Made in China
Contents
A pre-out and a home-theatre bypass were provided to meet a number of customer requirements. Hence the + in the EX-M1+. But connecting a power amplifier to this seems completely unnecessary because this amplifier produces 215 watts in 8 ohms and 350 watts in 4 ohms. These watts are, rather unexpectedly, not in class D but in class A/B, with of course the first watts in pure class A. If you don’t need the pre-out and home-theatre bypass then take the regular EX-M1. The most striking element at the back, however, is their slogan that proudly states: ‘Kinki Studio, we come from China!”
The volume control is not done according to a traditional potentiometer but via an R2R micro-processor that digitally controls the volume. This gives us no less than 256 steps in which a slight click is audible each time. A digital volume control, if properly executed, provides excellent performance and has a number of advantages. Think of better channel separation and less noise development. We have no complaints about the implementation on the EX-M1+.
Availability
On the website we see a row of top brands (Neutrik, Furutech, Amplino, Nichicon) to indicate that only the best components were used. All in all, this creates a premium feel and this amplifier is nowhere inferior to more established brands. All of the above creates confidence but does not guarantee that the view will be top. Still, it shows that Kinki Studio tries to build the best possible puristic amplifier at the best possible price. And no one can be against that.
Meanwhile, a number of international importers have been recruited to distribute the products in a decent way. For our regions – BeNeLux – , this is Boelsz Audio that specializes in affordable hi-fi from China. Because delivering directly from the factory is one thing, but paying about 3000 euros for something you’ve never heard or seen is not something people should do carelessly. And buying based on reviews is, especially in this price range, not wise. No matter how well they’re written…
What a review can do is trying to put a potential buyer in a certain direction. Suppose you want a device with digital inputs. Then the story already stops here. Or you still like a phono stage and headphone jack built in? Again end of story unfortunately. But for a powerful, affordable analogue amplifier, you’re in the right place at the Kinki Studio.
Hi Jaap Veenstra,
Which one of the amp you prefer for Kef R3 meta, Kinki EX M1+ or Naim Supernait 3 + Hi Cap-DR(I have him) or Hegel H390 or H400?
Thanks
It completely depends on the sound you are looking for. Kinki is more open and airy. Naim tends to lean more towards PRaT; kick and fun. Hegel is more controlled and dry sounding maybe.
Thank you,
I will look into Yamaha 3000,
For you which one sounds less sharper H390 or Kinki, how would you describe their differences in a general manner if possible ?
Thank you
Thank you for the suggestions Jaap Veenstra
Warm regards
Welcome!
Hi Jaap Veenstra,
It is me here again, sorry to bother you with my questions:
It is that just sold my Kinki M1 and first wanted to ask you how do you compare the sound signature of the Kinki vs the H390 ?
The NEW Kinki has 400VA per channel vs 300VA of the one i just sold, Kinki claims is “calmer” and with a bit more drive, and dont get me wrong i loved my Kinki but wanted a bit more specially that fuller sound, my PMC Twenty5 26 are super fast and transparent and sometimes i felt the combination needed a bit more of air specially in the High frequencies where it can get a bit incisive sometimes, you told me the H390 is not the smoother one, but to clarify, is it smoother than the Kinki, would help me describing the difference sound wise between the two ?
In the other hand i am also considering (for better possible SQ ) the Kinki M7 with Denafrips Athena Preamp…but if it is possible i want to keep it simple with the Integrated path
Thank you very much
Miguel
Questions are always welcome!
Hegel has a lot of drive. But it’s not the smoothest or most refined. But it’s fun and dynamic. If you want fast and smooth, go for a Yamaha 3000-series. But that one doesn’t have a dac… Don’t know if you need one?
Greetings,
I have a Kinki Ex-M1 and i want to upgrade, i see in this review that is compared with the Hegel H390 which was the unit i was aiming for to upgrade over the Kinki, but i m reading that they are contenders, so my question is regardless of the versatility of the H390 having a DAC & Streamer, how do they stack sound wise ONLY, is it worth to upgrade to the Hegel H390 for the sound over the EX-M1 ?
