Kinki EX-M1?

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by ufospls2, Apr 17, 2019.

  1. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Looks like Charisma Audio is the North American distributor for Kinki. I’ve contacted them about a loaner tour for their headphone amp. I think they just haven’t updated their main site to show the brand but you can buy their gear on the web shop.

    https://charismaaudio.myshopify.com/collections/amplifer
     
  2. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Update: I emailed the previous distributor about the Kinki situation in the US and regardless of how people feel about him, I do appreciate his honesty. He said he was very happy with the performance of the Kinki amps, sold quite a few of them and his customers were very pleased with them. He said they are tough to beat for the price and are very well built. He was also happy with the company owner and had a good relationship with him.

    However, he decided to no longer carry Chinese hifi components in general for political reasons and didn’t want to support the Chinese government. He didn’t go into details but I suspect this was motivated by the situation in Hong Kong. This was a very recent decision. He wished them the best and said he still strongly recommends their products if you don’t have an issue buying from a Chinese company. He wasn’t sure if there was a new US distributor coming but he said Alvin at Vinshine is a good guy who will take care of you. Just thought I’d share.

    There does seem to be a push back against Chinese companies in the hifi market due to escalating political tensions. This bums me out because the quality of Chinese components seems to be going up and the prices are staying very reasonable. I’d love to buy American and European but I’m a student so I need to stretch my hobby dollars as far as they can go.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    My warning with up-and-coming ChiFi gear is to avoid unless one or more of the following are true:

    1) It's cheap, so you don't care if it breaks, e.g. Nobsound JLH 69 amp
    2) The manufacturer has a long history of existence and servicing customers (Audio-GD)
    3) The manufacturer has dedicated local representatives (Matrix), not fly-by-night arrangements with dealers that come and go.

    This is why I really don't want to use SBAF loaner funds for Kinky amps or LKS DACs. Warranty? WTF is that? Anytime I hear "the distributor handles the warranty" with ChiFI products, I run away. The legal frameworks and customary practices around commercial transactions and servicing the customer are non-existent in the modern China Empire. If you want something made right by the manufacturer, you walk up to the owner and offer to break his legs. This is harder to do if you are 5000 miles away.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2019
  4. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Then buy used, quality gear from reputable companies with adequate customer support networks or that are easily serviceable.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    ^ you posted before I did.

    I was going to say that starving students should consider used Classe, Bryston, Schiit, QSC, Crest, Odyssey, Emotiva, Vincent Audio, etc. instead of $2400 ChiFi amps.
     
  6. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Speaking as a student whose entire rig is decent brands bought used off SBAF... Lol.

    The above is all excellent advice :p
     
  7. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Thank you all for the advice.
     
  8. ufospls2

    ufospls2 Friend

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    Thankfully haven't had any problems with my Kinki EX-M1 so far. Time will tell I suppose. I agree with Marv that used more reputable established brands are probably a good idea. However, I'm dumb, and wanted to take a chance on "good sound for the money" or whatever.

    I may get burned by this choice in the long run.

    So far the Kinki still sounds great to me for what its worth. I really like it.
     
  9. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Well as long as Charisma keeps Kinki as a brand, you’ve got 3 years of warranty coverage.
     
  10. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    For bang for the buck things, no (less-known) boutique products can beat established/verified/confirmed brand products if
    1. buy used
    2. AND/OR hidden costs ('true' warranty, shipping, uncertain quality, etc etc) incorporated in cost-performance measure

    I believe the best part of going for "Chi-Fi" is NOT the best bang for the buck BUT (rather) kinda gambling or discovering pleasure. The latter could be a part of this hobby. I admit, and indeed am enjoy it. Mostly things don't work as intended (trade-off at best), but when works, there's very different kind of fun from the guaranteed products (such as Schiits). It must be irrational or insane.. but tempting. lol

    That said, I don't think Kinki is for starving students. It seems to serve those who seek for undiscovered difference (if not better), have fat cash, and are risk-favoring.
     
  11. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

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    Kinki is top tier.
    If they somehow manage to establish a good network covering warranty and repair issues they are going to be very soon mainstream.
    In the meantime it's still some kind of risk.
     
  12. Samoyed

    Samoyed New

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    Frankly, I wouldn’t believe the guy if he said the sun was shining.
     
  13. Wilhelm E Vormer

    Wilhelm E Vormer New

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    Bit late to the kinki party.

    Has anyone tried 'rolling in' different op amps? Ie Burson v6 classic (if compatible)
     
  14. DSK666

    DSK666 New

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    Yes, I've done this over the last few weeks (inserted 1 x Burson V6 Classic dual opamp, then 4 x Sparkos Labs SS3601 single opamps 2 weeks later). In short, both steps made significant improvements and made an excellent amp even better. I had found the EX-M1 just slightly "dry" for my taste and wanted a touch more warmth and body (I was coming from a neutral-ish sounding tube pre-amp and tube power amp combo). The V6 Classic dual opamp did this perfectly, returning a bigger improvement than I had anticipated, then the Sparkos opamps added even greater clarity, detail and presence without shifting the tonality.

    I'll try to write up the changes in more detail over the coming days when I get some time.
     
  15. Zitoun

    Zitoun New

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    Any news on the EXM1 and new opamps ?

    - I have ordered a Burson Dac comp 3 with 2 additional dual classic v6 opamp.
    - I would like to couple the kinky EXM1 with Gr research otica mtm + servo subs
    - the open baffles speakers will be already neutral and fast (I am kind of addicted to this, especially with electronica)
    - As mentioned by many reviewers, the EXM1 drawbacks are a lack of warmth, density in upper midrange, and scale in the soundstage.

    Do you think adding 4 classic opamps in the burson dac, and/or adding 5 vivid classic opamps in the exm1 would address these issues ?
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020

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