Hey David,
Here's the "field report" comparing the Kinki EX-M1 to the latest generation T+A integrated amplifier.
My assumption that the EX-M1 would come very close to the performance of the vastly more expensive German built T+A piece was incorrect. The T+A reference was clearly superior in the following areas:
1) An even higher level of transparency that allowed more of the micro-details to be easily heard.
2) The size of the sound-stage was not that different, but the air between players and how 3D the images were was at a higher level.
3) There was a purity/finesse to the overall presentation that was more effortless with the T+A.
4) Ezra and Allen would disagree on this last point, but I did not hear that much of a difference in bottom end control or extension between the two integrated amplifiers.
So, this does not change my position regrading the excellence of the Kinki EX-M1 overall and to match its performance you would have to spend a lot more money. However, in this comparison you could clearly hear what another $18000.00 gets you into a qualitative higher level of performance.
Here's the "field report" comparing the Kinki EX-M1 to the latest generation T+A integrated amplifier.
My assumption that the EX-M1 would come very close to the performance of the vastly more expensive German built T+A piece was incorrect. The T+A reference was clearly superior in the following areas:
1) An even higher level of transparency that allowed more of the micro-details to be easily heard.
2) The size of the sound-stage was not that different, but the air between players and how 3D the images were was at a higher level.
3) There was a purity/finesse to the overall presentation that was more effortless with the T+A.
4) Ezra and Allen would disagree on this last point, but I did not hear that much of a difference in bottom end control or extension between the two integrated amplifiers.
So, this does not change my position regrading the excellence of the Kinki EX-M1 overall and to match its performance you would have to spend a lot more money. However, in this comparison you could clearly hear what another $18000.00 gets you into a qualitative higher level of performance.