Rotel C8+

Clean multi-zone amplification

Rotel’s C8+ is a beefy amplifier purpose-built for delivering tons of power to custom-installed audio systems. It has eight-channels of clean Class AB amplification and four independent audio output zones. The C8+’s back panel also has matrixed digital and analog inputs for connecting external sources. This amplifier’s high-current power supply and proprietary design ensures your speakers are in good hands.

Massive, over-engineered toroidal power supply

Rotel aren’t strangers to building high-performance amplifiers. In fact, they design a lot of their internal components and circuits in-house. The C8+ uses a custom-designed oversized toroidal transformer for clean, stable power. There are also bulk storage smoothing capacitors that give the C8+ fine control over bass frequencies.

Quad DAC chips for stellar digital performance

Rotel opted to use four high-performance Texas Instruments digital-to-analog converter chips inside the C8+. Those chips are responsible for handling the tricky switchover from digital to analog when you’re using a digital source like a CD player. Each of the amplifier’s two optical and two coaxial digital inputs handles a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192kHz.

Distribute sound and keep track of your inputs

This amp has some cool ways to distribute signal throughout your home. Its four analog RCA inputs and its previously mentioned digital inputs are matrixed to all zones. That means you can assign the inputs independently (for example, digital input A assigned to Zone 1), or you can have any input play through any zone or zones. Even cooler, there’s a Priority Zone PA Override option that lets you send important announcements from your PA system across all zones simultaneously.

While that might sound like a lot to keep track of, the front panel display makes juggling zones and sources easy. The C8+’s intuitive menu lets you label each input and zone to help you keep track of what’s connected. You can also adjust the volume of each zone and make individual bass and treble adjustments.