Rotel Michi X5

[Neo4]

Hi Everyone - A quick question on this amp...does anyone have this amp on this forum? Im sure someone somewhere has this?? Reason for the question, Im seriously considering this amp as a replacement to the one I have right now.
A while back I replaced my 20 yr old system with a pair of (new) B&W 702 S2 and a second hand Accuphase 308 (2008 amp). Although the Accuphase is a brilliant amp, I feel that its not really bringing out the best in the 702's. Hence considering a replacement for it. The Rotel X5 sounds very a competent amp and a good match for the 702's. Just wondering what you guys think. Would be great to get some feedback from anyone who runs this config.
My worry with amps with DAC's inbuilt is that they are not as musical (cant describe it any other way) as a purely analog amp. For instance a Hagel 309 (which had everything I was looking for) didn't sound as good as a Rega Aethos to me. I know its all subjective to your ears. But there you are. Looking for some feedback so I can get it on the shortlist.

Thanks all.

 

[Cribbster]

I don't have that amp I'm afraid, but in my experience, Rotel generally work quite well with B&W (and a range of other speakers as well). Whether it gives the spark you need or not will be a personal thing

 

[hifinutt]

neo there is huge choice in integrated amps . certainly the michi X5 is one . from the reviews i have read they seem to rave about the x3 more !!! do you need the power of the x5 ??

there are many many amps that will suit the b&w like arcam and norma . this valve like integrated deserves to be heard . i have one on demo now .

it has a lovely smooth sound with tremendous bite

P1070865 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/, on Flickr

hegel 390 is well worth a listen . they get tremendous reviews . few weeks ago i had a moonriver here which is same price as x5

P1070828 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/, on Flickr

in the meantime check out the X3 . dont assume the x5 is better . it may suit the B&w just as well

 

[hifinutt]

its worth noting if you have a bad back the x3 is 30kg !!! the norma is half that and probably just as good [ but thats an opinion]. interesting this review say the michi will be too bright for B&W !!!!

 

[Neo4]

Thanks hifinutt. Will check your suggestions out. I’m kind of partial to the tone controls, hence trying to seek out one’s with these. I know the purist hate these, but I like them, gives me a bit more to play with especially when the recording isn’t the best of quality.

 

[sm007]

Hi Everyone - A quick question on this amp...does anyone have this amp on this forum? Im sure someone somewhere has this?? Reason for the question, Im seriously considering this amp as a replacement to the one I have right now.
A while back I replaced my 20 yr old system with a pair of (new) B&W 702 S2 and a second hand Accuphase 308 (2008 amp). Although the Accuphase is a brilliant amp, I feel that its not really bringing out the best in the 702's. Hence considering a replacement for it. The Rotel X5 sounds very a competent amp and a good match for the 702's. Just wondering what you guys think. Would be great to get some feedback from anyone who runs this config.
My worry with amps with DAC's inbuilt is that they are not as musical (cant describe it any other way) as a purely analog amp. For instance a Hagel 309 (which had everything I was looking for) didn't sound as good as a Rega Aethos to me. I know its all subjective to your ears. But there you are. Looking for some feedback so I can get it on the shortlist.

Thanks all.

 

[sm007]

hi Neo4,

I recently listened to the Michi X5 and thought it was a great amp. I played a list of tracks that I have known for years. I’m not an expert but I did feel as if though my hearing got better - I simply haven’t heard this level of clarity before. The sound was cohesive and it was this cohesiveness that I liked most. I’ve heard the Mich x3 and though it is a wonderful product, I think you can feel the extra depth and warmth in the x5.

It is also obvious that Rotel have put everything they know and probably have benchmarked against the very best. It weighs 44kg, this is a premium product. They’re trendier brands out there but this one is special.

 

[Ascotbilly]

44kg - that’s a monster !!!

 

[Neo4]

hi Neo4,

I recently listened to the Michi X5 and thought it was a great amp. I played a list of tracks that I have known for years. I’m not an expert but I did feel as if though my hearing got better - I simply haven’t heard this level of clarity before. The sound was cohesive and it was this cohesiveness that I liked most. I’ve heard the Mich x3 and though it is a wonderful product, I think you can feel the extra depth and warmth in the x5.

