Rotel RB-880
Little is documented about the Rotel RB-880 power amplifier. The one substantial record that survives is a good one. HiFI-Stereo (April 1986, p.41) published a full laboratory test. It measured 145 watts per channel into 8 ohms at 1 kHz continuous output at clipping, 272 watts into 4 ohms, and 420 watts into 2 ohms. Dynamic headroom was 1.4 dB into 8 ohms and 1.2 dB into 4 ohms. Harmonic distortion at 1 watt into 8 ohms was 0.0072%.
The same review noted that overly sensitive protection circuits could shut amplifiers down too readily when driving 2-ohm loads at high power or high frequencies. The testers were pleasantly surprised by the RB-880. The lab results bear that out: 420 watts into 2 ohms at clipping. Beyond that test report, surviving documentation is thin. No original price, production years, dimensions, or full specification sheet have surfaced in the usual archives. The occasional digital service manual turns up in online listings.
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