The Michi X3 Series 2 is the compact integrated amplifier in Rotel's flagship Michi range, and it is built to a very different standard from Rotel's mainstream models. It pairs 350 watts per channel of Class A/B power into 4 ohms with an 8-channel ESS SABRE ES9028PRO digital to analog converter, giving it both the muscle to drive nearly any loudspeaker and a genuinely high-end digital front end in one chassis. This second-series version refines the original with updated circuitry while keeping the understated industrial design the Michi line is known for.
Source support is comprehensive. There are balanced XLR and single-ended RCA line inputs, a moving magnet phono stage for turntables, coaxial and optical digital inputs, and a PC-USB input that renders MQA, PCM and DSD, along with aptX HD Bluetooth for wireless streaming. The unit is Roon Tested, carries tone controls with a bypass, and offers a preamp output for adding external power amplification later. For a listener who wants Michi build quality and power without the size and cost of the larger X5, the X3 Series 2 is the entry into the range.
Key Features
- Michi flagship integrated amplifier in a compact chassis
- 350 watts per channel Class A/B into 4 ohms
- 200 watts per channel continuous into 8 ohms
- 8-channel ESS SABRE ES9028PRO digital to analog converter
- Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA line inputs
- Moving magnet phono stage for turntables
- Coaxial, optical and PC-USB digital inputs
- PC-USB renders MQA, PCM and DSD
- aptX HD and AAC Bluetooth for wireless streaming
- Certified Roon Tested for network playback
- Tone controls and a preamp output for future expansion
- Damping factor of 350 for tight bass control
Warranty
2-year manufacturer's warranty
Why Consider the Michi X3 Series 2
Most integrated amplifiers at this level make you decide between raw power and digital sophistication. The X3 Series 2 refuses that trade-off. The Class A/B output section has the current to control demanding speakers, while the 8-channel ESS SABRE DAC is the kind of converter usually found in dedicated standalone units, so a listener can run a serious streaming and vinyl system without buying a separate DAC or phono stage. It is also the sensible size in the Michi range, delivering the brand's build and sound in a cabinet that fits a normal rack rather than the far larger X5. For someone stepping up from a mainstream integrated into genuine high-end territory, this is the natural place to start.
Ideal For
- Listeners stepping up from a mainstream integrated to high-end
- Demanding loudspeakers that need real power and damping
- Systems combining streaming, vinyl and digital sources in one box
- Vinyl owners using moving magnet cartridges
- Roon users wanting a certified endpoint amplifier
- Buyers who want Michi quality without the size of the X5
What's in the Box
- Michi X3 Series 2 integrated amplifier
- Remote control
- Power cable
- Owner's manual and documentation
[VERIFY: box contents not listed on the source page. Confirm the accessory set, including remote and any Bluetooth antenna, against the owner's manual before publish.]
Technical Specifications
| Power and Performance |
| Maximum power output |
350 W per channel into 4 ohms |
| Continuous power output |
200 W per channel into 8 ohms |
| Total harmonic distortion |
Less than 0.008% |
| Intermodulation distortion |
Less than 0.03% (60 Hz:7 kHz, 4:1) |
| Damping factor |
350 (20 Hz to 20 kHz, 8 ohm) |
| Channel separation |
Greater than 55 dB |
| Frequency Response and Noise |
| Frequency response, line |
10 Hz to 100 kHz, +0 / -0.4 dB |
| Frequency response, digital |
20 Hz to 20 kHz, 0 plus or minus 0.4 dB |
| Frequency response, phono |
20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0 / +0.4 dB |
| S/N ratio, line and digital |
102 dB, IHF A-weighted |
| S/N ratio, phono |
80 dB, IHF A-weighted |
| Inputs and Sensitivity |
| Analog inputs |
RCA line, XLR balanced, MM phono |
| Input sensitivity |
340 mV RCA, 540 mV XLR, 5.2 mV phono |
| Input impedance |
100 kilohm RCA and XLR, 47 kilohm phono, 75 ohm digital |
| Digital inputs |
Coaxial and optical SPDIF, PC-USB |
| Coaxial and optical resolution |
LPCM up to 24 bit / 192 kHz |
| PC-USB resolution |
Up to 32 bit / 384 kHz (Class 2), DSD/DoP, MQA |
| Bluetooth |
aptX HD and AAC |
| Outputs and Controls |
| Preout level |
1.9 V |
| Output impedance |
100 ohm |
| Tone controls |
Plus or minus 10 dB at 100 Hz and 10 kHz |
| DAC |
8-channel ESS SABRE ES9028PRO, 32-bit |
| Power and Physical |
| Power requirement |
230 V, 50 Hz |
| Power consumption |
500 W |
| Standby power |
Less than 0.5 W normal, less than 2 W network wakeup |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) |
485 x 150 x 452 mm (19 x 6 x 17-3/4 inch) |
| Net weight |
28.9 kg (63.7 lbs) |
