The Rotel RB-1552 MkII is a 130 Watt per channel Class AB stereo power amplifier, built upon the same platform as the higher-output RB-1582 MkII. Designed as a partner for Rotel’s RC-1572 pre-amplifier, it offers serious driving capability at a price point that has defined Rotel’s approach to hi-fi electronics for over 50 years.
Dual-Mono Architecture
The internal layout follows a dual-mono philosophy, with independent left and right power rectification stages and decoupling. This separation minimises crosstalk between channels and ensures that demanding passages in one channel do not starve the other of current. The result is a damping factor of 450 — comfortably high enough to maintain tight control over bass drivers under dynamic load.
Slit-Foil Capacitors
Central to the RB-1552 MkII’s power supply are premium slit-foil capacitors, manufactured in Britain. Their construction allows rapid energy replenishment, providing substantial reserve power for transient peaks without the compression that conventional electrolytic capacitors can introduce during complex, highly dynamic musical passages.
Connectivity
Inputs are available as balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA, allowing the RB-1552 MkII to integrate into both dedicated two-channel systems and multi-channel AV setups. The balanced XLR path offers 100kΩ input impedance with 22.5dB of gain, while the RCA inputs present 12kΩ impedance and 26.5dB of gain. Speaker terminals accept the full range of cable terminations, with a minimum speaker impedance rating of 4Ω.
Build & Installation
The RB-1552 MkII ships with rack ears included, and the front panel height of 132.6mm conforms to the 3U rack standard. At 12.4kg, it is straightforward to integrate into an equipment rack or position on an open shelf. Standby power consumption is just 0.5W.
| Continuous Power Output (8Ω) | 130W per channel |
|---|
| Continuous Power Output (4Ω) | 185W per channel |
|---|
| Amplifier Class | Class AB |
|---|
| THD (20Hz–20kHz) | <0.03% |
|---|
| Intermodulation Distortion | <0.03% (60Hz:7kHz, 4:1) |
|---|
| Frequency Response | 10Hz–100kHz ±0.5dB |
|---|
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 120dB (IHF “A” weighted) |
|---|
| Damping Factor | 450 |
|---|
| Input Sensitivity (RCA / XLR) | 1.5V / 2.5V |
|---|
| Input Impedance (RCA / XLR) | 12kΩ / 100kΩ |
|---|
| Gain (RCA / XLR) | 26.5dB / 22.5dB |
|---|
| Minimum Speaker Impedance | 4Ω |
|---|
| Inputs | 1 × RCA (unbalanced), 1 × XLR (balanced) |
|---|
| Power Consumption | 400W |
|---|
| Standby Power | 0.5W |
|---|
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 431 × 144 × 339mm |
|---|
| Weight | 12.4kg |
|---|
| Also Available As | Black |
|---|
