Integrated Amplifiers

Rotel makes no special claim for its Michi X3 as the most power integrated available, but it could, and perhaps should, shout a little louder about this amplifier's phenomenal W per £ performance. Top performers stand the test of time – the Krell S-550i [HFN Jul '13] offered 2x336W/8ohm with 2.4kW/1ohm (49.4A) under dynamic conditions while Musical Fidelity's Nu-Vista 800 [HFN Nov '14], still available at £8800, delivers 2x325W/8ohm, reinforced by a massive dynamic 2.2kW/1ohm (46.4A). Norway provides very close competition with the mighty £9000 Hegel H590 [HFN Oct '18] which maintains 2x310W/8ohm, increasing to a dynamic 2.28kW/1ohm (47.8A).

More recently, Perreaux's £8280 Eloquence 255i [HFN Apr '18] was tested at 2x435W/8ohm even though it is protected at 1.5kW/2ohm and 610W/1ohm (26.7A). Musical Fidelity pops up again with the all-transistor M8xi at £5650, offering 2x640W/8ohm but limited to 1300W/2ohm and 720ohm/1ohm (26.8A) under dynamic conditions. From Italy and USA, respectively, there's the new £7800 Audia Flight FLS 9 [HFN Feb '21] and £24,000 D'Agostino Progression [HFN Nov '20] – priced with their DAC options – achieving 160W and 265W/8ohm, respectively, although both max out at ~1020W (31.9A) into 1ohm. Against this battery, Rotel's £4300 Michi X3 is looking very capable indeed at 2x255W/8ohm and 1.775kW/1ohm (42.1A). So if you own the world's least sensitive/lowest impedance speakers there's no more affordable high power partner. PM