Michi

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Mr Peabody

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Michi is the higher end line offered by Rotel. I've read Rotel meets a price where Michi is given more money to make a stellar product, paraphrased. I read a review of a Michi power amp and it seems even that brand is keen on finding a good price point, a 500x2 into 8 ohms for $7500.00 weighing 132 lbs.

Rotel has been a mainstay, I suggest being partnered with B&W for so long helped that out. I view it as a good value brand and don't know of any QC issues. I find Rotel has a "house sound" that I don't care for personally. It does seem Rotel faded out there for awhile and have been trying to comeback in recent couple years.

I am just curious if Michi though higher quality still maintains that "house sound"? I suspect so. Most halo brands though maybe better still keeps with the house sound. NAD/Master, Marantz/Reference etc.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Michi is the higher end line offered by Rotel. I've read Rotel meets a price where Michi is given more money to make a stellar product, paraphrased. I read a review of a Michi power amp and it seems even that brand is keen on finding a good price point, a 500x2 into 8 ohms for $7500.00 weighing 132 lbs.

Rotel has been a mainstay, I suggest being partnered with B&W for so long helped that out. I view it as a good value brand and don't know of any QC issues. I find Rotel has a "house sound" that I don't care for personally. It does seem Rotel faded out there for awhile and have been trying to comeback in recent couple years.

I am just curious if Michi though higher quality still maintains that "house sound"? I suspect so. Most halo brands though maybe better still keeps with the house sound. NAD/Master, Marantz/Reference etc.
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Interesting post - I'm glad you posted it. I have similar questions as you.

Michi has been around for awhile and I can honestly say NEVER, not once, in any of my conversation with industry people nor people on my pages has anyone brought up, asked about, or admitted to owning Michi.

In fact Rotel used to be a main stay, and my subjective perception is they have fallen off the radar of many as well.

I wonder how they are doing in the market. I think they are at a great price point for many (the Rotel / Michi) but I just don't see them being talked about.
 
Michaels HiFi said:
Interesting post - I'm glad you posted it. I have similar questions as you.

Michi has been around for awhile and I can honestly say NEVER, not once, in any of my conversation with industry people nor people on my pages has anyone brought up, asked about, or admitted to owning Michi.

In fact Rotel used to be a main stay, and my subjective perception is they have fallen off the radar of many as well.

I wonder how they are doing in the market. I think they are at a great price point for many (the Rotel / Michi) but I just don't see them being talked about.
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I've done some checking Rotel is the same company. They lost some recognition when B&W was sold which led to them not being shown together so much in stores. A parting of the ways of sorts took place, only due to circumstance though. Rotel is easy to find online retailers. I'm not sure about B&M stores.
 
Mike said:
Rotel sells ok online and we have access to Michi, but haven’t had any interest in it.
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I read a review of Michi S5 500x2 into 8 ohms A/B at $7499.00 which is direct competition with the 4B cubed at less power but more warranty and name clout.
 
I own the Michi 8 mono blocks.
They are the best amps I have owned, PS Audio, Pass Labs, Atmosphere, Carver tube, Krell and a few others.
My Planar speakers (Clarisys Minute) may require more power than most speakers, I dunno, but these amps work VERY well with the speakers.

ozzy

Rotel Michi M8 monoblock power amplifier | Stereophile.com

In an April 2020 press release, the McIntosh Group announced that its subsidiary brand Sumiko, which was cofounded by the late Dave Fletcher and distributes Sonus Faber and Pro-Ject among other high-performance brands, had secured distribution rights for Rotel Electronics in the US and Latin...
www.stereophile.com www.stereophile.com
 
I owned the Michi S5 until a few months ago when I went to Burmester. I thought the Michi represented exceptional value. Lots of power, superb build quality. The sound seemed neutral to me, didn't color the music. When I was amp shopping I tried a couple at more than twice the price and passed. I prefer the Burmester, but its way more expensive and, while to my ears its better, its not light years ahead. So, I think Michi is kind of an unsung hero that would get more play if it wasn't connected to Rotel-I think its in a different league than Rotel amps.
 
Kramer64 said:
I owned the Michi S5 until a few months ago when I went to Burmester. I thought the Michi represented exceptional value. Lots of power, superb build quality. The sound seemed neutral to me, didn't color the music. When I was amp shopping I tried a couple at more than twice the price and passed. I prefer the Burmester, but its way more expensive and, while to my ears its better, its not light years ahead. So, I think Michi is kind of an unsung hero that would get more play if it wasn't connected to Rotel-I think its in a different league than Rotel amps.
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Reading this tread, sounds like an excellent, high value product with a build-it-and-they-will-come sales approach that's not working. Marketing opportunity for somebody?
 
I think that's right. I don't think Rotel has done great job of differentiating Michi from Rotel. I think Michi is to Rotel as Audi is to Volkswagen.
 
Kramer64 said:
I owned the Michi S5 until a few months ago when I went to Burmester. I thought the Michi represented exceptional value. Lots of power, superb build quality. The sound seemed neutral to me, didn't color the music. When I was amp shopping I tried a couple at more than twice the price and passed. I prefer the Burmester, but its way more expensive and, while to my ears its better, its not light years ahead. So, I think Michi is kind of an unsung hero that would get more play if it wasn't connected to Rotel-I think its in a different league than Rotel amps.
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which burmester?
 
Kramer64 said:
I think that's right. I don't think Rotel has done great job of differentiating Michi from Rotel. I think Michi is to Rotel as Audi is to Volkswagen.
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That is what is meant by "halo" product.

Rotel is described as neutral as well. Do you think Michi sound is different from Rotel, not just a better presentation of the same?
 
Porsche said:
which burmester?
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Mr Peabody said:
That is what is meant by "halo" product.

Rotel is described as neutral as well. Do you think Michi sound is different from Rotel, not just a better presentation of the same?
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Not different in coloration. As recall, more presence, more density, probably a lower noise floor. Really good build quality, solid as a rock.
 
I think I read that the Michi 8 was designed by British and Japanese engineers but was manufactured in China. I myself am very impressed with its build and sonic quality.

ozzy
 
ozzy said:
I think I read that the Michi 8 was designed by British and Japanese engineers but was manufactured in China. I myself am very impressed with its build and sonic quality.

ozzy
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I think that's right. As I recall, Michi has its own dedicated facility in China which helps with quality control.
 
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