Rotel T11 Tuner
The Rotel T11 is one of the last remaining FM/DAB+ component tuners from a quality Hi-Fi company and it's no surprise that Rotel is that brand. They have a commitment to fine audio products that stretches back more than 50 years and they are making sure their faithful clientele are being well looked after even when current taste has gone away from the traditional tuner. In keeping with the rest of Rotel's separate component series, the T11 has been engineered to provide high-resolution audio performance, yet it is very affordable, as has been the tradition with Rotel electronics ever since it began.
I imagine the radio market looked slightly different in the 1960's when Rotel started making tuners. Back then everybody and their dog needed a good AM or FM tuner (they were often separate devices) to listen to music and keep up with local events, long before the internet or social media.
Of course, these days you can just pick up your phone and listen to or access almost any type of music, radio station or news, fake or otherwise, that you could care to imagine. So, traditional tuners have been on the wane for a long time now and you can throw a small towel over the remaining contenders.
Instant gratification has its place of course but what if you want to take a load off after a hard day at work and relax in front of your stereo system listening to a favourite show, perhaps a classical symphony or the opera show broadcasting on ABC Classic FM, or 'Hack' or a continuous late night dance mix on Triple J, or a contemporary jazz program on PBS or a host of other examples of quality broadcasting that is not done justice by your phone.
Well, that's where a high quality component tuner such as the Rotel T11 comes in. This is the equivalent of savouring a mechanical timepiece over a digital watch. They both tell the time but it's an entirely different level of involvement.
And we haven't even got to sound quality. Quite simply, the Rotel T11 will make the noise from your smartphone sound a little underwhelming especially if 'quality of sound reproduction' is high on your agenda. In a well matched audio system, not necessarily an expensive one mind you, the benefits of a quality component tuner are obvious to the ears.
Of course, these days AM has virtually gone the way of the Dodo but fortunately almost every AM station now broadcasts on DAB+ and the clarity and reliability is light years ahead of the vagaries of AM.
So, the Rotel T11 has the sensible options included – FM & DAB+ - which should cover all of your local listening needs. It also has presets for both bands so you don't have to keep re-finding your favourite stations and, although it comes supplied with a quite cable indoor aerial, it also gives you the option to hook up the mother of all aerials to its aerial socket if you want the finest reception or you don't live in the most convivial of radio reception spots. It even has a convenient remote control so as to cause the least disruption to even the most relaxed of lifestyles. And finally, it sports an RS232 connection so you can, if your system is appropriately wired, wander into your music room, press one button and the whole stereo system springs to life, T11 tuner included. We really are trying to make life easy for you here at Audio Trends.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: FM/DAB+ Tuner with presets and remote control
- 30 presets each for FM or DAB+ stations
- RDS (Radio Data System) capability for FM broadcasts
- Dimmable front panel display
- Infra-red remote control
- RS232 control connection
- Internal aerial supplied
- Option to attach a powerful outdoor aerial
- Stereo RCA connections
FM Tuner
- Usable Sensitivity: 22.2 dBf
- 50dB Quieting Sensitivity: 27.2 dBf (mono)
- Signal to Noise Ratio (at 65 dBf)
- Mono: 63 dBf
- Stereo: 60 dBf
- Harmonic Distortion (at 65 dBf)
- Mono: 0.2%
- Stereo: 0.3%
- Frequency Response: 10Hz - 15kHz, ± 3dB
- Stereo Separation: 40dB/ 37dB (100Hz/1kHz)
- Output level 1.0 V
- Antenna Input: 75 ohms F connector
DAB+ Tuner
- Sensitivity: -80 dBm
- Tuning Range: Band III (174 - 240MHz)
- Audio Data Rate: 224kbps (Max)
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20k Hz +/- 1.0 dB
- Analog Output: 2.1V at 0 dBFS
- Antenna Input: 75 ohms F connector
General
- Power Consumption: 10 watts
- Standby Power Consumption: ＜ 0.5 watts
- BTU (at 5 watts): 17 BTU/h
- Available Finishes: Black & Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 73 x 330mm
- Weight 4.3kg
- Shipping Weight: 6.3kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE