About The Rotel A11 MKII Stereo Amplifier
The Rotel A11 MKII is an enhanced version of a very special integrated amplifier that was developed in cooperation with the audio engineering legend Ken Ishiwata. It has been engineered to hit the price performance sweet spot with a wealth of analogue connections including Phono plus Optical & Coaxial Digital and Bluetooth AptX built-in and a high current 50 Watt amplifier section that produces a smooth, effortless, dynamic sound. It provides high-resolution audio performance, yet it is very affordable, as has been the tradition with Rotel electronics for over 50 years.
The A11 MKII is a Class AB 50W Integrated Amplifier that features upgraded components and meticulous tuning of all critical circuits to deliver a richer, expressive, and true-to-life experience from the Digital, Bluetooth, Analogue Line Level and Moving Magnet Phono Stage inputs.
Upgraded components and meticulous tuning of all critical circuits deliver a richer, more expressive, and true-to-life experience from all of the supported source inputs including apt-X and AAC wireless Bluetooth, optical and coaxial digital inputs, three analogue line level inputs and a moving magnet phono stage for vinyl fans.
Specially selected and improved components were chosen for the A11 MKII stereo amplifier to provide even better audio performance over the entire signal path.
A Texas Instruments PCM5102A 32-bit/384kHz DAC is part of over 22 critical component upgrades in the digital circuits, which combine to improve staging and resolution. The mechanical chassis of the A11 MKII is equipped with special damping materials to reduce resonance and to further isolate, effectively insulate and better dampen any vibrations in the product.
The A11 MKII integrated amplifier displays the same clean lines and intuitive operation as the Rotel A12 with output power rated at 50 Watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms. The IR remote ensures effortless control of the audio driven by a Rotel's in-house manufactured oversized toroidal transformer. The resulting acoustic performance speaks for itself under all loading conditions with even the most difficult speaker loads.
All aspects of the design have been optimized to retain the full dynamic range and subtle nuances of your music. When chasing uncompromising audio performance there are many factors to consider and Rotel's engineers are particularly proud of the work they have done on the A11 MKII's power supply. The power supply is the heart of any amplifier and an area where considerable time and investment needs to be spent. Rotel don't just buy in off-the-shelf transformers, they actually manufacture their own toroidal transformers in-house to high tolerances using carefully selected raw materials from high quality suppliers. The result is a rugged, highly regulated power supply that will effortlessly reproduce the most demanding music even under dynamic conditions or with difficult speaker loads. Even though this type of design is more expensive to manufacture, Rotel go to these lengths because they know the positive effects it has on music reproduction.
The printed circuit boards inside the A11 MKII 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.
Being the fully featured integrated amplifier that it is the A11 MKII naturally has a selection of analogue inputs including an MM Phono input for a turntable as well as Optical & Coaxial inputs for digital sources.
There is also Bluetooth aptX HD built-in for streaming sound from a suitably equipped phone, tablet or laptop. Other convenience features include a fully featured remote control, bass, treble & balance controls, and a high quality headphone output.
Our Take
There are plenty of you out there who might want to stop your integrated amp search here, because the freshly updated Rotel A11 MKII does a great job of checking the major tick boxes for a nice price. Legendary nameplate and design? Check. Versatile collection of analogue and digital stereo inputs? Also a check. Enough clean, uncoloured Class AB power to drive most speakers to comfortable volumes, and then some? Well, of course. By now you should get the idea that the Rotel A11 MKII just might be right for you, especially if you have high expectations from your gear, but a few limitations on the budget side.
The A11MKII is equipped to handle most of the popular stereo audio sources you can bring to the party. Vinyl fans will appreciate the dedicated moving magnet phono stage. Three more analogue inputs accommodate a CD player, a tuner, and another RCA line-level auxiliary source like a media player or computer headphone output.
Rotel hasn't forgotten the digital media sources — there are both coaxial and optical inputs for easy connections to other digital components, and a Bluetooth® input with aptX® HD and AAC coding for high-quality wireless audio from your compatible mobile devices and computers.
A quick peek inside the case of the A11 MKII confirms Rotel's dedication to quality: the oversized toroidal transformer is meticulously crafted in-house to provide stable and reliable power with minimal noise across all frequencies. Amplifier circuitry includes fast-transient, high-current output transistors that allow sounds like drumsticks surfing a ride cymbal and powerful kick drum strikes to be replicated faithfully, with energy. Every component has been considered, designed, and placed with meticulous care.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Stereo Integrated Amplifier / DAC with Bluetooth aptX HD
- 50 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms at 0.03% THD
- Class AB amplification with custom-designed toroidal transformer
- Wireless Bluetooth with high-quality aptX HD and AAC coding
- Frequency Response: 10-100,000 Hz (line inputs, -0.5dB/+0.05dB); 20-20,000 Hz (phono input, -0.5dB/+0.3dB)
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 90 dB (line); 85 dB (phono)
- Front-Panel Volume, Balance and Tone Controls
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to an IsoTek Power Cable for better performance
- Remote Control
Connections
- 3 Stereo Line Level RCA Inputs
- Dedicated Phono Input for Turntables with Moving Magnet cartridges
- Dual 3.5mm 12-Volt Trigger Outputs
- 1 Optical Digital Input & 1 Coaxial Digital Input
- Front Panel 3.5mm Headphone Output
- Binding Post Speaker Outputs
General
- Included Accessories: AC Power Cable, RR-AX1402 Remote Control, 2 AAA Batteries, Owner's Manual on USB Stick, Warranty/Registration Card, Important Safety Instructions
- Available Finishes: Black & Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 73 x 347mm
- Weight: 6.8kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.