Rotel RA-12 Integrated Amplifier

The price tag might be the most wallet-friendly, but that doesn’t mean the feature count has been cut back

Rotel has been a long standing competitor at this price point but historically, its amps were never the most feature-laden models going. But no more, as the RA-12 is possessed of a fair few bells and whistles. As well as four line-level inputs, it has four digital inputs (although none of these is a USB DAC connection) making use of a Wolfson DAC and a moving magnet phonon stage. The front port is Apple device-compatible, as well as being able to read compressed files on USB sticks the RA-12 comes supplied with a Bluetooth dongle for streaming off a computer – albeit at lower quality than a USB connection would manage. In terms of day-to-day use, this is the most convenient amp.

Rotel RA-12

There is a substantial amount of functionality for what is the most affordable amplifier in the test. The RA-12 claims a power output of 60W into a single pair of sturdy speaker terminals, which suggests it’s in the middle of the Group Testin power terms but is actually a much more capable performer in real-life terms (see On Test above). The build is perfectly solid as well, although it is somewhat fussy cosmetically and the display that is used to show input and volume lacks the legibility of the Arcam or the attractiveness of the Creek offerings. There are some operational niggles, too. The RA-12 seems to switch on at a default volume and the volume travel doesn’t feel very positive. The remote control is logical, easy to use and well laid out, however.

Sound quality

The Rotel’s suitability will depend to a great extent on your listening preferences. The Muse and Neil Cowley Trio recordings are smooth, controlled and reasonably detailed with pleasant width and definition to the soundstage. There is a slightly sweet quality to the midrange that lends voices and instruments a pleasing richness. The Neil Cowley Trio sound big and confident with excellent treatment of the leading piano and excellent decay to the cymbals. The RA-12 manages to generate an impressive soundstage with plenty of space around the performers and a useful perception of front-to-back depth.

The Rotel’s suitability will depend to a great extent on your listening preferences

With the less perfect Scratch Massive track, it is not as happy. The live performance sounds a little forced and there are traces of harshness in the upper registers that sound like it is calling on more of its available power than the rest of the amps. The Aloe Blacc recording also shows some of the same stridency. There is a reasonable liveliness to it, though, and it sounds upbeat and agile with these faster recordings. It manages to do this while generating reasonable – if not the best in the group – bass levels and there is a useful depth and detail to the low end. The slightly strained quality never fully goes away, however, and the Rotel isn’t as easy to listen to long term as some of the others here.

The RA-12 is very capable in many ways and represents an awful lot of amplifier for the money. For anyone who has music that tends to lean towards the more civilized end, it is capable of a detailed and engrossing performance and the extensive functionality should make it a very flexible part of any system.

The strain and slight harshness that it shows with less immaculate recordings and the slightly fussy aesthetics and controls are less appealing, however, and some of the more expensive amps in the test offer superior all-round ability.

The RA-12 is very capable in many ways and represents an awful lot of amplifier for the money

One test

While Rotel’s conservative 60W/8ohm rating might suggest the RA-12 offers a middling power performance, its richly-biased Class A/B output stage is actually the most capable of the bunch with a ‘real-life’ 2x90W/8ohm and 2x145W/4ohm putting it in the top tier. Furthermore, with a massive 23A maximum current at its disposal, it’s also the most tolerant of the toughest speaker loads.

Distortion is held to a consistent 0.005% over a 1-60W range through the midrange although there’s a bigger increase to 0.02% at higher frequencies (10W/20kHz). The response of both channels is very flat indeed, the mild –0.25dB/20Hz bass roll-off contrasting with the hugely extended –0.1dB/100kHz top-end range. While this will let through any ultrasonic noise from digital sources, the slightly below-average 82dB A-wtd S/N ratio may actually help ameliorate any sonic ‘roughness’.

Our verdict

·         Sound quality: 4.5/5

·         Value for money: 4/5

·         Build quality: 4/5

·         Features: 5/5

·         Like: Detailed and lively sound; great features; well-priced

·         Dislike: Can sound harsh with poorer recordings

·         We say: A well specified amp at a competitive price that lacks the all-round ability of some rivals

·         Overall: 4/5