Rotel RMB-1585
The RMB-1585 delivers effortless dynamics, rich tonal colour and iron-fisted five-channel control, bringing both music and blockbuster soundtracks to life with deep impact and expansive imaging. SoundStage Solo admired its warmth, dimensionality and composure, while StereoNET United Kingdom found its cinematic punch remarkably unstrained. Add robust cooling and premium construction, and this is a formidable Class A/B anchor for serious home theatre.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
95/100
Value for Money
90/100
Pros
Delivers powerful, effortless dynamics and punch on demanding movie soundtracks.
Combines warm, richly coloured musicality with spacious, precisely articulated imaging.
Runs cool under demanding use thanks to effective temperature-monitored ventilation.
Substantial aluminium construction, balanced and RCA inputs, and 12V trigger support serious installations.
Cons
Its somewhat forward presentation may require careful system matching for listeners wanting a laid-back balance.
At 36kg and with a large chassis, it is cumbersome to position and demands a suitably strong, spacious rack.
Fine microdetail and top-end sparkle fall slightly short of some pricier competitors.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
The RMB-1585 combines a warm, richly coloured presentation with strong resolution, large-scale spatial presentation and unusually assured control. Its main sonic caveat is a somewhat forward balance that may not suit every system or listener.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
SoundStage Solo found that the amplifier sacrificed little in resolution, detail, instrumental space or micro-level nuance despite its richer tonal character. The same reviewer heard more within recordings that could sound compressed through lesser equipment, while StereoNET described dynamic film material as big, bold and detailed.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
SoundStage Solo praised unexpected warmth, richness and tonal colour, along with well-fleshed-out voices and convincing three-dimensionality on music. StereoNET found the balance a little more forward than its reference amplifier, a character the reviewer noted will appeal to many but may require sympathetic system matching.
Dynamics
95/100
Both reviews strongly praise the Rotel's power delivery. StereoNET heard punchy, effortless action sequences with no sense of strain, while SoundStage Solo reported seemingly endless reserves, arresting dynamics, wicked transient control and deep, impactful bass.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
SoundStage Solo repeatedly heard vast, precisely articulated soundstages, with convincing space, bloom and clearly painted positions for individual performers. It also credited the RMB-1585 with retaining three-dimensionality and air around instruments rather than flattening dense recordings.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Reviewers found the 36kg Class A/B amplifier exceptionally substantial and carefully engineered, citing its rigid aluminium chassis, CNC-machined detailing, orderly internal layout and generous ventilation. Balanced and RCA inputs, high-quality binding posts, 12V trigger connectivity, adjustable fan setting and temperature-monitored cooling make it well equipped for serious multichannel installations.
Value for Money
90/100
At the reviewed $2,999 to $3,999 prices, reviewers regarded the RMB-1585 as a compelling premium multichannel option rather than merely a high-power luxury. SoundStage Solo considered its improved quality worth the price increase and called it a must-hear for buyers seeking a five-channel power amplifier below $5,000; StereoNET also framed Rotel as offering strong value in high-end AV electronics.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Dimensions (W × H × D)
- 431 × 237 × 454mm 17" × 9.4" × 17.9"
- Front Panel Height
- 5U / 221mm (8.75")
- Power Requirements
- 120V, 60Hz
- Power Consumption
- 1100W
- Standby Power Consumption
- 0.5W
- Net Weight
- 36kg (79lbs.)
- BTU Rating
- 2372 BTU/h
- Power Output
- 200W/Ch (5 channels driven, 8Ω) 310W/Ch (5 channels driven, 4Ω)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
- (20Hz–20kHz) <0.03%
- Frequency Response
- 10Hz - 100kHz +0.5, -3dB
- S/N Ratio
- 116dB
- Gain
- 26.5dB
- Intermodulation Distortion
- <0.03%
- Damping Factor
- 260
- Speaker Impedance
- 4Ω minimum
- Input Sensitivity
- Line Level Inputs (RCA): 1.9V Line Level Inputs (XLR): 3.8V
- Input Impedance
- Line Level Inputs (RCA): 12kΩ Line Level Inputs (XLR): 100kΩ
Manufacturer's Description — Rotel
The pinnacle of performance in Rotel's superb multichannel power amplifier range, the RMB-1585 features 5 x 200 Watts to drive even the largest home theater speaker systems.
The RMB-1585, Rotel’s new flagship theater amplifier, provides both the massive power and sonic sophistication required by the finest home theater systems. With five channels, each capable of producing 200 continuous Watts each into 8 ohm loads (a full kilowatt of output power!), the RMB-1585 masters any A/V system regardless of speaker load or room size.
But it isn’t just pure output power that distinguishes the RMB-1585. It’s the ability to reproduce both the dynamics of a Hollywood blockbuster and the musical nuances of acoustic instruments that sets it apart. Where does this balance come from? It’s a direct result of Rotel’s celebrated Balanced Design Concept in which circuit topology and parts selection meld in the pursuit of sonic excellence.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Rotel RMB-1585
- 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