Rotel expands Michi portfolio with X3 and X5 integrated amplifiers

By Becky Roberts
last updated

The fourth and fifth Michi products to arrive since the high-end brand was revived last year

Rotel expands Michi portfolio with X3 and X5 integrated amplifiers
(Image credit: Michi)

Rotel has expanded the Michi portfolio with two new integrated amplifiers, diversifying its existing pre and power amplification line-up. The Michi X3 and X5 (pictured top) join the P5 control amp, S5 stereo amp and M8 Monoblock amp that were introduced in November last year, when the high-end electronics brand re-entered the market after a long hiatus.

The Michi X3 delivers 350 watts of power into 4 ohms and is driven by a toroidal transformer that feeds independent analogue, digital and power amplifier voltage regulator circuits for optimal power isolation. Further measures to isolate music signals and processing from the amplification stage have been taken in the implementation of the direct-path circuit topology.

The X3 has no fewer than 13 source inputs, which include XLR (one), analogue RCA (three), digital optical (three) and coaxial (three), USB Type B (one), moving magnet phono (one) and aptX Bluetooth.

Michi X3, Michi X5

Michi X3 (Image credit: Michi)

The 600-watt X5 amp expands on that connectivity list with a fourth pair of RCA inputs and a phono stage that’s compatible with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. There’s also DSD decoding and MQA rendering abilities, as well as a more advanced AKM DAC chip (32-bit/768kHz) onboard.

The Michi X3 (£4300, $4999) and Michi X5 (£6300, $6999) will be available in October and November respectively. Australian pricing and availability is yet to be announced.

MORE:

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Becky Roberts
Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • manicm
    Am I the only one who demands USB-A from modern digital sources? That’s why right now I’m partial to Marantz/HEOS
    Reply
  • Gray
    manicm said:
    Am I the only one who demands USB-A from modern digital sources?
    It's only that they're using a B rather than A type connector type isn't it?
    It's still a USB input, just requires a USB A to B lead or adapter that's all, surely.

    It's the £4,300 or £6,300 that's more of a problem to me than the £1.70 needed for this:
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-Type-A-Female-Socket-to-Type-B-Male-Plug-Adapter-Convertor-Printer-DYMO/163301583183?hash=item260588694f:g:7UsAAOSwapdbu7vZ
    Reply
  • manicm
    Gray said:
    It's only that they're using a B rather than A type connector type isn't it?
    It's still a USB input, just requires a USB A to B lead or adapter that's all, surely.

    It's the £4,300 or £6,300 that's more of a problem to me than the £1.70 needed for this:
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-Type-A-Female-Socket-to-Type-B-Male-Plug-Adapter-Convertor-Printer-DYMO/163301583183?hash=item260588694f:g:7UsAAOSwapdbu7vZ

    It’s not quite so simple, USB-B sockets on amps like these are meant for connecting PCs. Even with an adapter, using memory sticks/drives - which is what I want - won’t work.
    Reply
  • Gray
    manicm said:
    It’s not quite so simple, USB-B sockets on amps like these are meant for connecting PCs. Even with an adapter, using memory sticks/drives - which is what I want - won’t work.
    True enough. And on some products there's the odd type A socket that won't accept USB sticks / drives. Things are rarely clear-cut in these times of 'simplicity'.
    Reply
  • cryanhorner
    Sorry if this was established in the article, I wasn't clear, does this work as a streamer, taking the place of my bluesound node (similar to the NAD m33) or would i still need an external streamer? If I have it plugged into my tv, can i just open apple music other streaming service on the tv and play that into the amp as the "source"? The issue being, i'm interested in reducing the number of physical boxes on my console, and eliminating the need for a seperate amp and streamer/dac would be helpful.
    Reply