Rotel DX-5
Integrated Amplifier
With the DX-5, Rotel delivers an impressively refined little music bomb, combining the brand’s well-known high sound quality with an elegant and compact design.
Highlights of the Rotel DX-5
- Compact Hi-Fi amplifier
- ESS Sabre DAC
- HDMI with ARC
- Bluetooth AAC + aptX HD
The Rotel DX-5 is an elegant amplifier solution for those who want great sound but don’t necessarily need a massive amp that can rock the entire neighborhood. The design is sleek, with clean lines and ventilation on the top and sides—highlighting that this is, after all, a true Hi-Fi product and not just a decorative piece. The amplifier is based on a Class A/B construction that delivers 33 watts per channel into 4 ohms (25 watts into 8 ohms), enough to drive a fine selection of high-quality speakers. These are genuine Rotel watts—not inflated marketing watts—so don’t be fooled by the modest numbers. At the heart of the amplifier, you’ll find Rotel’s in-house manufactured toroidal transformer.
Digital Inputs and Bluetooth
As expected from a modern amplifier, the Rotel DX-5 is equipped with the inputs today’s music lovers need. For digital sources, you get both optical and coaxial S/PDIF inputs—perfect for use with a streamer or CD player. There’s also an HDMI input with ARC (Audio Return Channel), allowing you to send sound from your TV directly to the amplifier. Additionally, there's a USB-B input for connecting a PC or Mac, giving direct access to the built-in DAC. The DAC itself is top-tier from ESS: the 768kHz ES9039Q2M, capable of handling up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD up to 11.2MHz. The Rotel DX-5 is Roon Tested certified, meaning you can connect a Roon device via USB and expect the highest possible playback quality. Although the DX-5 doesn’t have built-in streaming, you can still stream to it—for instance, from your smartphone—thanks to onboard Bluetooth.
Analog Input for e.g. Turntable
There’s also a single analog input—and really, who needs more? You can connect your turntable here, but do note that the amplifier does not have a built-in phono (RIAA) stage. So you'll need an external phono preamp between your turntable and the amplifier, or a turntable with a built-in one. The DX-5 is an ideal match with a pair of compact speakers, and if you want to add a subwoofer to enhance the lower frequencies, Rotel has already thought of that too—there’s a dedicated subwoofer output for exactly this purpose.
Rotel DX-5: Outstanding in Sound and Design
The Rotel DX-5 is a pleasure to listen to—and also a pleasure to look at. The elegant casing radiates simplicity with beautiful details. Just take a look at the knurled pattern on the volume knob, the carefully placed ventilation holes on the top, and the large front display. This color screen shows information about inputs, volume, and more—and is easy to read from a distance. You’ll likely be tempted to get up and operate the DX-5 by hand, but of course, there are times you’ll want to stay put in your armchair. In those cases, you can use the included remote control, which gives you full access to all functions. One last thing to mention: you can also connect a pair of headphones to the Rotel DX-5, as long as they use a 6.3mm (1/4") jack. This feature is best seen as a welcome bonus rather than a high-end headphone amp solution. For that purpose, consider checking out the Rotel DX-3, which is built specifically for that use case.
| Measurements | 21.5 x 7.6 x 25.1 cm |
| Weight (net) | 3.7 kg |
| Boxed size | 31,5 x 27,5 x 9,3 cm |
| Weight, boxed | 4,9 kg |
| Input, optical (TosLink) | 1 |
| Input, coaxial (S/Pdif) | 1 |
| Input, USB | 1 |
| Input, Stereo RCA | 1 |
| Input, Phono pre-amp | No |
| Input, HDMI | 1 |
| Output, LFE (Sub out) | 1 |
| Output, Headphone | 1/4" TRS |
| Network features | Bluetooth, Bluetooth AAC, Bluetooth aptX HD |
| Audio decoding | DSD64 / 2.8 MHz, DSD128 / 5.6 MHz, DSD256 / 11.2 MHz, DXD |
| Supported sample rates, kHz | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352, 384 |
| Supported bit depth | 16 bit, 24 bit, 32 bit |
| Roon Tested DAC | Yes |
| Audio chipset (DAC) | ESS ES9039Q2M |
| Power at 8Ω (per channel) | 25 watts |
| Power at 4Ω (per. channel) | 33 watts |
| Number of channels | 2 |
| Amplifier type | Class A/B |
| In the box | Remote control, Power cable, Users guide |
| Other included accessories | USB cable, USB stick with owners manual |
| User manual available in | English |
| Power consumption when standby | <0.5 watts |
| Power consumption | 80 watts max |
| Made in | China |