Introducing the A11 and CD11 MKII at Audio T Swindon

As many of you may know, Rotel is a respected Japanese Hi-Fi brand with a remarkable history spanning nearly seventy years, and it's still family-owned to this day.

Their latest MkII versions of the amplifier and CD player build upon the success of the previous Tribute series—a tough act to follow, given the Tribute models’ strong reputation. Rather than a complete overhaul, Rotel opted for an evolutionary approach, refining and enhancing the original design—a wise choice that retains the qualities that made the Tribute series so popular while adding thoughtful improvements.

A11 MK2 amplifier

In updating this amplifier, Rotel has chosen to add a Texas Instruments 32-bit, 384 kHz DAC—the same high-quality DAC featured in the CD11 MKII. This choice reflects their commitment to providing excellent digital performance. Unlike the previous Tribute model, which lacked a DAC but offered two pairs of speaker outputs, the A11 MKII includes only one pair of outputs. Personally, I find the addition of a DAC far more valuable than the ability to run dual speaker sets.

The Rotel A11 MKII offers coaxial and optical inputs, but if digital functionality isn't essential, the A10 MKII is identical in all other respects and saves you £150. The A11 MKII includes a high-quality moving magnet phono input, analogue and Bluetooth connectivity, and a front-panel 3.5mm headphone jack. The metal casing, offered in silver or black, features all-metal rotary controls, with a volume knob that has a nicely weighted feel—adding to its premium impression. With 50 watts per channel, it easily drives most compatible speakers.

Rotel CD11 and A11 MKII at Audio T Swindon

CD11 MK2

Over thirty years ago, during my early days at Audio T (when I still had hair!), we took-on Rotel's first CD player, the multi-bit RCD 855, soon followed by the highly popular Bitstream RCD 865. Rotel quickly established itself as a leading name in CD playback, and it’s reassuring to see their continued support for this format. This model, as mentioned, shares the same TI chip as the matching amplifier and features a proprietary Rotel transport, with a digital stage that improves upon its Tribute predecessor. Naturally, the same high-quality build is maintained throughout.

As a system:

We paired the system with a set of Dali Oberon 5 speakers and played our go-to test track, Ballad of the Runaway Horse by Rob Wasserman and Jennifer Warnes. If you’re not already using this track for setup, it’s worth considering: it helps position Jennifer’s voice precisely in height and width, while also assessing bass control—a valuable tool for fine-tuning. The result was a spacious, well-defined soundstage with an authentic performance feel. It was musical, detailed, and truly enjoyable. Switching to the Hi-Fi show favourite Hey Now by London Grammar, the system handled the notoriously challenging bass with control, delivering a warm high-end and a balanced, mellifluous presentation overall.

Conclusion.

These units offer outstanding value for money, providing ample power for real-world listening environments. They deliver a sound that’s impressively detailed yet easy on the ears, ensuring an enjoyable and non-fatiguing experience over extended listening sessions. Built to an exceptional standard, they’re as robust as they are elegantly designed, with controls that feel precise and intuitive—making them a pleasure to use.

For those who appreciate a traditional setup, there’s also a matching tuner, the T11, a rare find in today’s market, which seamlessly complements the system.

If you’d like to experience these for yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out and book a listening session.

Thank you for reading.

Jon and Andy - Audio T Swindon

Rotel products are available at the following stores: