Sony ES vs Rotel

Rotel isn’t well known for their source components such as CD players. Rotel is very well known for their amplifiers : power amps integrated amps stereo preamps. Rotel’s amplifiers are awesome especially for the money. For amplifiers Rotel is way better than Sony. No comparisons. I don’t think Sony makes standalone amplifiers. Sony mostly make cheap crappy AV receivers. However, the flagship Sony ES line av receiver is pretty good sounding av receiver but still cannot compare or compete with the Rotel RAP-1580 av receiver (flagship av receiver from Rotel). They aren’t in the same league.

In the past Sony ES series is well known for their CD/SACD players. Nowaday the ES line makes pretty good music streamer/DAC for the money. Today I don’t think Sony ES line still making CD/SACD players anymore. Today the ES line only makes music streamers/DAC, av receivers, headphones and headphone amps.

So as for between the two brands (Sony vs Rotel), one is good at something and the other one is good at something else.
Rotel (new 15xx series) focuses on building very good quality amplifiers very refined musical sounding amplifiers especiallly for the money whether it’s power amps, integrated amps or stereo preamps, whereas today Sony ES line makes pretty good sounding source components eg music streamer/DAC for the money. I don’t think Sony ES line makes CD/SACD players anymore today.

In general people would normally associate Rotel with NAD as they both specialize in making good quality amplifiers for the money, although nowaday the NAD Master series line also focuses in making quality DAC or direct digital amplifiers.

Rotel was founded in Japan but the design and engineering takes place in the UK under supervision from B&W Group. B&W Group distributes Rotel products worldwide and they always have close tie and relationship together.
But B&W Group does not own Rotel but B&W has a close control in designing and engineering Rotel products especially their amplifiers. Rotel headquarter remains in Japan but I wouldn’t call Rotel a Japanese company anymore since B&W acquired and has had close control over Rotel production and engineering processes in the UK since the 80’s or 90’S.
I would say that Rotel is fusion part British part Japanese and it is still a family owned. All Rotel products are manufactured in China at B&W’s own facility there at the same facility where lower end series B&W speakers are made. B&W Group owns and runs this same manufacturing facility in Zuhai, China. This same facility where Classe Sigma series products (entry level Classe series) were manufactured when Classe was still owned by B&W Group. But in Jan 2018 B&W Group sold Classe off to Sound United. Previously B&W Group consisted of B&W speakers, Classe & Rotel but now Classe was sold to Sound United, who now also owns Denon & Marantz. But B&W Group never owned Rotel, they did own Classe until recently. 

B&W voiced and tuned their speakers using Rotel & Classe amplifications and electronics. Usually the B&W 800 series Diamond speakers were voiced using Classe amplifiers and electronics whereas the lower end B&W speaker lines (600 & 700 series or CM series) were voiced and tuned using Rotel amplifiers and electronics.
B&W also pair their speakers with either Classe or Rotel at the shows and at dealers as well.

I have experience with the two brands. I know you asked specifically about each company’s CD players but I’ll also give my experience on their amplification as well.

In terms of source components, Sony walks all over the Rotel. My old Sony CE595 SACD 5-disc changer is much smoother and natural sounding than the RCD-1072 which is a bit too forward and bloated in the bass. The Rotel sound is much more digital and analytical. I’ve also heard some of the other ES CD players at local dealers over the years. While I don’t remember the specific model numbers, I recall them as being slanted towards the warm side of neutral.

I had an old DA-50ES receiver from the 90s handed over to me by my father. Never really cared for the sound of that one TBH. So I quite like Sony’s source components. I think the Rotel amplification (RA-1062) is quite good while their CD players are lackluster.

Just my .02 cents.

Sony's HAP-Z1ES is extraordinary.

"07-23-15: Mkash3
Has anyone compared Sony's new HAP-Z1ES network audio player to any of the latest Rotel CD players (RCD-1072, RCD-1570)?

I'm curious to see how they stack up in a direct comparison."

I would say don't sell a 1072 until you have a different player place and you know that you like it better. I haven't heard a 1570, so I can't say the same. The only Sony I've directly compared the 1072 to is my Sony 9000ES. For CD's, the Rotel is a much better player. Not only that, I had a problem where my system didn't sound right with the 9000 in it. I couldn't figure out what the problem was, the system just sounded bad for some reason. After some experimenting, I found that when I unplugged the Sony, my system sounded normal again. The fix ended up being a JPS Labs Digital AC+ power cord. It has a filter on it that keeps the noise generated by the Sony's power supply from effecting the other components. If anyone is still using one of these players, the JPS cable is a very nice upgrade. I haven't heard one, but I suspect the 5400 would compare much more favorably with the 1072.

I'm with TonyKay and his point of view on this issue. I have owned both. I currently use a copper clad Sony S9000ES as a transport in my tertiary system (office). Bought somewhere around 2000-2001. Still going strong. Best, Rob

Has anyone compared Sony's new HAP-Z1ES network audio player to any of the latest Rotel CD players (RCD-1072, RCD-1570)?

I'm curious to see how they stack up in a direct comparison.

Obviously, this is a very subjective question. For sound
quality from source components, I prefer Sony ES over Rotel.
My perception of Rotel has always been "a quality product
at a real world price," similar to NAD. That's not a
negative, but for my money I'd prefer one of the classic Sony
products, i.e. SCD-1, SCD-777 or any of the copper clad 9000
series. The Sony 5400ES gets positive reviews on this forum
frequently. The only negative with Sony products is that if
the laser ever fails, which seems to happen frequently, it can
be a costly repair.

Rotel has always been a Japanese brand. In fact it is still family-owned with headquarters based in Tokyo. They do share the same distributor as B&W Speakers and are usually partnered with B&W at dealers and various shows.

Rotel is not a Japanese brand that I know of unless they were bought out recently. They are based and designed in the UK and made in Taiwan, or maybe China. I forget. Of the 2 brands, I prefer Rotel, but there have been some very nice Sony ES components, as well.