What is the RB-1590?
It's Rotel's flagship Class AB stereo power amplifier, built for two-channel audiophile systems and demanding loudspeaker loads.
How much power does it deliver?
350 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 648 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with both channels driven at the 8-ohm rating.
What's the distortion and noise performance like?
Total harmonic distortion is rated at 0.03%, with a damping factor of 300. Signal-to-noise ratio is 120 dB.
What's the frequency response?
10Hz to 100kHz.
What kind of power supply does it use?
Twin massive toroidal transformers custom made by Rotel, paired with eight special British-made BHC capacitors known for low loss and fast response, so voltage and current requirements are met even under difficult load conditions.
What inputs and outputs does it have?
XLR balanced and RCA input connections, two pairs of 5-way speaker binding posts, and 12-volt trigger control for automatic power on/off with a compatible preamp or processor.
Is it a fully balanced, dual-mono design?
It's not completely dual-mono inside, though it's close — separate toroidal transformers serve each channel, but the two sides share some power supply components. It also has balanced inputs but isn't a fully balanced design end-to-end.
What protection circuitry is built in?
Thermal protection, overcurrent and over-voltage protection circuitry, and a dual-staged power-on relay to reduce inrush current and extend the amp's lifespan.
What's the input sensitivity and gain?
Gain is 27.5 dB, with input sensitivity of 2.2V.
How big and heavy is it?
It ships in a 5U chassis with included rack ears for rack mounting, and weighs around 84 lbs.
Is it fan-cooled?
No — the amplifier is not fan-cooled, relying on passive heatsinking instead.
What kind of speakers is it suited for?
Given its power reserves, it's built to power almost any speaker in almost any room, including larger rooms or less sensitive speaker designs that need extra current to sound their best.
