Is the Rotel RC-1570 preamp still a good choice in 2026?

[dr.n]

I am currently putting together a new room setup. I have already picked up a Topping B100 as my power amp, and I just placed an order for a pair of KEF Q1 Meta speakers because I found them at a massive discount—fingers crossed the seller actually ships them!

While looking for a preamp to complete this system, I came across a brand new, "new old stock" (unopened box) Rotel RC-1570 available locally in my city. i am aware it is an older model, but my reasoning is that if the internal DAC doesnt live up to modern standards, I can always add an external DAC later. I have always been encouraged by the fact that Rotel doesn't drastically change their circuit designs over the years they tend to stick with what works.


What do you think? Is it worth taking advantage of this local find and going with the Rotel, or should I look elsewhere?

 

[JSG1469]

I have the 1570 and love it. I purchased it about 3 years ago and it has been my daily driver. It has a very warm sound with clear detail. I bypass the tone controls. I like all the input connection as well. 2 optical, 2 coax, 2 RCA and also has 2 trigger outputs which I have monoblocks and can hook one to each. XLR in and out and 2 RCA outputs. The Wolfeson dac is very nice. I've tried several dacs since I bought the 1570 and none have had the sound signature or sounds as good as this one. Plus it's still very modern and sleek looking. Great remote also. I think you'll be very happy with it.

 

[JSG1469]

I also forgot to add, if you play vinyl records, it has a great MM phono stage if needed.

 

[Waveform Fidelity]

I also have the RC 1570 and its a very well designed in my opinion - not had a single problem with it and use it every day. The DAC in it is first class, sure you might get another DAC and spend $000’s more for a couple of dB in lower noise/THD, which you will never be able to hear, because your speakers won’t allow it.

If its a good price, I’d say go for it. Rotel gear is very good.

 

[lini]

(...) it has a great MM phono stage if needed.

I'd deem that somewhat exaggerated. Shall mean: For a pretty simple, 5532-based MM stage it's pretty ok/decent (input capacitance ca. 150 pF, so not excessive; 65 mV max. input level, so sufficient for typical MMs and MIs; RIAA deviation within +/- 0.3 dB, so also ok...) - but great it is not.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[dr.n]

i started using my Rotel preamp with the topping b100s today. They make a great pair! im really looking forward to kef speakers finishing their break-in period.
the dac stage on this preamp is actually impressive; im very satisfied with it

 

[dr.n]

actually i want to ask one more thing. the sound on this rotel preamp is very transparent and not fatiguing at all which is perfect for my desktop setup. however i feel like i need a subwoofer for the low end. what are your thoughts on this? especially for nearfield usage do you think adding a sub would ruin this transparent character or is it a necessary upgrade for a full range experience?

 

[Waveform Fidelity]

I have a near field setup for my computer and use this subwoofer

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/products/speakers/msx/msx-sub-200

Which is very compact and good sounding….. but there are probably hundreds of sub-woofers out there. Personally, if I was in to subwoofers I’d be looking at Bandpass designs (Tannoy make a couple), which produce large acoustic outputs at low distortion.

 

[dr.n]

thanks i will check out that subwoofer recommendation. by the way adding kef q1 meta to the rotel pre and topping combo created a great synergy for near-field listening. it is very detailed even at low volumes. wow

 

[JSG1469]

actually i want to ask one more thing. the sound on this rotel preamp is very transparent and not fatiguing at all which is perfect for my desktop setup. however i feel like i need a subwoofer for the low end. what are your thoughts on this? especially for nearfield usage do you think adding a sub would ruin this transparent character or is it a necessary upgrade for a full range experience?

Good to hear you picked up the 1570. You really can't go wrong with it and later on, if you decide to go a different direction, you'll have no problem selling it as they are in high demand, even at 15 plus years old. I've used a subwoofer in the past when I was running Klipsch Heresy's but I'm now using both AR 2ax and 4x and they require no subwoofer. Klipsch always run sales on their subs and a very affordable 10" from Crutchfield usually run $200 or less.

