What Hi-Fi? is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us
By Becky Roberts published 22 June 22
The DT-6000 DAC transport and RA-6000 integrated amp celebrate the brand's 60th anniversary year
Rotel is appropriately milking its 60th anniversary year, today following up on the launch of the A12, CD14 and RCD-1572 MKII components with the announcement of an all-new and, can we say, fittingly named Diamond Series.
The two-strong Diamond Series comprises the DT-6000 DAC transport and RA-6000 integrated amplifier and introduces a design language that brings a welcome contemporary flair to the brand's familiarly traditional casework. The range sits just below Rotel's high-end Michi brand offering and yet benefits from "Michi-inspired" circuit design.
Going directly to the source, as any journalist is trained to do, we start at the DT-6000, which is centered around an eight-channel ESS Sabre ES9028PRO DAC. The DAC is configured to dedicate four mono converter chips each to the left and right channels and also feeds fully balanced output filters. Power comes courtesy of an in-house manufactured and, as you'd expect, shielded, toroidal transformer that features "high-efficiency" slit foil smoothing capacitors for reducing stray emissions and delivering isolated, low-noise power to all critical circuits.
A tray-loading mechanism accommodates those shiny silver discs of yours, and other digital sources can be connected via a trio of digital inputs. The coaxial and optical sockets accept PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz, while the PC-USB input also handles MQA and DSD audio playback.
Its partner in crime, the RA-6000 integrated, also boasts an impressive connectivity list spanning – deep breath – coaxial, optical, RCA and XLR analogue, MQA-supporting PC-USB, aptX HD Bluetooth, an iOS USB for Apple devices, and, last but not least in this vinyl-crazy world, a moving magnet phono stage.
The RA-600 delivers 350 watts of power into 4ohm speaker loads and benefits from, Rotel says, technical and performance designs from Michi models that specifically concern circuit design, acoustic component selection and power supply engineering methods. The amplifier also further develops the upgrades found in the aforementioned MKII models that arrived earlier this year.
Available in black and silver, the Rotel Diamond Series will be available from next month, with the DT-6000 transport priced at £1999 / AU$3199 (approx $2300) and the RA-6000 integrated costing £3999 / AU$6399 (approx $4600).
Best stereo amplifiers: best integrated amps for every budget
Check out the best CD players for every budget
How to get the best sound from your CD player
How to choose and set up a stereo amplifier
Becky is the Hi-Fi and Audio editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, Australia, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her eight years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.
Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
What Hi-Fi? is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab) .
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.