Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

Almost a week in with my Kinki Studios EX-M1 and I can confidently give it a glowing recommendation to anyone looking for integrated amps in the $2000-$2500 range. This thing absolutely DRIVES, no matter what kind of music, it tackles it with absolute finesse and accuracy. Like a wizard, it never arrives to the note early or late but precisely on time and with authority. The sound from this thing is just sparkly clean but still with a gloss to it that keeps it from feeling like you're looking at music with a fluorescent light.

Every single record has been an engrossing thing to listen to again. The sheer amount of detail jumping out at me that I never noticed before has been astonishing. That being said, I'd say it is revealing in the sense that your bad pressings are going to be less forgiving, the plus side to this is you get to build a nice pile of records to trade in or sell and bring your collection down to the blissful essentials.

Anyways I give it 10/10 and a 20/10 on looks. This thing is stunning in person, turning the massive knobs is something I actually look forward to during my listening sessions. Also the remote is beautiful and elegant which is a nice plus. Here's a fun review of Steve Huff comparing it to $35,000 Nagra amps.

 
Ghost said:
turning the massive knobs is something I actually look forward to
Click to expand...
Don’t we all.😂

I’m going to second @Ghost recommendation of the Kinki Studio amps. I have the EX-M1+. The main difference between the M1+ and M1 is that the + has a Preamp Out and HT Bypass.

When I first connected the Kinki amp it took me a couple of days to adjust to the detail it was throwing down. Once my ears broke in I couldn’t get enough of the clarity, speed and soundstage it puts out.
 
Question, in general... higher cart loading equals more high end? Sorta? Mines recommended 470 ohms to 1000. I'm running at 470 right now, there is plenty of high end currently, just wondering how adjustments work...
 
Mather said:
Question, in general... higher cart loading equals more high end? Sorta? Mines recommended 470 ohms to 1000. I'm running at 470 right now, there is plenty of high end currently, just wondering how adjustments work...
Click to expand...
Basically, loading can function as a tone control. It shouldn't but it can. The greater the loading the greater the emphasis will be on higher frequencies and a bit louder dynamics. If your JC3+ has easily adjustable loading it's a simple matter of increasing and decreasing the load to hear what I'm trying to say. Not so easy with Sutherland phono preamps that require removal of the casing to get at the jumpers. That was one of the reasons I switched from the Duos to the Rhea.
 
OMC said:
Basically, loading can function as a tone control. It shouldn't but it can. The greater the loading the greater the emphasis will be on higher frequencies and a bit louder dynamics. If your JC3+ has easily adjustable loading it's a simple matter of increasing and decreasing the load to hear what I'm trying to say. Not so easy with Sutherland phono preamps that require removal of the casing to get at the jumpers. That was one of the reasons I switched from the Duos to the Rhea.
Click to expand...
Okay thanks yeah I haven't messed with it yet as the cart hasn't broken in entirely. But yeah the JC3+ has a couple of knobs for adjustments so it's easy. I'll try it out once everything is broken in. But not sounding like I really need any more on the high end, so might be fine where I am.
 
Unusual request. My godson wants to get into records and asks me for recommendation. Problem is his budget is very limited and he leaves in a student room so system must be compact. I was thinking a system àla Crosley but not a Crosley. Any recommendation?
 
Skalap said:
Unusual request. My godson wants to get into records and asks me for recommendation. Problem is his budget is very limited and he leaves in a student room so system must be compact. I was thinking a system àla Crosley but not a Crosley. Any recommendation?
Click to expand...
How limited is limited? And what, if any, equipment does he already have?

If nothing, then an Audio Technica LP60x with AudioEngine A5+. Maybe used.
 
Ghost said:
Almost a week in with my Kinki Studios EX-M1 and I can confidently give it a glowing recommendation to anyone looking for integrated amps in the $2000-$2500 range. This thing absolutely DRIVES, no matter what kind of music, it tackles it with absolute finesse and accuracy. Like a wizard, it never arrives to the note early or late but precisely on time and with authority. The sound from this thing is just sparkly clean but still with a gloss to it that keeps it from feeling like you're looking at music with a fluorescent light.

Every single record has been an engrossing thing to listen to again. The sheer amount of detail jumping out at me that I never noticed before has been astonishing. That being said, I'd say it is revealing in the sense that your bad pressings are going to be less forgiving, the plus side to this is you get to build a nice pile of records to trade in or sell and bring your collection down to the blissful essentials.

Anyways I give it 10/10 and a 20/10 on looks. This thing is stunning in person, turning the massive knobs is something I actually look forward to during my listening sessions. Also the remote is beautiful and elegant which is a nice plus. Here's a fun review of Steve Huff comparing it to $35,000 Nagra amps.

Click to expand...

Am I gonna have to get a Kinki now?
 
Skalap said:
Unusual request. My godson wants to get into records and asks me for recommendation. Problem is his budget is very limited and he leaves in a student room so system must be compact. I was thinking a system àla Crosley but not a Crosley. Any recommendation?
Click to expand...
Can you try and talk him off the ledge? I love my vinyl setup, but it’s expensive, takes up quite a bit of space, and would be a pain to have to move around on a regular basis. Not ideal for a young person in college.

Some nice powered speakers with a WIIM mini and a Spotify or Tidal account would be my recommendation. Or a WIIM amp and some nice passive speakers.
 
Skalap said:
Student limited with an help from myself
Click to expand...

Does he/family have anything that could act as speaker/amplifier already. Like one of those little mini hifi cd players that were ubiquitous in the late 90s early 00s. Something like that (that has an aux input) with a AT LP60 plugged into it would be a way better starting point than any of the portable suitcase players.
 
Skalap said:
Student limited with an help from myself
Click to expand...
The most compact setup would be a Spinbase with a decent but affordable table. A refurb Spinbase is $269, and you can use whatever turntable you like provided it’s got a moving magnet cartridge. If you’re strictly looking new I’d suggest a Monoprice Monolith or Fluance RT-82. Used is probably where the best values are.
 
kvetcha said:
The most compact setup would be a Spinbase with a decent but affordable table. A refurb Spinbase is $269, and you can use whatever turntable you like provided it’s got a moving magnet cartridge. If you’re strictly looking new I’d suggest a Monoprice Monolith or Fluance RT-82. Used is probably where the best values are.
Click to expand...

I don’t know how available those brands are in Europe though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top