Rotel RCD-965BX (c. 1992)

Not much is documented about the Rotel RCD-965BX. There is one thorough review in the period audio press. HiFI-Stereo (August 1992, p.44-45) tested the player as part of its regular equipment reports, and that review supplies nearly everything known about the model today.

The RCD-965BX was a compact disc player priced at $550 in 1992. It was finished in black and measured 17½ inches wide, 12½ inches deep and 3⅝ inches high. It weighed 12¾ pounds. It used a 1-bit D/A converter, which was the prevailing technology for affordable players at the time. Output voltage measured 2.02 volts from a 0 dB test track. Low-level linearity was satisfactory but not exceptional for a 1-bit design: error measured less than - 0.5 dB at - 60 dB, increasing to - 1.3 dB at - 80 dB and - 2.7 dB at - 90 dB. The laser pickup traversed tracks 1 through 15 of the Philips TS4 test disc in about 1.8 seconds. The review also reported a measurement of 105.1 dB at 10,000 Hz, declining to 100 dB at 20,000 Hz.

Outside that review, the RCD-965BX barely shows up in the record. It is missing from the recommended-component lists that occasionally cite sibling models such as the RCD-950BX. That suggests it may have been a mid-tier or relatively short-lived offering in Rotel's early-nineties CD lineup. No original manual, service literature or promotional materials have surfaced in the usual archival channels.

Known specifications (from the HiFI-Stereo test):

Price: $550 (1992)
Dimensions: 17½ × 12½ × 3⅝ in (W×D×H)
Weight: 12¾ lb
Output voltage: 2.02 V (0 dB test track)
D/A converter type: 1-bit
Low-level linearity error: < –0.5 dB at –60 dB, –1.3 dB at –80 dB, –2.7 dB at –90 dB
Track access time: ~1.8 s (track 1 to 15, Philips TS4 disc)