Rotel CD14 MKII

I'm getting back into high(er) end stereo after about 40 years. I did my research and read a lot of reviews, and decided on the Rotel CD14 MKII. It seemed like a good balance of features at a price point I was willing to pay. I've now been listening to some favorite CDs for about a week and I have to say I am not disappointed in any way with this player...I would not have made a different choice. The tray and transport are smooth and quieter than previous players I had. The controls are basic and intuitive and it has a nice, clean appearance. I can't compare the performance of the DAC to anything else, but again I am not disappointed. The playback is as clean and nuanced as I was hoping for. For reference, I paired this with a new Willsenton R8 vacuum tube amp. If you're looking for a good performing player without totally breaking the bank, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

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Rotel CD14 MKII

Excellent experience playing cd's. Very smooth operation and great sound. Paired the CD14 mkII with Rotel A12 along with a pair of Klipsch RP 600m and I'm enjoying it.

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Rotel CD14 MKII

I have had a few CD players in my time, because I have always enjoyed the format and I still do. There has been nothing as substantial as this Rotel. The clarity of sound and the design and construction of the player are marvelous. I find nothing Negative about this unit. Rotel and Crutchfield are first class. Thank you both!

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Rotel CD14 MKII

Very pleased. Great quality. Crutchfield service and attention is 5 Stars.

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Everything they say is true!

A Christmas present for myself, and why not! It's been two weeks and I definitely can tell the difference between my older multi-disc cd player and the Rotel. I now have a much better appreciation of what CD's deliver musically. Paired with my integrated tube amp and my vintage ADS speakers the sound is at higher quality than I could imagine. I meticulously went over all the Crutchfield purchaser reviews of the different Rotel CD players and decided to go with the CD14 MKII. All I can say is as of this date, all it extremely well. One Happy Customer.

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Great CD Player

I've had the CD14 MKII for about two weeks now, so I doubt its completely broken in. But my initial impression is that this is a first-rate unit. The reviews that were posted previously seem to hold true: the cd drawer operates smoothly; the sound quality is rich yet still detailed; and the build quality appears to be first-rate. At the moment, I am using the built-in DAC and the analog outputs. Sound very good to me.

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Perfect balance of clarity, musicality and dynamics.

What a fantastic CD player this is. I've been listening to CDs since they were invented, and this is by far the best I've ever heard my extensive collection sound. To my ears, this beats all the CD players I've owned by Yamaha, Marantz, Emotiva and, of course, Pioneer and Sony. If you're serious about CDs, give this one a try.

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Short Term Owner

I have only had it one week but so far so good !

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Absolutely fantastic CD player

This CD player will amaze you. I'm hearing parts, harmonies, details, and instruments on CDs that I thought I already knew really well. I've owned other pretty good CD players -- Adcom, OPPO, Sony, and Yamaha. But this Rotel model blows them away. If you have a decent amp, quality speakers, and a good sub, pop in some Paul Simon, Marcus Miller, Steely Dan, Thomas Dolby, or Van Morrison and ENJOY!

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Rotel hits it out of the park!

Moved up to the mkll player from previous model. Smoother highs, more definition. Still the same great build quality and styling from previous model. It's my last cd player!

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Rotel CD14 MKII

Very pleased with my cd player. It was a scratch and dent deal, but player looked perfect, only box was in rough condition. Shipping was quick as well

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Exceptional

I wasn't sure if I did the thing, this is an expensive purchase. The difference in this CD player and my old one is phenomenal. I'm very impressed. The clarity and clear playback are a revelation. I'm a big fan now

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My endgame CD player

I'm one of those luddites who simply enjoy physical media. I had an entry level Yamaha CD player and, while adequate, was not capable of retrieving the detail I was seeking. The CD-14 MkII is exactly what I was looking for and, for me, is my end-game player. I highly recommend this player! Crutchfield customer service was, as usual, stellar!

