Modwright KWI200 vs Kinki Studio EX-M1+

@douglas_schroeder

Thank you for the response although I am a bit perplexed. You said I didn’t believe you. Yes, I most certainly did believe you. I tried to digest your findings but I got lost a little bit in the details, hence my questions. Part of my problem is that I would never screw around with different op amps. I have done it with tubes many times however. All my questions were honest but you made me feel like I was talked down to although I know it wasn’t intentional.  I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.

stereo5, It's like tubes, really, but without the nose bleed upper end cost structure. Consider the stock opamps like the stock tubes in amps. 

I haven't heard the EX-M1+ but I owned the EX-M1 and although I loved 99% of its sound, it sounded a touch dry to me. I replaced the opamps and this helped but my subconscious kept telling me that something wasn't quite right. The best way I can explain it is that it sounded harmonically incomplete or overdamped and as much as I loved the amp I couldn't ignore this trait and ended up selling it. 

Once I hooked up my tube amp again, my subconscious relaxed and the nagging was gone.

However, the new owner of the EX-M1 likes it so much that he has now sold his tube amp.

dkerr, isn't that the way it goes? Audiophiles are always looking for something in the sound they don't have.  :) 

dkerr, isn't that the way it goes? Audiophiles are always looking for something in the sound they don't have.  :)

Indeed! And I'd like to thank you Douglas for your writings on your opamp experiments. They were very interesting and were the catalyst for me trying  them in the EX-M1 (as I REALLY wanted to be able to keep it and the opamp upgrades got me SO close).