"A Must-Hear" Multi-Channel Amp with Massive Power and Sonic Sophistication
The RMB-1585, Rotel’s new flagship theater amplifier, provides both the massive power and sonic sophistication required by the finest home theater systems. With five channels, each capable of producing 200 continuous Watts each into 8 ohm loads for a full kilowatt of output power, the RMB-1585 is the master of any A/V system, regardless of speaker load or room size.
But it isn’t just pure output power that distinguishes the RMB-1585. It’s the ability to reproduce both the dynamics of a Hollywood blockbuster and the musical nuances of acoustic instruments that sets it apart. Where does this balance come from? It’s a direct result of Rotel’s celebrated Balanced Design Concept in which circuit topology and parts selection meld in the pursuit of sonic excellence.
Discrete output devices and a massive power supply also contribute to the superb sound quality. High current capability allows the RMB‑1585 to drive the most demanding loudspeakers. When used in a high-quality music or home theater system, your Rotel amp will provide years of musical enjoyment.
"Outstanding Sound"
"Judging from playing the DFF mastering file of Mahler's Symphony 5, in the recording by Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra (SACD/CD, Channel Classics CCS SA 34213), the RMB-1585 had plenty of muscle," notes Kalman Rubinson in Stereophile. "I like to really turn up the volume on this powerful performance in outstanding sound—when I did, there was no sense of congestion or dynamic limits, even with the brass in full cry."
Rubinson concludes, "I want to get my excitement from the music, and the Rotel RMB-1585 is more than capable of delivering that. It's a really nice amp."
"I was pleased with how convincingly Rotel’s RMB-1585 managed to reproduce the warmth, tonal color, and three-dimensionality of music-only recordings," reports Aaron Gerrecht in his review for soundstageaccess.com. "The stout RMB-1585 proved equally appealing with movies, providing endless reserves of power, arresting dynamics, wicked levels of transient control, and rich yet well-fleshed-out voices, all painted on vast soundstages. With a build quality and industrial design that push envelopes at this price, and if you’re in the market for a five-channel power amp for south of $5000, Rotel’s RMB-1585 is a must-hear."
Driving Your Speakers with Ease
An oversized factory-built toroidal transformer and high efficiency capacitors drive an array of high current output transistors ensuring fast transient timing, accurate detail and controlled consistency of low frequency regardless of the loudspeakers load rating or cable run distance. Maintaining crucial timing and energy while delivering effortless power is a signature trait of this amplifier. The power supply uses special “slit foil” capacitors to provide completely stable power to the output stage. Slit foil capacitors have the ability to charge and discharge extremely quickly, thereby ensuring signal fidelity during orchestral crescendos or repetitive kick-drum impacts, for example.
Critical evaluation of the circuit design and meticulous selection of each acoustic audio components ensures accuracy, power and efficiency all coupled with an unsurpassed build quality ensuring this amplifier proudly wears the Rotel name.
Protection Circuitry
The RMB-1585 features thermal and over-current protection circuits that protect against potential damage in the event of extreme or faulty operating conditions. Unlike many designs, these protection circuits are independent of the audio signal and have no impact on sonic performance. Instead, the protection circuits monitor the temperature of the output devices and the current they are handling and shut down the amplifier if operating conditions exceed safe limits.
Most likely, you will never see this protection circuitry in action. However, should a faulty condition arise, the amplifier will stop playing and the LED indicator on the front panel will light up.
Built-in Cooling Fan
The Rotel RMB-1585 amplifier is equipped with dual cooling fans to help ventilate the internal components. The rear panel includes a three-position fan speed selection switch including Fan Off, Fan Low Speed and Fan High Speed. Please select the fan speed that best suits the installation and cooling requirements, considering that higher speed fan will provide more cooling.
Trigger ON/OFF Mode Selector
The RMB-1585 provides the option for manual or automatic power on/off operation. These modes are selectable using a toggle switch on the back panel.
With the switch in the +12V TRIGGER ON position, the amplifier is turned on automatically when a 12V trigger signal is present at the 3.5 mm Jack of TRIGGER IN on the rear panel. The amplifier will go into standby mode if the +12V signal is not present. The front panel POWER SWITCH overrides this function. It must be ON for the +12V trigger to work. Turning the switch OFF cuts power to the amplifier, regardless of whether or not a trigger signal is present.
