Rotel is a family-owned Japanese manufacturer of hi-fi audio and video equipment: home theater, amplifiers, compact disc players, etc. Rotel was started by Tomoki Tachikawa in Tokyo Japan in 1957 as a hi-fi electronics manufacturer. It is currently run by the nephew, Peter Kao. In the early 1980s Rotel joined the B&W Group forming a strategic alliance with Bowers & Wilkins and established exclusive distribution networks in North America and several European markets. Classé Audio later joined the group. Over the next 20 years, Rotel appointed virtually all Bowers & Wilkins distributors globally. In 2000 the B&W Group established Rotel Europe in the UK to consolidate all Rotel sales and support activities outside North America. The Classé brand was acquired by Sound United in 2018. In October 2020 Sound United LLC also acquired Bowers & Wilkins. Rotel maintains an exclusive network of specialist hi-fi dealers around the world. References External links Japanese companies established in 1957 Audio amplifier manufacturers Compact Disc player manufacturers Japanese brands Audio equipment manufacturers of Japan Electronics companies established in 1957