and 185W into 4 ohms, the Rotel has useful real-world output, but the listening test identified a clear limitation under strain. Loud string and percussion passages developed a hard-edged quality, while bass precision became slightly vague compared with the larger amplifiers in the comparison.

Its sense of air and space translates into a particularly strong spatial performance. On Sheffield Lab's 'Ride Of The Valkyries,' it produced a wide, deep soundstage and a creditable three-dimensional view of the orchestra in the hall.

HiFi News described the finish as exemplary for the price, highlighting the brushed-aluminium fascia and polished end caps. The specification also includes both RCA and balanced XLR inputs, substantial 4-ohm capability and a high claimed damping factor, though the review offers little comment on internal construction or long-term durability.

At the reviewed £700 price, the RB-1552 was positioned below the larger Bryston, Anthem and Parasound amplifiers it was compared with. Those more costly alternatives retained greater composure and bass precision, but the review's praise for the Rotel's finish, openness and spatial ability indicates an appealing performance package for its class.