It is also obvious that Rotel have put everything they know and probably have benchmarked against the very best. It weighs 44kg, this is a premium product. They’re trendier brands out there but this one is special.

Thanks SM007. What speakers were your demo on?
I too had a demo on an X5 recently, i agree with you in that it’s very accomplished. Very nice amp. I thought it was too close to the Accuphase that I have right now. So didn’t make much sense in swapping. I did listen to a Mcintosh 252 and 5300 on the same demo. The 252 was warmer sounding, 5300 was pretty good too. So now I’m torn….
i Want to listen to the 9000 as well before I make the final decision. That has everything I want and more it’s the cost I need to justify. Man maths needed here lol.

 

[hifinutt]

yes i would get a p5 michi pre but its 22kg !!!

 

[fordster]

I have a Michi X3 with B&W 805D4s, fantastic combination. I’ve not heard an X5 for comparison though. And I don’t use the internal DAC as have a Naim ND5 XS2 streamer which, to me, sounds better than the Michi’s DAC.

 

[sm007]

Thanks SM007. What speakers were your demo on?
I too had a demo on an X5 recently, i agree with you in that it’s very accomplished. Very nice amp. I thought it was too close to the Accuphase that I have right now. So didn’t make much sense in swapping. I did listen to a Mcintosh 252 and 5300 on the same demo. The 252 was warmer sounding, 5300 was pretty good too. So now I’m torn….
i Want to listen to the 9000 as well before I make the final decision. That has everything I want and more it’s the cost I need to justify. Man maths needed here lol.

Hi Neo4,

The X5 was partnered with Kef Reference speakers though I tried it with various speakers as demo lasted about 90 minutes.

These things are subjective but I found the other amps were a tiny bit more bright on my ears or lacked a tiny bit of detail. I actually don’t know how Michi have been able to deliver the higher frequencies without compromise yet not harsh which is usually the trade off. The lower and mid frequencies had a level of detail and richness I’ve not heard before. I found that this was the closest I got to actually having a live performance - it was as if the singer was their in the demo room. Both the Hegel 590 and MF 8xi are great amps too but the X5 feels and sounds like it belongs in the next category up.

 

[Hear Here]

Reason for the question, Im seriously considering this amp as a replacement to the one I have right now.

I was in your postion 3 years ago after deciding to move away from valve amps for my horn speakers. Asking questions of forums and reading reviews will probably allow you to knock up a short list, but there's no substitute for trying them at home. Showroom and audio shows are not the best way to assess an amp's performance as the speakers are likely be different and (more importantly) the room acoustics will be totally different.

I made a short list of amps in the £3-8K range and bought several used examples of as many as I could find - and borrowed dealer demo units for the others. In all I tested 12 amps in my own system, some for just a week, but some I kept for a year or so. The ones bought used were re-sold at little or no loss, but at least I could compare a huge variety of amps with my speakers in my home. These included Class A (Sugden, Accuphase, etc), Class AB (GamuT, Micromega, Mark Levinson), Class D (Diavelet, NAD) and some odd-balls (Valvet, Bakoon, Lyngdorf).

The exercise took a while but I was in no great rush and it resulted in many surprises. I was expecting a Class A amp to be my choice (after valves and with my high sensitivity speakers) but none was quite up to the best of the bunch.

I'd seriously suggest you do much the same - buy or borrow as many contenders as you can and choose the best of the bunch for your speakers, in your room, with your choice of music. Peter

PS - I could send you my one-line notes on these 12 amps but they are unlikely to suit your circumstances. PM me with email address.

 

[Paul7777x]

Have you considered a Lyngdorf 3400 instead?

Something of a special beast and has the astonishing RoomPerfect.

Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 - Lyngdorf Audio

lyngdorf.steinwaylyngdorf.com

 

[Hear Here]

Have you considered a Lyngdorf 3400 instead?

Something of a special beast and has the astonishing RoomPerfect.

Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 - Lyngdorf Audio

lyngdorf.steinwaylyngdorf.com

Not sure I agree. I had the 3400 in my system amongst the dozen SS amps I home demo'd. Although it sounded OK, the display (compared with the similarly proiced NAD M33) was more like a dot matrix printer and the Room Perfect was poor compared with Dirac - and I don't much like Dirac!

