John Darko
Six months down the line from its Autumn 2024 announcement, Rotel has dispatched a second press release about the Michi Q5 ‘transport DAC’ — a high-end CD player that can be used as a CD transport, a CD player and a standalone DAC.
The Q5’s CD mechanism is still a top-loader: one that remains spring-mounted for reducing “unwanted vibrations” and providing “a stable platform for flawless CD playback”.
On the back panel, we still get TOSLINK and coaxial digital outputs next to balanced XLR and single-ended analogue outputs.
Under the hood, we still get an ESS ES9028PRO DAC – implemented as part of a fully balanced and fully differential D/A conversion circuit.
And third party devices still get access to that internal D/A converter via three digital inputs: USB (MQA, 32bit/384kHz, DSD256), TOSLINK (24bit/192kHz) and coaxial (24bit/192kHz).
We still get a full-colour TFT display on the front panel that displays CD album artwork.
And we still get a remote control of unspecified type.
The Q5 is still loaded with a pair of in-house manufactured toroidal transformers that “isolate digital and analogue voltage supplies, significantly reducing noise and interference”. Furthermore, “The CD drive motor’s voltage and current supplies are also electrically isolated from the sensitive audio signals, preventing any potential motor noise from affecting the sound quality.”
So, what’s new?
The first press release said the Q5 would begin shipping in November 2024. The second press release revises that to March 2025. A launch event took place in the UK last week and some German retailers are reporting that shipping will begin on 20th February.
From the second press release: “Rotel has confirmed the on-sale date of the Michi Q5 Transport DAC will be at the beginning on March 2025. The final launch version of the Q5 includes some key component upgrades and cosmetic detail changes from the early pre-production sample first previewed at HiFi Shows in the final quarter of 2024.” But the second press release does not detail those component upgrades and cosmetic changes.
The lesson here: not all products announced to coincide with hi-fi shows are finished.
Lastly, a couple of facts omitted by this week’s press release: the Q5 measures 45cm (W) × 48.5cm (D) × 15cm (H). “It’s a big boy!”. And it weighs 23.5kg. “Nurse!”
The Michi Q5 Transport DAC will sell for £5499, US$6999 or €5999. And I still want one.
Further information: Rotel Michi
