PLAYBACK: Rotel RSX-1550 5.1-channel A/V receiver

An A/V Receiver By and For Purists

If there were any drawback to the Rotel’s performance on this beautifully recorded track, it would be that the usual sense of treble “air” and openness I normally expect to hear was diminished to a slight (but audible) degree. But perhaps this is the small price to be paid for the RSX-1550’s overall treble smoothness. 

BOTTOM LINE:

Rotel’s RSX-1550 is a beautifully made A/V receiver that can—when matched with the right speaker system—sound highly expressive, with rich, well-defined bass and sumptuous mids. Highs are very good, too, though they do not offer the last word in sonic transparency as compared to the best  Rotel components I’ve heard. The power produced by the RSX-1550 is very clean and conservatively rated, though I suspect some prospective buyers might wish that there a few more watts/channel on tap.  Two caveats are that the receiver does not provide an automated speaker set-up/room EQ system, and is rated to drive 8-Ohm speakers only. Apparent build quality is very high, but so, too, is the price.

SPECS & PRICING

Rotel RSX-1550 5.1 channel A/V receiver
Power output: 5 x 75 Wpc @ 8 ohms
Decoding formats: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX/Digital 5.1/2/0, and Pro Logic IIx Music/Cinema/Games; DTS-HD Master Audio and High Resolution Audio, DTS 96/24, DTS Discrete and Matrix, and DTS Neo:6; Rotel XS mode; four proprietary Rotel music surround processing modes.
Video inputs/outputs: Composite video (3 in, 6 out); S-video (3 in, 3 out); Component video (3 in, 1 out), HDMI (4 in, 1 out)
Audio inputs/outputs: Stereo analog (7 in, 6 out), 7.1-channel analog (1 in), 7.1-channel analog (1 out), digital audio (4 optical in, 3 coaxial in; 1 optical out, 1 coax out), HDMI (4 in, 1 out), AM/FM Radio tuner (1)
Other: IR output (2 out), Remote input (4), 12V trigger output (6), Ethernet (1 RJ-45 jack)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 6.38" x 16.97" x 17.13"
Weight: 37.48 pounds
Warranty: Five years, parts and labor
Price: $1999

Rotel of America
(800) 370-3741
www.rotel.com