Rotel 12 Series

All about the new Rotel 12 series in New Zealand. Product and purchase information on these affordable electronic components from esteemed specialist manufacturer Rotel.

Thoroughly Modern Integrated Amplifiers

Our pick of this exciting new range is the RA12 amplifier. We have it playing in the shop with the new Sonus faber Venere speakers and it truly is quite something. To run through the integrated amplifiers, the RA10 is the most affordable, yet still very capable, in the family – and winner of the 21012 'What HiFi Awards Product of the Year for Stereo Amplifiers. Perfect if it’s good straightforward sound through standard analogue line–in inputs is what you want, without feeling the need for extra features. This doesn’t mean you can’t play digital sources or add them when your budget allows. For instance the NuForce iDo through one of the line inputs gives you an excellent DAC for playing iPhone and iPads.

The RA11 takes that same reliably good sound but adds in remote control, Apple USB, Bluetooth and a lovely LED screen. But most importantly is that it incorporates a high end Wolfson WM8740 24 bit/192kHz DAC DAC for making the most of digital sources. Rotel aptly refers to this as the brains of the amplifier required for todays digital listening. So to have all this along with 4 analogue inputs plus phono is pretty spectacular. The one we’ve been really taken with because it so very good for the money, with stunning sound to boot is of course, the RA12. It has the goodies of the RA11 but for the little bit extra it’s higher power means higher performance and even better sounding music.

The matching RCD12 CD player is very stylish looking with the same lovely LED screen and slot mechanism. Again it includes a high end DAC chip that will really make your CDs sing. With the new Rotel 12 series combined with either the Monitor Audio or Sonus faber speakers, you’ll enjoy fantastic sound – far better than anything we could do for the same price just a few years ago. The range includes a couple of tuner options so ask us if you are interested in those. This includes the RT12 which includes the Rotel Remote App for controlling the whole system via iPhone or iPad. Meanwhile our money saving tip – if you want to include a tuner but the total budget is blowing out consider a Tivoli radio which can be used as tuners in normal stereo systems.

RA10 Integrated amplifier (includes phono stage) – NZ$ 699

RA11E Integrated amp with remote control, DAC, USB, Bluetooth – NZ$ 1,149

RA12 Integrated amp as the RA 11 with higher power – NZ$ 1,299

RCD12 CD player – NZ$ 799

RT11 Tuner – NZ$ 599

RT12 Tuner – NZ$ 1,199

If you own an earlier Rotel but now would like a the additional DAC, USB & Bluettooth features you could add the Rotel RDD06 DAC – so well written about in Witchdoctor. RDD06 – NZ$ 799

Why do we love Rotel?

For the best part of 30 years Totally Wired have been selling Rotel. Suppliers have come and gone but Rotel, the family owned company and us have stayed the same. Well, not entirely as there has of course been progress. In the case of Rotel anyone who knows them will agree that that progress however, is well considered. They do the best they can for each product so change does not come about frequently. When you have an excellent audio component you don’t need to be constantly improving on it. Hence Rotel has always been one of the great sounding, reliable HiFi electronics we’ve sold. This in turn is reflected in Rotel’s popularity with reviewers and owners alike.

One of the things that never ceases to amaze us with Rotel is whenever a new component or range makes it to New Zealand the pricing is so sharp relative to the quality of product. The integrated amplifiers in particular never fail to have great sound yet still have useful features such as inbuilt phono amps, ability to play two pairs of speakers with A/B switching and tone controls. But the features are not over the top nor do they get in the way of the signal path impeding the sound.

Perhaps you could say Rotel are a company with wisdom and tradition. Because with the new 12 series they have carried on with all these good aspects and added some more. The '12 series' replaces the '06SE range. The look whilst similar is a step cleaner and sharper. The sound sets a new Rotel benchmark for quality for the price and some up to date features added.

The 06 series were an improved version of the 02 series. Which bettered the 900 series. Which originated way back then with the little RA820 amplifier which we remember selling absolute truckloads of – almost all of which are still out there giving great service.

You would have to wonder just how much more performance can be wrung out of an $800 amplifier or CD player, but having just got the new models in, we can tell you that, well yes, they can be significantly improved. Small changes can make a big difference; and when those changes are both numerous and to audio-critical components, that difference can be vast.

One other thing we really like about Rotel as a company is that they are very forthcoming with good quality information. If you have the curiosity and are prepared to spend a little time reading, Rotel are happy to provide a wealth of information covering system selection, set up and comprehensive details as to why they do what they do and why they (justifiably we think) claim their products are better. There is no hiding behind jargon, or stupid sexist advertising. It’s all there for you to absorb. That says a lot about the credibility of Rotel. Follow the links below for this information.

Rotel Information pages

There are endless great reviews for Rotel – you can navigate your way through Rotel’s own site or Google to find them. These will give you a good idea of where Rotel sits in the rankings but what is really important is the final installed performance in your own home.

Because we have dealt with Rotel for so long, we know both what it works best with and how to get the most out of it. And most importantly for you we can make sure you get exactly the right models for your particular circumstances. With that in mind the best thing to do is now either visit or drop us a line – we look forward to hearing from you.

Making your amplifier sound even better

We can say by experience, and that of our customers, that using an Eichmann eXpress AC lead with any amplifier will almost always bring the performance up to another level. Thus being an ideal addition to your system when you like your amplifier but feel it’s missing something that you just can’t quite put your finger on. So rather than mess with a system you’re reasonably happy with by changing components try adding an Eichmann power lead!

Direct Contact

John Ransley and Carolyn Guytonbeck are the principals behind Totally Wired. It’s our own business and we take pride in building something worthwhile.

If you want to contact us directly per mail:

• John Ransley
• Carolyn Guytonbeck

Related links

• Rotel
• NuForce
• Cambridge Audio
• Audio Analogue
• Tivoli
• Sonus faber
• Monitor Audio