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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Rotel RCD-02 CD Player/Recorder by bondmanp

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REVIEW: Rotel RCD-02 CD Player/Recorder

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Model: RCD-02
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $500
Description: Single Disc CD Solid State CD Player with Remote
Manufacturer URL: Rotel
Manufacturer URL: Rotel

Review by bondmanp ( A ) on April 16, 2003 at 09:57:32
IP Address: 12.33.123.18
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Before I submit my review, I would like to thank all the inmates, whose posts helped a lot in the selection of my new CDP.

Also, a disclaimer: My system is a combo 2-channel/Home Theater system, with very mid-fi origins that is slowly evolving into an entry-level high end system. Weak links in the chain (especially pre-amplification) surely limit the performance of the other components, including this CDP. However, I am posting this review in the hope that others with similar circumstances may find it useful.

I set out to replace my 15 year old cheap-o Teac CDP with a low-priced Redbook only player. Due to personal issues with tubes, I restricted my search to SS models in the $500 range. My dealer, Audio Nexus of Summit, NJ, is a Rotel and an NAD dealer, so I A/B'd the RCD-02 with the NAD C-541i and my old Teac player. In short, I went with the Rotel because it offered better detail, tighter bass, better ergonomics and a slightly better sound stage. I got the player in late December of 2002. I must praise Audio Nexus for allowing me a thorough audition of these low-priced players with a setup similar to my own.

The RCD-02 comes only in silver (I would have preferred black). It is a compact player, weighs about 12 lbs., and seems very well built. Operation is very quiet and quick. Drawer movement is quiet, smooth and quick as well. The light blue display window is fairly easy to read from about six feet away. The remote is full-function, but of the cheap plastic type. Track location is fast, and so far, no CDs (including CD-Rs) have skipped. The unit has four rubber feet. Both optical and RCA digital outs are provided, as well as stereo analog RCAs. HDCD decoding is included. I connected the RCD-02 via the analog outputs to my Pioneer VSX-24TX receiver, which feeds a Rotel RMB-1066 amp run in bridged (3 X 150 watt) mode, to a pair of Vandersteen 1C speakers. Bass is crossed over at 80Hz to a Def Tech PF-15 subwoofer, and the bass output is processed by both a Paradigm X-30 crossover box and a Behringer 1024 digital paramentric EQ. Interconnects are Monster Reference and Z-series, speaker cable is basic Kimber Cable. No AC power filtering (my AC is pretty clean). I run the Pioneer in "Direct" mode, which is analog pass-through (although the subwoofer output remains active in this mode, so perhaps it is not purely analog).

I am less than thrilled with some of the player's functionality. My old Teac was easy to program. For example, the "10+" key on the Teac entered a "1", so you would then enter 0-9 for tracks 10 through 19. Tracks 20 through 29 could be accessed directly by pressing the "10+" key a second time. The Rotel's "10+" key requires you to enter the full track number after pressing it, so you must press "10+", then the "1" and "2" keys for track 12. Tracks above 19 are not directly accessable. Also, when programming tracks, the Teac would display the aggregate time of the programmed tracks (a real help if you record your CDs onto CD-Rs or other media). The only way to get this info from the Rotel is to program your tracks, select time remaining, and start the program. Also, clearing programmed tracks is very complicated.

Although I broke the Rotel in for about 72 hours when I first got it home, it has continued to change its sound over the months, although less so in the last month.

Initially, the bass was very tight and well defined, turning what had been mush on many CDs into music. However, as the player has broken in, the bass has losened up a bit. While still very extended, it is a little loose, a bit rounder than when it was new. Lack of bass energy was a problem with the old Teac player which the Rotel easily solves. Bass definition remains far superior to the Teac as well. Plenty of bass energy all the way down. Bass drums in particular have a lot of kick and pretty good definition. On the JVC Jazz Festival 2001 CD (a promotional CD), track 6, an acoustic instrumental featuring drums, bass and piano, the bass was very well defined and tuneful. I could easily hear the strings being plucked at the leading edge of each note. I've heard this outstanding track reproduced much better, but on much more expensive systems.

Mids are natural and clean, with good detail, especially of background instruments and vocals, which never dissappear under more prominent elements (a problem I noted with the NAD). Female vocals (Tori Amos, for example) are very natural, clean and detailed. Male vocals are smooth, but never chesty sounding (e.g. Elvis Costello "Spike").

Highs are extended, with good decay. Initially, some of the lower treble range was a bit pinched and harsh, especially with horns in this region. This has smoothed out a lot in the last two months. However, I would not characterize the RCD-02 as warm or dark. Neutral would be a better description. The cymbols on the JVC Jazz Festival CD track 6 were very realistic, with smooth decay and easily identifiable elements, such as the brush swirls (which sounded like hiss on the Teac). Again, I've heard this done better, but on much more expensive systems.

Dynamics are largely recording-dependent. On the Tutti! sampler, the macro-dynamic impact is very impressive, and micro-dynamic changes were also easy to hear.

Soundstaging is very good, with a very stable center fill image (to the point that my center channel speaker sounds like it is on even when it's not). There is some hieght to the image, though less than the Teac had. The Teac could put a vocalist about 5 feet off the floor, where the Rotel places most center-vocals around 4 to 4.5 feet off the floor.

Although my system exhibits little depth behind the speakers, the soundstage does extend to just outside the left and right of the speakers and forward into the room along the left and right walls.

There is a little grain and grunge to the sound overall, from the midrange on up, but I would like to think this is due to my Pioneer A/V receiver, currently in use as a pre/pro. There did not seem to be much grain when I auditioned the Rotel at the dealer, but my other sources seem to be just a little bit smoother and lower in grain.

I must also mention how well this CDP handles CD-Rs. In addition to CD-Rs copied from CDs on my computer, the RCD-02 did very well with downloaded MP3 files that had been burned onto CD-R. At bit rates of 128K or better, these CD-Rs were very listenable, even if they were obviously not Redbook standard bit rates.

Overall, I am pleased with this CDP, and it is a big improvement over my old Teac player. I will re-evaluate when I upgrade to a better pre/pro. I might someday look into an outboard DAC, but other weak links in my system, especially the Pioneer receiver, must be dealt with first.


Product Weakness: Functionality, some grain, cheap remote, programability
Product Strengths: Detail, soundstage, imaging, bass extension, build quality, quick and quiet operation


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Rotel RMB-1066 (bridged mode 3 X 150 watts)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Pioneer VSX-24TX Receiver
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Old Teac player, Thorens TT/Shure M91
Speakers: Vandersteen 1C w/ Def Tech PF-15 sub
Cables/Interconnects: Monster Reference, Monster Z and Kimber Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Alternative, Jazz, Orchestral
Room Size (LxWxH): 26' x 10' x 6'
Room Comments/Treatments: Irregular-shaped basement
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Paradigm X-30 crossover, Behringer DSP-1024 EQ (for subwoofer only)
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): Posted on inmate systems.




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Topic - REVIEW: Rotel RCD-02 CD Player/Recorder - bondmanp 09:57:32 04/16/03 ( 5)