The RA-06 is top of Rotel's entry-level amplifier range and sits next to two variants on the same theme – the RA-04 and RA-05. These are both 40-watt designs, but the latter costs $200 more and offers remote control. This is an approach seen on previous Rotel ranges but is unusual elsewhere.
The RA-06 is a bigger box than either of those amps, yet it doesn't appear to offer much more in terms of features; defeatable tone controls and six inputs – including a phono stage and one for a ‘media player' – seem to be common to the range. The difference concerns the power amp half of the equation: the RA-06 offers 70 watts a side, the increased power warranting the inclusion of larger mains transformer.
The RA-06 would appear to be comprehensively equipped in a way that is almost expected from amps at this price point, although some brands strip away the extra knobs and circuitry that tone controls and tape monitors require in order to keep the signal cleaner and the costs down. The best-equipped amps in this sector offer an extra tape output and a full-size
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headphone jack, but the Rotel has a front-mounted input for a portable audio player, which will be handy for anyone wanting to plug in an Apple iPod or similar.
In use, the amp's remote – with its cross-shaped volume control and assorted buttons for tuner, amp and CD, including direct access buttons – is a little busy, but not difficult to learn. It allows reasonably fine control of volume level, something that hampers a few budget amps, but doesn't offer a great deal of range on the volume control itself. Unless you have particularly inefficient speakers, the usable area comes before nine o'clock on the dial, which is a bit limiting.
