Kinki Studio's EX-M1+ Amp reaches Hegel H390 Sound Quality Territory

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

-------PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING, THKS-------: 1) *FURTHER ADVICE/INFO* : If you are asking for further advice or information that benefits you, other than product spec questions, I will respond privately if you support me by KZbin Super Thanks (click on heart above), PAYPAL, or Patreon (see description links). I ask for contributions as a) A private discussion / text chat is the best way to offer advice that suits specific needs and saves you money, and taps into my further thoughts and B) Videos take me 80-130hrs normally and I don’t have time and am starting the next one, so asking for contributions is reasonable from my perspective too and supports the sustainability of 13th Note where hifi reviewing is not lucrative at my stage. 2) *COMPARISONS* : If you are asking me how does X compare to Y that I haven't reviewed - I cannot comment. 3) *BE NICE* : explaining comments that add to the discussion are really welcome - no nastiness and hate please.

[@csszabi8779]

I tried to buy the best amplifier for my money. I am very satisfied with the Kinki EX-M1+.

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

You make such enjoyable product reviews! It's always light-hearted, yet thoughtful. Congrats for your great work, both style and substance!

[@markhershberger9477]

Simon, thank you for your review of the Kinki integrated and for your insights related to tone, imaging, and staging with it. Your videos continue to be engaging.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Mark

[@markcarrington8565]

Hey Simon, great review. Completely agree with you about the need for power in the system. I have Monitor Audio speakers in both of my systems and their specifications hide a dark secret in their personality. They are power fiends and only really come to party when the amp has a deep reserve to lift them from being tonally sweet to having real grip on the music.

[@kenjames246]

Thanks for your Kinki thoughts Simon. I always enjoy your reviews and the effort you put into them. Top of the class .

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much Ken 🙏😀

[@markkraft6675]

Many thanks for your reviews - compared to what we typically see on youTube, you're truly a first class act.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much Mark

[@xeniavader]

Chinese audio is taking over.... can't compete with China, and now the quality is superb (Kinki, Hollo audio, Denefrips, Willsenton). It's kind of sad for US and British classic brands (and European). Good video as always.

[@NeilLavitt]

You had lots of fun making this video. Good to see Chinese designs doing so well.

[@cameronkrause4712]

just looking at the construction of this amp one can see that a lot of care has gone into the design and construction.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I agree, even the silver horizontal pieces that fit the top plate to the insides , as you see on the internal segment, is anodised solid aluminium. How many western brands would just use a sheet piece of metal.

[@michaelfern945]

Excellent, witty and funny presentation. Thanks!

[@rajnishcmohan]

A Smartly tailored review .I own a kinki m1+with venus 2 dac on golden ear BRX ,just love the combo.

[@waiyeung7501]

Me too kinki n Venus 👍

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It sounds awesome with the may dac

[@johnb6677]

Plus you can roll op-amps with the EX-M1+. I added the Burson V7 Vivids to the amp and it made a dramatic overall improvement to the sound for an amp that already sounded great.

[@supernovaf1]

Another great review! Combine this with a well known brand's DAC and you have some Kinki Schiit! 😂

[@Hypofx]

great review detailed, i have the EXm7 power amp lovely too

[@SingaporeRealEstateHiFi]

Great review as usual and pretty entertaining, too :) I'm planning to partner this amplifier with ProAc D20R. The Proac is a little on the revealing side. Waiting for a demo at Vinshine Audio.

[@dougg1075]

It looks way better than Hegel. Way better

[@Mark-rw3kw]

On the outside or the inside? If you are talking about the inside, you are confusing "neatness" with sound quality. Those ribbon cables on the Kinki look very nice but have very thin wires compared to the Hegel internal wiring. I think the Kinki case looks very nice, but I don't like the front of the knobs, as I like the Hegel knobs better.

[@bmaietta]

Thanks!

[@riccitone]

Excellent review…at one point was considering this amp, but decided to go with separates. Btw, I too am a big fan of “weighty knobs” ❤

[@dougg1075]

Awesome in black

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I think they should make the gold cooling in different colours as bling might not be to all western tastes.

[@dougg1075]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 yes! Great idea. Mention it to them if you have a contact:) Black with polished inserts would be cool. Man I think I need to get this one. I bought the Chinese Wilsenton r8 and their LS/35a , so I might as well get this one because so far I’ve had good luck.

[@fizywig]

In terms of current being a factor in having good dynamic synergy between speaker and amplifier, Naim’s design(and profitability upgradability principle) of its amps incorporates extra power regulators to add, which controls the back and forward stability if signal- think of the power regulator as providing something to grip onto for added stability/ low distortion

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Do you work for Naim?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Anyone there…..a naim fanboy or employee maybe?

[@tntafoulis]

Nice structured review and editing! So for Buchardt s400 mkii which did you prefer? Hegel or Kinki? PS. Buchardt owner here which has an itch to upgrade from IOTAVX stack. Interested in low volumes particularly

[@IrenESorius]

Boys and their fascination of knobs,, 😅 Another masterpiece from the 13th Note Towers,, 👍‍‍🥰👍‍‍ Thank you again Simon, for awakening the "I waaaaant an aaaaamp" feeling to struggle with. 🤪 Cheers my friend,, 🍻😎👍‍‍👍‍‍

[@piker3000]

On my h390 I notice an almost distant nature of the upper frequencies on "ok" recordings as if you need to lean into the music to get to them. On great recordings at the same volume, you can sit back and they come to you. By way of an odd comparison, Pearl Jam 10 and Jeff Lorber's Flipside, can really highlight this change on my h390. Perhaps it's just the amp doesn't hide what it's being fed.

[@unklecorky2181]

Great review. Very curious how the kinki measures next to the Hegel H120. Especially in terms of electronic music and industrial.

[@peterprimes497]

It Sounds like according to your price specs at 16:28 the Kinki hasn't gone up in price at all looking at todays price of $2,998.00 USD. That's a pleasant surprise. Great video I've watched a few times. Thanks

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I’ve been wanting to try a pre and power set up recently to challenge my H390 again.

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

Great review as Ever. Check WestminsterLab as well. You might review them as well. Handmade and Engineered in Hong Kong 🇭🇰

[@pierrebruwer4301]

Thanks Simon , you power house.

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

Thanks for the review. Almost impossible to buy here (and most other places looking at their distributers). Out of my price range anyways (£2500 in the UK).

[@gaetancharbonneau3902]

Great find! The DC power filter option is quite smart. Depending on the quality of the power grid this could come very effective, delivering benefits to all the sources connected to the amplifier.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much. It’s more the dc that your home appliances put on the ac I think. I doubt it has heard benefits to sources, it’s more a transformer hum thing I think.

[@markd4292]

Loved the comparison w/ the Kinki vs Buchardt 1150; now I know to go for the Buchardt since my speakers (Sonus Faber Lumina 5) already have a tilted non irritating but smooth treble w/ awesome full midrange, seems like the more neutral and relaxing character of the Buchardt will suit my needs apart from the slightly 'forward' character of the Kinki. PS. One of the very few reviewers on the DT D11. Pretty cool speaker btw.

[@henriksrensen3220]

Hi Great review 👍 Have you listened to the Gryphon Diablo 120 integrated amplifier? It's amazing

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Henrik, I haven’t tbh.

[@robertward3362]

Nice review Simon. Had one of these. I gave it a fair crack of the whip . Sound was fine , but look it just left me feeling short changed. I felt it lacked emotion. It seemed energetic to a fault . It’s a hifi amp, if you get what I mean

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Robert, What did you compare it with ?

[@robertward3362]

I was using a Hegel 190 before this , I had the 190 for around 5months and loved it . Then I got a little bored , wanted to unleash the top end a little more , so gave the m1 a spin, and your right , it has great soundstage, nice treble , great dynamics. Speed. All the things I look for are there, so !?? Well I couldn’t bear it any longer. It can have all these attributes but if it doesn’t move you emotionally then is there any point?

