The A12 is an Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC by Rotel that delivers 60 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms . Minimum impedance of 4 ohms makes the A12 compatible with a wide range of loudspeakers. Thanks to its built-in Wolfson 24-bit/192kHz DAC, you can play digital sources directly without the need for an external DAC unit. Rotel A12 lets you connect your turntable via its Phono input and start listening to your vinyl collection without a hassle. Rotel A12 has an MSRP of 722$.
Rotel A12 Amplifier Internal View
Rotel later replaced the Rotel A12 with the Rotel A12 MKII. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare Rotel A12 vs Rotel A12 MKII
There are 10 Rotel amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
Rotel Integrated Amplifier Series
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Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements.The Rotel A12 is rated at 60 watts RMS into 8-ohms. Rotel provides this wattage at a THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of 0.03% which is an important indicator of distortion at the given values (lower THD is better).
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 60 watts into 8-ohms (20-20k) at 0.03%
- 4-ohms Min Impedance (allows compatibility with a wide range of loudspeakers)
- 100dB Signal to Noise Ratio
When pairing the Rotel A12 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Rotel A12 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Rotel A12 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | Bad |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Rotel A12, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Rotel A12 has total of 4 Analog inputs including 1 Phono Input (MM).
Rotel A12 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
- Phono Input
- 2 Optical Digital Input
- 2 Coaxial Digital Input
- USB Input:
- USB-A front(Connects to iOS devices)
- USB-A rear (Charging only)
- USB-B (allows connection to your Windows PC or Mac computer)
Outputs
- Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
- 3.5mm Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
Rotel A12 features built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming from your Bluetooth-enabled devices such as Apple iPod/iPhone/iPad, Android smartphone/tablet, Windows PC, Mac computers/laptops.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Rotel A12 supports the following Bluetooth Codecs when used with supported devices:
Phono Input
Rotel A12 features one Phono Input which is compatible with
MM (Moving Magnet) type of phono cartridges, you can connect your turntable with MM cartridges directly to this amp without the need for a phono preamp. If you are using an MC cartridge on your turntable, you need to use a phono preamp that has MC phono stage such as the
Cambridge Duo or the
iFi ZEN Phono.
Subwoofer Output
Rotel A12 has Stereo RCA preamp outputs which can be used to connect to a powered subwoofer via an RCA cable ( as long as your sub supports this connection).
Check our
Powered Subwoofers page to find a subwoofer that will work with Rotel A12 amp and your speakers.
DAC and Digital Music
The Rotel A12's built-in DAC allows the connection of digital sources directly, eliminating the need for an external DAC. The DAC chip that is used in the A12 is the
Wolfson 24-bit/192kHz , and supports resolutions up to
24-bit, 192KHZ.
Rotel A12 External Dimensions and Weight
Rotel A12 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 3-11/16inch x 17inch x 14-7/8inch (94.0mm x 432.0mm x 378.0mm ). The unit weighs
8.00kg / 17.6lbs.
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the Rotel A12 is approximately 1633.0cm2 / 253.1inch2.
- Width: 432.0mm (17")
- Height: 94.0mm (3-11/16")
- Depth: 378.0mm (14-7/8")
- Weight: 8.00 kg (17.60lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~1633.0cm2 / 253.1inch2
- Volume: ~15.4 liter / 4.1 gallon
Available colors
Rotel A12 is available in Black and Silver color options.
What's in the Box of Rotel A12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A12:
Stereo integrated amplifier58-inch AC power cordRemote control (RR-AX1400)2 AAA batteries38-inch Stereo RCA cable40-inch Mono-minijack cable40-inch Stereo minijack cableOwners Manual on CD-ROMWarranty InformationImportant Safety Instructions
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Rotel A12 Integrated Amplifier can be found below:
Official Product Page for Rotel A12
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided for the Rotel A12 by the manufacturer.
Related Videos
| General |
| Brand |
Rotel |
| Full Model Name |
Rotel A12 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Amp Class |
Class A/B |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
60 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
20-20k |
| THD |
0.03% |
| Minimum Impedance |
4 |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
100 dB |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
Yes |
| DAC Specs |
Wolfson 24-bit/192kHz |
| Bluetooth |
Yes |
| WiFi |
N/A |
| Ecosystem |
| Apple AirPlay |
No |
| Apple AirPlay2 |
No |
| DTS Play-Fi |
No |
| Chromecast built-in |
No |
| Roon |
No |
| HEOS |
No |
| BluOS |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
4 |
| Phono Input |
Yes |
| Optical Digital Inputs |
2 |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs |
2 |
| USB Input |
Yes |
| USB Type |
USB-A front(Connects to iOS devices), USB-A rear (Charging only),USB-B (allows connection to your Windows PC or Mac computer) |
| Preamp Outputs |
Stereo RCA |
| Pre-out / Main-in Loop |
No |
| Headphone Output |
3.5mm |
| Removable Power Cord |
IEC 2-prong |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
94.0mm (3-11/16") |
| Width |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
378.0mm (14-7/8") |
| Weight |
8.00 kg (17.60lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Black,Silver |
| OTHER |
| Tone Controls |
Yes |
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |