It's a fantastic amp. I've owned it for a year and it's my forever amp. It should be able to drive any pair of speakers I could ever conceivably own. It is outstandingly neutral and that's what I was looking for in an amplifier. If you have a great recording it sounds like heaven. If you have a bad recording well it doesn't make it better and that's the way it should be in my opinion
Would you be kind enough to share what the rest of your system consists of & how good is the phono stage; we own ML 13A Expression ESL with Pro-ject RPM 10 Carbon & Sumiko Blackbird HO; thank you in advance.
@@hopebyron8271 Had Focal Aria 948's connected originally and the tweeters blew on both of them, luckily they were still under warranty (they drop to below 4ohm and are best suited to low power tube amps, I have now realised). True 8ohm speakers work better with the Michi X5 and it also lets of a lot less heat when pushed to higher levels! Using Isotek V5 Elektra power conditioner, MCRU power cables, all round Chord Shawline RCA and XLR's. Sources: SACD/Streamer: Technics SLG700 m2 via XLR, Turntable: Technics SL1200GR with Denon DL-A110 stylus and Cassette Deck: Nakamichi DR1 (currently being serviced, by the excellent SHAudio). JBL 4349's are Bi-Wired with 3 metre Rocket 11's for the Bass and some old but still very good Chord Company Carnival Silver Screens for the Tweeters. For Subwoofer using the excellent but discontinued M&K X8's (got the X8's half price when the new X+ series was released a couple of years ago)
Had Focal Aria 948's connected originally and the tweeters blew on both of them, luckily they were still under warranty (they drop to below 4ohm and are best suited to low power tube amps, I have now realised). True 8ohm speakers work better with the Michi X5 and it also lets of a lot less heat when pushed to higher levels! Using Isotek V5 Elektra power conditioner, MCRU power cables, all round Chord Shawline RCA and XLR's. Sources: CD/Streamer Technics SLG700 m2 via XLR, Turntable: Technics SL1200GR with Denon DL-A110 stylus and Cassette Deck Nakamichi DR1 (currently being serviced, by the excellent SHAudio). JBL 4349's are Bi-Wired with 3 metre Rocket 11's for the Bass and some old but still very good Chord Company Carnival Silver Screens for the Tweeters. For Subwoofer using the excellent but discontinued M&K X8's (got the X8's half price when the new X+ series was released a couple of years ago)
Have an X3 powering SF Olympica Nova I's. Incredible! Though multiple reviews said the dac in the x3 is underwhelming. Thinking about picking up a Michi p5 S2 to use as preamp due to the significant rework to the DAC on the S2 version.
Which most hobbyist are not aware of how good even entry level rotelle engineering and build quality is right there 100% you can just have bill quality with rotelle and 10,000 or $20,000 power amps integrated and etc. and you’re not gonna be able to fold build quality and engineering and design in rotelle compared to high high end equipment. Build quality that’s what you’re looking for in electronics. Bill of quality rotelle has it five stars in one audio files opinion and I’ve been alive before and active in hi-fi mono beef or rotelle became anything 1957 I started in mono hi-fi before transistors and by the way and 13 1/2 years old my ears and two other young men’s ears were used by Telemann Rams develop his sound and his hands
Own it, love it! DAC is okay, but not using it (external ADC, still many people miss direct streaming support.Toslink used for TV, working okay..its toslink ;-). Love the more neutralish sonic. Attached to ELAC Concentro S507, very very well match as well.
I have an X5 believe me It can drive anything , i will eventually try B&W 802 d3 when a 2nd hand pair come up . At the moment I use a pair of Q acoustics concept 500 and an REL subwoofer I have set the amp limit at 55 to save the cones ! The sound is beautifully smooth , rich and life size with tremendous textured bass weight with nothing exagerated .The C500s are a big surprise for the money , i`m quite happy with this combo and not disapointed to have sold my Meridian dsp 8000 se .
If you go to www.amplifiermeasurements.com, you can see measurements we've performed on many Rotel amps, including the X5. They'll tell you quite a bit about the performance.
Marantz PM-11S2 from 2009 still beats all of those. Hegel too thin in the mids, Accuphase and Pass Labs too muddy in the bass, Luxman too thin in the bass, etc.
You cannot call this an integrated amp if it lacks one of the most desired features of integrated amps nowadays, which is HDMI. As someone that uses my speakers for both music and movies this kinda failed in that regard for me, despite all the amazing specs it has.
It's a fantastic amp. I've owned it for a year and it's my forever amp. It should be able to drive any pair of speakers I could ever conceivably own. It is outstandingly neutral and that's what I was looking for in an amplifier. If you have a great recording it sounds like heaven. If you have a bad recording well it doesn't make it better and that's the way it should be in my opinion
Would you be kind enough to share what the rest of your system consists of & how good is the phono stage; we own ML 13A Expression ESL with Pro-ject RPM 10 Carbon & Sumiko Blackbird HO; thank you in advance.
I'm just guna buy the p5 and s5 and I won't have to look at another review again in my life loooool cheers
Michi X5 partnered with the JBL 4349 Studio Monitors is a match made in Heaven! 🙂
Nice combination 🎶🎶🎶
@@hopebyron8271 Had Focal Aria 948's connected originally and the tweeters blew on both of them, luckily they were still under warranty (they drop to below 4ohm and are best suited to low power tube amps, I have now realised). True 8ohm speakers work better with the Michi X5 and it also lets of a lot less heat when pushed to higher levels! Using Isotek V5 Elektra power conditioner, MCRU power cables, all round Chord Shawline RCA and XLR's. Sources: SACD/Streamer: Technics SLG700 m2 via XLR, Turntable: Technics SL1200GR with Denon DL-A110 stylus and Cassette Deck: Nakamichi DR1 (currently being serviced, by the excellent SHAudio). JBL 4349's are Bi-Wired with 3 metre Rocket 11's for the Bass and some old but still very good Chord Company Carnival Silver Screens for the Tweeters. For Subwoofer using the excellent but discontinued M&K X8's (got the X8's half price when the new X+ series was released a couple of years ago)
Had Focal Aria 948's connected originally and the tweeters blew on both of them, luckily they were still under warranty (they drop to below 4ohm and are best suited to low power tube amps, I have now realised). True 8ohm speakers work better with the Michi X5 and it also lets of a lot less heat when pushed to higher levels! Using Isotek V5 Elektra power conditioner, MCRU power cables, all round Chord Shawline RCA and XLR's. Sources: CD/Streamer Technics SLG700 m2 via XLR, Turntable: Technics SL1200GR with Denon DL-A110 stylus and Cassette Deck Nakamichi DR1 (currently being serviced, by the excellent SHAudio). JBL 4349's are Bi-Wired with 3 metre Rocket 11's for the Bass and some old but still very good Chord Company Carnival Silver Screens for the Tweeters. For Subwoofer using the excellent but discontinued M&K X8's (got the X8's half price when the new X+ series was released a couple of years ago)
Have an X3 powering SF Olympica Nova I's. Incredible! Though multiple reviews said the dac in the x3 is underwhelming. Thinking about picking up a Michi p5 S2 to use as preamp due to the significant rework to the DAC on the S2 version.
Which most hobbyist are not aware of how good even entry level rotelle engineering and build quality is right there 100% you can just have bill quality with rotelle and 10,000 or $20,000 power amps integrated and etc. and you’re not gonna be able to fold build quality and engineering and design in rotelle compared to high high end equipment. Build quality that’s what you’re looking for in electronics. Bill of quality rotelle has it five stars in one audio files opinion and I’ve been alive before and active in hi-fi mono beef or rotelle became anything 1957 I started in mono hi-fi before transistors and by the way and 13 1/2 years old my ears and two other young men’s ears were used by Telemann Rams develop his sound and his hands
Own it, love it! DAC is okay, but not using it (external ADC, still many people miss direct streaming support.Toslink used for TV, working okay..its toslink ;-). Love the more neutralish sonic. Attached to ELAC Concentro S507, very very well match as well.
You should have asked Ricky if they are planning to make Michi series Streamer in nearest future or Michi all in one solution Integrated???
what is P5+S5 better than X5 if the power is not the issue?
Thanks for the review!
I am going to audition this amp in couple of days in the UK.
Can this drive B&W 800 D3 properly?
I have an X5 believe me It can drive anything , i will eventually try B&W 802 d3 when a 2nd hand pair come up . At the moment I use a pair of Q acoustics concept 500 and an REL subwoofer I have set the amp limit at 55 to save the cones ! The sound is beautifully smooth , rich and life size with tremendous textured bass weight with nothing exagerated .The C500s are a big surprise for the money , i`m quite happy with this combo and not disapointed to have sold my Meridian dsp 8000 se .
I personally prefer NEODIO Origine A2 EVO and KORA TB400.
The Michi is a great amp.
@@martinslocombe2288 ??????
I know i have one too
I listened to this amp before i bought my Gryphon Diablo 120 amp.
So what
U poof
@@Carl-yx1ww so what, what?????
so obviously the Gryphon beat it out? was the gryphon more expensive?
Is Michi just cosmetic upgrades...to look nicer? What about quality? Does inside suffer?
If you go to www.amplifiermeasurements.com, you can see measurements we've performed on many Rotel amps, including the X5. They'll tell you quite a bit about the performance.
there is absolutely nothing compact about Michi
Hegel. Accuphase. Luxman. Gryphon. Audio Note. Pass Labs. Tough competition, so no. But “best” is a subjective thing.
Marantz PM-11S2 from 2009 still beats all of those. Hegel too thin in the mids, Accuphase and Pass Labs too muddy in the bass, Luxman too thin in the bass, etc.
@@connorduke4619 accuphase muddy 😂
@@morespinach9832 Only the bass I said.
You cannot call this an integrated amp if it lacks one of the most desired features of integrated amps nowadays, which is HDMI.
As someone that uses my speakers for both music and movies this kinda failed in that regard for me, despite all the amazing specs it has.
Interesting perspective. I'd never actually considered an HDMI port that mandatory -- but maybe for some.
Completely wrong. That's a HT reciever by definition. An integrated is pre/power in one box, that's it.
Rubbish.
HDMI is for home theatre. Unnecessary for quality stereo, quite unnecessary.
Audiophiles are less concerned with HDMI.
Accuphase, Luxman, Gryphon, Audio Note, Jadis....yeah, apart from them it's the best!