A capable, high-performance preamp with some upgrades

Rotel’s RC-1590 MkII retains everything that makes the original 1590 impressive — starting with two of the company’s custom-designed toroidal transformers. One is dedicated to the analog signal pathway, and the other to the digital. It’s the kind of detail that lets you know Rotel will go to great lengths to eliminate noise and interference, so you get nothing but gorgeous, uncluttered sound from any component you connect to this preamp.

But a couple of things have changed: The MkII features a premium Texas Instruments 32-bit/384kHz DAC that converts incoming digital signals to analog with precision and clarity. It’s Roon tested and it can now decode audiophile-quality MQA and MQA Studio files.

Convenient connections

The RC-1590 offers an array of analog and digital inputs. There are four analog RCA inputs on the back panel, including a phono stage for connecting a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge. And the balanced XLR input helps you get the best possible sound with a compatible source component, like Rotel’s matching RCD-1572 CD player. Two stereo RCA preamp outputs and two stereo XLR outputs let you send the signal to one or more Rotel power amplifiers.

The preamp’s premium DAC ensures clear, precise sound from all your digital sources. There are three optical and coaxial inputs, as well as optical and coaxial outputs for passing digital signals to an outboard DAC. A rear-panel USB Type-B port lets you connect a PC, and a USB Type-A port on front panel that handles audio signals from an iPod®, iPhone®, or iPad®.

And there are a wealth of control options, including an IR input, RS-232 port, and dual 12-volt trigger outputs. A proprietary 3.5mm Rotel Link input/output allows connected Rotel products to communicate with each other and be controlled via the Rotel app. An Ethernet port lets you connect the preamp to your home network for software updates and integration with third-party control systems.

About Rotel

Rotel has been crafting high-performance gear for music and home theater enthusiasts since 1961. They focus on creating the best signal path possible, using premium capacitors, transistors, diode bridges, and custom toroidal power supplies to get the most from music and movie soundtracks. Crutchfield is proud to offer a diverse selection of Rotel components including preamps, amplifiers, CD players, and home theater processors.