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Kinki studio EX-M1, EX-M1+ differences... vs Denafrips Hestia/ Hyperion combo?

I've been reading up on some Integrated Amps and Pre-Amp/Amp combos lately but have some questions.

The following is an excerpt from SoundStageHifi:
The original EX-M1 was introduced in 2017. The newly updated EX-M1 — without the “+” — costs $2398 and includes, among other things, changes in the power supply, capacitance, and the volume control, the latter now using a MUSES72320 controller instead of the previous relay-based control. The EX-M1+ is essentially identical to the upgraded EX-M1, but adds a preamp-stage output and a home-theater bypass to entirely bypass the preamp stage.

That last sentence has me a little confused. 
"The EX-M1+ is essentially identical to the upgraded EX-M1" - What is the "upgraded" EX-M1?  Does this mean that the latest version of the EX-M1 has all the updates that they just covered preceding this statement?

The 2nd half of the statement says " but adds a preamp-stage output and a home-theater bypass to entirely bypass the preamp stage." - You'll have to excuse my ignorance.  Does this mean that I can add a pre-amp in the future and use the EX-M1+ as a Power Amp?  Also, does this mean that I cannot add a pre-amp to the EX-M1 (non-plus)?

At this time, I don't have hard to drive speakers, and I don't foresee having something like that anytime soon, so I was also considering the Denafrips Hestia/Hyperion combo.  I haven't seen any reviews comparing these 2 company's offerings... any feedback is appreciated.

jwlaudio
jond's avatar
jond
5,847 posts
 
The original EX-M1 was introduced in 2017. The newly updated EX-M1 — without the “+” — costs $2398 and includes, among other things, changes in the power supply, capacitance, and the volume control, the latter now using a MUSES72320 controller instead of the previous relay-based control. The EX-M1+ is essentially identical to the upgraded EX-M1, but adds a preamp-stage output and a home-theater bypass to entirely bypass the preamp stage.


This seems pretty clear to me the latest version of the EX-M1 has those updates to the power supply capacitance and volume control. The + version has those updates but also adds a preamp out and a home theater bypass. The preamp out allows you to use an outboard amp and the bypass allows you to run an AVR  or something to control multiple speakers in a HT setup.
regismc
112 posts
 
Hestia and Hyperion r the choice for my Zu DW’s.  Let ‘em run n, they gotta lot of caps; so for a good month.  The pair is smooth, organic, open, dynamic and powerfully musical.  The midrange is excellent.  If you’ve played around with tube and ss amps for a while, you may find the Denafrips sound to provide that ‘just right’ sound.  Organic and dynamic, with a wide soundstage and plenty of air the duo may give up a tad of resolution but easily resolves the quality of your music collection.  They’ve an analog character in a good way, open and balanced, powerful and confident.  
My sense is that the Kinki gear is voiced towards a faster, leaner sound.
A set of different listening priorities, the ‘you are there’ presentation that prioritizes detail retrieval and micro spatial cues along with tight fast transients.  
If these two were coupling capacitors, the Denafrips house sound is Jupiter or Dueland copper foils, the Kinki is CuTf V-Cap built around speed and resolution.  If you’ve familiar with the differences, you know one must be very careful when mixing them as it is easy to introduce anomalies in the frequency response, a hardness or sluggishness is introduced by often times a component mismatch or speaker selection.  They may really both potentially be very good, but perhaps not together.

Horses 4 courses… (-;
jwlaudio OP
17 posts
 
jond,

After you said it is pretty clear to you, I re-read the sentence, slower this time and it is pretty damn clear.  haha 

Thanks!
jwlaudio
jwlaudio OP
17 posts
 
regismc,

Thank you for your impressions.  I'm getting a similar impression, albeit without any real-life experience with either system.  I'm told youtube's audio is heavily compressed so I take all the videos I watch with a grain of salt, reviewers included.    

Damn, I am getting into this price territory now, where if I spend a little more, I can get the Pass Labs INT25 or the PS Audio BHK 250 power amp (I have the opportunity to buy it for 30% off right now).  This is seriously an addiction.

jwlaudio
jackd
1,070 posts
 
Not really sure with the M1+ priced at $2895 with free shipping how you are getting anywhere near the price territory of either the Pass or BHK with both at $7250 plus without shipping included.  I own a BHK 250 and even at the old heavily dealer discount prices it wasn't close price wise. Also as I own or have owned an original EX-M1 and the current M1+ and M7 I have a pretty good idea about the house sound after almost four years.  Lean it is not and I have used them with over a half dozen different speakers from Spatial, Verity, Nola, Reynaud, Harbeth and Fritz.
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