Customer Reviews

Loving it!

First venture into higher fidelity! The sound stage is awesome, I hear details I've never heard before. I'm primarily listening to 60's-70's hard rock, 90's grunge and 2000's - current alt/progressive. Sorry, very little 80's here! String instruments and piano sound as if they're in my living room. Set up was super easy. I'm driving new-ish Monitor Audio Bronze 500's. The amp is driving them nicely. I don't see (hear) the need for a subwoofer at all. The banana plugs took a little controlled muscling to insert properly. I've only used BlueTooth (Local Internet radio) and a WIIM Pro with a tablet via AirPlay bypassing the WIIM DAC and using the Rotel DAC. Connectivity was pain free. I've never owned a good integrated amplifier before, this replaced an old (mid 90's) Nakamichi 400 AV. Looking forward to growing my new hobby, the sound has listening to music I haven't listened to in years and has given me the desire to listen to entire albums once again. Smart purchase!

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Rotel A12 MKII

I had to match amp to existing speakers, Dutch reseated what I needed and didn't sell me something

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Rotel A12 MKII

Wonderful!

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Rotel sound

There is nothing wrong with this amp even though we returned it. This model is the closest comparable new amp to the Rotel we had for 30 years. It's just a little under powered for our needs now. Just didn't want to spend more than necessary. If it fits your needs you won't be disappointed.

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Good, but check your use case..

Impressions after using for a week, running Wharfedale Diamond 225's, and some Polk Minitor 40's (older version, not the V II's), plus Technics SL QD33 turntable. Will update after further use and when my CD player arrives. Was surprised Crutchfield just threw this in another cardboard box with no peanuts/padding. Box was same size as OEM.#fail in my view. Moving on to the unit. Very solid build quality, easy set up and navigating menus. Unit gets modestly warm when running at low volume for a while, surprisingly.. But not hot for sure. Bluetooth works flawlessly, no issues. Ok sound quality, I'd say it tends to be warmer but that's what I've read and what I was looking for. The Polks I had lying around don't really highlight what the amp can deliver. The Diamonds deliver a warm, full range sound. Def hear mid tone subtelties, they seem to pair nicely with the A12. TT performance is middling, could be the stylus. The weird thing with this amp, as others have noted, is the non-linear behavior of the volume knob. It's more logarithmic in behavior vs any amp I've ever owned. It can be annoying as you need to hit the Volume up to 45-50 to bring out what the Wharfedale speakers can deliver. Top volume is 95, but once you get past 60 it really powers up quickly. Poor engineering imho. Not sure if one had speakers requiring lower end power that you'd be happy..it's like having a car with low end torque. So for now.3 stars, let's see

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Rotel A12 MKII

Using this for near-field listening, has to be the best blend of budget and quality. Very clean sound, diverse input options, quality build.

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Outdated

Mine had issues, digital crackle from my Mac. Thought it might be the old firmware... which is impossible to update unless you have Windows with an RS 232 connection. That's ridiculous!

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Crutchfield response on 5/28/2024

William contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Game changer

This unit is a game changer for me. I use a mini PC as a media server and streamer. The A12 MKII is a huge step up from the PC onboard sound + older receiver and later outboard DAC + integrated amp I had been using. The Rotel's internal DAC, preamp and power stages give me way more detail and punch than I was used to. It's more than enough power for my 700 sq. ft. apt. I have all sorts of inputs plugged into it and it's nice from one unit with one control to be able to switch in and out my CD player, PC, turntable (excellent phono amp in the Rotel), old tape deck, and Focusrite I use for recording. This integrated amp is the perfect solution for what I want to do. It's a keeper!

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Great pairing!

I bought the A12 MK2 along with the CD14 MK2. Both sound awesome! The soundstage playing CD's is amazing, old (20+ years) CD's have a new sound I've never heard before. The silver cases really look classy. Paired with the Heco Aurora 1000 speakers, and my sound system sounds very balanced and alive. Now I have too listen to my 500+CD's! The Bluetooth sounds very good for Bluetooth, easily connects to my internet.

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My experience A12 MKII vs A11 Tribute

I began this journey by purchasing a Rotel A12 MKII over the A11 Tribute since the A12 had digital input & BlueTooth, as the A11 had only BlueTooth. The A12 BT worked fine, with 1 exception - you can't control the BT volume from the BT transmitting device (my phone or tablet). This is contrary to all my other BT devices. Rotel support told me this is normal, they set the BT input to max volume as lower volumes can have less fidelity. I then ordered an iFi Zen BT receiver for the A12, and it worked like all my other BT devices - I could control volume from my phone or tablet. I took advantage of Crutchfield's generous return policy and got an A11 Tribute to review side by side with the A12 MKII. The A11's BT worked as I wanted, being able to control my BT volume at my phone/tablet. In all other aspects, I found the A11 and A12 very comparable - was impressed with the "flat" tone sound as compared to my HK3390 receiver that I was replacing (using Monitor Gold series bookshelf speakers). I also like the A11's predefined tone boost settings, as different devices have slightly different tonal characteristics. As for the A11 lack of digital inputs, I had a Cambridge DAC that I had used on my HK, so I put that with my CD changer on the A11. 4 stars only due to the BT volume gotcha. 5 stars to Crutchfield's return policy, cost only $24 to return the A12 & iFi BT device (very reasonable). These were all scratch & dent units, but appearance and performance were great.

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Needed Much Assistance

As a first time Crutchfield customer, I was blown away by the assistance provided by my advisor, Eugene. I was struggling with deciding between a good vintage or a new integrated and which specific make/model of either. Made up my mind that new was the way to go and then comes the daunting task of which one. Eugene and I communicated by phone, e-mail, and chat many times. He listened to what I wanted as far as sound and budget and made the suggestion of the A12MKII which was one of many I already had in my "sights" after much research. For my room size and speakers, I do not think he could have done any better at selecting the right one for me and we are not even "burned in" yet with unit and new interconnectors. Set up was simple and straightforward, ease of operation and listening experience is exceptional. Each person is different as far as the finer aspects of sound and function preference, so I'll not get into the sound in detail other than to reiterate that Eugene hit the nail on the head with his suggestion of this unit as far as MY preferences of sound (within my budget) were concerned. Analog and digital sources exceed my expectations in all aspects of sound. Aesthetics are again such a personal thing, but with the other components purchased, my set-up makes me quite happy.

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Don't Even Think of buying this!

I didn't want to do a review until I had listened to this unit for a good 4-5 months. Like some of the other reviewers have said, this amp is WAY UNDERRATED for power. You have to have the volume on at least 55 to get any kind of volume on this thing. And it doesn't sound any better than any other unit, maybe even from Walmart. I used to have a Rotel turntable that was top notch. Apparently, quality has declined! For a $1200 amp, this just ain't it! I should have sent this one back. Overall, a poor example of an integrated amp of which I'd NEVER buy again and based on this, I doubt I'd ever purchase ANYTHING by ROTEL again. Shame on Crutchfield for selling this underpowered amp. I've lost faith in Crutchfield based on this friggin' unit! !! I'm gonna hook up my Kenwood KA-7100 from the 80's & see if I can peddle the Rotel at a garage sale.

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Crutchfield response on 8/29/2023

Once we saw this review, our Customer Support specialist, Cammie, reached out to this customer to let him know he is actually still within our 60-day return period. If you encounter a problem with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, it's important to contact our Customer Support or Tech Support teams right away. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase.

Easy set-up

Product arrived quickly in inconspicuous packaging. Everything was intact, and it was very easy to set up. The unit feels very sturdy and well constructed. Sound is great, and the product meets all my need; all at a great price. My only remark that could be construed as negative? You have to turn the volume knob over halfway before a true listenable volume level is attained. I thought I might have set something up incorrectly, but I triple checked all the connections and then read some other reviews which indicated others had same comment. I am not sure why it would be manufactured that way. Note: I can attain the proper listening levels so this is more of a remark than a complaint.

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Crutchfield response on

Rotel A12 MKII

The amp is clear and balance. Bass is quick and punchy. Highs are detail not fatigue. Mids neutral with nice separation in left and right. Elac and klipsch sub.

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Exceptional, clean quality sound

It's not perfect, and it's reasonable to question its price to performance ratio, depending on what you're looking for. But it is exceptional in its sound quality and cleanliness. It is very, very clean, especially in the more demanding parts of various songs. I paired these with a pair of KEF Q150s. MKII is better than the original A12. Some forums suggested they were nearly identical (other than the improved DAC), but one Youtube channel (Living Entertainment North Coast) who reviewed the A14MKII compared to the first A14 noted that they were very different sonically. The MKII series has a lot more similarities with the A11 Tribute which Ken Ishiwata forged than it does with the original A12). For me, that was important if I was spending at this price point. I wanted the best. Serious talk: is it worth $1100 compared to a cheap Chinese Class D amp like the $170 Aiyima T9 Pro? Not sure, even though I own both. Rotel does have an edge, for sure, but consider whether you'd rather spend more on your speakers than the amp (KEF LS50 Meta + Aiyima T9 Pro >>>> KEF Q150 + Rotel A12MKII, for instance). It's a durable, clean, high quality amp that I would definitely recommend, especially if you look at all the other reviews online that highlight its exceptional cleanliness and quality. The A11 Tribute was very, very well regarded by Darko Audio and cheapaudioman; the A12MKII builds upon it. It's an amp that is built to last you decades. Highly recommended.

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I'm looking for bass in all the wrong places

I auditioned this unit in the hope of waking up the somewhat feeble bass response in my 1980's-era Mission 737R loudspeakers, but didn't get the specialized result I wanted. The sound was definitely cleaner and more detailed than the 10-year-old Marantz PM6005 amp it was to replace, and the addition of digital and Bluetooth was a plus, but ultimately it didn't address my speaker-specific issue. My bad. When paired to my Polk RTi-A9 towers it sounded great across the spectrum, granted that those speakers have a natural massive low end response. Note that these Rotel A1x series have a superb phono section if vinyl is your thing. You'd be hard pressed to upgrade it with an external phono preamp under $500.

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Excellent amp/DAC - detailed, punchy and musical

I bought this amp based on considerable research, and knowing that Crutchfield's excellent policy for trialing and returning gear would make trying it with my source and speakers a low-risk proposition. I would be replacing my NAD C740, fed by a Schiit Modi Multibit DAC v.2, paired with Focal Chora 806 loudspeakers and a Hsu Research VTF-1 Mk2 powered subwoofer. Using an iMac, Spotify Premium and USB 2.0, I ABd the Rotel with my existing system carefully. I'm extremely impressed with the A12 MKII. Its delivery is highly detailed, revealing and punchy, while still being fluid and musical. I listen to many genres of music, and all of it sounds extremely present, lively and exciting, but without any strident highs or unnatural timbres. Everything just sounds right. The soundstage is much wider, deeper and well-defined. And while the excellent sound of this amp begs you to turn up the volume, it sounds rich, full and punchy at low volumes too. That said, it's a beast for its power rating, and it drives my Choras to high levels without breaking a sweat sonically. Highly recommended.

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Crutchfield response on

Rotel A12 MKII

Sounds great and built in DAC is a nice convenience. Replaced a 10 year old Marantz. Has a little more power but doesn't sound significantly different. Maybe slightly more detailed sounding.

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Great sound and great functinality

Let me start off that I don't consider myself in anyway an "audiophile," and in my opinion most audiophiles are convincing themselves that they are hearing detail that is not there (does anyone honestly think these old guys who review stuff can even hear above 14kHz). When I was looking for an integrated amp I shopped exclusively on features, and I assumed all the amps Crutchfield offered would sound great. This was the amp that had the features I wanted at a price I was willing to pay (I also bought the open box version and it was indistinguishable from brand new) . It also happens to sounds great to my ears. Does it sound better than the amp it replaced, I don't know. But I do know it has ten times the functionality of what I using prior. Also the 5 yr warranty is a huge bonus, most other brands seem to top out at 3 yrs. The build quality is top notch and it looks fantastic. One thing I will mention that the Crutchfield website lists, is that the front panel usb port is not limited to iOS devices with a lightning port. I plugged in my iPad Pro with a usb-c port and it worked fine. If this amp fits the functionality criteria you desire, then you will not be disappointed with the sound.

