The bigger brother

Top integrated in Rotel’s flagship Michi series leverages much of the P5 preamp and S5 power amp technology to realise a taller, heavier amp that aims to upstage the smaller X3

DETAILS PRODUCT

Rotel Michi X5

ORIGIN Japan

TYPE Integrated amplifier with USB DAC

WEIGHT 43.8kg

DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 485x195x452mm

FEATURES

MM/MC phono

USB and S/PDIF digital inputs

Dual 4mm speaker outlets for bi-wiring

DISTRIBUTOR Rotel Europe

WEBSITE rotel.com

The Michi X5 is the £6,300 ‘big brother’ of Rotel’s more-affordable £2,000 X3 model and outwardly seems to be the same amplifier literally writ large. It occupies the same 485x452mm footprint, but is 45mm more imposing, at 195mm tall, while the weight is up a hefty 14.9kg, from the substantial 28.9kg of the lesser model to a full 43.8kg. In every respect, this is a big and impressive-looking integrated amplifier, even by the standards set by the imposing but svelte Michi X3.

In return for all this you get some added facilities and even more impressive power output specifications: the X3 claims 200W/8ohm and 350W/4ohm and the X5 promises 350W/8ohm, rising to a whopping 600W/4ohm, all comfortably exceeded in practice. The X5 has an additional unbalanced analogue line-in, bringing the total to four, plus one set of balanced inputs.

The extra input is labelled ‘Aux 2’ though all inputs can be relabelled for the front panel display via the extensive menu system. There’s also MC phono capability as well as the MM included on the junior amp.