JBL SA550 Classic vs Rotel A14 MKII Detailed Comparison

JBL SA550 Classic vs Rotel A14 MKII

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JBL SA550 C

Integrated Amplifier | 90 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Rotel A14 MKII

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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JBL SA550 C

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Rotel A14 MKII

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JBL SA550 C

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Rotel A14 MKII

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JBL SA550 C vs Rotel A14 MKII Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing SA550 Classic and A14 MKII, two Integrated Amplifiers from JBL and Rotel. Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL SA550 C and Rotel A14 MKII first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	JBL SA550 C	Rotel A14 MKII
Power	90 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 150 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 150 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class G	Class A/B
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	Yes
Headphone output	3.5mm	3.5mm
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Weight	11.22kg / 24.7lbs	8.95kg / 19.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4-15/16" x 17-3/4" x 13-5/8" 126.0mm x 451.0mm x 347.0mm	3-11/16" x 17" x 14-15/16" 94.0mm x 432.0mm x 380.0mm

What size room are the JBL SA550 C and Rotel A14 MKII Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	JBL SA550 C	Rotel A14 MKII
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	Poor

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose JBL SA550 Classic over Rotel A14 MKII

Watts into 8-ohms	90 watts vs 80 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.002% vs 0.018%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Signal to Noise Ratio	106 dB vs 100 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Base Surface Area	1565.0cm²/ 242.6inch² vs 1641.6cm²/ 254.4inch²	takes less space in your room

Reasons to choose Rotel A14 MKII over JBL SA550 Classic

MSRP Price(*)	1,600USD vs 1,999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Total Analog Inputs	4 vs 3	More options for connecting Analog sources
Optical Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
Roon	Tested vs No	Roon Compatibility
Height	94mm vs 126mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the JBL SA550 C and Rotel A14 MKII differs from each other.

JBL SA550 C Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 3
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB Type-A input for software updates only

Rotel A14 MKII 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)
Ethernet Port

JBL SA550 C Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Rotel A14 MKII Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of JBL SA550 C?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of SA550 Classic:

Integrated Amplifier
58-inch AC power cord
Remote control
2 -inchAAA-inch batteries
Quick Start Guide
Important Safety Instructions

What's in the Box of Rotel A14 MKII?

Here are the items that come with the A14 MKII:

Stereo integrated amplifier
58-inch AC power cord
Remote control (RR-AX1400)
2 AAA batteries
5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
57-inch Ethernet cable
Quick Installation Guide
Warranty/Registration Card
Important Safety Instructions
Addendum For Roon Test