Modwright KWI200 vs Kinki Studio EX-M1+

stereo5, It's like tubes, really, but without the nose bleed upper end cost structure. Consider the stock opamps like the stock tubes in amps. 

I haven't heard the EX-M1+ but I owned the EX-M1 and although I loved 99% of its sound, it sounded a touch dry to me. I replaced the opamps and this helped but my subconscious kept telling me that something wasn't quite right. The best way I can explain it is that it sounded harmonically incomplete or overdamped and as much as I loved the amp I couldn't ignore this trait and ended up selling it. 

Once I hooked up my tube amp again, my subconscious relaxed and the nagging was gone.

However, the new owner of the EX-M1 likes it so much that he has now sold his tube amp.

dkerr, isn't that the way it goes? Audiophiles are always looking for something in the sound they don't have.  :) 

dkerr, isn't that the way it goes? Audiophiles are always looking for something in the sound they don't have.  :)

Indeed! And I'd like to thank you Douglas for your writings on your opamp experiments. They were very interesting and were the catalyst for me trying  them in the EX-M1 (as I REALLY wanted to be able to keep it and the opamp upgrades got me SO close). 

This looks like an older thread BUT I have owned both the KWI, and the Kinki. I paired them both with Dynaudio C1’s, and in my system the Kinki sounds much better. It took some break in, so be patient. It really opened up and smoothed out the sharp edges after 200 hours or so. It’s got plenty of reserves for the Dyns, and really shows off that lovely tweeter. BTW, I did roll in sparkolabs opamps, and it took the Kinki up a notch. Even more musical, well worth the small effort it took. What’s cool thing to be able to do to change the sound of an SS amp!
The KWI, on the other hand, I found a bit dry, kind of technical sounding with my setup. The thing is super well made, plenty of power, and I owned it for several years until I found the Kinki.