 

[davidf]

@Hear Here

Brace yourself…

 

[Hear Here]

@Hear Here

Brace yourself…

Yes, I know from past experience that a lot of members here think the sun shines out of Lingdorf's arse! It's a pity they aren't a little more open minded and check out the competition.

 

[Paul7777x]

Yes, I know from past experience that a lot of members here think the sun shines out of Lingdorf's arse! It's a pity they aren't a little more open minded and check out the competition.

I think you’ll find a lot of people simply don’t enjoy the pompous posturing and self love sometimes displayed here. Only some posters of course.

 

[Paul7777x]

... as for experience, I’ll simply use my own.

I’ve owned these DSP room correction magics.

ARC. ROOM PERFECT. DIRAC LIVE. ANTIMODE DUAL CORE.

Every single one of them has improved the sound quality of whatever hifi I’ve used them with. In whatever room.

I’m currently using RP and I’ve found it to be the one I favour most.

There is no such thing as a perfect room.

Therefore room correction is a first class idea.

All that remains is the choice thereof.

I’m sure you’ll be back to tell us all how much you’ve spent...

And you really needn’t worry, I’m sure some here think you’re really special.

Almost as much as you do yourself.

 

[Helix Hifi]

You don’t consider Luxman Class A amplifiers?

 

[Hear Here]

There is no such thing as a perfect room.

Therefore room correction is a first class idea.

Agreed - if done the proper way - as explained in earlier postings.

Forums are there for all to contribute, either to learn or to help others. I've never used this or any other forum for any other purpose and any suggestion I’ve made has been considered and genuinely believed as valid. It's up to the reader to decide whether his question has been answered, or if advice from me, you or anyone else is worth his while considering.

The cost of people's equipment usually has limited value in their opinions on matters raised, although it certainly can do if it can demonstrate limitations in other equipment or source material it is being fed. On other audio forums people giggle at the low value of my kit (their streamer or TT alone costs more than my entire system), but that doesn't anger me in the way it seems to anger you. If I don't agree with someone's suggestion to a question, I will respond with what I hope is a logically argued counter-suggestion - not just post a rude imogie with no supporting explanation.

Let’s just agree that we differ in some of our views and get on with life and refrain from insults. Thanks

 

[nabeshima]

Can I throw another random product? Listened at a friend of a friend house couple of months ago...just liked it. And it comes with ARC

Anthem® | STR Integrated Amplifier | Overview

www.anthemav.com

 

[Neo4]

I was in your postion 3 years ago after deciding to move away from valve amps for my horn speakers. Asking questions of forums and reading reviews will probably allow you to knock up a short list, but there's no substitute for trying them at home. Showroom and audio shows are not the best way to assess an amp's performance as the speakers are likely be different and (more importantly) the room acoustics will be totally different.

I made a short list of amps in the £3-8K range and bought several used examples of as many as I could find - and borrowed dealer demo units for the others. In all I tested 12 amps in my own system, some for just a week, but some I kept for a year or so. The ones bought used were re-sold at little or no loss, but at least I could compare a huge variety of amps with my speakers in my home. These included Class A (Sugden, Accuphase, etc), Class AB (GamuT, Micromega, Mark Levinson), Class D (Diavelet, NAD) and some odd-balls (Valvet, Bakoon, Lyngdorf).

The exercise took a while but I was in no great rush and it resulted in many surprises. I was expecting a Class A amp to be my choice (after valves and with my high sensitivity speakers) but none was quite up to the best of the bunch.

I'd seriously suggest you do much the same - buy or borrow as many contenders as you can and choose the best of the bunch for your speakers, in your room, with your choice of music. Peter

PS - I could send you my one-line notes on these 12 amps but they are unlikely to suit your circumstances. PM me with email address.

Thanks for this Hear Hear. I guess im coming around to this myself lol, ie home testing. I bought my speakers new this time last year and they are getting better and better with use. So I thought I might give it another few months and let them settle before I start any home demos. I see you’ve gone for NAD in the end. Thats one brand I have been thinking about but not shortlisted. It would be great to see your notes on your tests too.
‘Cheers, Neo

 

[Flobs]

@Neo4 I'd go easy, the Michi's are beautiful beasts but you could end up wanting more beautiful speakers if you go down this route.

 

[hifinutt]

one of the best amps i have heard so far with my horns was the norma 70b revo... beautifully made and sounding lovely . there are quite a few who love it