@cd45123
Yes, I still have it but it's wounded, so I don't use it anymore. You see, I used it in the same place as my Marantz SA-15S2b and it overheated when I forgot to turn if off one night. The Marantz was kept on 24/7 for years and not one complaint but the the Kinki needs lots more space to ventilate (it's why they reconfigured the output devices to the side of the heat sinks instead of directly on top and exposing the heat sinks entirely on top).
It still sounds wonderful but when it begins to heat up (even now with nothing to block ventilation, the left channel goes out making some horribly scary noises. And before anyone asks, I've asked around and was told either that it'd be too difficult to fix [SMDs and all] and/or that they won't work on anything from China (this from a guy with a good rep for fixing things with name brands of all the gear he works on on his place of business and half of them are made in China).
All the best,
Nonoise
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Hello Charan,
I tried three different aftermarket fuses and ended up preferring the stock one that came with the Kinki. It's a non brand name, ceramic bodied fuse that gave me the best results, to my ears.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Hey Charan,
It's great to hear of another who's found joy and pleasure in such a great sounding integrated. Sometimes it takes a bit of a leap of faith to go on a review from someone else but it's nice to have a friend who can share it with you, making the decision a bit easier. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and just love the music it makes.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Same here. My Kinki runs dead silent with no noise even with my ear next to the speaker (JBL 4319, 92db). It could be some faulty connection with your cable leads so if you can, try any other cable, if handy, just to see if the noise is eliminated by swapping them out.
Next, take out the Bada LB-5500 conditioner and go straight into the wall and see how if the noise goes away. Other than that, I can't say, but it's a safe bet that it's not the Kinki.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Mik Powell, who sells the Kinki stateside, covered that a few posts ago, or came very close to it. He runs Magnapans with it and has no problem but feels the Kinki is current limited. I'd ask him for his take on how they'd pair with your Martin Logans.
Also, Alvin, who runs the business back in China, would by now, have customers who've tried the pairing. He responds quite quickly considering the time difference.
All the best,
Nonoise |
I can't answer as to how the Kinki will pair with your Martin Logans but as for the PADIS fuse, I ended up taking it out and replaced it with a Brimar fuse. At first, the PADIS sounded promising but after lengthy listening sessions, it never resolved itself to my liking. It was a bit too dark overall.
That, and PADIS are not like the SR fuses in construction and treatment.
By the way, you can't get Brimar fuses from overseas anymore.
All the best,
Nonoiise |
I, myself, can't explain it other than to say that with the -6db switch engaged, the volume will have to be turned up a bit more to hear things.
With your very efficient speakers, that would be a nice feature to have.
All the best,
Nonoise |
t_ramey,
I have the first issue/version of the EX-M1 which doesn't have the attenuation switch on the back so someone else needs to chime in on that one. Somewhere, in this thread or another, I think I remember someone stating what that value is.
The same goes for the power rating into 4ohms. On the 6moons review the guess is somewhere in the neighborhood of 350-400 watts.
Checking in with Mike Powell of Mike Powell Audio should be of avail since he is the distributor for Kinki here, stateside. I think you're really going to like it once you hear it.
All the best,
Nonoise
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Hey t_ramey,
I think you'll love the EX-M1 as much as I did, and still do. My speakers aren't as efficient as yours (mine are 94db) so yours will sing at the lowest setting of 1. Take advantage of the attenuation switch on the back lest you are startled by the first notes. 😄
As for the ability to use something like Burson's op amps, I was very tempted to try them out myself as it would be a very straightforward proposal/thing to do. But I'm getting such great sound out of it already which leads me to believe (momentarily) that it sounds that way by design and that fiddling with it would change things.
I've read that it has a Nagra like tube quality element to it's sound so it could be that the standard IC op amps are partially responsible for that.
If you do opt for the Bursons, please let me and anyone else who's curious know.
All the best,
Nonoise
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I just got the email from Alvin this morning....sorry. |
Hey! For all who were holding out on the Kinki EX-M1 because you preferred it in black, well, you now have that option. https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/kinki-studio-ex-m1 Just click on your color option and you’re off to the races. It’s a pre-order and it’ll take longer but once production runs are up, you can have that matching component for the rest of your gear. All the best, Nonoise |
It’s the 8A fuse. I believe Alvin told me it was 10A but both the active fuse and the spare one in the holder are both 8A. Also, it’s the smaller 5X20mm fuse, and not the 6.3X30mm fuse.
