Rotel Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC

About The Rotel Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC

Welcome to Michi Series 2. These premier, flagship products are the culmination of over 55 years of audio design experience built on the history and heritage of Rotel, delivering an unsurpassed level of audio performance all packaged in the most elegant of industrial designs.

Michi is the embodiment of the passion and ongoing commitment of this family owned audio business, continuing to deliver on the promise of engineering and manufacturing only the highest quality audio components. Over 5 decades of design experience, critical review of all sonic components and a bespoke acoustic tuning process coupled with a dedicated in-house Michi manufacturing facility ensures these products are proudly deserving to wear the Michi brand.

The optimized, custom designed power supply engineered in every Michi product ensures all critical audio circuits receive dynamic, stabilized power for breathtaking performance. Oversized, in house manufactured toroidal transformers supported by high efficiency, low ESR slit-foil capacitors deliver ripple free, isolated power to the analogue and digital circuits ensuring an accurate reproduction of the audio while maintaining critical tone, rhythm and tempo.

Musical expression is the true test of character for any audio product and is where the integrity of Michi is most easily recognized. Audition the Michi products to see, feel, and hear audio performance at its best.

The X3 Series 2 boasts Michi’s exclusive multi-award winning acoustic engineering design methods and features over 90 component upgrades. The X3 has been updated utilising 8-channel ESS SABRE ES9028PRO 32-bit 768kHz Digital to Analogue converters. Power supplies and audio circuitry have also been reengineered and refined to render music with increased precision and detail on an immersive sound stage. Optimised signal paths, and lower-noise circuitry present music against a dead quiet background with astoundingly low distortion.

The Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier delivers an unparalleled listening experience, showcasing over 90 component upgrades delivering exceptional accuracy, refinement, and detail on an expansive soundstage. The size-efficient, elegant industrial design delivers 350 watts of output power into 4 ohms from Analogue, Digital, PC-USB (MQA, PCM, DSD), XLR, and wireless aptX™ HD Bluetooth sources. A Moving Magnet Phono Stage is also included for classic vinyl lovers.

“We are thrilled and extremely proud to introduce the Series 2 models of our Michi X3, X5, and P5 models,” says Daren Orth, Rotel’s Chief Technology Officer. Orth continues, “These new products are the pinnacle of Michi audio engineering designed to deliver an even higher level of performance representing our passion to innovate, elevate and improve.”

A Closer Look At The Michi X3 Series 2

To introduce anyone to the X3 Series 2 as the junior burger in the Michi range is to bring at least a wry smile and probably raised eyebrows to boot. This ‘entry level’ model could very well be the flagship in most amplifier lineups with an effortless 200 Watts on tap into 8 Ohms which increases significantly into lower impedance loudspeakers.

The Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier delivers uncompromised audio performance with a full array of source inputs including Analogue, Digital, PC-USB with MQA rendering & Roon, XLR, aptX HD Bluetooth and a Moving Magnet Phono Stage connection for classic vinyl lovers. The X3 Series 2 is conveniently packaged in an elegant industrial design delivering 350 watts of Class AB power to 4 ohm speakers while maintaining musical accuracy with exceptional acoustic detail. With its beguiling musicality, the X3 Series 2 is sure to bring countless hours of entertainment for all listening styles and music genre.

Digital Done Right: An ESS SABRE ES9028PRO 8-Channel Digital to Analogue Converter is configured for stereo decoding, dedicating 4 channels each to the left and right audio signals rendering music with exceptionally accurate timing and an immersive soundstage which reveals the finest of details.

Sophisticated Features: The X3 Series 2 is replete with features for seamless integration in any audio system. Rear panel connections support all common cabling methods with 2 sets of custom engineered Michi Rhodium plated speaker binding posts for bi-wire installations. Front panel controls and a high-resolution display assures trouble free operation and simple configuration using the Michi IR remote control.

In-House Toroidal Transformer: The X3 Series 2 includes a custom engineered and Michi factory built high efficiency, oversized, ultra-low noise, toroidal transformer with independent voltage regulators isolating the digital, analogue and amplifier circuits eliminating unwanted noise and distortion.

Exquisite Industrial Design: The acoustic eminence of the X3 Series 2 is achieved utilizing a perfect balance of innovation and critical engineering of every circuit, signal path and audio component ensuring the exquisite industrial design is surpassed only by breathtaking performance.

Sophisticated Control Interface: A front panel high-resolution graphic display is configurable to show operating status, 12 band Graphic EQ or Peak Power Meter. Front panel controls and included Michi remote control assure easy operation and configuration.

Dual sets of Rhodium plated custom Michi speaker binding posts allow effortless connection to loudspeakers including bi-wire installations. Ethernet and RS232 connectivity provides simple integration with all popular control systems with software updates available via the Internet or a USB flash drive.

Roon Tested: The Rotel Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Amp has been fully certified as Roon Tested via the PC-USB connection to ensure easy access to catalogues of both online and local music files.

“Michi is all about performance”, remarks Daren Orth, Chief Technology Officer of Rotel. “Access to online music utilizing Roon delivers the best user experience and access to a near unlimited quantity of high-quality music files. We are pleased to add Michi to this ecosystem…”

Our Take

If you thought Rotel produced great CD & amplifier products in the under three grand range then you’d be correct. But you’re be missing out on the bigger picture, because Rotel’s Michi range offers serious high end amplification with impressive specifications, build quality and handsome good looks.

The Michi X3 Series 2, almost unbelievably, is their entry level model! Most other brands would call it a flagship. It ‘only’ has 200 Watts into 8 Ohms, whereas its bigger brother, the X5, has a massive 350 Watts. However, even speakers rated at 8 Ohms often have dips in their impedance at certain frequencies down to 3 or 4 Ohms (just have a look at the B&W 700 S3 range – which the X3 Series 2 sounds great with, by the way). This means the X3 Series 2 gets to stretch its legs and wind out to 350 Watts into 4 Ohms and even more as the impedance gets lower. Hi-Fi News put the X3 Series 2 on the test bench and these were the results. “The X3 Series 2 measures 2 x 225W (8 Ohms) and 2 x 425W (4 Ohms) at <1% THD with sufficient headroom galvanised by that huge PSU to support 307W, 585W, 1.1kW and 1.78kW (42.1A) into 8, 4, 2 and 1 Ohm loads under dynamic conditions.” So, we don’t think you’ll be running out of dynamic headroom anytime soon.

Balanced XLR & single ended RCA inputs are on offer as well as a moving magnet input begging for a good quality turntable hookup. Bi-Wiring is available through dual sets of Rhodium plated custom Michi speaker binding posts. Oh, and there’s a whole cutting edge digital section that supports all the usual suspects including, optical, coaxial, USB-B (MQA & Roon compatible), Ethernet & Bluetooth aptX HD. So, it has all the connectivity and power you could possibly want but does it have the musical goods? Well, if you’re looking for an effortless sound with embracing musicality, fine dynamics and beautiful tonal characteristics then this amplifier might be perfect for you. The X3 Series 2 is a lively, yet fluid conduit to the performers and has a real ‘you are there’ quality about it that can become quite addictive. As with the higher priced X5 Series 2, the same warning applies. Be careful, auditioning this amplifier might be harmful to your wallet.

Main Features & Specifications

• Design: High Power Integrated Stereo Amplifier/DAC
• ESS SABRE ES9028PRO 8-Channel 768kHz/32bit Digital to Analogue Converter is configured for stereo decoding, dedicating 4 channels each to the left and right audio signals
• Coaxial (3), Optical (3) and Analogue RCA (3) inputs
• PC-USB with DSD 4X decoding and MQA rendering
• Bluetooth with aptX HD and AAC
• Roon Tested
• Moving Magnet Phono Stage input
• XLR Balanced input
• Custom engineered toroidal transformer
• Dimmable front panel TFT high resolution display
• IP and RS232 2-way communication for control system integration
• Slim metal Michi remote control

Connections

• Analogue
  • XLR Stereo x 1
  • RCA Stereo x 3
  • MM Phono Stereo x 1
  • Mono Subwoofer Outputs x 2
  • Stereo Preouts x 1
  • Dual Binding Posts for Bi-Wiring
  • Headphone Output x 1 (6.35mm Front Panel)
• Digital
  • Optical x 3
  • Coaxial x 3
  • USB-B x 1 (PC-USB)
  • USB-A x 1 (for charging only)
  • Bluetooth (aptX HD & AAC)
• Control
  • Ethernet x 1
  • External Remote x 1
  • 12V Trigger In/Out x 1
  • 12V Trigger Out x 1
  • RS232 x 1

Technical

• Maximum Power Output: 350 watts/channel, 4Ω
• Continuous Power Output: 200 watts/channel, 8Ω
• Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.008%
• Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.03% (60 Hz : 7kHz, 4:1)
• Frequency Response
  • Phono Input: 20 Hz – 20kHz (+0 dB, -0.4 dB)
  • Line Level Inputs: 10 Hz – 100kHz (+0 dB, -0.4 dB)
• Damping Factor: 350 (20 Hz – 20kHz, 8 ohms)
• Input Sensitivity / Impedance
  • Phono Input (MM): 5.2 mV / 47k ohms
  • Line Level Inputs (RCA): 340 mV / 100k ohms
  • Line Level Inputs (XLR): 540 mV / 100k ohms
• Input Overload
  • Phono Input (MM): 60 mV
  • Line Level Inputs (RCA): 3.5 V
  • Line Level Inputs (XLR): 5.5 V
• Preamplifier Output Level / Impedance: 1.9 V / 100 ohms
• Tone Controls
  • Bass: ± 10 dB at 100Hz
  • Treble: ± 10 dB at 10kHz
• Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF A weighted)
  • Phono Input: 80 dB
  • Line Level Inputs: 102 dB
• Channel Separation
  • Phono Input (MM): > 55 dB
  • Line Level Inputs: > 55 dB
• Digital Section
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20k Hz (0 ± 0.4 dB)
  • Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF “A” weighted): 102 dB
  • Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 0 dBfs / 75 ohms
  • Preamplifier Output Level: 1.2 V (at -20 dB Volume Position)
  • Coaxial/Optical Digital Signals: SPDIF LPCM (up to 192k Hz 24 bit)
• PC-USB
  • USB Audio Class 1.0: (up to 96kHz 24bit)
  • USB Audio Class 2.0: (up to 384kHz 32bit)*
    • *Driver installation required
  • Roon, MQA, MQA Studio, DSD and DoP (DSD over PCM) support
• Power Consumption: 500 watts
• Standby Power Consumption
  • Normal: < 0.5 watts
  • Network wakeup: < 2 watts
• Finish: Matte Black with Glass Front Panel
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 485 x 150 x 452mm
• Front Panel Height: 132mm
• Weight: 28.9 kg
• Manufacturer’s Warranty: 5 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.