"Highly Recommended" Integrated Amp with DAC and MM Phono Stage
The Rotel A14 is a high performance, 80-watt per channel integrated amplifier that delivers superb music reproduction and features connections for both analog and digital sources, along with Bluetooth aptX streaming.
"I was hugely pleased with the A14 integrated amplifier. One of the crop of modern integrated amplifiers with a very capable internal DAC and Bluetooth connectivity, it’s ready to support virtually any source you might choose, even an MM phono cartridge, which sounded utterly delightful," reports Vade Foster in The Absolute Sound magazine for May 30, 2017. "While I appreciated its long list of features, what really impressed me the first time I heard it was its sweet, musical sound which encouraged long listening sessions. Highly recommended."
Built in MM Phono Stage and AKM DAC
The A14 is ready, able, and willing to deliver exceptional musical performance from digital and analog sources. The built-in high quality MM moving magnet phono stage lets you directly plug in your turntable and start listening to your favorite LPs. No outboard equipment is needed, and the built-in circuitry rivals the performance of many stand along phono stages.
On the digital side, the built-in DAC does a splendid job with music files. It uses a premium 32-bit/768 kHz digital-to-analog converter chip set from AKM. Coaxial and optical digital inputs plus USB allow you connect a wide range of digital music sources, and the A14 offers extremely capable DSD and DoP support. And, of course, Bluetooth with aptX streaming allows you to send music from your smartphone, tablet, and other devices to the A14.
High Power and Wide Feature Set
The flagship A14 has the highest power and widest set of features in its range. The A14 is rated at 80 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms, both channels driven. Yet ratings alone do not reflect real world usage. The A14 features a rugged power supply comprising a Rotel-manufactured toroidal transformer plus slit-foil capacitors to effortlessly handle difficult speaker loads and dynamic signal peaks.
This is an impressively flexible audio component, designed to accommodate both classic analog and the latest digital source components supported by the onboard AKM 32-bit/768kHz DAC. But its greatest strength lies in its ability to render a musical performance exactly as the artist intended.
Another great feature is the ability to download a free full-featured control app from Rotel for Android and iOS. This gives you convenience and capability of controlling the A14 through your smartphone or tablet.
Highly Regulated Power Supply
This amplifier is a full featured, high performance component. All aspects of the design have been optimized to retain the full dynamic range and subtle nuances of your music. The unit has a highly regulated power supply incorporating a Rotel custom-designed toroidal power transformer. This low impedance power supply has ample power reserves, which enables the amplifier to easily reproduce the most demanding audio signals. This type of design is more expensive to manufacture, but it is better for the music.
The printed circuit boards (PCB) are designed with Symmetrical Circuit Traces. This ensures that the precise timing of the music is maintained and faithfully recreated. The circuitry uses metal film resistors and polystyrene or polypropylene capacitors in important signal paths. All aspects of this design have been examined to ensure the most faithful music reproduction.
Along with providing exceptional listening enjoyment, the A14 was purposefully designed with simplicity in mind. The main functions of the A14 are easy to install and use. If you have experience with other stereo systems, you shouldn’t find anything perplexing. Simply plug in the associated components and enjoy. It's all about enjoying your music and forgetting the technology behind it.
