Rotel Michi X5 Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC

About The Rotel Michi X5 Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC

Welcome to Michi. These premier, flagship products are the culmination of over 55 years of audio design experience built on the history and heritage of Rotel, delivering an unsurpassed level of audio performance all packaged in the most elegant of industrial designs.

Michi is the embodiment of the passion and ongoing commitment of this family owned audio business, continuing to deliver on the promise of engineering and manufacturing only the highest quality audio components. Over 5 decades of design experience, critical review of all sonic components and a bespoke acoustic tuning process coupled with a dedicated in-house Michi manufacturing facility ensures these products are proudly deserving to wear the Michi brand.

The optimized, custom designed power supply engineered in every Michi product ensures all critical audio circuits receive dynamic, stabilized power for breathtaking performance. Oversized, in house manufactured toroidal transformers supported by high efficiency, low ESR slit-foil capacitors deliver ripple free, isolated power to the analogue and digital circuits ensuring an accurate reproduction of the audio while maintaining critical tone, rhythm and tempo.

Musical expression is the true test of character for any audio product and is where the integrity of Michi is most easily recognized. Audition the Michi products to see, feel, and hear audio performance at its best.

"We are very excited about the introduction of the X3 and X5 Michi amplifiers" said Daren Orth, Chief Technology Officer of Rotel. "The X3 and X5 are a natural extension of the ground-breaking work we have achieved with the relaunch of the Michi brand. These Integrated Amplifiers represent the best of Rotel and represent nearly six decades of engineering excellence, with products manufactured to the highest quality standards and offered with unsurpassed value."

A Closer Look At The Michi X5

The Michi X5 is the flagship Integrated Amplifier in the range and everything about it seems solid and unflappable, even the sound. It delivers an astounding 600 Watts of Class AB power into 4 ohm speakers under even extreme loading conditions. The X5 is replete with inputs ensuring support for all popular audio sources including Analogue, Digital, XLR, PC-USB with MQA rendering & Roon, apt-X Bluetooth, and selectable Moving Magnet or Moving Coil Phono Stage.

Exquisite Industrial Design: The acoustic eminence of the X5 is achieved utilizing a perfect balance of innovation and critical engineering of every circuit, signal path and audio component ensuring the exquisite industrial design is surpassed only by breathtaking performance.

Near Limitless Bass Energy: Musical expression of the X5 is evidenced by the exceptional control of near limitless bass energy and essential clarity of the midrange and high frequencies. The X5 delivers true-to-life audio reproduction ensuring meticulous accuracy of the musical timing with exacting spatial positioning be it a solo artist or full orchestral symphony.

In-House Toroidal Transformers: The twin X5 oversized, in-house manufactured toroidal transformers feed 88,000uF of high efficiency bulk storage smoothing capacitors with isolated power supply feeds to all acoustically sensitive circuits eliminating unwanted noise or distortion further refining the audio.

Sophisticated Control Interface: A front panel high-resolution graphic display is configurable to show operating status, 12 band Graphic EQ or Peak Power Meter. Front panel controls and included Michi remote control assure easy operation and configuration.

Dual sets of Rhodium plated custom Michi speaker binding posts allow effortless connection to loudspeakers including bi-wire installations. RS232 and Ethernet connections allow simple integration with control systems.

Roon Tested: The Rotel Michi X5 Integrated Amp has been fully certified as Roon Tested via the PC-USB connection to ensure easy access to catalogues of both online and local music files.

"Michi is all about performance", remarks Daren Orth, Chief Technology Officer of Rotel. "Access to online music utilizing Roon delivers the best user experience and access to a near unlimited quantity of high-quality music files. We are pleased to add Michi to this ecosystem..."

About Rotel

One of the most revered names in audio, Rotel is still privately-owned by the original family that founded it in the 1960s. No small feat in this day and age. Also extremely rare in this industry, the Rotel headquarters house all aspects of the brand in one place from the CEO through to the marketing team, production-line technicians and warehousing.

