About The Rotel CD14 MKII CD Player
The Rotel CD14 MKII is a great value CD Player that is perfect as the primary source component in a mid-level hi-fi system with real performance potential. It improves upon the original CD14 with an upgraded digital to analogue converter combined with several tweaks to the power supply and internal circuits along with an upgraded CD drive as well as a new CD controller chipset in Rotel's relentless pursuit of superior sound. Partner the CD14 MKII with a suitable amplifier such as Rotel's A12 MKII or A14 MKII and you've got yourself a great sounding CD system without breaking the bank.
In 1989, Rotel confirmed its digital audio expertise with the launch of the RCD-855 CD player. The press was overwhelming in its praise, one critic going so far as to call it "The steal of the century", and since then Rotel has never looked back.
The CD14 MKII design begins with a carefully engineered power supply to ensure separate, ripple-free voltage and current to both digital and analogue circuits. It maintains the same clean lines and intuitive operation as Rotel's other models, while demonstrating an uncanny ability to resolve even the smallest musical details in a recording.
The CD14 MKII is a versatile CD player featuring a premium Texas Instruments 32-bit/384 kHz digital to analogue converter (DAC) to convert the digital information stored on a CD into an analogue sound signal. As well as regular audio CDs, the CD14 MKII will play MP3's files from home recorded CD-R discs. There's also a dedicated digital output which allows you to record from a CD to a digital format or even connect to a standalone DAC or the DAC in a Rotel amplifier when you're ready to improve your sound even further. With a multi-function display screen, this sleek looking CD Player is housed in a substantial chassis which sports a stylish thick metal front panel which looks great in any interior.
The Sound You Need
Simply stated, the CD14 MKII is designed to do one thing - deliver the most detailed, nuanced sound from every disc. The CD14 MKII will faithfully reproduce all that is recorded on the disc. While the unit was under development, the design team went far beyond the usual measurable technical performance characteristics. Listening panels spent hundreds of hours fine tuning the audio performance, choosing the components that produced the best sound that would "release the emotion in the music". Whatever the artist and recording engineers put on the disc, the CD14 MKII will deliver.
That said, the CD14 MKII does feature some impressive hardware. Critical Digital to Analog conversion in the CD14 MKII is managed by a premium Texas Instruments 32-bit DAC with custom tuned external analogue output filters. The DAC digital and analogue circuits are fed by independent voltage and current power supplies eliminating unwanted distortion and isolating motor controls from sensitive audio circuits further reducing noise and distortion.
Output connections support RCA analogue and coaxial digital allowing the CD14 MKII to be utilized as a transport to an outboard DAC further optimizing flexibility. The smooth action tray loading CD mechanism ensures easy loading of your favourite discs with an intuitive IR remote control, front panel control buttons and a graphic display packaged in an efficiently sized 80mm (3 inches) chassis for seamless operation and the ultimate in convenience. The RS232, 12V trigger and IR remote input provide the ultimate installation flexibility including integration with popular control systems.
All this, combined with Rotel's Balanced Design, ensures the CD14 will deliver the highest level of audio performance. When used in a high quality audio system, your Rotel CD player will provide years of enjoyment.
Rotel CD14 Reviews
"Rotel's CD14 CD player and A14 integrated amplifier show us that Rotel still deserves its reputation for affordable high-quality audio equipment. In these days when lots of manufacturers are talking about building their "last CD player," the CD14 is a fine performer at a modest price. Sounding good as a stand-alone unit, it showed even more promise as a CD transport. Because many integrated amplifiers now include high-quality DAC circuitry, using the CD player as a transport is a good way to step up the player's sound quality—just plug its digital output into the SPDIF input of the integrated." The Absolute Sound
"Physical discs may no longer be the millennials' first choice for accessing their music, but there are many music fans with large CD libraries and this format will hang around for a good while. For those considering the purchase of a new CD player, particularly for the first time, the CD14 is a well-built and designed component that not only should last for a long time, but also may be the last CD player that they will ever need." Theater Byte
"The CD14 went about its business without any fuss, and it certainly sounded better than streaming Tidal lossless files. For example, with the "Recomposed By Max Richter" CD, a reworking of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," the string orchestra sounded fuller and more natural on the CD14. The soundstage was deeper and more three-dimensional; streaming added a smidgen of stridency to the sound the CD didn't have. So don't fool yourself into thinking that streaming can come close to the sound of a well-recorded CD played on a fine CD player. "Recomposed" is a brilliant recording, but only when you hear all it can be, and less so when you stream it.
On a great CD player like this one, the sound is first-rate. Not all CD players sound the same if for no other reason that CD players convert digital into analog, and the CD14's analog circuitry is a cut above your average player's. The CD format isn't going away anytime soon, and if you already own a sizable collection the CD14 will make all of your CDs sound their best." C-Net
"The CD14 CD player doesn't try to be anything but a CD player. It uses a highly regarded Wolfson DAC chip, which is capable of sampling rates up to 192kHz; of course, as the sampling rate of CDs is 44.1kHz, the DAC's capability is overkill. The CD14 will also play MP3 files, but you'd need to burn those onto CDs first (there's no USB input that would allow you to play them off a USB flash drive). Analog output is on unbalanced RCA jacks—there's no balanced XLR out. The CD14 sounds good, though the bass lacks a little impact." The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards 2023
Our Take
Rotel never seem to rest on their laurels. They're always beavering away looking for ways to make already great products even better and so it is with the CD14 MKII CD Player. No one was even remotely thinking that the original CD14 was lacking in any way but here they go upgrading it to MKII form with a premium Texas Instruments 32-bit/384kHz digital to analogue converter (DAC) combined with several tweaks to the power supply and internal circuits along with an upgraded CD drive as well as a new CD controller chipset, all in Rotel's relentless pursuit of superior sound. The result? You're paying the same price for a machine that's better technically and mechanically whilst also offering superior performance. How good is that?
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Compact Disc Player & Transport
- Comprehensive Remote Control Included
- Connections: RCA Stereo Analogue outputs, Coaxial Digital output, 12V Trigger In, RS232, Rotel Link (for controlling other Rotel products)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Intermodulation Distortion: 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Frequency Response (± 0.5 db): 20-20,000Hz
- Channel Balance: ± 0.5 db
- Phase Linearity: ± 0.5 degrees
- Channel Separation: > 118 dB @ 10 kHz
- Signal to Noise Ratio ("A" weighting): > 118 dB
- Dynamic Range: > 99 dB
- Digital to Analogue Converters: Texas Instruments 32-bit/384kHz
- Analogue Output Impedance: 100 Ohms
- Digital Output: 0.5 Volt, Peak to Peak
- Load Impedance: 75 Ohms
- Power Consumption: 15 Watts
- Standby Power Consumption: < 0.5 Watts
- Available Finishes: Black or Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 98 x 314mm
- Weight: 6.51 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE