This Affordable, Old-School Amplifier Harnesses 60 Years of Hi-Fi Heritage

There aren’t many vinyl-ready integrated amplifiers under $500 — the Rotel A8 is one of them.

Published July 31, 2024

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For those looking to build a classic hi-fi system and not break the bank, Rotel’s newest integrated amplifier, the A8, should absolutely be on your radar. It’s one of the few integrated amplifiers — meaning a stereo amplifier with a built-in (MM) phono preamp — that costs less than $500.

In a nutshell: If you have a turntable and bookshelf speakers, this looks like the ideal hi-fi component to complete your all-analog vinyl system.

Rotel A8 Integrated Amplifier

Specs

Design	Class AB amplifier
Power	2 x 40 Watts of robust power (4 Ohms)
Built-In Phono Stage	Yes (moving magnet)

Old School Hi-Fi

Aside from its price, the thing that makes the Rotel A8 super appealing is that it’s very much a classic hi-fi component. It lacks any wireless streaming capabilities — there’s no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi —which is one of the things that drives up the price of other integrated amplifiers.

The Rotel A8 is designed to do one thing really well: link your bookshelf speakers to your turntable, CD player or tuner. It has three different RCA inputs — for connecting your various analog components — and a moving magnet (MM) phono stage for your entry-level turntable.

If there is one “frill,” it’s that it does have a 3.5mm jack and can work as a dedicated headphone amplifier, so you can put on your favorite wired cans and listen to your records in private.

High Performance, Low Cost

With the A8, Rotel is leveraging over 60 years of expertise in making high-end audio and home theater components. According to Daren Orth, Rotel’s Chief Technology Officer, the A8 is “a high-performance integrated amplifier solution targeted at an entry-level price point.”

One of the things that has enabled Rotel to keep the price down is that it’s very much a low-power integrated amplifier. It has a Class A/B design and can drive 30 watts per channel (into 8 ohms) or 40 watts per channel (into 4 ohms) — it’s a good match for most of today’s efficient and affordable bookshelf speakers.

The A8 is a fairly bespoke integrated amplifier — designed to look clean and be dead simple to use. It has a slim 60mm chassis, control dials (bass, treble and balance) for tuning the sound, and four input buttons for switching between your analog sources. There are LED lights integrated into the volume knob to add a bit of flair.

Price and Availability

In years past if you wanted an affordable integrated amplifier that’s vinyl-ready (meaning it has a built-in phono stage), you’d most likely look to brands like Cambridge Audio or Marantz — but only the former still makes a model, the AXA35, that’s under $500.

With Rotel entering the mix, the A8 is another budget-friendly option for anybody looking to get into vinyl and build a classic hi-fi system.

The Rotel A8 integrated amplifier comes in two different finishes: black or silver. It’s available for preorder now but is expected to ship in September 2024.