CHoco Sound EMEI Integrated Amplifier Review

[@hachi8137]

Thank you for the review. I have just bought Choco Sound amp to pair with my old Monitor Audio RS6 floor speakers along with Gustard R26 dac. Do you think this match is ok for slow jazz and female vocal music.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks for the donation. Do you want to sign up to the free trial on my patreon. Do that mentioning your post and happy to chat there. 😀🎼

[@zombielandiii2711]

Hello, something to share about your CHoco yet?

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Very cool looking. That green gunmetal is eye catching too. Like the glass top panel too but agree the top is strange. Looks like it should open up. Thanks for another informative video.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks, I defo think the green is nice looking. They should do it in other colours too.

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

@@13thnotehifireviews7agree looking forward to your review of the Arendal 1723 S monitors.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Have done that one already 👍😀

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🤗 THX SIMON FOR SHARING THIS WITH OUR COMMUNITY 👍💚💚💚

[@bruceandt]

Been watching the reviews on this little gem. Research revealed that it had a low microfarads capacity of only 2200. “ Reservoir capacity”. I emailed Ken G from Kinki studios and mentioned this. I got an email back from him with good news. He thanked me for my comment and said they made an improvement in reservoir capacity. Now 6800 microfarads. He went on to say that it was a good improvement and needed.

[@santinonn]

so what happen with the old models that only had 2200? could this be risky or what? planning on buy an used one that i think doesnt have the upgrade.

[@IrenESorius]

If I were a Star Wars Stormtrooper, thats the amp I would go for,, 😅 Thank you for your work and time, Mr Best HiFi Reviewer,, 👍‍‍🌟👍‍‍

[@luisancheta7524]

Hi Simon. I’m just wondering if price is no object will you prefer this Choco EMEI to Hegel H190. I want to know which will be tricky to pairings with different speakers and other gears. Thanks!

[@Alextraz]

Any comment if this will be a good match for Kef R3 meta? I like vocals to be slightly forward and I mostly listen to jazz, soul and so on. Looking for adding more richness and body to the sound of the kefs. Currently using old arcam A19 amp which is doing well but i kind of expect that more powerful amp will elevate the speakers ...

[@zombielandiii2711]

Hello, Hope you can help me with this.. Im going to buy my very first DAC and have this amp. Which one you recommend? A "resolving detailed" one or "musical" one? My speakers are somewhat neutral, so I'm worried if this amp combined with a warm DAC is going to be too much. Thanks for your time.

[@stephencosta6814]

I think I would go with some more details analytical dac

[@santinonn]

Do you think this could be a good match with a focal diablo utopia colour evo? since focals are on the bright side and this is warmish, what do you think? planning on buying this used for 1k to try

[@xstensl8823]

how would this compare to my Rega?

[@alanmodimages]

I really appreciate you highlighting some music that is meaningful to me! I have the original Trans Europe Express album on vinyl! I have been looking for an integrated to pair with my DJ equipment (Technics 1200's and an Allen and Heath Xone mixer. Also running Native Instruments Traktor Software), but I am continuously frustrated by all these reviews waxing poetic about the wonderful warm mids for female vocals and gently rolled off treble. This does NOT work with House Music and Electronica! I may just have to go the way of your Patreon, Simon. It's like none of these reviewers have ever been to a night club or rave in their life :)

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks Alan , when I was a teenager my most memorable experiences of electronic type music was seeing the likes of The Prodigy live and Mr C from the Shamen at the Braintree Barn in Essex. The early days of acid house around 89-90. It informed my tastes into electronic house and dance music that came in the 90s. But it also has tremendous melody a lot of it so there is so much cross over from kraftwerk to Vangelis and maybe all the cliched stuff. A guy at the Ascot hifi show was telling me he thought any electronic or dance music through a hifi can’t show it off….wtf? 😀

[@alanmodimages]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 LOL! It can stress a hifi system like a good symphony. Yes. I grew up in Detroit and came of age during the birth of Techno and Chicago House, but also during the rise of Pat Metheney and Sade. I hope I don't have to spend $1M to cover all of my bases, but the compromises at the sub $1,500 or even $2,500 are a bit frustrating... and don't get me started on speakers...

[@E.T.Persson]

Thanks

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No problem

[@riviirich]

How would you describe the differences in sound between this Choco and the Kinki M1 integrated? Thanks

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I think that comes across in respective reviews but for more….patreon.

[@stephennarayan]

Hi Simon, would like to ask you a bit more of your impression of this amp with your PMC Twenty5 23. I find that speaker is a little harder to drive in my system. Does the CHoco have any issues since it's filter capacitance is lower than other amplifiers? If you have any more impressions I would like to hear them.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I do advice on system components on Patreon Stephen. You can update it from the free sub you have to the paid one. I don’t do free advice outside videos anymore.

[@stephennarayan]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 sounds good thanks

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Just replied second message

[@raiflores1833]

Hey I see a picture of Chapman. Where is that signal coming from. Looks sweet AF!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

From Mr Apparition.

[@raiflores1833]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 for reals. I have this amp and need this feature.

[@abacar6134]

Nice review 👍

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@roderickdeleeuw2101]

Your ‘partner in crime’ the ever decent British Audiophile mentioned a ‘weird nasal sound at times’ (paraphrased). Did you notice this as well? Or is it related to the description of female vocals?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Didn’t notice that. Its obviously so speaker dependent too. I don’t tend to go with overly florid language in describing sound.😀

[@roderickdeleeuw2101]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Got it. PMC cannot miss you’d say 😉. Any idea btw on why this amp performs so well? From a technical perspective (micro farrad/transformer size) it doesn’t come across as anything crazy. Sometimes even below par. What makes it so special in your opinion?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Prob Chinese economies of scale. I don’t too search for technical reasons as to why something sounds good or not. If you think of it , think of all the variables that are multiplied to create sound quality and realise how prediction is nigh on impossible. That’s why it’s always a game of experiencing hifi yourself

[@fon75]

Why does muffled sound mixed with noise and distortion always give good reviews all over KZbin?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I thought this wasn’t the proposition of the ex-m1+ so I gave it a fair review but sound quality is subjective with consensus groups on what is favourable. It’s not objective that just because it may not measure well it doesn’t sound good.

[@muzammelhaquemukul7089]

Is it capable to drive 4 ohm speaker?

[@justasimplefox]

Based on the very small capacitors (4400uF?!)I have my thoughts, probably the reason why they don´t mention it..

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Not many people will be using 4ohm speakers which would be very unusual with a small form factor amp like this in any event.

[@muzammelhaquemukul7089]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Understandable but still it’s a missed opportunity for people who would have considered it for speaker for an example like Kef R3 meta

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Seldom can amps be all things to all men anyway

[@FukemStudios]

From what i was told most Amp manufacturing has stopped promoting there 4 ohm ratings. Because most manufactures was lying about there 4ohm ratings to get sales. So they claim in 2023 if you see a 4 ohm power rating its probably hyped to get you to purchase🤔

[@ianjones1034]

I wonder at what price point one can definitely say that's what the artist intended it to sound like ?

[@michaelmityok1001]

Could use some more capacitors but still seems good value.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I thought it extremely good value Michael if the sound you are after is this type.