So what ever happened to Kinki Studio???

@demoiree 

I have been using mine with the Supratek Chardonnay and the only issue I had with it going into fault mode was with the 5AS4 fast start-up rectifier as opposed to Mick's recommendation of the 5AR4 whose slow start up doesn't cause the EX-M7 issues.  Other than that I haven't had any problems and I don't really push the combination much past the mid-80's db mark.  I checked with Mick at Supratek before I bought the EX-M7 to see if I could expect any problems and even though he is not a fan of direct coupled amps he assured me there would be no DC problems.  I also have a PS Audio BHK preamp and a fully upgraded Sonic Frontier Line 2 SE+ but I haven't tried them with it yet.  Both are fully balanced so not expecting a problem but you never no until you try. 

@thrasherbear 

The M1+ and the M7 are set up in two different systems in two different room so no can't try M1+ as a preamp for M7.  The two amps have the same basic sonic signature the M7 just has more reserve current which I don't think would really be needed with your speakers unless your room is huge. The M1+ is in my Family Room which is 22'x26'x10' driving the Nola KO's and it does so effortlessly.  If you will read Srajen's review he goes into his view of the differences between the integrated and the power amp.  Were I in your shoes I would get the new version of the M1+ and be done.

@nishan99 

Don't know where that information is coming from but I haven't found any of those three points to be true in my system. Can't find anything on the internet in my searches where any of those points were made unless your talking about the one You Tube review which I as a rule ignore. I own a first version M1, a 2020 M1+ and the M7 and I find the sound to be pretty consistent between the three models and quite similar to the sound of a Goldmund/Job amplifier.  As in my system your preamp is going to be a big determining factor in the final "sound" of the M7. 

I have owned one of the original EX-M1's with the gain switch for almost two years and about two months ago acquired one of the new 2020 versions of the M1+ and am very happy with both in two different systems. Am seriously considering buying one of the M7 power amps that Srajen just reviewed to see how it sounds.  You now purchase direct from Kinki in the US with no middle man at all.

I ordered an EX-M7 this morning so I will see if I agree with Srajen on that model too over the next couple of weeks. I've used my M1 and M1+ with multiple different speakers from the Fritz Carrera Be to the Verity Otello to the Spatial Audio M3TM and never found bass response to be an issue with any.  At the present my original M1 is set up with the Carrera's and the M1+ with Nola KO's. 

Correct the Supratek's are transformer coupled and fully balanced. I think the lowest efficiency speaker I have in my stable is the Fritz Carrera Be but it is an easy load.

@b_limo 

The pairing of the Carrera Be and the Kinki is great.  Actually Fritz had the same pairing and admitted to me that he sold his Kinki Integrated too soon without giving it enough time to break-in properly. He realized it when he went to a customers house and heard the pairing with an amp that had many hundreds more hours than his did.  Since the Carrera's have been rotated through three different systems during the space of almost a year they have been fronted by the  PS Audio BHK 250, Van Alstine Vision SET 400 and the Kinki EX-M7 all combined with the Supratek Chardonnay preamp.  Also tried them with the newest 2020 version of the EX-M1+ and the Audia Flight FL Three S.  Any if the three integrateds would be a good choice.  The two Kinki's just have a slightly different look and a different volume control module which with the Carrera's lower sensitivity doesn't matter.  They are more on the neutral side than the warmer voiced Audia Flight which from Fritz's description to me would be closer to the Belles Aria.  So it kind of comes down to what direction you want the Carrera's to go in.  They will let you know what amp is on the other end.

That's the current version with the better volume control.  Gold heatsinks designate the newest version. 

@ooctaviuss 

I own the original version of the M1, the EX-M7 and the current EX-M1+ in black.  If you need the extra features of the M1+ now or think you might in the future it is well worth the extra couple of hundred dollars.  I think you might have to spend quite a bit more to get a better sounding integrated. I have used the various Kinki amps with at least eight different pairs of speakers and haven't run into a bad match yet. If the sound fits what you are looking for then just go for it.  

Yes, Todd at TEK Audio in Texas.