Rotel RX-1203 Arrives

[SoCal Sam]

My second Rotel RX-1203 arrived safely yesterday from you know where. The description was a little sketchy but it turns out to be in good cosmetic and working condition. I am a fan of Rotel styling and the 1203 has that relentless silver look. Rated at 120 wpc, power consumption is 900 watts so the amp is probably understressed. Interestingly, this one has an amber dial, my first 1203 has a green dial, which I prefer.

 

[vintagestereo]

My second Rotel RX-1203 arrived safely yesterday from you know where. The description was a little sketchy but it turns out to be in good cosmetic and working condition. I am a fan of Rotel styling and the 1203 has that relentless silver look. Rated at 120 wpc, power consumption is 900 watts so the amp is probably understressed. Interestingly, this one has an amber dial, my first 1203 has a green dial, which I prefer.

Sam -- The rest of the line, including the RX-1603, also has the amber dial so I think that someone modified your other one to make it green. I've NEVER seen one with a green dial. Personally, I prefer the amber. How about a pic of both of them together?

-- Chris

 

[SoCal Sam]

I'll get a photo of both soon. You might be right about the green. In my first RX-1203, the metal light shroud has a clear green cover. It is a perfect fit and appears to be machine cut but so I am guessing it's factory. Without the green plastic, the dial is amber.

 

[vintagestereo]

I'll get a photo of both soon. You might be right about the green. In my first RX-1203, the metal light shroud has a clear green cover. It is a perfect fit and appears to be machine cut but so I am guessing it's factory. Without the green plastic, the dial is amber.

Sounds like someone made that cover and slipped it there, since I've never seen another Rotel of that era like it. But, if you enjoy it that way.....that's great! Now you have two! Are you going for another RX-1603? That would be even better!

-- Chris

 

[SoCal Sam]

Probably not, unless one falls out of the sky. My RX-1603 is in near mint condition, it has one invisible hair scratch but a flaw is a flaw. I've got the original box and packaging. BTW, my new 1203 is in good shape, the sound is clean and powerful. I've got a CD playing through the AUX.

 

[vintagestereo]

Probably not, unless one falls out of the sky. My RX-1603 is in near mint condition, it has one invisible hair scratch but a flaw is a flaw. I've got the original box and packaging. BTW, my new 1203 is in good shape, the sound is clean and powerful. I've got a CD playing through the AUX.

Schweeeeeet!!! IT WORKS!!!! :thmbsp:

-- Chris

 

[mikey3117]

I've always liked the styling of the silver Rotel receivers! Crank the volume all the way up and let's see what happens to that little KLH speaker??

 

[SoCal Sam]

I've always liked the styling of the silver Rotel receivers! Crank the volume all the way up and let's see what happens to that little KLH speaker??

Guilty as charged, those KLH's are my faithful bench speakers. Rated for 200 watt peaks, I test all my new arrivals on them. I've had many monsters to 11 o'clock volume. The Rotel gets loud fast, I'm sure I could blow them with ease.

 

[SoCal Sam]

RX-1203 Nudie

I was replacing lamps, here is a nudie. Check out the spider's nest of wiring. Definitely a long way from the neat layout of the SX-1250. Noteworthy are the monsterous transformer and the two 63v 22,000 uF filters.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Sam -- The rest of the line, including the RX-1603, also has the amber dial so I think that someone modified your other one to make it green. I've NEVER seen one with a green dial. Personally, I prefer the amber. How about a pic of both of them together?

-- Chris

Here it is. The green clear plastic light cover is machine cut so I believe it was factory made. Interestingly, the amber one has a light blue clear plastic cover for the metal light shroud.