About The Rotel RCD-1572 MKII CD Player
The Rotel RCD-1572 MKII is a superb machine and Rotel's top of the range 15-series CD player. It stands out as being a worthy choice as the primary source in a high end hi-fi system with other Rotel 15-series components including their up market preamps and power amps. It has been engineered to provide high-resolution audio performance, yet it is also very affordable, as has been the tradition with Rotel electronics for over 50 years.
Ever since 1982, when the compact disc was first introduced to the world, Rotel has been refining technology and evolving circuitry to bring you extraordinary sound from the familiar silver disc. As most music lovers have a substantial collection of compact discs, a high quality CD player is still an important part of most music systems. The RCD-1572 MKII, the outstanding CD player in Rotel's 15 series, focuses careful refinements to reveal even the most subtle nuances buried in a CD's pit spiral.
As Jason Kennedy said in his review for Hi-Fi+ magazine. The Rotel RCD-1572 "lets the music do the talking and that's the way it should be."
Purpose Designed & Built CD Transport Mechanism: The RCD-1572 MKII elevates performance by utilizing a brand new purpose designed and built CD drive mechanism coupled with a new CD controller chipset along with numerous circuit refinements based around tuned critical acoustic components. One of the RCD-1572 MKII's most important new features is the move to a premium Texas Instruments stereo digital-to-analogue converter. Originally developed for high resolution sources, it is the product of extensive research and real world testing and processes digital signals at up to 32 bits in length at sampling rates up to 384 kHz.
While these word lengths and sampling speeds may seem excessive for CDs delivering data at far lower rates, this high speed facility adds reserve capability to ensure proper reproduction under all circumstances. As the most crucial link between a CD's digital data and the analogue world in which we listen, this converter boasts significant sound quality attributes in addition to its superb high resolution capabilities.
Finest Sounding Post-Converter Analogue Circuitry: It not just the DAC that determines the sound, but what happens afterwards. In this case the proprietary post-converter analogue circuitry benefits from Rotel's decades-long experiences in crafting the finest sounding pathway from the DAC's internal output to RCA and XLR rear panel connectors that bridge the gap between the RCD-1572 MKII and down-stream components. All circuit components – resistors, capacitors, inductors – are chosen only after their positive contribution to sound quality have been quantified and verified qualitatively by extensive listening sessions.
All of these circuits draw on a power supply based on an oversized custom Rotel-designed and precision-manufactured toroidal power transformer that, in turn, feeds precise rectifiers, tight-tolerance voltage regulators, and advanced Slit-Foil low-ESR storage capacitors, all globally sourced to ensure musically accurate operation under even the most demanding conditions.
This is all part of Rotel's long-proven Balanced Design Concept. It's yet another way of assuring you that the RCD-1572 MKII evidences a level of attention that will make it part of your reference-level music system for years to come.
Rotel RCD-1572 MKII CD Player Review
"Rotel ensures the RCD-1572MKII delivers on the full promise of the CD format by offering dynamic range and low distortion that are way below the threshold of human perception. The design goal for any audio source component is (or at least should be) transparency. Meanwhile, the enemies of transparency are noise and distortion.
… the theme here is simple: The Rotel does its job exactly right, taking those bits on that shiny disc and translating them into sweet, sweet music. It does so rapidly, reliably, and in a manner so simple that once you are used to the mechanics of the player and the location of the buttons, you could do it with your eyes closed. The read mechanism seems rather robust, not once did I encounter any issue with skipping or glitching—even with used CDs that look like they spent time outside of their cases, in stacks, collecting fingerprints and scratches.
The Rotel RCD-1572MKII is, as anticipated, a rock-solid CD player with speedy loading, reliable playback, and exceptional sound quality. It offers the exact features that you would expect to find on a classic CD player. Ease of operation is a big attraction here because I'm not sure in what state of mind you like to enjoy music, but for me, the ease of use of a CD player, as anachronistic as it may seem to pull out a disc and put it in the drawer, is more than just an exercise in nostalgia. It is a way to honor the artistry found within the album format, a format around which the CD was intentionally designed.
If you have a CD collection or are interested in beginning a CD collection because you are curious about the music selection that's available—and the pleasures of owning physical copies of your music—you will surely enjoy the dividends of investing in a dedicated CD player of this quality. This is especially true if the rest of your system is up to the task of properly reproducing the exquisite sound it is able to deliver. This updated Rotel flagship is a Home Theater Review Editors' Choice and it'll surely serve a music lover well for years to come." Home Theater Review
Our Take
Let's face it, physical media is on the decline. Sure, vinyl records have seen a resurgence in recent years but they still only make up a fraction of what people are listening too. Obviously streaming is the bandwagon most seem to be jumping on to, but, even though the compact disc has been hit hardest by the streaming trend, for many music lovers it is the most reliable way of listening to high quality sound. There is something strangely satisfying about locating a favourite, or long lost disc and sliding it onto the tray only to watch it disappear inside and within seconds music starts playing – almost like magic. And when you have a great CD player like the RCD-1572 MKII doing the playing the magic can seem very real indeed. So, if you have a good selection of CDs or are thinking of acquiring some and you want to hear them at their very best the Rotel RCD-1572 MKII could be just the magic carpet you're looking for.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Flagship CD player in Rotel's 15-Series component range
- Premium Texas Instruments 32 bit/384 kHz Digital to Analogue Converter
- Purpose designed and built CD transport mechanism
- Power supply based on an oversized custom Rotel-designed and precision-manufactured toroidal power transformer
- Precise rectifiers, tight-tolerance voltage regulators, and advanced Slit-Foil low-ESR storage capacitors
- All analogue circuit components – resistors, capacitors, inductors – are chosen only after their positive contribution to sound quality were quantified and verified qualitatively by extensive listening sessions
- Balanced circuit design
- Outputs: Balanced (XLR), Unbalanced (RCA), Digital (Coax)
- Comprehensive Remote Control Included
- 12 Volt trigger
General
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Intermodulation Distortion: 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz (± 0.5 dB)
- Channel Balance: ± 0.5 dB
- Phase Linearity: ± 0.5 degrees
- Channel Separation: > 118 dB @ 10 kHz
- Signal to Noise Ratio: > 118 dB ("A" weighting)
- Dynamic Range: > 99 dB
- Digital to Analogue Converters: Texas Instruments 32 bit / 384 kHz
- Analogue Output Level / Impedance (0dBFs)
- Unbalanced (RCA): 2.2 Volts / 100 Ohms
- Balanced (XLR): 4.5 Volts / 200 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 & Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 431 x 104 x 320mm
- Weight: 7.34kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE