This Unassuming Amplifier Is The One Audio Upgrade That Finally Made My Speakers Sing

Rotel DX-5 Integrated Amp

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Rotel DX-5 Integrated Amp is disposable astatine various retailers for $1,700.
• It's elemental to group up and delivers smooth, move sound.
• If you want to usage nan DX-5 pinch a turntable, you'll request a pre-amp.

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I emotion testing each mode of audio equipment, especially digital streaming amps. Anything that delivers euphony to my ears is invited successful my laboratory of huffy philharmonic doings. So erstwhile Rotel sent maine nan DX-5 integrated amplifier, I was people excited.

This medium-sized amp is simply a good-looking introduction for your desktop aliases rack, pinch 1 caveat: if vinyl is your format of choice, you'll request a turntable pinch a preamp aliases a dedicated preamp.

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But then, I honestly don't deliberation nan DX-5 is targeted astatine vinyl lovers. So, who's it for? Let's return a look. 

My experience

The DX-5 is simply a modern, minimal instrumentality pinch conscionable a powerfulness button, root button, headphone jack, display, and knob connected nan beforehand of nan device. This simplicity is 1 of nan first things to make nan DX-5 truthful easy to operate.

As acold arsenic inputs/outputs go, you'll find nan pursuing connected nan back: 

• Aux input (this is simply a line-level input and not a phone-level input)
• Optical input
• HDMI Arc (so you could link this to your TV).
• PC-USB
• Service jack
• Sub out
• Speaker retired (banana plug aliases bare ligament compatible)
• Power switch
• Power cord jack
• Bluetooth antenna
• Well-designed remote

Everything astir this amp is truthful beginner-friendly that I would beryllium shocked if anyone had a azygous problem mounting it up.

Fortunately, I hap to person a Graham Slee Accession pre-amp that I could usage to perceive to vinyl done nan DX-5. Keep successful mind that nan Assession costs astir nan aforesaid arsenic nan DX-5, truthful together you're looking astatine astir $3,000. Fortunately, you tin ever usage a overmuch cheaper pre-amp aliases usage a turntable pinch a built-in preamp (such arsenic those pinch nan U-Turn Audio Orbit).

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Let's trim to nan chase. Anyone reference a reappraisal of an amp wants to cognize 1 thing: really does it sound?

Simply put, nan Rotel DX-5 is soft for illustration buttah.

I've been switching backmost betwixt NAD and Outlaw audio amps (both of which are awesome options), and I recovered nan DX-5 to sound amended than both. On apical of that, nan DX-5 doesn't return up astir arsenic overmuch abstraction arsenic nan Outlaw audio amp and feels much rugged than nan integrative utilized successful nan NAD case. 

Rotel has a agelong history (65 years) of creating high-quality, audiophile-level audio equipment, and nan DX-5 is nary objection to nan reputation.

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The DX-5 uses an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chipset, supports 32-bit/384 kHz PCM via USB-B, supports 24-bit/192 kHz via optical, and supports aptX HD and ACC protocols via Bluetooth. Of each nan Bluetooth amps I've used, nan DX-5 has nan champion sound and connectivity. In fact, I couldn't discern nan quality betwixt aux and Bluetooth input.

Of course, it was pinch vinyl that nan DX-5 really shone. Do support successful mind that nan Graham Slee is simply a reasonably high-end preamp, truthful immoderate pre-amp you usage to link your turntable will person a immense effect connected nan sound. Use a low-quality pre-amp, and you'll upwind up pinch low-quality sound.

The DX-5 distant is made of metal, is easy to use, and built stone solid.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Via nan Graham Slee Asscession, vinyl sounded overmuch smoother and richer than it does via my NAD D 3020 V2 (that has a built-in pre-amp). Of course, nan DX-5 is considerably much costly than nan NAD, truthful this should travel arsenic nary surprise. As well, nan Asscession has respective ways to change nan sound, truthful it's different facet to consider.

While listening to vinyl via nan DX-5/Assession combo, I was reminded why vinyl is my format of choice, arsenic it brought a beautiful warmth to my KEF speakers that neither nan NAD nor nan Outlaw amps could match. No, this isn't warmth connected nan level of a conduit amp, but for digital, It's impressive.

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As I mentioned earlier, nan Bluetooth action really sold me. I'd not recovered an amp pinch Bluetooth that was reliable enough. Either nan relationship would randomly drop, nan sound was poor, aliases I couldn't get nan instrumentality to connect. With nan DX-5, nary of those problems popped up. It was soft sailing for soft sound.

After utilizing nan DX-5 for rather a while, I ne'er erstwhile had a azygous rumor pinch it, ne'er felt it get excessively hot, and recovered location was nary request for a break-in period. This amp was axenic plug-and-play joy, delivering glorious sound to my ears nary matter nan source.

ZDNET's buying advice

The only point that mightiness support you from purchasing nan Rotel DX-5 is that it only delivers 33 Watts of power. If you person speakers that require much power, you'll find this amp to beryllium underpowered. If you're listening successful a very ample space, you mightiness besides find this amp underpowered. 

However, if you person much forgiving speakers and a smaller room, this amp is simply a existent gem. I've utilized much costly amps that couldn't lucifer nan user-friendliness and sound value of nan DX-5.

In nan end, if you're looking to acquisition a caller amp and you don't mind dropping $1700, nan DX-5 will surely put a grin connected your look and a creation successful your step. It's pricey, but for some, bully sound is worthy each penny. It besides doesn't wounded that nan DX-5 is simply a good-looking portion of kit.

Rotel DX-5 integrated amplifier tech specs

• 25 Watts per transmission into 8 ohms aliases 33 Watts per transmission into 4 ohms
• Class AB amplifier
• ESS ES9039Q2M DAC
• Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.03
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 100 kHz
• dB)Damping Factor: 140 20 Hz – 20 kHz 8 Ω
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N Ratio): >100 dB (IHF "A" Weighted) 
• Digital and Analog Inputs Digital:1 x PC-USB (up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, DSD 4x)1 x Coaxial (up to 24-bit/192kHz)1 x Optical (up to 24-bit/192kHz)1 x HDMI ARCBluetooth pinch aptX HD and AACAnalog:1 x RCA Analog Input 
• Outputs Speakers: 5-way binding postsHeadphones: 1 x 6.35 mm (1/4") headphone jack
• Subwoofer: 1 x RCA Mono Output General Information 
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 10 inches
• Net Weight: 9.1 lbs
• Power Consumption: 80 Watts standby 
• Chipset: ESS ES9039Q2M
• Transformer: Custom in-house built toroidal transformer