{"id":36387,"date":"2025-09-22T12:48:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/36387\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T12:48:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:48:07","slug":"hi-res-audio-comes-to-rotels-michi-q5-at-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/36387\/","title":{"rendered":"Hi-res audio comes to Rotel\u2019s Michi Q5 at last!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three days ago, we reported on<\/a> a firmware update (v1.04) rolling out to Rotel Michi Q5 owners via the unit\u2019s network connection. The update would 1) make cover art download n\u2019 display considerably more reliable and 2) reorganise the layout of any associated metadata. The new firmware made good on its promises. Nice.<\/p>\n

What firmware v1.04 didn\u2019t do was correct the clocking issues that prevented the Q5 from decoding anything above 16bit\/44.1kHz arriving at its coaxial and TOSLINK inputs.<\/p>\n

I reported this fault as ongoing to Rotel on Friday.<\/p>\n

My contact told me by return email that same day that the Q5\u2019s S\/PDIF inputs are \u2013 unusually \u2013 routed via the internal XMOS chip (that also handles the USB input); and that XMOS chip would need a separate fimware update.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Now comes the wrinkle: this XMOS firmware update can only be applied with a Windows PC. I have a Windows machine to hand to cover off situations like this but other Q5 owners might not be so fortunate.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to execute the XMOS firmware update:<\/p>\n

Power on the Q5Connect the Windows PC to the Q5 with a USB cableSelect the USB input from the Q5\u2019s source menuDownload and install Rotel\u2019s USB driver<\/a> \u2014 do not skip this stepDownload Rotel\u2019s firmware update tool<\/a>Download the v.1.18 firmware<\/a>Start the firmware update tool and the use the \u2018Browse\u2019 button to point the tool at the firmware .bin fileClick \u2018Start\u2019 \u2014 the update will be applied to the Q5 in less than a minuteThe update tool\u2019s dialogue box will read \u201cFirmware upgrade finished successfully\u201d once completedDisconnect the USB cable and restart the Q5<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

I connected a dCS Network Bridge to the Q5\u2019s coaxial input to confirm that it could successfully decode a 24bit\/96kHz file. And it can!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s to happy endings.<\/p>\n

Further information: Rotel<\/a><\/p>\n

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