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Newb..pls help.

Hi everyone, I am a 57 yr old newb to the higher end audio scene. I am putting together a system for all the vinyl I bought back in the 1970’s when I was a teen. I have narrowed it down to my budget of the Rotel RA-1572 and the RA-1570. I cannot find a side by side comparison and recommendation ANYWHERE and I am too newb to know what to understand anyway. I chose the Rotel’s because they have so many quality features and they fit my budget. Pls help as the $$ spread between the two is enough for me to ask....otherwise I would just plunk down the money for the 1572 and be done.

PS. If it helps you experienced people assist me, I also have CD collection.. as I lived through 8-track, cassette, CD, and now apparently the internet. I currently have a Marantz CD-6006, Music Hall Ikura TT, Martin Logan 700w Dynamo sub, Focal Spirit Classic headphones, and soon to be added (I think) KEF Q-700’s)

Thanks so much in advance. MM

mormark
agrippa
160 posts
 
Any other integrateds someone might suggest?

I  would strongly suggest a look at Yamaha's offerings.  The A-S1100 is in the same price range as the Rotels you're looking at (well, it is where I live).  The build quality and sound betters most everything in the price bracket, but more importantly perhaps, given the vinyl focus of your question, it and its two bigger brethren have excellent phono stages.

The MM stage in particular is excellent and will match a great many dedicated external phono stages.  The MC stage isn't quite up there, being a head amp bolt-on to the MM section, but the sum of the two still outperforms anything I've heard in similarly priced integrateds.  If you intend to use an MC cartridge I'd add a decent step-up, but otherwise you're good to go.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
If at any time when looking for a component I come across a review a comment like "not the worst but..." I tend to go look somewhere else. 
So you can imagine what I do when that phrase is in the TITLE of the review!
https://www.whathifi.com/rotel/ra-1572/review

Okay you don't have to imagine. I'll tell you. I don't even read the review.

Sorry. I know its just a review. I know all about reviews. They tend to be thinly disguised marketing infomercials. Which is why I wouldn't even read the rest of this one, and would run not walk away from this integrated.
mormark OP
14 posts
 
Thanks to each of you. I'll keep looking in the direction you all have provided so far. This stuff is so overwhelming..but interesting and challenging. Plus I'm analytical, I can't help myself. 

Re; the "hi-fi" review, I read that also, but then others that were completely opposite. So my question is, is hi-fi review a reliable source? Sorry...but at 57 I realize I kicked a few to many dates to the curb when I was younger before I got to know them.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,821 posts
 
What Millercarbon said. Also when reviewers say things like a little warm, they mean rolled off and dull. When they say a little bright, they mean searing highs.
You are not old, dude. Treat yourself to a tube integrated and have some fun. Then a better turntable, phono amp etc.
mormark OP
14 posts
 
Thanks guys...Appreciate the help.
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