Expect a bit of a roller coaster ride as it breaks in due to the Rhodium plating but once it’s settled in, all will be fine. If you listen a lot, it should take no more than a couple of weeks but I’ve heard of a longer break in period.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Yes, I saw that and commented on how well the recording sounded even through your iPhone. I think you'd have to spend a bit to up the quality or have the chops to get into the recording before posting but what you did more than conveys the sound character of your gear. But then, I have something similar and know what to listen for. 😄
All the best,
Nonoise
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Yup. It’s the same vendor I bought from before. And it’s UL, PSE and SEMKO approved. If I had known the correct rating, I would have tried it earlier, tweaker that I am. 😄
All the best,
Nonoise |
Just for sh!ts & grins I went and ordered a AHP fuse to try out in my EX-M1. I was surprised to see that the fuse that comes with it is rated at 8A and not the 10A I was told, but no real bother. Substituting the AHP fuse for the stock one (a ceramic bodied fuse with what looks like normal end caps and no logo) left me a bit wanting.
Intelligibility (enunciation, etc.) was up a bit with what seemed a sharper focus but at the expense of weight or gravitas. Lower mids and bass were emasculated.
Feeling a bit let down, I was going to put the stock fuse back in when I remembered I had some other 8A fuses from other ventures. Remembering how solid the PADIS fuse sounded in my Marantz integrated and that it had about 2 months on it already, I put that in and it sounds, so far, like a killer pairing.
It's like the music put on about 10-15 lbs of muscle but lost not one bit of it's fleet-footedness. Extension, both ways, remains with some serious weighting of the music and all the exquisite highs and detail that originally are there, are simply enhanced. Sound stage is not affected one bit.
What used to sound like a stark, studio like presentation (a good thing) is now an in-the-room rendering. If you have the time and like to fiddle and tweak, getting a PADIS fuse is a cheap and easy fix. They're about $25 not including shipping and you can get them from eBay. Well worth it.
Access is easy as the fuse resides in the Furutech IEC inlet so you don't have to open the EX-M1 up.
I'd like to add that just listening to the radio with the enhanced nature of the PADIS, sent me back to my youth for a moment, bringing up memories of listening to my dad or uncle's radio, with that almost analog like sound of fulsomeness and warmth. sitting in the dark, and looking at the glow of the gear.
All the best,
Nonoise
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That image is almost like audio porn. 😄 |
Great to hear @uncola .
Sound like the system works.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Nice video you got there. 👍
I might have to play catch up. 🤔
The vocals came across nicely, despite your iPhone 7. 😄
The vocals have that "in the studio quality".
Clean and present, but not in your face.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Right now there's a video up over on Youtube by OCD HiFi Guy with the Kinki, a Jay's Audio CDT and a COS DAC with a pair of Maggie .7s and he loves what he hears. Apparently, the Kinki can make anything sound better. 👍
All the best,
Nonoise |
I believe it's going to transform you Harbeths to the degree that you'll think that maybe you should have passed on the JBLs.
Don't.
When you pair up the JBLs with the Kinki, you'll be glad you got both.
All the best,
Nonoise |
@d2girls,
Wow, to think you can get your hands on the JBL 4367 makes me wish I were richer and had the space to accommodate those speakers.
As to the compatibility, I don't see any problems. The Kinki will have excellent control over the woofer (the same one used in the K2) and should satisfy any kind of base you care to throw at it. I'm surmising this since the pairing works so well with my 4319 monitors.
As for the dual purpose upper range horn driver (it being a two way design), I can see you going through a bunch of different interconnects to get at the sound you want. That driver will be an honest and relentless purveyor of sound that may get too bright or edgy for you, and again, maybe not.
I say this as I went through a bit of a learning curve with my JBLs, and they don't use horns. Until I got the top line Darwin Truth II ICs, there's one singer I listen to that has so much power in her delivery that due to the way she's recorded, her higher range manifests SPLs that have too much presence compared to the rest of the range and kinda grates on the ears. Going to the Truth II ICs completely tamed it. All other ICs that I have had that bite to them, so pairing is important.
The folks at Music Direct are a great bunch to talk to and maybe giving Mike Powell a call could be of help. Also, if you're inclined, writing Alvin or maybe even Srajan at 6moons with your questions could be of help. JBLs are very big in the East so I'd imagine the JBLs in question have already been tried with the Kinki.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Sorry, that should be "my Marantz SA-15S2b".
One shouldn't type while watching TV.
All the best,
Nonoise |
If I had the space, I would. That, and I'm not sure if using SPDIF out from my Marantz SA-S2b would sound any better than just using it as is. What I hear is rather sublime, again, as is.
All the best,
Nonoise |
After having a black Marantz integrated all these years I was happy to get a silver Kinki EX-M1. But, to imagine how it would look in black.....
@coldears,
Good to hear your impressions on the Kinki. I totally agree with you on it's ability to separate and distinguish each and every piece of gear that's played stage.
No strange artifacts, affectations, or coloring to be heard. This reminds me of another thread where the OP was looking for "rich timbre" and how to get it. Just get the Kinki and fait accompli.
Each and every listening reveals details, nuances and clues that complete the image of what is being played. Realism is now a given.
The only thing left is to prepare yourself for a great time listening. 😄
All the best,
Nonoise |
What else can I say except that I thoroughly enjoy the Kinki EX-M1 and though it keeps getting better, one way now, another way later, I just take it all for granted now.
I'll put in a favorite CD and sit back to take it all in and remark to myself: wow, that's new. That about sums it up. It's still not fully matured but at this point, who cares? 😄 It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised.
All the best,
Nonoise |
So it's a SR power cord your'e getting......? 🤔 |
It’s a 10A slow blow fuse and I’ve yet to replace it. I asked Alvin what he thinks about fuses and he likes the standard, ceramic tubed fuses that you can get for around $2.00, which are a step up from the crappy glass fuses.
As to what Liu puts in the Kinki, I forgot to check out if he uses a better fuse or not. As heavy as it is, I’m reluctant to pull it out to check and see.
If it’s any indication, the Kinki, as is, is heads and shoulder above my Marantz Reference integrated even with the better fuse in the Marantz.
Fuses are my next project.
All the best,
Nonoise |
I agree too as I use TWL Digital American PCs on my Kinki and SACD player but the Cullen PCs can be had for about half the cost. 👍
All the best,
Nonoise |
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Even the manual that comes with the Kinki says to dump the "el cheapo" power cord. It's like using Secretariat to pull a buggy.
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Good ol' Slippin' Jimmy. 😄 |
I think people (myself included) have to reconcile the fact that the Kinki can and does generate heat but not unduly so. I thought it was a Class A/B design that operated in Class A for the first few watts and both Alvin and Mike have pointed out that it is a Class A input, Class B output design, and most Class A designs operate at higher temps.
And, Like Al points out, it's still within a very reasonable operating temp range. Take a look back at the photos of the interior and it would be easy to overlook those massive heat sinks since they look more artistic than functional. The unit also has corresponding vent holes, top and bottom, that match up to the ones in the heat sinks.
There's are a couple of owners who report no problem whatsoever with excessive heat and their units are out in the open but with moderate ambient temps. In my case, just a small fan directed at the back of the unit keeps it cool (as in not at all warm) due to the Kinki's location in my tight fitting media stand. If I had it out in the open, I wouldn't even consider a fan. It's all good. 👍
All the best,
Nonoise |
The resolving prowess of the Darwins are nothing short fo amazing, to my ears. The gauge of the individual wires (one for each leg) are very small, which makes them very labor intensive to work with.
You can't just grab any old wire from a parts supply store and slap some connectors and sleeves and be done with them. Tony Bender and Bill Magerman have some of the best ears in the business.
If detail, separation, layering, coherence, etc. are important to you, then by all means take advantage of their 30 day trial period.
All the best,
Nonoise |
@benlzy,
Thanks for the detailed comparison of the JOB INT and the Kinki. As @david_ten says, that power cord should make a difference on the DAC and may go a long way add some of that warmth you're missing.
When I upgraded the power cord on my SACD player the base went deeper and stronger along with increased dynamic and a fuller, overall sound.
All the best,
Nonoise |
@martine51,
I'd never steer you wrong. 👍 Not after the Kinki recommendation. I feel that what works for me can be of benefit to others.
@benlzy,
I don't have the newer version with the gain switch but even then, I've only had to turn it up to 80-90 when playing opera, to get close to the full effect of a live performance, but then, my speakers are 92db.
I did, however, go up to 200 with my older Clearwave Duet 6 monitors that are 85db and I could have went higher. With both speakers, it all depended on the recording, which can vary a lot.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Since my last posting I plopped in that Arye CD treatment disc again and let it run for another couple of hours and put on some Devil Doll and then some Stacey Kent and found myself sitting glued to my seat (more like melted into it).
The combo of the Kinki and the Truth II ICs have, for all practical purposes, erased my speakers as the source. I’ve never had this level of depth, image placement and separation, not to mention the usual line of "where did all that other music come from?"
LIke maritime51 says, it’s almost holographic. I’ve said this before whenever I’ve achieved a new level of performance but it’s never been more relevant than now, but this is why I love this hobby. 😄👍😄👍😄👍
All the best,
Nonoise
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The base I had with my Marantz was thicker sounding but not as deep, tight, detailed and textured as my Kinki. I'm getting mid range guitar notes that excite my wall heater that used to be excited only by the base.
It leads me to believe that what I used to love was a euphonically enhanced base that sure sounds nice but in the end, was not as accurate.
There's still some break in to occur now that I have the Truth II ICs so I'll have to reserve judgement some more.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Hey maritime51, it's reassuring to know that it's not all in my head. 🤪
As for drugs, and booze, for that matter, this Kinki could be one of the steps of a 12 step program towards a cleaner life. 👍
You'd be so taken by the music that it would be your escape for the drudgeries and vagaries of life, along with all those slings and arrows.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Listening to my Darwin Truth II ICs break in over this weekend was an eye (ear?) opener. They fully complement the Kinki's mission to bringing clarity to a level I've not experienced before.
They were good sounding out of the box but still needed improvement. Imaging was a bit too pinpointed (smaller than usual) and all except vocalists were a touch on the weak side of the equation. Twice I popped in the Ayre CD treatment disc and left it on silent repeat for an hour and a half twice, listening between treatments to check in on the progress.
It was when I popped in a Johnny Cash CD for my usual two reference songs that I ended up listening to the entire CD, glued to my seat. He and his accompanying players were in the room, performing before me. The same with Paris Combo and Sarah Jarosz. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that these Darwin ICs are an essential accessory to the Kinki, or to any system of a highly resolving ability.
As much as I loved the Darwin Ascension ICs, which were a big step up from their entry line Silver ICs, these Truth II are of the same magnitude better, if not more so. Sorry to sound like an advertisement but I'm as serious about these ICs as I an about the Kinki. They're a match made in audio heaven.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Rest assured, it's real. 👍
Mine is bordering on the spooky side of realism, forcing me to rethink a whole lot of things.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Al has already replied to my concerns about the heat generated by the Kinki and that some gear he has operates at around the same temp and not to worry about it.
Being in Hawaii with such ambient heat would be a concern but of no more concern than owning tube gear, I suspect. Where I live, in L.A., it's more humid than usual and due to the confines of my media cabinet, the Kinki does get hot so I just clipped on a small fan to the back of the stand and aimed it at the back of the Kinki.
There's enough space around the unit to vent with forced air and it cools down very quickly to just barely warm. If I were able to have it in a larger cabinet or on top and fully exposed, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd just point a fan at it from a distance and that should put to rest any concerns you have about the heat.
All the best,
Nonoise |
I'm using Darwin Ascension ICs and right now I'm breaking in a pair of Darwin Truth II ICs. My speaker cables are Cabledyne Silver Synergy.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Nope. I use silver cables exclusively and they're's not high pitched at all. They are very accurate. When horns play, they have that brassy sheen and corresponding SPLs like you'd hear in a small, live jazz venue.
Female vocalist with great range also have the appropriate SPLs and can sound forward but not offensive. Bass is also deeply extended, textured and full. Separation and layering are top notch. Dynamics too.
I've had silver cables that didn't do the trick and were bright or etched and caused listener fatigue. I've also had some that sounded just like copper cables. My present cables don't.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Yes, agreed. Mass strings are something to behold with the Kinki, or any amp designed like it. To get more than a taste of the high end (a term so often overused) at it's asking price is a no brainer.
When played, you can hear and appreciate the width and depth of the string section and the nuances and techniques employed. On Rachel Podger and the Brecon Baroque's Vivaldi's Le Quattro Stagioni, on Winter, Allegro, at the end of the assault the player on the right sounds like they busted a string with that last drawing of the bow. Either that, or they strike the body of the instrument. It's there every time and clear as a bell. It's that added realism that draws me in.
And yes, if you want that tube sound, go with tubes. 😄
All the best,
Nonoise |
@coldears,
I can't say you'll ever arrive at a tube like sound but in my experience the sound does mature and takes on some gravitas to add to the slight warmth that it already has.
I personally use Darwin ICs (Ascension and very soon, Truth II) that despite the bad rap of poorly implemented silver ICs, conveys a tremendous amount of texture, depth, tone and extension in both directions. Stir in the added layering and detail and it goes a long way to what is a satisfyingly realistic depiction.
My speakers aren't as efficient as yours, being only 92db, but with the JBL's 12" pulp paper woofer, a surfeit of natural tone is produced and with the Al/Mag mid and tweeter, everything above the base simply shines and doesn't grate. Decay and ambience can give one pause.
Yes, it was engaging and somewhat forward compared to my Marantz, but after a while, it relaxes and fills out but never loses it's ability to resolve while carrying the extra weight it accrues as it matures.
I hope your experience will mirror mine.
All the best,
Nonoise
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Sorry to hear that d2girls. I hope the Pass gives you lots of listening pleasure. Like you, I felt the 215W of the Kinki would be overkill with my JBL 4319s as they are 92db efficient but the pairing far exceeds any question about all those watts just idling by.
Maybe someday Kinki will make a lower powered integrated for even less money and then you can enjoy what it has to offer. It's really sublime.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Everything is system dependent. One change can alter the balance. I still have my old Clearwave Duet 6 monitors that sounded fine with my old Marantz. They were similar in sound to my JBLs but at a smaller scale.
With the Kinki, it's not the best match. That high damping factor doesn't pair well with the ceramic drivers so it doesn't sound as good as it used to. Maybe it's not the Kinki's damping factor or the ceramic drivers that's at fault for the mismatch but something's amiss with the pairing. It could very well be the speaker cables. It might take copper cabling to do the trick.
I noticed just how revealing the Kinki can be with cabling when I broke one of the connectors internal joints of my Darwin ICs while swapping them out. It was an Ascension line so I went with one of their basic line ICs that I use for the tuner and the sound went a little flatter, darker, and less revealing of all the things I like with the Ascensions.
The effect was immediate and obvious to the point where it's not all that engaging anymore. I'm spoiled, I'll admit it. Happily, Darwin will fix it for free so I mailed them out and should get them back in a week or so.
On the upside, while I was talking to Tony Bender, of Darwin Cables, I noticed on their site that there's a Specials Section and their top of the line Truth II RCAs had a B-stock version at such a discount that I couldn't resist so now I"m preparing myself for better things. 👍
It's quite the rabbit hole, isn't it?
All the best,
Nonoise
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Hey everyone. I figured out why my soundstage was creeping over to the right. It was not that CD from Japan after all. All of my music was starting that rightward march bit by bit and it was driving me crazy.
It turns out that every time I pulled that heavy maple media stand out to get at the cabling (think pivot), when I put it back I neglected to notice that it was now an inch or so to the left. Having that big, reflective OLED TV in the middle acted in a negative way as never before.
In total, with all the pivots, it was about half a foot to the left of where it should have been and that was all it took to throw off the soundstage. With my Marantz, it was never that critical but with the Kinki, it needs to be right.
Another face palm moment brought to you by the exacting nature of he Kinki EX-M1.
On a positive note, there is now a maturing of the sound to compliment the other positive aspects (sound staging, separation, detail, etc.) It's like it's going through puberty into adolescence. Fulsome and robust, even with the small stuff. There's an ease to the gait of the music that's now almost animal like (natural and unforced).
I like. 👍
All the best,
Nonoise |
Thanks maritine51. It's not easy to wholeheartedly endorse something without that nagging little voice in the back of your head saying, "maybe it's just you...." 😉
All the best,
Nonoise |
