Sooner or later, even the most traditional hifi component manufacturers realize some users simply want a decent quality music source to connect to good quality speakers, and no fuss. Even Japanese brand Rotel acknowledges the need to offer an updated design that could serve this market, with room to grow. The result is the S14 Integrated Network Streamer, which is a nice integrated amplifier with a color display, offering discerning listeners a high-performance way to access and enjoy online music with ease.
The Rotel S14 Integrated Network Streamer provides seamless access to the near limitless catalog of online music with ease and sophistication. The design delivers the family-owned audio company’s promise of quality, value, and performance, with an all-in-one product that just needs a pair of passive speakers. Which will be easily driven by the available 150 Watts of Class AB power into 4 ohms (80 watts per channel with continuous power at 8 ohms) – without forgetting a dedicated subwoofer output.
In the best Rotel tradition, the integrated amplifier circuits feed an array of high current output transistors powered by an oversized toroidal transformer, while matching modern expectations with a 32-bit ESS Sabre digital to analog converter stage. And apart from the binding posts to connect speakers, there’s also an headphone connection in the front panel.
While the design of the S14 remains very much in line with the company’s traditional chassis and front panels, the integrated system is able top offer direct control of all the features that are to be expected from a digital player. There’s convenient and intuitive support for both wired and wireless sources, including dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with aptX HD and AAC wireless connections for ultimate flexibility. Album artwork, track, title, and artist information is presented on the front panel color graphic display. Simple device setup and configuration is also available using the front panel and included remote control.
Traditional Rotel audio products are recognized for their quality, reliability, and exceptional sound reproduction, representing great value overall. Rotel tried to create the same significant value perception from the onset, by creating first and foremost a great integrated amplifier that will always be able to support all external audio sources, analog and digital, including coaxial, optical and USB. This means the ability to reproduce digital audio up to 24-bit/192kHz from SPDIF LPCM, and up to 24-bit/384kHz from USB Audio Class 2.0 sources.
For the potential customer considering the S14 as a streamer, all the options to expected today are there. Direct streaming from popular music services including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and Internet radio stations, all the way to MQA support to maximize high resolution content supplied by Tidal and other sources. AirPlay 2 and Google Cast are also supported, as well as analog RCA and PC-USB source inputs for legacy devices.
The S14 will be available for $2,499.99 (MSRP) in black and silver finishes, with shipments beginning in December of 2022 in the US, and the rest of the world shortly thereafter.
www.rotel.com