[@Benvos]

@@robertward3362 really interesting, I tried the H390 against the Michi X3 and only connected emotionally with the H390 so bought that. The itch is a curse, if the music moves you in your rig then small changes should be the focus rather than the baby out with the bath water.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

My attitude is always to go with big changes as it’s easy to get low vfm in. Hifi but that’s just me . Each to own

[@robertward3362]

I was tempted to try the 390 and in hindsight would probably be 20 grand or so better off! But I’m on this journey now and I’m luvin it honestly. Each time I swap something out or upgrade the small improvements in certain Areas is so rewarding.

[@jacobpaternostro9109]

Thanks for the great reviews! Any thoughts on Denafrips Pontus II + Kinki EX-M1 vs Hegel 390?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you too. You are asking if the dac of the Pontus is the same as the Hegel. Contact me on free patreon and happy to chat and help.

[@davidrivera2165]

Thank you Simon for your review of the EX-M1. I'm debating whether to purchase this integrared or Musical Fidelity M6SI. Please let me know your thoughts as to which you prefer. Your sonic preferences are quite similar to my own. Thanks again for all you do for our community.

[@waiyeung7501]

Hi David, if you are interested I have an M6si for sale and I am based in the UK.

[@henriksrensen3220]

Easy choice if it was me. I will never buy chi-fi

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Ok but why?

[@henriksrensen3220]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 only based on ethical reasons. Quality is great I think.

[@jctai100]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 because it's popular today to blame all of society ills on the Chinese

[@markthambas2713]

Please review acoustic invader Simon, i want to know your opinion

[@Sunshine_Superman]

I'd consider the Mono Blocks. Think Vinshine are the distributers outside the UK? Oh you just confirmed. Never going to go down the over priced Willow Tree route though. Safyng that, no desire to swap out my amp at the moment. Mono blocks (including Kinki) are definitely one for consideration down the road though.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I’d like to try those monoblock amps they make, judging how good this amp is. I have suggested it to them.

[@Sunshine_Superman]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 hope you get them, would love to hear your opinion.

[@anjovandijk9797]

please post the updated answer regarding the float ground switch as soon as you have that information and if possible your thoughts on changing the op-amps which changes the overall sound like tubes do. would be highly appreciated if you could try that out and post you thoughts in a new video

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I’ll chase him up for a response.

[@MasterofPlay7]

Would be great if you can make a video on high power and hogh damping factor and with weak/anemic bass, i read your comment on one of the review and found it very interesting

[@hartyewh1]

The difference between the + and non-+ version seems to be only the HT bypass and preamp outputs so if one doesn't need those might as well go with the EX-M1?

[@golfjunkymusicjunky8370]

Ok I had the Hegel……and Nad 33 also. but the atoll in 400se beat the Hegel….and the rest …..money wise the much better choice than the kinki or the Hegel….or Nad…..off course imho…..

[@michaelmityok1001]

Lol dude love this vid!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Michael. Was fun making this one. The guy with the trimmer let me film behind him and I explained what I was doing. I did ask him to Rev it up for comedy value like Texas chainsaw massacre but he said he’d have to check with his boss. Lol. 🤣🤣😂

[@robintaylor3633]

Been subscribed for a while but my first comment. Looks a lovely amp and I must admit the display does attract me. But am I correct that the balanced inputs aren't true balanced. Really they should be at these prices. Overall though a great vid.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Hi Robin, I mentioned at the start they are not balanced xlr but at the end that I wouldn’t make it an issue. tbh it tends to yield small differences imo and the amp is already fantastic so genuinely I would not be too worried about it. Bw Simon

[@robintaylor3633]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 sorry mate yea I watched it twice and I understand what you're saying. It's just that it wouldn't add a lot to the price to make them balanced. Probably better off just to have RCA and leave out the balanced inputs. Not a criticism but a sort of WHY not.😀

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I think it’s just so you can use another input robin to give extra connectivity 😀 also may be technical reasons as to why not balanced but it’s still small fry.

[@CS-bz9lk]

@@robintaylor3633 actually requires doubling much of the component count. So not cheap

[@cliffd7164]

Curious to see you review the Kinki Monoblocks.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I asked but the distributor hasn’t replied as yet.

[@rog86]

Cool review...as always. Ive been interested in this amp recently, and i realmy like the pmc twenty 5 speakers. Would you say the pmc speskers like a little extra warmth, and if so, how was the kinki pmc combo, would it be good long term? Did you prefer the buchardt (a warmer speaker?)?. Thanks!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you very much, Please read my pinned amended comment.

[@michaelfern945]

Hi Simon. I'm buying the Hegel H390 (in part because of your great review of the product) and wondering if the XLR inputs are AES/EBU compatible?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Hi Michael, thanks for your praise of my review. Obviously analogue inputs but are you saying that because you are swapping aes ebu digital cables over to analogue use. You’ll probably be alright but I’d check with the cable firm.

[@michaelfern945]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Thank you Simon. Don't have AES/EBU cables so starting from scratch. Just ordered decent XLRs

[@James-mb5jr]

Great review with wit. How would you peg this Kinki amp on your totem pole of best amplifiers that you have reviewed? Thanks.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It is right up there. I tried to get more to try and rate them against my Hegel, as I suspected they would be better, sadly it hasn’t happened.

[@anjovandijk9797]

Your answer regarding the float ground switch

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

The distributor never replied after I chased it a few times

[@jonathanbishop6152]

Hi 13 Note hifi, I use naim amplifier a NAP300, it only has 90 Watts per channel but has more drive and control than many amplifiers of Higher wattage output. I think there's more going on in amplifiers and the way they control speakers and create dynamic sound/ speed/ drive etc. From my experience, I now buy speakers and amplifiers at the same time, to make sure they pair well, and I don't usually look at wattage or output, that can be misleading. I remember in the 80s watts were the big selling pitch, the more Watts the better and music power, I think that was totally made up. Anyway I like the videos you put out.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Jonathan, my point was on the grounds of dynamics in music and power it’s always good to go for most you can, but depends on the speakers too. You should look at wattage as if the voltage is similar - then current which is so good for most speakers, cannot be a function of anything else in the equation other than power. Slew rate is apparently very important but i look at it that, speakers as electro mechanical devices need current. I took some advice from a few hifi companies who make amps before this video and they all agreed with my approach.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Ps what speakers do you use?

[@jonathanbishop6152]

I used PMC twenty5 23 speakers

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Same as me obviously, With their sensitivity they definitely respond to more powerful amps. Pmc’s have always loved power and pmc will tell you that themselves. If you are nearby and U.K. based you are welcome to try. I’m in Sussex. In fact I’ve already had a subscriber around who has same speakers and we did a demo between the Hegel H390 and his musical fidelity M5si , he brought around, the extra guts of the Hegel was very obvious.

[@jonathanbishop6152]

Hi, I used to have a Hegel amplifier, it was the H360. I did find the sound a bit cloudy, and I eventually sold it. It didn't have the power of my naim amplifier , maybe the newer Hegel 390 is clearer sounding with more drive texture etc. I'm not that far away I live on Hayling Island. It would be interesting to compare the different amplifiers, my amplifier is really a 4 box solution, it would be very difficult to bring up to you and they need a good day to warm up, I think that is just a Naim thing. Maybe one day we could work something out to do a test. Anyway keep up the good content all the best Jon

[@cdbeen123]

Has anyone heard the Kinky EX M7? Just wondering how it compares with the M1 ?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No but I want to try more Kinkiness.

[@cdbeen123]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 please do especially the M7 , heard great things about it and it’s on my Amp shortlist, cheers mate 🍻

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@@cdbeen123 maybe, maybe ….

[@alphaniner3770]

I have an EX-M7 - with a Khozmo passive pre-amp. The M7 is a great amp - just a little bit more power than the M1 - but otherwise very similar I think. The M7 replaced my Cambridge Audio 851A Azure - that was struggling to drive my 4 ohm towers - it was running red hot. The M7 has absolutely no problem with that.

[@Hypofx]

i have one running with a Denafrips Athena great match

[@shughy1]

Great balance of info and the largely lost art of British style comedy 👍

[@2HatHudders]

Has anyone played this amp with electronic/hip hop/bass heavy tracks? I have a nice tube amp paired with triangle borea 8s, but Im loving for another amp to produce stronger dynamics

[@carsdankandchicks]

You said the Buchardt I150 is smoother and more tonally relaxed? That's surprising...how else do they stand apart would you say? Is the treble more harsh on the EX-M1+? Soundstage differences? I am particularly interested in the pairing with the S400ii. Love your videos Simon.

[@willmac5642]

Just come back to this review, as its one of the few well priced amps in Thailand. Op amp rolling cd get expensive tho..

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Go for it Will it’s a great amp at ridiculously good value. It’s a shame I can’t try anymore from this brand at the moment.

[@pwhittak88]

Would love to hear your view on Chords Ultima 6 amplifier

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It looks an interesting amp

[@pwhittak88]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I actually own one. Just would love to hear your view.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Paul, it’s hard to get products with so many review outlets. If you are U.K. based and near me (Sussex) you are welcome to bring it around or we could do swapsies.

[@pwhittak88]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 we had a chat at Bristol audio show in the past. I'm in Manchester not sure how far that is from you off the top of my head. Edit, OK your far :(

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Hi Paul, I remember when I was eating a sandwich I think. It’s quite a way but maybe another time if possible. 😀

[@robertwang7825]

It sells for about Pound2K in China ,I have heard it demonstrated at full power driving Magnepans and it has no probs ,it is a very stable int amp , goes abt its business with no fuss. They have even more powerful pre and power iterations if your pocket allows. Great for driving difficult loads and a bargain for the performance you get.Oh they use to make Goldmund knockoffs , so I guess they have a Swiss kind of sound.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

house sound - sometimes it can be the case other times big variations within a brand imo 😀

[@robertwang7825]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 True

[@E.T.Persson]

Great job thx! Im looking for an integrated amp to go with a streamer to run my Dynaudio special 40. They like current. What other amps should I check out? (I have tried the Bille amp mk2 and its great but class D doesn't do it for me) thx

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

If you want to contact me happy to chat . Simon at 13th note dot net.

[@abdoeraouftitus8066]

Hi great review aee that you have listen to all which one would you prefer for yourself thx boss

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

That’s one for patreon

[@robinfogalele4969]

Hilarious intro.

[@steveee2511]

the kinki looks very similar to avm gear from Germany

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It does I agree, I tried an Avm tube pre amp I liked some time back.

[@robertmarshall7712]

Good review. "...in a width wise way" bet you can't say that ten times fast after a few pints!

[@xPennyPackerx]

So what you're saying is that the Hegel has more imaging girth?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

The Hegel has soundstage created width ways and this amp goes deeper with more timbral info layered into recording. In contrast the Hegel is slightly gutsier with bass and tone is cleaner. It’s pretty even Steven’s in different ways. 😀🎵🔊

[@xPennyPackerx]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Just trying to add to the innuendo pile. You explained it well. Poor joke attempt on my part.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@@xPennyPackerx oh sorry good one…I’m a bit slow after about a 60 hour week doing this video. 🎶💕👍🔊🎵

[@HaraldBergTechTv]

I just wish it had hdmi earc as well.

[@liamporter1137]

🤣 and great review at the same time.

[@richardsaunders6471]

When I compare costs I take in out her factors. If it goes wrong can I take it back to a local dealer to sort. What is the resale value. I do the same with a car, expensive purchases which I want some reassurance of future value.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Imo Richard Hifi doesn’t really have high resale value like art etc at similar prices. It’s got high depreciation so we are always taking a hit when upgrading. Same with cars , huge depreciation. What’s more valuable is things like a transferable warranty. But the presumption that something could go wrong in hifi by branding/country or origin/less well known brands etc doesn’t really work in hifi. The stuff you’d expect to last goes wrong and otherwise not so. In this context, people are buying more stuff online and the point of having a dealer to take a big part of the margin of a hifi product that is already expensive and May or may not go wrong, but is mostly very reliable, makes no sense to me. Particularly as where I am we have refundable distance selling online and many purchases from hifi dealers are transactional in the internet world we live in. Also we have international air couriers and a small world. I’ve always found dealing with hifi brands direct in any sale is preferred because there is a direct customer to brand relationship, some hifi dealers are hit in miss in that they are trying to keep their brand account and consumers happy simultaneously and that can lead to conflicts.

[@anjovandijk9797]

Staccato

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

What does that mean?

[@anjovandijk9797]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Staccato plays the notes of music separately from each other. The length of each note shortens, and a short silence is heard between each two notes. The tempo of the track remains the same. that's the strenght of the EX-M1+

[@scottcarlon6318]

With the rate of change in hi fi year to year, why would anyone buy an amplifier with a built in dac ?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Not sure what you mean, sometimes I’ve found an amp with a dac punches above an amp with no dac.

[@dab9742]

On the other hand, in terms of build quality and the interior layout of the circuits, the Heigel is no match for the Kinki ! 😗

[@Mark-rw3kw]

You are talking about "neatness" not build quality. Neatness doesn't tell you about the quality of the respective parts. The Hegel has a lot more going on inside, and is not a stock off the shelf design (especially with the Hegel SoundEngine 2) like the Kinki that uses standard circuit board module designs. I can understand the appreciation of how an amplifier looks on the inside, but in most cases it has no relation to build quality or sound quality. For example, those very tidy ribbon cables on the Kinki linking the modules make the inside look nice and tidy, but the wires are very small in a ribbon cable and they don't necessarily provide better shielding than the wiring in a Hegel amp.

[@dab9742]

@@Mark-rw3kw Sorry to contradict you, but I've had both in my hands, and even opened the bonnets to have a look. The Heigel is very messy, the wiring is messy, the thickness of the sheet metal (steel) is thin, nothing like the Kinki. Even the Heigel's volume control (a key factor in the quality of an amplifier) is a simple standard potentiometer. Go and try for yourself, you're sure to change your mind, at least about the difference in build quality between these two devices. And look at the inside of a Luxman, one from Accuphase, we're well above the quality of a Heigel, and closer to a Kinki.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I thought the sound is at a similar qualitative level between these amps regardless of interior looks, as I said, which says something given the kinki is cheaper. Undeniably the Kinki is better made as I showed in the video too. The whole weight of the hegel rests on small 4 side screws as you lift it up from the side, which means these screws bear the hegels decent weight which I don’t like, so it’s best lifting from underneath. The screws have to be really tight which risks cross threading etc and you can sometimes feel the case move as you lift it, if not tight. The Kinki is solid aluminium and even those gold cooling panels inside are aluminium, with no similar issues with screws. What this means about sq to me and the units being equal, is that the kinki probably must use more premium components in a conventional feedback amp loop (which the Hegel doesn’t use with soundengine2). Therefore it need not be about a fancy amp circuit. Why is this? Probably due to the economies of scale of this Chinese brand, they’ve got fingers in other pies and that makes them very very competitive on price or enabling them to undercut others by using better components for less money. Strongly suspecting, and I know I’m surmising, this is what is going on. It does somewhat circumvent a clever design circuit. At the time I reviewed this I held the view the extra dac (about same as a chord qutest) and streaming capability substantiated the hegel price against the kinki, but since I reviewed the eversolo dmp-a6 I no longer think so as lots of people who buy an h390 get a streamer too. So you could get the kinki plus eversolo and it would be £1500 cheaper than a h390 in the uk, and even better in dollars. So more streaming features and similar sound quality for less. A friend of mine tried this kinki with his Wilson Tunetots and my Hegel at his place and we were struggling to differentiate the two on best sound, as I was when I was reviewing it, so he decided to buy one for great value. Ultimately if you like the Hegel sound and are prepared to pay for it, all power to you, but it would be remiss to not mention this same qualitative sound quality (I don’t review just on what I prefer) of the kinki, then let the viewer decide……Bw Simon

