Rotel RB-1582 MkII Stereo Power Amplifier - Silver

Two Hundred Watts, and a Damping Factor of 800

The RB-1582 MkII makes 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 323 into 4. That is the point at which most domestic speakers stop being a problem the amplifier has to solve, whatever they are and whatever the room does.

The number that tells you more is the damping factor: 800. That figure describes how firmly the amplifier holds a woofer still between notes, and it is what separates bass that starts and stops with the recording from bass that carries on ringing.

Rotel has been building its own transformers for sixty years, and the RB-1582 MkII follows the company's Balanced Design Concept: the parts, the layout and the measurements developed together rather than one chosen to flatter another.

Inside the Chassis

Distortion stays under 0.03% across the audible band, both harmonic and intermodulation. Signal-to-noise measures 116dB A-weighted, and frequency response runs from 10Hz all the way to 100kHz, within half a decibel throughout.

Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs are fitted, selected by a rear-panel switch. Sensitivity is 1.9V on RCA and 3.0V on XLR, with impedances of 12k and 100k ohms respectively.

The chassis is 431mm wide, 144 high and 407 deep, and it weighs 17.6kg. Rotel covers amplifiers in North America with a 5-year parts and labor warranty, which is long for the money.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Gary Lea reviewed the RB-1582 MkII for Positive Feedback on 14 September 2021, running it with Rotel's matching RC-1572 MkII preamplifier. His verdict was unqualified: "Highly recommended!"

Coming from a valve system, what surprised him was the tone. "The midrange was creamier than I expected from a solid-state duo, especially compared to my tube rig," he wrote.

One practical warning, and it is worth heeding. Lea's first impressions were poor — edgy highs, little bottom end — until Rotel told him "at least 80 hours were needed to get a full break-in". After that he found "an almost overnight change to sonic good times". Give it the eighty hours before you judge it.

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• Your speakers need control, not just watts — a damping factor of 800 is what holds a woofer still between notes, so bass stops when the recording stops instead of ringing on.
• Your preamplifier is balanced — XLR and RCA are both fitted with a rear-panel selector, and the XLR input sits at 100k ohms, so a long balanced run arrives without hum or loading.
• You want quiet at low volume — 116dB signal-to-noise means the background stays out of the way in the evening, which is when most people actually listen.
• You are building a Rotel system — it is voiced and sized to match the RC-1572 MkII preamplifier, and Positive Feedback reviewed the two together and recommended the pair.
• You want separates — volume and input switching live in the preamp or streamer/DAC ahead of it. RC-1590MKII is the natural partner

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect your preamplifier by balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA and set the rear-panel switch to match. Speakers go to the binding posts.

Then leave it playing. Rotel asks for at least eighty hours of break-in before the amplifier settles, and reviewers who skipped that step did not hear it at its best.

Pairs Well With

Here are some great companions:

• Preamplifier: Required, and the natural next decision — see our Preamplifiers.
• Speaker Cables: Carry the current properly — see our Speaker Cables.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR is the better run from preamp to amp — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give the amplifier a proper shelf — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it make?

200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 323 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

Does it take balanced inputs?

Yes. Balanced XLR at 100k ohms and unbalanced RCA at 12k ohms, chosen with a rear-panel switch. Sensitivity is 3.0V and 1.9V respectively.

How long does it need to break in?

Rotel advises at least 80 hours. Reviewers who listened earlier reported edgy highs and thin bass that disappeared once the amplifier had settled.

What is damping factor, and why 800?

It describes how firmly the amplifier grips the speaker cone between notes. At 800, the RB-1582 MkII keeps bass tight rather than loose.

How big and heavy is it?

431mm wide, 144 high and 407 deep, weighing 17.6kg.

What warranty does it carry?

Rotel covers amplifiers in North America with a 5-year warranty.

See It in Action

An unboxing and review of the RB-1582 MkII:

What the RB-1582 MkII adds over a receiver's own amplification:

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