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 assorted retailers for $1,700.
• It's elemental to acceptable up and delivers smooth, dynamic sound.
• If you privation to usage the DX-5 with a turntable, you'll request a pre-amp.

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I emotion investigating 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 the DX-5 integrated amplifier, I was people excited.

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

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

My experience

The DX-5 is simply a modern, minimal instrumentality with conscionable a powerfulness button, root button, headphone jack, display, and knob connected the beforehand of the device. This simplicity is 1 of the archetypal things to marque the DX-5 truthful casual to operate.

As acold arsenic inputs/outputs go, you'll find the pursuing connected the 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 oregon 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 occupation mounting it up.

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

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Let's chopped to the chase. Anyone speechmaking a reappraisal of an amp wants to cognize 1 thing: however does it sound?

Simply put, the Rotel DX-5 is creaseless similar buttah.

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

Rotel has a agelong past (65 years) of creating high-quality, audiophile-level audio equipment, and the DX-5 is nary objection to the 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 the Bluetooth amps I've used, the DX-5 has the champion dependable and connectivity. In fact, I couldn't discern the quality betwixt aux and Bluetooth input.

Of course, it was with vinyl that the DX-5 truly shone. Do support successful caput that the Graham Slee is simply a reasonably high-end preamp, truthful immoderate pre-amp you usage to link your turntable volition person a immense interaction connected the sound. Use a low-quality pre-amp, and you'll upwind up with low-quality sound.

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

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Via the 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, the DX-5 is considerably much costly than the NAD, truthful this should travel arsenic nary surprise. As well, the Asscession has respective ways to change the sound, truthful it's different origin to consider.

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

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As I mentioned earlier, the Bluetooth enactment truly sold me. I'd not recovered an amp with Bluetooth that was reliable enough. Either the transportation would randomly drop, the dependable was poor, oregon I couldn't get the instrumentality to connect. With the DX-5, nary of those problems popped up. It was creaseless sailing for creaseless sound.

After utilizing the DX-5 for rather a while, I ne'er erstwhile had a azygous contented with it, ne'er felt it get excessively hot, and recovered determination was nary request for a break-in period. This amp was axenic plug-and-play joy, delivering glorious dependable to my ears nary substance the source.

ZDNET's buying advice

The lone happening that mightiness support you from purchasing the Rotel DX-5 is that it lone delivers 33 Watts of power. If you person speakers that necessitate much power, you'll find this amp to beryllium underpowered. If you're listening successful a precise 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 the user-friendliness and dependable prime of the DX-5.

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

Rotel DX-5 integrated amplifier tech specs

• 25 Watts per transmission into 8 ohms oregon 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 with 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