The Rotel company is well-known as a family run business in the most fundamental definition of the phrase. Fostering a collaborative environment where everyone's ideas are heard and the entire company can work seamlessly under one roof as a cohesive team. Using zero outsourcing, each and every Rotel amplifier and component is hand assembled and stress-tested in-house by a small, dedicated team of skilled technicians.

With this wonderful heritage it's really no wonder Rotel components are so great to use and listen to. And we're not the only ones to think so as Rotel products have received hundreds of international awards and made lots of customers very happy all around the world. Scroll down to explore the Rotel range.

Michi X5 Reviews

"Rotel's Daren Orth says the new Michi platform took three years to design and develop, with one year given to the integrated version after the pre/power amps came out. Frankly, it shows. This is a super-capable, breathtakingly thorough design that works so well in so many ways. Although its styling may be modest, take a look inside if you need reminding about what a great engineering feat it is.

Sonically, I came to really rate it. For me personally, it wasn't love at first listen, but the more music I played, the more it revealed its superb ability – just like some of my favourite albums, it proved a real grower. With so much insight, detail and power, it makes the majority of its price rivals seem mushy, soft and gloopy. If you're in the market for a serious, no-compromise 'super integrated', this is undoubtedly one of the finest that money can buy." David Price, Stereonet

"At a cost of AUD $8999 and weighing in at close to 100 pounds, the Rotel Michi X5 is a beast of an amp, but it is also a true beauty with performance befitting its luxurious price and build quality. The X5 may cost much more than a typical Rotel product, but considering what it has to offer, the price does not seem unreasonable. Compared to some of its competitors, it could be considered a bargain. With the X5, Rotel has produced an extremely accomplished, high-end integrated amplifier-DAC that continues their tradition of providing exceptional value." Roger Kanno, Sound Stage Hi-Fi

"Rotel knocked this one out of the park, the Michi X5 is a beautiful integrated amp. It changes the landscape for Integrated amps. They are no longer synonymous with entry-level. For many the thought of having a high tier Hifi system meant buying a bunch of separates, not to say that you cannot do even better with a dedicated Pre and Power amp, but you can achieve a level of sound quality many would not think possible out of an Integrated amplifier. If you want quality but simplicity or have a space budget something as the X5 offers you exactly what you are looking for. At AUD $8,999 dollars though it is not for the faint of heart, as you will still need speakers, cables, and at least one source, for those with more to spend and a desire to get more for that money, the Michi X5 should be absolutely on the audition shortlist. On top of sound quality, you get a great set of inputs to choose from, though I think maybe another pair or two of XLR inputs would be nice for this level of an amp. Looks are clearly subjective so I cannot say this is the look you will like, it is however the look I like. I prefer not to have an abundance of buttons and knobs and sliders on the front panel. The effortlessly sleek appearance is contemporary yet shouldn't look dated in a few years.

The question we asked at the beginning, is Michi living up to the nameplate, is it 'The Way'. I believe it is among the best ways, in the world of Hifi we have many paths laid out in front of us to choose from. There is no wrong path, they all lead us along our hobby, different paths have different scenery along the way, offering each of us willing to choose one, a different experience. Rotel has certainly built a wonderful path for users to walk down, for those that like what they see and hear, it very well could be 'The Way'." Hi-Fi Chicken

Our Take On The Rotel Michi X5

If you thought Rotel produced great CD & amplifier products in the under three grand range then you'd be correct. But you're be missing out on the bigger picture, because Rotel's Michi range offers serious high end amplification with impressive specifications and build quality, handsome looks and a suitably high price to match. The Michi X5 is their top integrated and puts out a stump pulling 350 Watts into 8 Ohms and a mighty 600 Watts into 4 ohms. Balanced XLR & single ended RCA inputs are on offer as well as moving magnet & moving coil options begging for a good quality turntable hookup. Bi-Wiring is available through dual sets of Rhodium plated custom Michi speaker binding posts. Oh, and there's a whole cutting edge digital section that supports all the usual suspects including, optical, coaxial, USB-B, Ethernet & Bluetooth aptX. So, it has all the connectivity and power you could possibly want but does it have the musical goods? Well, if you're looking for an unflappable amplifier that seems to ooze musicality, dynamics and subtle tonal shading then this might be for you. There is such a total sense of ease and effortlessness that you just sink into the music and give the equipment no further thought. The X5 is a fluid conduit to the performers and has a real 'take you there' quality about it that can become quite addictive. Be careful, auditioning this amplifier might be harmful to your wallet.

