Rotel RCD-1072 CD Player Features
The Rotel RCD-1072 CD player has a logically organized brushed-silver front panel that makes it easy to operate and has all the essential controls for playing a CD. Its easy to read front panel display is visible from a fair distance making it easy to operate from my listening position. The remote control has a similar complement of keys without the confusing clutter of buttons found on many remote controls.
The back panel features a pair of stereo analog outputs and a coaxial digital output in the event that the player is used with a receiver with digital inputs. A +12V trigger will turn on the RCD-1072 when connected to the control amp with a mini-jack cable and an Extension Remote Input can activate the player using industry standard IR receivers, a useful feature if the player is installed in a cabinet or entertainment center.
The electronics in the RCD-1072 are designed for high performance CD and HDCD playback. To reduce potential stray magnetic fields from the power supply, the player uses a toroidal transformer. The RCD-1072 employs 24-bit Burr-Brown PCM-1732 digital to analog converters with 96kHz sampling frequency for CD and HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) playback. HDCD discs are specially encoded discs that provide up to 12dB of increased dynamic range and improved detail compared to standard red book CDs. HDCD discs are backwards compatible with standard CD players, although players without HDCD decoding cannot take advantage of the improved audio performance. The RCD-1072 features an indicator light that illuminates when an HDCD disc is playing.
Rotel RCD-1072 – Audio Performance
Beneath its exterior the RCD-1072 is a high-tech CD player with lots of digital horsepower. Its specifications include a signal to noise ratio of >100dB and dynamic range of >96dB. The 24-bit resolution of the DACs (digital to analog converters) add detail to a standard 16-bit CD and the 96kHz sampling frequency, more than twice the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency of a standard CD contribute to the smooth yet detailed sound of the RCD-1072. Specifications aside, the RCD-1072 reflects the same warm, smooth analog sound quality as the Rotel amp and pre-amp. The guitar in Sara Ks “If You Close That Door” from her Closer Than They Appear album (Chesky Records) had a quality that accurately captured the timbre of the instrument, combining warmth and musicality with quick transient response.
Although the RCD-1072 is compatible with any control amp or receiver, it makes a great performance complement with the Rotel RC-1082 Control Amp and RB-1072 Power Amp. The Rotel trio is a fine choice for a mid-priced stereo system and a great alternative to a stereo receiver. To complete the system, add the Rotel RT-1080 AM/FM tuner or the RT-1084 tuner with AM/FM, HD Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio tuners.
Specifications
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.0045% @ 1kHz
- Intermodulation Distortion: 0.0045% @ 1kHz
- Frequency response: 20-20kHz
- Signal to Noise Ratio: >100dB
- Dynamic Range: >96dB
- Digital to Analog Converters: 18-bit equivalent, multi-level Delta-Sigma DAC with 8x oversampling filter
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 17” x 3 11/16” x 13 ¼”
- Weight: 12.8 lbs.
- Price: $699
