Rotel RC-995/RB-990BX Amplifier
Design of this pair of the two-unit Rotel amplifiers "top" models is laconic and strict; it resembles the English "peers" in black tuxedos. Credo of the Rotel Company is "the production of affordable audio components with the highest possible sound quality". The Rotal engineers think that this "concept of the balanced design" is possible due to the circuit engineering as simple as possible, but with the use of the audiophile quality components which are selected according to the listening results. This statement has a great responsibility. Therefore we have started testing these amplifiers with the great interest.
RC-995 preamplifier is made carefully and accurately. Its front metal panel is made in full concordance with the audiophile standards: only the motorized volume control, the stereo control and the signal selectors for input and recording. And that is all except the push button and the remote control photoreceiver! There is no tone control at all. In order to brighten up its austere appearance, the Rotel uses the highlighting of the current volume control position with the red light-emitting diode and the position indication of the input and recording selectors with the help of green light-emitting diodes. It is clearly heard that the input switching is performed with the help of relays (good!) and that in order to exclude the click at the time of switching, the amplifier output is temporarily disabled in the loudspeakers (also not bad). The backboard features the high quality gild RCA connectors and the connectors of the amplifier balanced output.
RB-990BX power amplifier is a feather in company's cap and one of its most famous models. In particular, it became famous due to the fact that it can give the enormous current peaks up to 120 A to the demand. This outstanding result became possible owing to the excellent "signature" Rotel toroidal transformer and electrolytic capacitors with the low inductance of special design consisting of many in-parallel strips of foil. Together with the multiple connection of 12 powerful output transistors in each channel it gives the opportunity to manage with any acoustic system, even with the most complex change character of its impedance. The amplifier has the fully symmetrical classic design of the amplifier channels from input to output. In general, the amplifier design is thoroughly thought over, the build quality is perfect. The one thing to note is that the power amplifier does not have the balanced input; that is why the RC-995 preamplifier can be connected to it only with the usual asymmetrical network. When placing this amplifier to the bay, remember that it is significantly warmed (during the preheating it was 45-50 degrees) as the offset currents of the amplifier output transistors are big enough.
The RB-990 BX showed a really record magnitude of the maximum output capacity - more than 2x200 W to 8 ohm! It was evident that it would not stop and was ready to "pump" even bigger capacity, but we did not dare to let it work "on all cylinders" in order not to damage the integrity of our laboratory equivalent of the loudspeakers load.
The sound of the Rotel RC 995/RB 990 BX is incredibly clear; it is really the crystal clear sound. The one is dazzled especially with the high frequencies which sparkle with tiny musical details. The amplifier easily "builds" the three-dimensional sound stage; its sound has a lot of air and the volume of the recording studio is clearly felt. The medium frequencies are also irreproachable: they are clear and are reproduced with high resolution. However, the low frequencies are a bit lack of energy and vigor; this is why the sound of the amplifier is slightly empty. And sometimes there are barely perceptible nuances in its sound which do not allow it to cross the fine line between the good and the great sound.