 

[DSJR]

I'm sure it's great as its humbler 900 range preamps used to be, but all those components for basically a line-level device? The Cambridge 800 series preamp was the same, but with both of these, not sure what's signal path and housekeeping around it

I have two 'lesser' preamps here, a Linn Kolektor and a mid 90s Sony 'La Scala' TAE-S1. Both use but a single chip for line level use (and separate chips for headphone output), but you'd think there was much more going on as the housekeeping/input switching and control side of the Kolektor are rather more complex, the latter having one stereo chip that does it all and the Sony, by-passable tone circuits on a front panel mounted board. below from the web

 

[FrantzM]

I have the 1570 and love it. I purchased it about 3 years ago and it has been my daily driver. It has a very warm sound with clear detail. I bypass the tone controls. I like all the input connection as well. 2 optical, 2 coax, 2 RCA and also has 2 trigger outputs which I have monoblocks and can hook one to each. XLR in and out and 2 RCA outputs. The Wolfeson dac is very nice. I've tried several dacs since I bought the 1570 and none have had the sound signature or sounds as good as this one. Plus it's still very modern and sleek looking. Great remote also. I think you'll be very happy with it.

It is important to remind people, that here at ASR, ."warm sound" with clear details ... etc do not go very well, nor do "I've tried several days since I bought <snip> and none had the sound signature" .. These are fallacies and have been repeatedly proven wrong here ... so ....Please refrain from these subjective"outburst"..

as for the OP, the Rotel will sound the exact same as most any well built and designed preamp ... If you like the Rotel .. Go for it ...

Knowing what I know now, if I were asked about building a system, I would recommend to go for an AVR such as the Denon AVR-3800H, since it supports Room correction systems like DIRAC and Audyssey, things that are proven to provide more sonics benefits than what any separates preamp + Amp do provide ..

Sorry to rain on some people parades.

 

[dr.n]

It needs to remind people, that here at ASR, ."warm sound" with clear details ... etc do not go very well, not do "DAC sound different ".. THese have been repeatedly proven wrong has been repeatedly proven wrong here so ....Please refrain from these subjective"outburst"..
as for the OP, the Rotel will sound the exact same as most any well built and designed preamp ... If you like the Rotel .. Go for it ...
Knowing what I know now, frankly I would have recommended , if I were asked about building a system to go for an AVR such as the Denon AVR-3800H since it supports ROOM correction like DIRAC and Audyssey, things that are proven to provide more sonics benefits than what any separates preamp + Amp do provide ..

Sorry to rain on some people parades.

Thank you for your evaluations. honestly bringing any product from abroad to my country is currently not possible and i can only purchase what is available in the local market. for now i am having an enjoyable experience with components that offer great price to performance value for me. i should also mention that the price of the avr you suggested is more than what i spent for my entire system. unfortunately i do not have the budget for the avr and room correction systems you mentioned or the speakers that would justify such an avr. of course there are always proven high end systems but the cost and accessibility part of the process has become very important too.

 

[FrantzM]

Thank you for your evaluations. honestly bringing any product from abroad to my country is currently not possible and i can only purchase what is available in the local market. for now i am having an enjoyable experience with components that offer great price to performance value for me. i should also mention that the price of the avr you suggested is more than what i spent for my entire system. unfortunately i do not have the budget for the avr and room correction systems you mentioned or the speakers that would justify such an avr. of course there are always proven high end systems but the cost and accessibility part of the process has become very important too.

Fair enough ... You could have gone for WIim and it would have been a better deal than the Rotel preamp ... by far... as for Phono/Vinyl .... I am bowing out ...

 

[dr.n]

Fair enough ... You could have gone for WIim and it would have been a better deal than the Rotel preamp ... by far... as for Phono/Vinyl .... I am bowing out ...

I actually bought a wiim pro streamer, but im currently struggling with electrical noise and issues caused by environmental factors. i regret going for the cheaper option. while it is successful in measurements and has a detailed sound, its build quality is well behind many dacs i have used before. im very glad i didnt go for the wiim amp. also when i use the room correction feature through the app, the sound quality degrades significantly and becomes quite poor.