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Fantastic

The sound quality is impressive. The internal DAC brings out layers in songs that I'd never heard before. Doing an A-B comparison of the same songs on FLAC through other DACs, the CD14 MKII just has a much richer, fuller presentation, both in soundstage and instrument quality. Everything about the unit feels solidly built, from the drive to the RCA jacks. The LCD screen...well, it's nothing special; maybe a little dated, but it is legible from a good distance.

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Completely pleased!

After considering several CD players, I opted for the higher-end Rotel CD14MK11 due entirely to the reviews by both Crutchfield and actual users. I was very impressed with the dedication by Rotel to improve all of the internals to deliver nothing but pure listening enjoyment. As of this review, I've only had the CD player for a few days, so its not burned in yet. However, my first impression is that this CD player is remarkable! The sound quality is absolutely pure. Smooth tray and superb separation. No matter what type of receiver or amp system you're using, please note that higher quality speaker cables will really help deliver what this product is capable of Now, regarding my experience with Crutchfield, they are an incredible business to do business with. Got questions before pulling the trigger? Their customer assistants are well-trained and knowledgeable about their products. They'll give you honest answers and won't pressure you to upgrade in any way. Additionally, they have a very generous return policy. Bottom line..Great product selection; excellent customer service and fast delivery.

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Lots of clarity and detail.

I'm very impressed with this unit, I upgraded from the Tribute Rotel player, there are some noticeable improvements in detail and clarity with the Mk11, although the Tribute is also very good indeed. I'm running a Yamaha s801 with JBL L100s (vintage), I love the sound of acoustic guitars with this arrangement, as well as the delicacy and control of bass & midrange in classical music. The upper frequencies are very smooth too. I'm not crazy about the control buttons, I bought the black unit, I find the buttons a bit hard to see unless there's a lot of light, perhaps it's not a problem with the silver version. The layout of the buttons seems a bit at odds with how tape recorder buttons were arranged, perhaps I'm too old school - anyway there's a remote control you can use, getting a bit nit-picky.

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Two thumbs up!

Rotel has always been a quality product. The CD14 MK 11 is no exception. Simplistic styling mixed with a clarity you would find in a much higher priced unit makes it a must for any audiophile.

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Rotel CD14 MKII

Delivered in a double box system for protection, shrink-wraped to keep water out--Impressive! Opened box, CD14 MKII is weighty, feels sturdy. Quick and easy hook-up conectivity. I immediately played several CD's--some over 40 years old!! The MK II played them all with no issues; Some had very heavy scratches--no skips!! The sound is astonishing! Soundstage played impeccable through my Yamaha AS-1200 and Klipsch KG5.2 speakers! Zero hiss, zero hum & aero outside noise!! I'm simply the happiest person right now.

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Great unit

The unit was very easy to install and sounds awesome the only negative I have is that when the unit reaches the end of the CD it repeats the last song over and over again.

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The Sweet Spot For CD Players

I purchased this CD player after using a Rotel RCD-02, which is a 2002 model, for nearly 20 years. The RCD-02 is a great CD player but the CD14 MkII improves on it in just about all respects. The sound from the CD14 MkII is noticeably cleaner than its predecessor and the glare that was present with the RCD-02 with some discs is gone. The CD14 MkII retains the same great soundstage, imaging, and sense of space of its predecessor. Bass is also better than on the RCD-02, which could be a little lightweight in this area. The price may seem like a lot for a CD player but I believe this player is the sweet spot. In other words, it is at the point of diminishing return where you will have to spend a lot more money to get something significantly better. The RCD-02 cost around $500 in 2002. The CD14 MkII would only be about $100 more after inflation is taken into account. One other thing that was interesting is that the box the CD14 MkII came in was identical in dimensions and appearance to the one the RCD-02 came in 20 years ago. I find this degree of continuity to be comforting in a world that values change for the sake of change. Buy this CD player! It may be the last CD player you will need or want.

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