Rotel-owned Japanese audio business Michi has extended its product line with the new Michi Q5 Transport DAC and audiophile-grade CD player.
Elevating the audio experience
The Michi Q5 Transport DAC incorporates the ESS ES9028PRO DAC, an eight-channel digital-to-analogue converter. Michi has implemented the DAC in a differential circuit design to offer precision audio reproduction with a low noise floor, ensuring minimal sound distortion to both XLR and RCA analogue outputs.
A design for high performance
The Q5 dedicates four channels within the DAC to each of the left and right audio signal paths, ensuring detail retrieval and expansive soundstage. CD audio travels to both coaxial and optical outputs, allowing the unit to act as a CD Transport for installation flexibility.
The front panel of the Q5 showcases Michi’s minimalist design with a full-colour TFT display that showcases CD album artwork.
The top-loading CD mechanism is also constructed with precision laser pickup housed in a CNC-machined aluminium chassis, supported by a custom floating spring assembly mount to reduce unwanted vibrations.
A sensitive listening experience
For further audio purity, the Q5 is equipped with dual in-house manufactured toroidal transformers to isolate digital and analogue voltage supplies for reduction in noise and interference.
The CD drive motor’s voltage and current supplies are electrically isolated from audio signals, aiming to deliver immersive sound that is true to the original recording.
A versatile music hub
The Michi Q5 supports a range of audio inputs including PC-USB (up to 32-bit / 384kHz) with MQA and DSD 4X support, plus 24-bit / 192kHz coaxial and optical inputs. These features make the Q5 a high-performance DAC for entire audio systems, compatible with the end user’s preferred digital sources.
The remote included aims to provide easy operation, accompanied by RS232 and Ethernet ports for integration with popular automation systems.