Rotel has been designing and manufacturing award-winning power amplifiers for over 50 years. This considerable expertise has now been channeled into a new generation of rackmount custom installation amplifiers that are sure to set a benchmark for performance, reliability and ease of installation.

The RKB-850 has 8 x 50 watts into 8 ohms on all channels and can double the output into 4 ohms thanks to its sophisticated and efficient Class-D design. The amplifier is robust and extremely reliable, but Rotel has gone a step further to maximize its lifespan. We have used two thermostatically controlled fans that dissipate heat away from the output modules and power supply.

One of the many user-friendly features of the RKB-850 is the link function for inputs. Input signals can be taken from any 'higher' input channel - so B can take signals from A, C from B and D from C. You can create four individual stereo zones, two dual zones or three single and one individual zone. In other words, two Sonos connections can be split between (for example) kitchen and yard (areas A+B) and bedroom and bathroom (C+D).

Other features include input signal detection, buffered link output, a sum-to-mono function; an RS232 connection on the rear panel that can be used to connect automation systems for full control and feedback; and four front panel trim potentiometers for easy range adjustment.