[@quinto34]

Great review, thanks! but bligh me, those are seriously ugle speakerstands 😁

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much….I think they are fab, industrial design.

[@hushpuppykl]

Found it to be a punchy sounding amp but tonally it’s on the cool side of neutral this giving it’s a vivid presentation. It’s great for pop music, fusion jazz, EDM etc. I don’t think it’s very natural sounding though. But it is a good amplifier.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I found that too but it takes a while to run in and once so it is neutral imo. I’ve been chatting to someone who bought one and agrees same. It’s similarly neutral to the nad m33, Hegel h390 but not the buchardt i150 which does depart a bit from neutral I found it more natural than the Hegel in some ways particularly the tone layering and depth I talked about. My comments of this quality are commensurate with the Steve Huff review

[@hushpuppykl]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 … fresh out of the box it’s harsh. But does get better as it runs in. Mine was run in for about 60 hours only. Perhaps needs more hours. 😬

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I found it unimpressive out of the box - relatively compressed and flat like new amps but I got to about 300 hrs with playing during the day and in the evenings doing the listening. Brand new products I leave on as well for a week or two

[@archstanton1628]

Cosmetic XLR inputs? For 3000 dollars? 😂

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Xlr and balanced connections are not the be all and end all. Using your logic you would miss a hugely capable amp for this money….

[@fletchermunson6225]

Sorry, I think I'm only capable of lifting the Kini shipping container.

[@tonyhodgkinson4586]

Nice looking design, but I’m right off ch Fi.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Oh don’t be Tony, this is an awesome amp. 🔉😀🎼

[@tonyhodgkinson4586]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 it does look rather nice

[@dougg1075]

I’ve heard wide is better than deep…. On soundstage! Sorry😂

[@aussie8114]

No tone control. No volume balance. I guess it is a lot like the Hegel.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I know you like them AUSSIE for your own reasons. Sadly or not, it’s pretty common not to have them which is I think more to do with sound quality because an argument is that tone controls in Dacs can add distortion. I’m pretty sure if in the digital domain that’s a position often stated eg chord mojo lossless dsp discussion around first lossless dac with tone controls. Not sure in analogue domain but tbh you can correct it in the dac / streamer which most will need anyway with streaming audio etc, so personally considering how good this amp is I wouldn’t make it an issue re purchasing decision.

[@aussie8114]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I guess it's up to the manufacturer to decide whether to include them or not. Some may decide to buy but others will decide to take their dollars elsewhere. Common sense says that not having either is limiting its usefulness. I’m going to check out the Michi next week, that has plenty of bells & whistles. A Michi with some Sonus Faber V. Who knows maybe the Holo Spring may be on the future shopping list too. I can get that on trial for a week from the local distributor.

[@williammilligan1451]

You can pick up a Schiit Lokius (equalizer), approx. $260 USD without remote. I found it makes a massive difference with poorly miked or mixed music. With remote, more than a grand.

[@aussie8114]

@@williammilligan1451 I know. The standard 6 band or the 6 band remote which is about $2,000 here. I will consider that one, but for now I use a Technics electronic EQ, works great. However to use an EQ you need to either be using an ext DAC or separates because amps these days have no tape out / tape monitor. I notice the Peachtree has a loop out, but no volume balance which is a bit weird.

[@johnb6677]

Plus you can roll op-amps on the EX-M1+. I added the Burson V7 Vivids and it made a dramatic overall improvement to an already very good amp.