Rotel Michi Q430
Audiophile CD player from Rotel, fitted with an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO converter and balanced XLR outputs, intended for precise, neutral stereo listening.
Description
The Michi Q430 is a high-end CD player designed by Rotel for its Michi range, aimed at the most demanding hi-fi systems. It is a dedicated source for playing compact discs, engineered to reproduce the digital content of a CD with minimal alteration before transmission to a preamplifier or integrated amplifier.
The playback mechanism relies on a high-precision floating transport, paired with an internal power supply designed to limit electrical interference. Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by an ESS SABRE ES9028PRO chip, an eight-channel converter here implemented for stereo use. The stated measurements illustrate the level of neutrality sought: total harmonic distortion below 0.0006%, a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within ± 0.3 dB, a signal-to-noise ratio above 120 dB on the RCA output and above 110 dB at 10 kHz on the XLR output, as well as a dynamic range above 99 dB. Channel balance is guaranteed to within ± 0.5 dB, and channel separation exceeds 105 dB at 10 kHz on the RCA output, ensuring a stable and precise stereo image.
The coaxial digital output also allows the unit to be used as a simple CD transport, leaving conversion to an external DAC if required.
This player is aimed at listeners who still own a CD collection and wish to obtain a faithful reproduction from it, within a high-end system where the source plays a decisive role in overall sound quality. The balanced XLR outputs naturally suit systems fitted with a preamplifier or amplifier featuring balanced inputs, while the RCA output suits more conventional configurations.
Technical specifications
| Total harmonic distortion (THD) | < 0.0006 % |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz (± 0.3 dB) |
| Signal to noise ratio (RCA, A weighted) | > 120 dB |
| Signal to noise ratio (XLR, A weighted, at 10 kHz) | > 110 dB |
| Dynamic range | > 99 dB |
| Channel balance | ± 0.5 dB |
| Channel separation (RCA, at 10 kHz) | > 105 dB |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 431 × 148 × 385 mm |
| Weight | 8.8 kg |
What to check before buying used
When buying used, it is worth checking that the disc transport mechanism works properly, particularly when playing scratched or worn discs, and confirming the absence of motor noise or playback skipping. The colour TFT screen is worth inspecting visually for dead pixels or display faults. It is also useful to test the RCA, XLR and coaxial outputs in turn to ensure each output stage functions correctly, as these circuits are independent in the unit's design.
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