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The Sound is Bliss

This amp has plenty of power to push the Focal Chora 806 bookshelf speakers I purchased with it. The amp is incredibly easy to setup. Everything about this amp is quality. The sound is extremely clean. I have been running it at least 12 hours a day since it arrived and not one issue. This is my first A-B amp. I'm normally a class D guy, but I will never go back. The remote works great from any angle and you don't have to point it at the unit for it to work. I also tried the headphone out. It does not cancel speaker outs, but I only have one pair of speakers hooked up so I switch to the B channel and use my headphones. There are so many option on setting each channel on this amp it will take me a few days to get through them all. If you're on the fence just jump over and pick this amp up. It is worth every penny!

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Great entey level Integrated

Excellent product for the money. Lacks meat in the midrange and bottom end and doesn't scale well at higher volumes. Becomes shouty. Excellent at low to mid volume with subwoofer to fill in the low end. Overall excellent product in terms of clarity, balance in tonality, not ok warm, connectivity and ease of use. Tonal controls are a huge plus.

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Happy Camper

Received the unit a few hours ago, and got the Klipsch 600M with it. Great unit, 60 Watts is plenty of power, clean. Listened to some FLAC and that was nice, went over to Spotify and that was not very good. Canceled my subscription and opened up a Hi-Fi Plus account with Tidal (military) so cheap. And now I am talking. The difference is very noticeable even with me being old. The speakers will have to break in and I am happy with them. I have JBL Monitors/Subwoofer with Schitt Gear for messing around in my studio and I also have the AxiomAudio Master set up for my home theater so this gear will be just for music. Every time a new song comes on it sounds better :). I will have to set it up in different parts of the room for that sweet spot but I was so excited to get this system, took me 30 minutes and I was ready to go. Had my cables made and ready. It must be Christmas.

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Punches Above The Price

I am beyond pleased with this amp! There are ample digital and analog connections, and has no problem driving my speakers to deliver a superb level of sound reproduction. The bass is controlled and tight, mids are expressive and detailed, and the highs are crisp and clean. Even at high volumes, everything is controlled without a hint of any struggle. The build quality is also top-notch. The primary casing is very rigid and sturdy, while the aluminum face plate has a beautiful color and texture; an excellent example of a modern classic aesthetic. Lastly, the phono MM pre-amp performs way beyond my expectations!

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Rotel A12 MKII integrated amplifier

The first Rotel 12 MKII I received had a problem of over heating after 6 hours of use, to the extent that if I held my hand at a certain spot where the heat sink is located, it would burn my hand. The next day this same unit's Bluetooth went crazy causing the audio to fluctuate in speed high and low. It would continue even when I changed the song. I talked with Andrew at Crutchfield and he sent me a replacement Rotel A12 MKII. I am happy to report that after 6 hours of continuous play Cd , Phono and Bluetooth, the new unit got warm but not real hot. Thank God. The sound quality with this new unit and the Rotel CD11 Tribute, I also just purchased is AWESOME. Together they have the quality of sound stage presence. I am very impressed with the build quality and the displays. I am also very impressed with the ability to control the on/off, volume, treble, bass and balance with the remote. This remote will also control the Rotel CD12 Tribute. The Cd drawer is very quiet and smooth. Changing cd's is very ease. I am very happy with how Crutchfield handled my problem so quickly. There is no added charge and I have 14 days to return the bad unit. I am very happy that the Rotel A12 MKII comes with a 5 year parts and labor warranty and I have 53 days to continue testing these units. I hope it's a KEEPER. Happy Paul in Akron, Ohio.

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