Main Features & Specifications

• Design: High Power Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC
• AKM Premium 768kHz/32bit Digital to Analogue Converter
• Coaxial (3), Optical (3) and Analog RCA (4) inputs
• PC-USB with DSD 2X decoding and MQA rendering
• Bluetooth with apt-X and AAC
• Roon Tested
• Moving Magnet and Moving Coil Phono Stage inputs
• XLR Balanced input
• Twin custom engineered toroidal transformers
• Dimmable front panel TFT high resolution display
• IP and RS232 2-way communication for control system integration
• Slim metal Michi remote control

Connections

• Analogue
  • XLR Stereo x 1
  • RCA Stereo x 4
  • MM/MC Phono Stereo x 1 (Switchable)
  • Mono Subwoofer Outputs x 2
  • Stereo Preouts x 1
  • Dual Binding Posts for Bi-Wiring
  • Headphone Output x 1 (6.35mm Front Panel)
• Digital
  • Optical x 3
  • Coaxial x 3
  • USB-B x 1 (PC-USB)
  • USB-A x 1 (for charging only)
  • Bluetooth (apt-X & AAC)
• Control
  • Ethernet x 1
  • External Remote x 1
  • 12V Trigger Out x 2
  • RS232 x 1

Technical

• Maximum Power Output: 600 watts/channel, 4Ω
• Continuous Power Output: 350 watts/channel, 8Ω
• Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.009%
• Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.03% (60 Hz : 7kHz, 4:1)
• Frequency Response
  • Phono Input: 20 Hz - 20kHz (+0 dB, -0.2 dB)
  • Line Level Inputs: 10 Hz - 100kHz (+0 dB, -0.6 dB)
• Damping Factor: 350 (20 Hz - 20kHz, 8 ohms)
• Input Sensitivity / Impedance
  • Phono Input (MM): 5.7 mV / 47k ohms
  • Phono Input (MC): 570 uV / 100 ohms
  • Line Level Inputs (RCA): 380 mV / 100k ohms
  • Line Level Inputs (XLR): 580 mV / 100k ohms
• Input Overload
  • Phono Input (MM): 197 mV
  • Phono Input (MC): 19 mV
  • Line Level Inputs (RCA): 12.5 V
  • Line Level Inputs (XLR): 12.5 V
• Preamplifier Output Level / Impedance: 1 V / 470 ohms
• Tone Controls
  • Bass: ± 10 dB at 100Hz
  • Treble: ± 10 dB at 10kHz
• Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF A weighted)
  • Phono Input (MM/MC): 80 dB
  • Line Level Inputs: 102 dB
• Channel Separation
  • Phono Input (MM): > 65 dB
  • Line Level Inputs: > 65 dB
• Digital Section
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20k Hz (0 ± 0.4 dB)
  • Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF "A" weighted): 102 dB
  • Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 0 dBfs / 75 ohms
  • Preamplifier Output Level: 1.2 V (at -20 dB Volume Position)
  • Coaxial/Optical Digital Signals: SPDIF LPCM (up to 192k Hz 24 bit)
• PC-USB
  • USB Audio Class 1.0: (up to 96kHz 24bit)
  • USB Audio Class 2.0: (up to 384kHz 32bit)*
    • *Driver installation required
  • Roon, MQA, DSD and DoP (DSD over PCM) support
• Power Consumption: 850 watts
• Standby Power Consumption
  • Normal: < 0.5 watts
  • Network wakeup: < 2 watts
• Finish: Matte Black with Glass Front Panel
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 485 x 195 x 452mm
• Front Panel Height: 177mm
• Weight: 43.8kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE