Rotel RSX-1562 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 85.6 watts
1% distortion at 124.3 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 85.5 watts
1% distortion at 124.0 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 84.8 watts
1% distortion at 123.4 watts

Analog frequency response in Bypass mode:
–1.95 dB at 10 Hz
–0.57 dB at 20 Hz
–0.58 dB at 20 kHz
–4.44 dB at 50 kHz

Analog frequency response with signal processing:
–2.24 dB at 10 Hz
–0.67 dB at 20 Hz
–0.59 dB at 20 kHz
–44.82 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the RSX-1562’s left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 85.6 watts and 1 percent distortion at 124.3 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 163.8 watts and 1 percent distortion at 237.1 watts.

Response from the multichannel input to the speaker output measures –1.94 dB at 10 Hz, –0.57 dB at 20 Hz, –0.58 dB at 20 kHz, and –4.45 dB at 50 kHz. THD+N from the CD input to the speaker output was less than 0.016 percent at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –85.04 dB left to right and –78.82 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –95.81 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.45 dB at 20 Hz and –0.64 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.41 dB at 20 Hz and –0.72 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures –0.42 dB at 20 Hz and –0.62 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is –0.03 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 108 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 115 Hz. —MJP

Video Test Bench
From an HDMI input to an HDMI output (the conditions under which our Video Test Bench tests on A/V receivers and surround preamp-processors are conducted), the Rotel performs no video deinterlacing or upconversion; its output resolution will always be the same as the input resolution. In the remaining tests that are valid here, all of which were performed with a 1080p input, the receiver’s passthrough performance was visibly flawless. —TJN

COMPANY INFO
Rotel of America
(978) 664-3820
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Speakerphile's picture

Really, with the environmental lecture at the beginning? Other than that, a well written review! As usual.

DS-21's picture

given the comments at the beginning of the review, the measurements are incomplete.

There should have also been be a comparison of power draw to a unit (which can be left unnamed) with Class AB amplification of similar output power.

I suspect, as apparently does the author, that the ICEpower modules will be more energy efficient than standard commodity AB amps. But without data, that's just conjecture. Even the fact that in your tests the Rotel is able to maintain full output power into the 5 and 7 channel ACD tests - a VERY impressive performance! - doesn't necessarily speak to energy efficiency. Rather, it could be the result of a very very good power supply, or conversely of current limiting to game the specs.

For that matter, a measurement of power draw at idle and at 1/8 rated power would be a good standard metric to add to the measurement routine. Energy efficiency is a useful differentiating factor that is directly relevant to consumers' bottom lines.

Another thing that should be added, especially as more Class D AVR's come on stream, is a test into a simulated load, such as the one designed by Ken Kantor and tweaked by JA for Stereophile. Class D amps usually have output filters that interact with the speakers up top, creating variances in the top-end frequency response. It would be good to see which designs are optimized for certain loads, and which ones are designed with output filters that vary the source impedance less.

Lastly, it is unfortunate that nobody has yet combined good Class D amps with a modern room correction system. The Rotel's room correction system is primitive, so to me it's a very poor value compared to something like an Anthem MRX box. Somebody make me an AVR with energy efficient amps and a real room-correction system such as ARC or Trinnov!

Stephen Trask's picture

I recently bought the Rotel RSP-1572 and have found the software and firmware to be suffiiently buggy so as to impinge on the enjoyment of ownership. That product never should have been released. It sounds like the imaging issues you describe are less about Class D and more about clocking errors. The flagship processor suffers from numerous clocking issues - sounds great until it doesn't, often needs a reboot. It sounds like this product is another case of shoddy Rotel engineering being rushed out the door. If they spent a little more time or hired a couple more people they could have put out some great products. If I had the money to buy something else I totally would and I'm guessing that this AVR will be a similarly in enjoyable product to own, despite it's great potential.

Oh, I like the environmental discussion.

Edit: one way to test if the problem is with the Class D amplification or bad/buggy digital audio conversion would be to let the Oppo decode the surround and send it out as audio into the Rotel.

joes theater's picture

I was considering an upgrade to my RSX-1550.

I originally bought that over the RSX-1560 exactly because the '50s AB amp stage sounded so much better than the '60s Class D.

Is there going to be an RSX-1552 ?

LordoftheRings's picture

I would love to love this Rotel receiver, but I just can't.
It is not competitive, in all aspects, even sound quality.
...And certainly not in price.

And Rotel should go back to class AB amps.

Thank you for listening.

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