Rotel DX-5 Built-in Amp
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Rotel DX-5 Built-in Amp is accessible at numerous retailers for $1,700.
- It is easy to arrange and delivers easy, dynamic sound.
- If you wish to use the DX-5 with a turntable, you will want a pre-amp.
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I really like testing all method of audio tools, particularly digital streaming amps. Something that delivers music to my ears is welcome in my laboratory of mad musical doings. So when Rotel despatched me the DX-5 built-in amplifier, I used to be naturally excited.
This medium-sized amp is a handsome entry to your desktop or rack, with one caveat: if vinyl is your format of alternative, you will want a turntable with a preamp or a devoted preamp.
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However then, I truthfully do not suppose the DX-5 is focused at vinyl lovers. So, who’s it for? Let’s have a look.
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My expertise
The DX-5 is a contemporary, minimal system with only a energy button, supply button, headphone jack, show, and knob on the entrance of the system. This simplicity is without doubt one of the first issues to make the DX-5 really easy to function.
So far as inputs/outputs go, you will discover the next on the again:
- Aux enter (it is a line-level enter and never a phone-level enter)
- Optical enter
- HDMI Arc (so you might join this to your TV).
- PC-USB
- Service jack
- Sub out
- Speaker out (banana plug or naked wire suitable)
- Energy swap
- Energy wire jack
- Bluetooth antenna
- Nicely-designed distant
The whole lot about this amp is so beginner-friendly that I might be shocked if anybody had a single downside setting it up.
Thankfully, I occur to have a Graham Slee Accession pre-amp that I might use to hearken to vinyl by way of the DX-5. Remember the fact that the Assession prices roughly the identical because the DX-5, so collectively you are round $3,000. Thankfully, you’ll be able to all the time use a less expensive pre-amp or use a turntable with a built-in preamp (akin to these with the U-Flip Audio Orbit).
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Let’s minimize to the chase. Anybody studying a evaluation of an amp needs to know one factor: how does it sound?
Merely put, the Rotel DX-5 is easy like buttah.
I have been switching again between NAD and Outlaw audio amps (each of that are fantastic choices), and I discovered the DX-5 to sound higher than each. On prime of that, the DX-5 would not take up almost as a lot house because the Outlaw audio amp and feels extra rugged than the plastic used within the NAD case.
Rotel has an extended historical past (65 years) of making high-quality, audiophile-level audio tools, and the DX-5 isn’t any exception to the fame.
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The DX-5 makes use of an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chipset, helps 32-bit/384 kHz PCM through USB-B, helps 24-bit/192 kHz through optical, and helps aptX HD and ACC protocols through Bluetooth. Of all of the Bluetooth amps I’ve used, the DX-5 has the perfect sound and connectivity. In reality, I could not discern the distinction between aux and Bluetooth enter.
After all, it was with vinyl that the DX-5 actually shone. Do understand that the Graham Slee is a reasonably high-end preamp, so no matter pre-amp you utilize to attach your turntable could have a huge effect on the sound. Use a low-quality pre-amp, and you will wind up with low-quality sound.
The DX-5 distant is manufactured from steel, is straightforward to make use of, and constructed rock stable.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
By way of the Graham Slee Asscession, vinyl sounded a lot smoother and richer than it does through my NAD D 3020 V2 (that has a built-in pre-amp). After all, the DX-5 is significantly costlier than the NAD, so this could come as no shock. As nicely, the Asscession has a number of methods to change the sound, so it is one other issue to think about.
Whereas listening to vinyl through the DX-5/Assession combo, I used to be reminded why vinyl is my format of alternative, because it introduced a beautiful heat to my KEF audio system that the NAD or Outlaw amps could not match. No, this is not heat on the extent of a tube amp, however for digital, It is spectacular.
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As I discussed earlier, the Bluetooth possibility actually offered me. I might not discovered an amp with Bluetooth that was dependable sufficient. Both the connection would randomly drop, the sound was inferior, or I merely could not get the system related. With the DX-5, none of these issues popped up. It was easy crusing for easy sound.
After utilizing the DX-5 for fairly some time, I by no means as soon as had a single difficulty with it, by no means felt it get too sizzling, and located there was no want for a break-in interval. This amp was pure plug-and-play pleasure that delivered superb sound to my ears, irrespective of the supply.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The one factor that may hold you from buying the Rotel DX-5 is that it solely delivers 33 Watts of energy. In case you have audio system that require extra energy, you will discover this amp to be underpowered. In case you’re listening in a really giant house, you may also discover this amp underpowered.
Nevertheless, when you’ve got extra forgiving audio system and a smaller room, this amp is a real gem. I’ve used costlier amps that could not ship the identical degree of user-friendliness and sound high quality that the DX-5 affords.
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In the long run, should you’re seeking to buy a brand new amp and you do not thoughts dropping $1700, the DX-5 will definitely put a smile in your face and a dance in your step. It is dear, however for some, good sound is price each penny. It additionally would not harm that the DX-5 is a handsome piece of package.
Rotel DX-5 built-in amplifier tech specs
- 25 Watts per channel into 8 ohms or 33 Watts per channel into 4 ohms
- Class AB amplifier
- ESS ES9039Q2M DAC
- Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.03
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 100 kHz
- dB)Damping Issue: 140 20 Hz – 20 kHz 8 Ω
- Sign-to-Noise Ratio (S/N Ratio): >100 dB (IHF “A” Weighted)
- Digital and Analog Inputs Digital:1 x PC-USB (as much as 32-bit/384kHz PCM, DSD 4x)1 x Coaxial (as much as 24-bit/192kHz)1 x Optical (as much as 24-bit/192kHz)1 x HDMI ARCBluetooth with aptX HD and AACAnalog:1 x RCA Analog Enter
- Outputs Audio system: 5-way binding postsHeadphones: 1 x 6.35 mm (1/4″) headphone jack
- Subwoofer: 1 x RCA Mono Output Basic Info
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 10 inches
- Web Weight: 9.1 lbs
- Energy Consumption: 80 Watts standby
- Chipset: ESS ES9039Q2M
- Transformer: Customized in-house constructed toroidal transformer
