Introduction

The Michi P5 is the flagship control preamplifier in Rotel’s Michi lineup, engineered over three years to achieve the highest standards of sonic purity and musical engagement. It consolidates every source into one precision-crafted unit—combining line-stage control, world-class DAC, phono stage, and high-performance headphone amplifier—to serve as the heart of any serious audio system.

Design

Housed in a low-resonance, monolithic aluminum chassis, the P5 separates its power supplies with two custom toroidal transformers and no fewer than 17 independent voltage regulators. Critical analog and digital circuits are physically isolated to prevent crosstalk, while glass-fiber dampers under the digital engine and hydraulically damped top-loading drawer ensure ultra-quiet operation free of mechanical or electrical noise.

Application

Connect turntables, streamers, CD transports, computers, and Bluetooth devices with seamless switching and zero compromise. The P5’s precision stepped attenuator and balanced output stage feed any power amplifier or active speaker with unwavering control. Its robust control-system interfaces (RS-232, Ethernet) and full remote-control support make it ideal for integration in both two-channel and multizone home-theater installations.

Technology Overview

• Dual Premium DACs: Two AKM 32-bit/768 kHz DAC engines per channel in parallel, delivering ultra-low distortion and wide dynamic range.
• Advanced Phono Stage: User-configurable MM/MC input with remote-adjustable loading and gain for perfect cartridge matching.
• Precision Volume Control: Fully balanced, 65-step, resistor-ladder attenuator maintains channel balance and linearity at every listening level.
• High-Current Headphone Amplifier: Discrete Class-A MOSFET stage drives even demanding headphones with clarity and freedom from coloration.
• Noise-Eliminating Architecture: Full galvanic isolation on every input/output and separate analog/digital power domains eradicate ground loops and EMI.

Key Features

• Eight analog inputs (2 balanced XLR, 6 single-ended RCA) plus moving-magnet and moving-coil phono
• Seven digital inputs: USB-B (up to DSD256/PCM 384 kHz, MQA hardware decode), 3 coaxial, 3 optical, Bluetooth aptX HD/AAC
• Dual AKM 32-bit/768 kHz DACs per channel in parallel
• Fully balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs (fixed & variable)
• Stepped-attenuator volume control with remote operation
• High-resolution front-panel display and infrared remote
• Roon Tested, network firmware updates, RS-232/Ethernet control
• Dedicated headphone output with front-panel level control

Specifications

• Power Requirements: 120 V AC, 60 Hz; 40 W (play), < 0.5 W (standby)
• Dimensions: 19″ W × 6″ H × 17.75″ D (485 × 150 × 452 mm)
• Weight: 50.5 lbs (22.9 kg) net
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 100 kHz (±0.3 dB line), 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.3 dB phono)
• THD: < 0.002% (20 Hz – 20 kHz, all inputs)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Line: 116 dB; Digital: 100 dB; Phono: 80 dB (A-weighted)
• Inputs:
  • Analog: 2 × XLR balanced, 6 × RCA single-ended, MM/MC phono (remote-selectable)
  • Digital: USB-B, 3 × coaxial S/PDIF, 3 × optical TOSLink, Bluetooth aptX HD/AAC
• Outputs: 2 × XLR balanced (fixed/variable), 2 × RCA single-ended (fixed/variable), headphone (¼″)
• Control & Connectivity: RS-232, Ethernet, IR remote, trigger I/O

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