Rotel RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier - Black

Rotel Built the RA-1572MKII Around Power, Not Apps

This is the big one in Rotel's 15 Series. The RA-1572MKII delivers 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 200 watts into 4 ohms from a Class AB output stage, fed by a toroidal transformer Rotel winds itself. The chassis is a full-width 3U, 17 inches across and 14 1/8 deep, and it weighs 29.98 pounds.

Rotel spent the budget on the amplifier and the connections rather than on a streaming platform. The MKII refresh brought circuit topology and power supply methods down from the flagship Michi range, along with a new Texas Instruments Burr-Brown converter. Both black and silver finishes are offered.

Count the Inputs Before You Compare

Analog first: three RCA line inputs labeled CD, Tuner, and Aux, plus a balanced XLR pair, plus a moving magnet phono stage with its own ground post. On the digital side there are two coaxial and two optical inputs, a PC-USB port, and a front USB socket for an iPhone or iPad. Bluetooth uses aptX.

Outputs match that generosity. There are two sets of speaker terminals, Speaker A and Speaker B, switched from the front panel or the remote. Two parallel mono subwoofer jacks let you run a pair of subs. A preamp output, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and bass and treble controls with a bypass round it out.

The One Thing It Does Not Do

There is an Ethernet port on the back, and it does not stream. Rotel put it there for firmware updates and IP control in automation systems. Music arrives by USB, Bluetooth, or the digital inputs. The amplifier is Roon Tested and works as a Roon endpoint through PC-USB.

Where the Power Supply and the DAC Meet

Rotel uses slit-foil capacitors and symmetrical circuit board traces, with metal film resistors and polystyrene or polypropylene capacitors in the signal path. Total harmonic distortion measures under 0.018 percent, the lowest figure in the 15 Series, and the damping factor is 300.

The Numbers That Explain the Weight

Signal-to-noise ratio is 100dB on the line inputs and 80dB through phono. Frequency response runs 10Hz to 100kHz within half a decibel on line level, and 20Hz to 20kHz on phono. RCA sensitivity is 270mV, XLR is 440mV, and the phono input wants 2.1mV with a 32mV overload margin.

Use the USB Input for MQA

The Texas Instruments Burr-Brown converter runs to 32-bit and 384kHz. Coaxial and optical inputs accept PCM to 24-bit/192kHz. PC-USB offers Class 1.0 at 24-bit/96kHz with no driver, or Class 2.0 to 384kHz once you install the supplied driver. MQA and MQA Studio unfold to 24-bit/384kHz.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Daniel Kumin reviewed it for Sound & Vision on September 15, 2021. His pros list reads "Generous power", "First-class sound" and "High-quality fit and finish", and he concluded that the RA-1572MKII delivers these "by the bushel".

Mark Gusew scored it 8.5 out of 10 with an Applause Award at StereoNET on June 11, 2021. He wrote that "Rotel's new RA-1572 MKII has a big, generous, musical sound" with "a well-controlled bass".

Kumin's cons are strictly practical: "Network connection doesn't support audio" and "Lacks Wi-Fi, AirPlay wireless streaming". He also notes the amplifier "does not accept DSD data directly". Gusew adds one for Android owners: "Sadly there's no support for Android devices here" on the front USB socket.

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

• Owners of demanding speakers — 120 watts into 8 ohms, 200 into 4, and a damping factor of 300 give it grip on loads that make smaller amplifiers work.
• Vinyl listeners — the built-in moving magnet phono stage takes 2.1mV cartridges and has its own ground terminal, so no outboard box is needed.
• Anyone with balanced sources — a true XLR input pair is rare at this price and useful with a DAC or CD player that offers balanced outputs.
• Two-pair and two-subwoofer systems — Speaker A and B switching, two parallel sub outputs, 12V triggers, and a home theater bypass mode cover complex installs.
• If you want streaming built in, the RA-1572MKII has no Wi-Fi, AirPlay or Chromecast. One of our network streamers feeds its coaxial or optical input, and the amplifier's own DAC does the converting.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speakers go to the Speaker A terminals, and a second pair to Speaker B if you have one. A turntable goes to the phono jacks with its ground wire on the post beside them. A CD player can use RCA or XLR, but not both at once from the same source.

One quirk worth knowing: plugging in headphones does not mute the speakers. Use the front panel or remote A-B selector to switch them off. If you plan to use the 12V trigger input for home theater bypass, check the serial number, because that function only works on later production units.

Pairs Well With

With this much power and this many inputs, the RA-1572MKII can anchor a serious system:

• Floorstanding speakers — 200 watts into 4 ohms is enough for large towers in a large room.
• Turntables — the moving magnet phono stage is built in, so a turntable and a cartridge are all you need.
• Subwoofers — two parallel mono outputs let you run a stereo pair of subs for even room coverage.
• Speaker cables — two sets of terminals means two runs if you use both Speaker A and Speaker B.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does the Rotel RA-1572MKII have?

120 watts per channel into 8 ohms continuous, and 200 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Both figures are rated with both channels driven, which is how Rotel specifies its amplifiers.

Does the RA-1572MKII stream from Spotify or Tidal?

The Ethernet port handles firmware updates and IP control only. Music comes in over PC-USB, aptX Bluetooth, or the coaxial and optical inputs. It is Roon Tested and works as a Roon endpoint via USB.

What kind of phono cartridge does it take?

Moving magnet only. The input is specified at 2.1mV into 47k ohms with a 32mV overload margin. A moving coil cartridge needs a step-up transformer or an outboard phono stage.

Can it drive two pairs of speakers?

Yes. There are two sets of terminals, Speaker A and Speaker B, selected from the front panel or the remote. You can run either pair alone or both together.

Does plugging in headphones mute the speakers?

This surprises people. The 3.5mm headphone jack leaves the speakers running. Switch them off with the A-B speaker selector on the front panel or the remote.

What is the warranty on the Rotel RA-1572MKII?

Five years, parts and labor. Coverage requires purchase from an authorized Rotel North American dealer, and the online registration must be completed within 30 days of purchase.

See It in Action

The SoundStage! Network channel reviews the RA-1572MKII and walks its feature set:

Living Entertainment covers what changed in the MKII revision and how it sounds:

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