Rotel RA-1592MKII Integrated Amplifier

Two Hundred Watts, and Almost Every Input You Own

The RA-1592MKII is Rotel’s full-size Class AB integrated amplifier. It delivers 200 watts per channel continuously into 8 ohms, and 350 watts a channel into 4 ohms at maximum. A toroidal transformer wound in Rotel’s own factory feeds slit-foil capacitors.

Balanced XLR inputs sit alongside the RCA line inputs. There is a moving-magnet phono stage, coaxial and optical digital inputs, and a PC-USB port. The damping factor is 600 and distortion measures below 0.008%.

The Ethernet Port Is Not for Streaming

The RA-1592MKII has an Ethernet port, RS232 and 12V triggers on the back. All three exist for control-system integration in a custom install. None of them plays music. Wireless audio comes from Bluetooth, which supports aptX and AAC. For Tidal, Qobuz or a NAS library, add a streamer to one of the inputs.

What the Digital Section Accepts

Conversion runs through a Texas Instruments DAC good for 32-bit and 384kHz. Coaxial and optical take SPDIF up to 24-bit 192kHz. PC-USB goes to 32-bit 384kHz in USB Audio Class 2, which needs a driver on the computer first. MQA and MQA Studio decode up to 24-bit 384kHz, and it is Roon Tested over PC-USB.

Two Subwoofers, Two Speaker Pairs, and Tone Off by Default

Two mono subwoofer outputs carry the summed left and right signals in parallel, so you can drive a pair of subs. A PRE OUT feeds a power amplifier. Speaker terminals come in two sets, A and B.

Plugging in headphones does not mute the speakers, so switch them off with the A-B selector. Bass and treble ship disabled to keep the signal path short, and you enable them in the menu.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Andrew Everard reviewed it for Sound Advice in March 2022 and called it “big, bold and magnificent: this is an amp able to drive even big, demanding speakers as hard as most of us could ever sensibly want.”

Andrew Robinson at Of Sound Design found it “effortlessly detailed and focused” and “the epitome of neutral with respect to its midrange performance.”

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

• Your speakers are demanding — 200 watts a channel and a damping factor of 600
• You have a balanced source — true XLR line inputs, not an adapter
• You run subwoofers — two parallel mono outputs mean a stereo pair of subs
• Your system is part of a control setup — RS232, Ethernet and configurable 12V triggers, plus an HT bypass mode
• If you stream, add a streamer — there is no network audio here, only Bluetooth. Pair it with one of our Music Streamers on a line or digital input

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speakers go to the A terminals, a second pair to B. A turntable goes to phono with its ground wire on the screw terminal beside it. Line sources fill the RCA inputs, and a balanced source takes the XLRs. A computer uses PC-USB, and a disc player or television uses coaxial or optical.

For a home theater, enable HT BYPASS in the setup menu. The 12V trigger then becomes an input, the amplifier powers itself on, and it selects your chosen bypass source at a fixed volume.

Pairs Well With

Building around the RA-1592MKII? Here are some good companions:

• Floorstanding speakers this is the power to drive a real floorstander
• Subwoofers two outputs, so buy them in pairs
• Turntables the moving-magnet phono stage is already fitted
• Interconnect cables to feed those balanced inputs properly

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does the RA-1592MKII deliver?

200 watts per channel continuously into 8 ohms, and 350 watts per channel into 4 ohms at maximum, from a Class AB output stage. Distortion stays below 0.008%.

Can it stream Tidal or Qobuz on its own?

The Ethernet port is for control-system integration, not audio. Streaming services need a separate streamer, or you can send them over Bluetooth using aptX or AAC.

Does it support MQA and Roon?

Yes to both. MQA and MQA Studio decode up to 24-bit 384kHz, and the amplifier is Roon Tested over its PC-USB input.

Can I connect a turntable and a subwoofer?

Yes. The phono input is moving magnet, with 5.2mV sensitivity and a ground terminal. Two parallel mono subwoofer outputs support a pair of subs.

Why is the bass and treble control switched off?

By design, to keep the signal path short. The display reads TONE DISABLED until you enable them in the front-panel menu.

How big and heavy is it?

17 inches wide, 5 7/8 inches high and 16 inches deep, with a 3U front panel, and it weighs 38.8 pounds. Keep the top ventilation slots clear.

See It in Action

Taps Das puts the RA-1592MKII through a full review:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about integrated amplifiers, adding a streamer, or running two subwoofers in a stereo system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.