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

@sns  Wow, thanks so much for the detailed response. It provides great context and much for me to think about. 

I've never heard a First Watt amp class A amp but can't go for a class A amp given that one of the justifications for a new amp is that it will fit inside my low profile cabinet (shelves are only about 8" high). I had a big Plinius SA100 mk3 many years ago and liked it but it seemed to have a slight haze that masked detail.

based on your stated sound preferences, I'm not sure any ss will deliver the full measure on those.

That thought has been in the back of my mind too. But the Kinki EX-M1 integrated came VERY close to dislodging my tube preamp AND tube amp. A different sound ... more dynamic, punchy, detailed (but smooth and not bright or aggressive), robust, exciting ... but I wanted for just a touch more organicness, palpability, harmonic completeness ... I love tone more than hyper detail.

Overall my system is fairly neutral but just a little closer to the "full bodied  and relaxing" end than the "faster and exciting" end. I want to move it slightly toward the faster and exciting side but without any brightness, glare, leanness or analytical sound.

Maybe my tube pre with say the Kinki M7 would achieve this ... and get the amp inside the cabinet ... the M7's input sensitivity of 1.45v (as opposed to my Rogue's 1.0v) would help with the gain issue (the Rogue has 29dB gain, I'm unsure of the M7). This setup still wouldn't enable me to use balanced out from the Spring DAC but maybe I could live with this given the potential benefit from the M7 *IF* it doesn't have the truncated harmonics (for want of a better description) that I heard in the EX-M1 integrated.

@arafiq 
 

I've been experimenting with some different gear lately in my second system. I picked up a Kinki EX-M1+ last week, and I must say my experience is almost the same as yours. It is a good competent amp and does all the 'modern' tricks of neutrality, detail, dynamics, etc. quite well. But just like you, I can't help but feel that something is amiss. I'm impressed but not moved.

I have been helping a family friend build his system based around tube amps. We bought a used VTL I-85 and it is an excellent amp. I'm so impressed that I'm thinking of buying one for myself now. It's not 'modern' sounding per se but it draws you into the music in a way that Kinki can never even dream of.

Funnily enough, the guy that bought the EX-M1 from me preferred it to his VTL ST-150 & modded Audionote M3 combo and sold them.

Different strokes ...

@jwlaudio 

If all of those new amps in your stable are all single ended you may be disappointed with the BHK preamp.  Both myself and several friends found that when run single ended the volume control makes a great deal of noise when used in either direction.  The only way to mitigate it at all is to have fully gain and triode matched 12AU7 tubes which pretty much limits you to new production.  I had no luck at all with 6 or 7 volt tubes over the four years I owned mine and found it's best mate to be the BHK amp and I tried many. 

@jackd 

Thanks for that.  Why do you think this is the case?  I have thought about buying an XLR to RCA that boosts the voltage a little bit so I can use the balanced interconnects.  If I build another Nelson Amp Camp Amp, I could have an amp with balanced outputs in dual mono configuration, but the F8 and this Yamaha is noticeably better, at least to my ears.  I hope they send me new tubes, PS Audio is building my BHK pre right now, so at least the unit is new production.  It's been like 3 weeks already, hopefully they will finish building it and send it out to me soon.

@jwlaudio 

Not sure but something in the way Bascom designed the volume control circuit.  Just know that between a friend and I we tried three different units and almost a dozen SE amps.  If it causes a problem at least you have the 30 day return.