Thank you and hoping you guys are doing fine ih this contingency
Warm Regards
Miguel
Hi Miguel,
Thank you for your question. Honestly: I think it will mainly be different. Not better or worse. The Hegel mainly offers more connectivity, but not really better sound quality.
Hello Jaap,
Thanks for your feedback !
Some have claimed the Hegel is smoother, do you agree ?
The only think i would like a little a bit more on my Kinki is to be more meatier and a bitty smoother, my PMC Twenty5 26 could benefit on that i guess, any suggestions ?
Kinki has evolved both Kinki EX-M1 & EX-M1+:
—-“The new EX-M1 sounds calmer due to the quieter background. Also has more drive due to the higher power encapsulated transformers and 50% more of the capacitors reservoir. There is also improvement to the amp circuitry, preamp and input selector boards”—-
Regards
Miguel
I wouldn’t say Hegel is the smoothest sounding amp I know. The Yamaha 3000-series for example is a lot smoother than the H390. I don’t know how that matches on the PMC, but that one is magical on the Focal Sopra. But I guess you need a bit more control in the bass. In terms of control Hegel is very good. But another brand that is well known for control is MOON. You could check that out. It’s a bit smoother than Hegel ánd has the bass-control you need with PMC.
Thank you,
I will look into Yamaha 3000,
For you which one sounds less sharper H390 or Kinki, how would you describe their differences in a general manner if possible ?
Thank you
Thank you for the suggestions Jaap Veenstra
Warm regards
Welcome!
Hi Jaap Veenstra,
It is me here again, sorry to bother you with my questions:
It is that just sold my Kinki M1 and first wanted to ask you how do you compare the sound signature of the Kinki vs the H390 ?
The NEW Kinki has 400VA per channel vs 300VA of the one i just sold, Kinki claims is “calmer” and with a bit more drive, and dont get me wrong i loved my Kinki but wanted a bit more specially that fuller sound, my PMC Twenty5 26 are super fast and transparent and sometimes i felt the combination needed a bit more of air specially in the High frequencies where it can get a bit incisive sometimes, you told me the H390 is not the smoother one, but to clarify, is it smoother than the Kinki, would help me describing the difference sound wise between the two ?
In the other hand i am also considering (for better possible SQ ) the Kinki M7 with Denafrips Athena Preamp…but if it is possible i want to keep it simple with the Integrated path
Thank you very much
Miguel
Questions are always welcome!
Hegel has a lot of drive. But it’s not the smoothest or most refined. But it’s fun and dynamic. If you want fast and smooth, go for a Yamaha 3000-series. But that one doesn’t have a dac… Don’t know if you need one?
Greetings,
I have a Kinki Ex-M1 and i want to upgrade, i see in this review that is compared with the Hegel H390 which was the unit i was aiming for to upgrade over the Kinki, but i m reading that they are contenders, so my question is regardless of the versatility of the H390 having a DAC & Streamer, how do they stack sound wise ONLY, is it worth to upgrade to the Hegel H390 for the sound over the EX-M1 ?
Thank you and hoping you guys are doing fine ih this contingency
Warm Regards
Miguel
Hi Miguel,
Thank you for your question. Honestly: I think it will mainly be different. Not better or worse. The Hegel mainly offers more connectivity, but not really better sound quality.
Hello Jaap,
Thanks for your feedback !
Some have claimed the Hegel is smoother, do you agree ?
The only think i would like a little a bit more on my Kinki is to be more meatier and a bitty smoother, my PMC Twenty5 26 could benefit on that i guess, any suggestions ?
Kinki has evolved both Kinki EX-M1 & EX-M1+:
—-“The new EX-M1 sounds calmer due to the quieter background. Also has more drive due to the higher power encapsulated transformers and 50% more of the capacitors reservoir. There is also improvement to the amp circuitry, preamp and input selector boards”—-
Regards
Miguel
I wouldn’t say Hegel is the smoothest sounding amp I know. The Yamaha 3000-series for example is a lot smoother than the H390. I don’t know how that matches on the PMC, but that one is magical on the Focal Sopra. But I guess you need a bit more control in the bass. In terms of control Hegel is very good. But another brand that is well known for control is MOON. You could check that out. It’s a bit smoother than Hegel ánd has the bass-control you need with PMC.