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Test of the Rotel RCD-1072 CD player

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The player gives clear detailed sound, captures vocal parts well and draws the scene perfectly. Despite the fact that the sound in the middle is not ideal and the timbre distortions in this range were often noticeable, this turntable produces very interesting music, regardless of musical direction.

ROTEL RCD-1072

Features

Analog audio is generated by a Burr-Brown PCM1732 audio DAC and a large toroidal transformer is used as the power supply. Audio track is not something the Rotel engineers spare, that’s why circuits are assembled only from the highest quality electronic components. The turntable is in the same corporate style as many other Rotel components, almost obligatory elements of which are the black carbon body and the two decorative knobs on the sides of the front panel.

Functions are implemented quite a lot. First, there are the repeat modes: you can play one track in a loop as well as the whole CD. The random playback of songs is also realized. Up to 20 tracks can be programmed to play. Time counter on display shows either the time elapsed since the beginning of the song, or the time left till the end of the disk.

Sound

Pop, electronic music. The sound is balanced, the bass is very noticeable, but its detailed and clear murmur does not dominate at all, the middle and top are not inferior to the bass. The low-frequency special effects are luxurious, evoking the sensation of a large, evenly rippling mass of air.

The pronounced “synthetic” coloring of natural timbres in the area over the lower middle, especially close to the top stings a little. If a sweep is woven into a song as a musical intake, it immediately reveals this incorrect section of sound. The lower midrange sounds pretty good, as does the upper bass.

But what is surprising in the case of the Rotel RCD-1072 is that the aforementioned features almost don’t play a role when listening to electronic music. Perhaps it’s the personal preferences of the author, who values detail and clarity more than timbral fidelity. On the other hand, electronic music is already saturated with a variety of synthesized timbres, so the tint, which in some places gives the sound of this unit, only brings a novelty to a well-known product, but does not distort its meaning. Moreover, the coloring is more noticeable when a non-synthesized live instrument is playing, while it is not so apparent with original electronic sounds.

The main thing, in our opinion, is that the music is clear, detailed and pure, so the sound is rich and different layers of music are rendered with equal quality. Shock reproduction is superb, with all sorts of synthesized and real ethnic drums and reels vibrating with resilient, accented sounds.

Overall, I liked the electronic music, it sounds nice, especially if there’s a bit of upper midrange in the sound. High detail and wide range – just what you need for electronic music.

Rock. The bass of this turntable is powerful and aggressive, massive bass pulses possess perfect attack in a wide range of basses. The bass is not alien to the sound relief. The simultaneous playing of several bass instruments is conveyed legibly, polyphonically, and powerfully.

Low vocals sound in detail, the stereo track easily passes those modulations of the vocal cords that convey the emotions of the performer. Sizzling vocal consonants are only lifted in the most energetic moments of the song.

Now about the minuses. Perhaps the electric guitar in the narrow strips in the middle plays “sour” and the midrange beat is a bit unnatural, a bit harshly delivered. But in the middle the aftershocks are brilliant, so the duration of the dips is considerable. All sounds that lie in the area up to the upper middle are conveyed in the most detail higher in the music, there is a slight loss of nuance, or those nuances sound like half a hint. The top in almost all tracks is noticeably lowered, sort of pushed into the background.

And yet, despite the imperfection of the sound, I liked the rock – the power, details and purity of the bass justified all the shortcomings. It is pleasant to listen to the power in relief at high volume, so you do not want to interrupt the song before it is over.

Classic. Background noise of the player is below average, you can significantly increase the volume during the quiet parts of the song and hear nothing but music. A faint sound is very well reproduced, so the listener notices many levels of the musical canvas. Cellos sound is excellent, but when violins pick up the theme of the piece, the “synthetic” sound of these instruments becomes noticeable, the timbre distortion of violas and woodwinds flutes, pipes, etc. is the most pronounced.p. instruments.

In the other ranges, the instruments have realistic voices.The musical canvas turns out very well-drawn, especially the stringed instrument parts.

The bass is very informative – a solid, rich sound comes from the middle bass.

Most instruments are localized correctly, the sound has a wide scale character. Only the metal drums are slightly lowered, the player puts them on stage a bit further than they really are.

Classic

Sounds interesting, captivating, never once does the sound really strain the ear.

Jazz

. The metallic percussion is a little dulled, the sound of it is not so big in all the songs.

If such an instrument is elevated in the mixing, its sound is resolved and detailed.

The double bass impulses are very tight and tight, even in the mid-bass it produces palpable, elaborate notes. The piano sounds most concentrated in the upper middle, in the lower middle its sound is indistinct and colored.

The middle is ambiguous. In some places the piano sounds unnatural in the upper middle, the xylophone and the bells and triangles are too bright, to the point of suppressing the rest of the sound. In the lower middle, on the other hand, the xylophone loses some of its metal and sometimes sounds a little “over-cracked”.

The scene is excellent, only occasionally certain instruments, such as the xylophone, but try to come to the fore where it doesn’t belong. Individual choir voices are localized very well, and the choir itself sounds wide and expansive. Solo voices sound just as open and detailed.

The clarity of the soft sounds and pauses in the music are impressive in all songs.

Despite some shortcomings, the music is listened with pleasure, in one breath, so the time flies quickly with this player.

Price

The average price in New York is about 24 000 Dollars.

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 3
  1. Rhiannon

    How does the Rotel RCD-1072 CD player compare to other CD players in terms of sound quality and reliability?

    Reply
  2. Finley

    How does the Rotel RCD-1072 CD player perform in terms of audio quality and durability?

    Reply
  3. Joseph Wright

    How does the Rotel RCD-1072 CD player compare to other models in terms of sound quality and durability? Are there any notable features that make it stand out from its competitors? Any potential downsides or compatibility issues I should be aware of? Your insights would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
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