Rotel Michi Q5

CD player

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The introduction of the Michi Q5 had us pondering why a company such as Rotel chose to launch a CD player rather than a music streamer in its high-end statement range. Given the popularity of Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz et al, it seems a surprising move. Until we remember that hundreds of billions of CDs have been sold since the format's introduction in 1982, and many are still in use.

Music fans with huge CD collections are hardly rare, and they still need a dedicated player capable of making the most of their discs. Step forward the new Michi Q5.

The Rotel Michi Q5's £5499 price tag is certainly hefty in general terms, but it may surprise many to learn that it sits on the lower end of the scale as far as high-end CD players are concerned.

Given the current state of the CD player market, there isn't as much choice in this (or any) part of the sector as there used to be - but it's still not too difficult to find alternatives at far higher prices. The beautifully engineered Esoteric K-05XD (tested at £11,650) is a particular favourite of ours.

IMPRESSIVE SIZE

Rotel clearly means business with its new Michi CD player. Just look at it. The bluff, no-nonsense exterior design exudes a mix of seriousness and lack of frippery we think high-end fans will admire. Though it may not be apparent from the accompanying photos, this thing is huge.

Does a CD player have to be big enough to dwarf most amplifiers on the market? Admittedly, the size impresses superficially, but we suspect not. Maybe Rotel just wanted to use the same casework across its high-end Michi components to take advantage of the economies of scale.

At least doing things this way gives a pleasing visual consistency across the products. What we do know is that this beast is beautifully made.