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John
Fresh from their 2020 EISA Award success with the Michi P5 pre-amplifier and S5 power amplifier (that we first saw in Leipzig last year), Rotel has announced a pair of integrated amplifiers built around the Michi platform.
According to the press release, the Michi X5 integrated amplifier ‘closely follows’ the P5/S5 pairing with all noise-sensitive circuits isolated from power supplies and dual ‘oversized’ toroidal transformers – that Rotel wind in-house – ensuring delivery of 350wpc into 8 Ohms, 600wpc into 4 Ohms.
On inputs, we count a whopping fourteen that includes a balanced XLR input and a quad of single-ended analogue inputs plus 3 x TOSLINK, 3 x coaxial, 1 x USB and AAC/aptX Bluetooth for accessing the internal 768kHZ/DSD256-capable AKM DAC. The X5’s phono input accommodates both MM and MC cartridges.
Rounding out the feature set is a custom-designed remote control and a front panel graphic display that can show a 12-band graphic EQ, a peak power meter or operating/input status. Price? US$6999/€7000.
Want to save US$/€2000? The lower profile Michi X3 integrated amplifier drops the toroidal transformer count to one – for a power output rating of 200wpc into 8 Ohms (350wpc into 4 Ohms) – and the phono stage compatibility to MM-only. Digital input count, DAC specification and front panel display features remain the same as the X5.
The X3 will sell for US$4999/€5000 when it goes on sale through Rotel’s distributor network in October, one full month ahead of the X5.
Further information: Rotel Michi
