CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — Michi Q5

The Q5 is the disc player of the Michi series from Rotel, pairing a top-loading CD drive with a high-resolution converter section - it can play discs on its own or act as a standalone player and as a DAC for computers, streamers and other digital sources. The Q5 reads standard CD only and does not play SACD. It was introduced in autumn 2024 at USD 7,499, GBP 5,499 and EUR 5,999, comes in black or silver finishes and is covered for five years.

Key specs that matter

Rotel chose the ESS ES9028PRO, a 32-bit, 768 kHz chip with eight channels, with four working in parallel for every channel. The PC-USB input accepts PCM up to 32-bit and 384 kHz, MQA and MQA Studio, native DSD up to 4X and DoP, whereas coaxial and optical inputs accept 24-bit, 192 kHz LPCM. Fully balanced differential XLR outputs deliver 4.9 V and the RCA outputs 2.3 V. Rotel quotes THD below 0.0006% on all inputs, signal-to-noise above 115 dB A-weighted, dynamic range above 99 dB, channel separation above 104 dB at 10 kHz and intermodulation distortion below 0.002%. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within +0 and -0.1 dB, with left-right balance within 0.5 dB.

Engineering and use context

The disc mechanism sits in the front centre of a solid aluminium top plate and uses a custom clamp machined from aluminium that weighs over 0.45 kg. Signal paths use metal film resistors with polystyrene or polypropylene capacitors, and circuit traces are laid out symmetrically. Two in-house toroidal transformers isolate the digital and analogue supplies, the motor supply is kept apart from the audio path, and the analogue stages are fully balanced. The chassis measures 485 x 150 x 452 mm and weighs 23.5 kg, which calls for a rack shelf of full width and good load rating. A full-colour TFT display shows album artwork, and the unit is Roon Tested. A digital output passes the CD stream at 16-bit and 44.1 kHz only, so an external converter can be used with the transport. Power draw is 25 W in operation and below 0.5 W in standby. Full-length heat sinks run along the sides, and the chassis rests on aluminium feet with elastomer inserts.

Pairing

The balanced outputs make the Q5 a direct match for the XLR sockets of Michi preamplifiers and integrated models, and Ethernet and RS232 ports allow control from home automation systems alongside the supplied Michi remote handset. Listeners who stream can connect a computer by USB and use the player as the sole converter in the system.

Alternatives

Michi makes no other CD player, so the Q5 is the only disc source in the series.