OK, around $350. I used an Audiolab 8000A for around 15 years until recently. I've never owned Rotel gear, but helped my brother purchase a Rotel receiver 5 or 6 months ago which he is happy with. Both Rotel and Audiolab have good reputations for durability, but my gut feeling is that the Audiolab should be better sonically.
That being said, for $350 I wouldn't buy either. I recently bought a Jungson JA 88C (new retail is $399) because I really wanted to get something with a remote. I was expecting it to be a sideways move compared to the 8000A, but it was anything but. The Jungson was a major improvement in every area to the Audiolab. Audiolab build quality is, in my opinion, better than Rotel and the Jungson makes the Audiolab look like something from Best Buy in terms of build quality. Gorgeous faceplate, beautiful binding posts, back and interior, it is a 29 pound integrated that compares more with Classe, Bryston, YBA, etc. Nice rosewood remote as well. Can't comment on long term reliability, but it has functioned flawlessly for me for the last 3-4 months with heavy use and was purchased used so it's probably another 3-4 months old (the guy I bought from upgraded to Jungson's 88D at $1500 U.S.).
Drawbacks on the Jungson are that it is not loaded up with inputs, only 3 in total, 2 RCA and one balanced, and it does not have a phono stage. Other than that, I'm confident in saying it will walk all over the Rotel or Audiolab, and I was a very happy Audiolab owner.
That being said, for $350 I wouldn't buy either. I recently bought a Jungson JA 88C (new retail is $399) because I really wanted to get something with a remote. I was expecting it to be a sideways move compared to the 8000A, but it was anything but. The Jungson was a major improvement in every area to the Audiolab. Audiolab build quality is, in my opinion, better than Rotel and the Jungson makes the Audiolab look like something from Best Buy in terms of build quality. Gorgeous faceplate, beautiful binding posts, back and interior, it is a 29 pound integrated that compares more with Classe, Bryston, YBA, etc. Nice rosewood remote as well. Can't comment on long term reliability, but it has functioned flawlessly for me for the last 3-4 months with heavy use and was purchased used so it's probably another 3-4 months old (the guy I bought from upgraded to Jungson's 88D at $1500 U.S.).
Drawbacks on the Jungson are that it is not loaded up with inputs, only 3 in total, 2 RCA and one balanced, and it does not have a phono stage. Other than that, I'm confident in saying it will walk all over the Rotel or Audiolab, and I was a very happy Audiolab owner.