AV Receiver Reviews

The Rotel will upconvert analog inputs to an HDMI output. However, it won’t process incoming HDMI signals; it merely passes them through without degradation. The same goes for component in to component out—no upconversion, just passthrough. The Digital test results in the table are the only ones that are applicable in this situation: a 1080p HDMI input and a 1080p HDMI output.

The analog luma resolution was particularly poor. The second highest frequency HD burst pattern (18 megahertz) had a reduced output, and the highest (37.1 MHz) indicated no visible output at all. Other HD test patterns, analog in to HDMI out, were clearly softened as well. There was also noticeable added edge enhancement to lines in a sharpness pattern with a 1080i component input to a 1080p HDMI output. I don’t recommend using the Rotel’s video switching to cross-convert important component sources. (The component in to component out HD resolution was good.)—TJN