CES 2022 was very quiet in regard to new high-end audio product announcements; the ongoing pandemic has clearly forced brands to push back releases as they struggle with supply chain issues and the cancellation of more industry trade shows. Rotel isn’t immune to these issues but the Japanese manufacturer had a very solid 2021 and there are no signs that it plans on squandering its well earned momentum. The Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier is now available and our review sample proved to be quite the charmer; the review will appear on Friday for those who can’t wait.
I spent a lot of time with the Rotel Michi X3 and A14MKII Integrated Amplifiers in 2021 and found both to be exceptional performers at their respective price points. The Michi X3 has to be considered a category leader below $5,000 and while that’s a lot of shekels, it’s one of the best integrated amplifiers I’ve listened to from any brand in many years.
The build quality is superb and it is the type of amplifier that brushes aside difficult loudspeaker loads without breaking much of a sweat. If you are looking to spend that kind of money on a stereo component — it needs to be on a very short list of components to audition in 2022.
The Rotel A14MKII is a far more affordable component at $1,599 USD and I was quite impressed with its performance. It doesn’t have the power reserves or same level of build quality as its more expensive sibling, but it’s one of the best below $1,600 and I own 6 other integrated amplifiers between $400 and $1,700 which were sorta happy to see it leave.
The Rotel A14MKII proves that you don’t have to spend crazy amounts of money on an amplifier and feel that you’re missing out; it does almost everything well and the build quality is excellent.
But what about music listeners who can’t afford to spend more than $1,100 USD?
Rotel introduced the A11 Tribute Integrated Amplifier in honor of the late-Ken Ishiwata for $799 and it has proven to be a rather strong seller so far.
With the the A11 Tribute at $799 and the A14MKII at $1,599 — where does that leave the $1,099 Rotel A12MKII?
I’ll be sharing a lot more in my review but the A12MKII proved to be very similar to the A14MKII in a number of areas; functionality, power, and overall tonal balance.
The A12MKII is almost 5 pounds heavier than the A11 Tribute and I can assure you it’s not because Rotel stuck some unnecessary 2-inch thick metal faceplate on it and jacked up the price.
The Skinny
The Rotel A12MKII is a 3-inch tall solid state integrated amplifier that feels very solid out of the box. It’s not a back killer like the Michi X5, but it’s a hefty piece of metal for its size.
The heart of the A12MKII begins with Rotel’s in-house manufactured oversized toroidal transformer feeding high efficiency storage capacitors for deep, controlled bass energy.
The power supply features multiple voltage and current regulators delivering independent power to critical analog, digital and amplification stage circuits isolating sensitive low voltage signals from high power speaker outputs lowering the noise floor and reducing unwanted distortion.
The circuit design follows Rotel’s proprietary Balanced Design Concept with physical and electrical isolation techniques that have a discernible impact on the sound.
The A12MKII is replete with inputs supporting your favorite sources including a MM phono stage, 4 RCA analog inputs, 4 digital inputs, PC-USB and support for Bluetooth aptX.
The class AB amplifier delivers 60 watts/channel into 8 ohms making it more powerful than the A11 Tribute.
The 32-bit/384kHz DAC and Roon-Tested certification complete the package making the Rotel A12MKII a serious piece of kit for those looking to build a $3,000 system with analog and digital sources.
Continue reading: Part 1 of our hands-on Rotel A12MKII Review →
Related reading:
Rotel A14MKII Integrated Amplifier Review
Rotel Michi X3 Integrated Amplifier Review
Rotel RA-1572MKII and RA-1592MKII Integrated Amplifiers Unveiled
Steven O'Farrell
January 13, 2022 at 4:14 pm
You’re focus on affordable audio is a breath of fresh air, and appreciated by many of us who aspire for great sound that doesn’t break the bank. I owned Rotel amps and cd players for years, dating back to the late 70’s and the brand was my first foray into quality audio.I have always considered Rotel to be one of the best value propositions out there in terms of quality, price and reliability. I’ll be looking for your more in-depth review of this new A12MkII.
I would be especially interested in your take on the two new Rotel MK II cd players, as I’m seriously considering buying an all in one disk spinner very soon. I’ve read your “best of” cd choices article and would like to see how these new models stack up to the competition.
Your reviews are always highly anticipated, Ian! You cut to the chase, you express yourself with aplomb and I can sense that you recognize more than most that great audio does not have to be reserved for the privileged few. The general public clings to this ridiculous misconception that great audio is a luxury they can’t afford. Your articles are the best out there that consistently refute this nonsense and that makes you an invaluable asset to the audio community at large, in my opinion!
Ian White
January 13, 2022 at 7:06 pm
Steven,
Thank you for those very kind words. Part 1 of the review is out on Friday. Just an early take.
I do feel that the industry has missed the boat focusing on $$$$ for so long and I’m just trying to move the needle back the other way because most of us can’t afford 75% of these products.
I do plan on reviewing the Rotel CD player. Probably March.
Best,
Ian White
ORT
January 14, 2022 at 1:37 am
It needs a pair o’ VU Meters. Other wise, it is quite nice but there is a wealth of difference between Spartan and sparse.
On an integrated amp such as this, Vu Meters always provide a much needed touch of (functional) class. An homage to a time decades gone but still within the memories of a great many.
ORT