Rotel 990
Surviving information on the Rotel 990 is thin. What the record shows is that this model appears to have been a power amplifier, designated in period sources as the RB-990 or RB-990BX, rated at 200 watts per channel. Audio (October 1994, p.127) noted the RB990 and its high peak current output, a design trait Rotel emphasized across several of its separates. A contemporary review in another audio magazine called the amplifier “a sensational amp for the money” and compared it favorably to a Jadis Defy 7 costing several times as much. The reviewer praised its tight, textured bass and airy hall ambiance. The same reviewer cautioned that the amp was prone to blowing its internal fuses when paired with certain cables. They attributed this to a “kludge to reduce trace resistance” that Audio Critic had also remarked upon.
A companion Rotel CD 990 CD player was also marketed around the same time. It used a Pacific Microsonics PMD-100 HDCD processor and heavily damped mechanical suspension. No production years or original price for either the amplifier or the CD player have been confirmed in surviving documentation.
Known specifications drawn from period sources:
- Type: Stereo power amplifier (RB-990 / RB-990BX)
- Rated output: 200 W per channel (into 8 Ω, approximate)
- Claimed feature: High peak current output
- Noted issue: Could blow internal fuses with certain cable loads
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