Thinking of upgrading Hegel H600 for Pass Labs X250.8

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I have a friend who is a session and touring musician and describes the system as ‘you’ve basically got a studio monitoring system in your lounge’ and says he can’t recall hearing anything better in any studio.

Is there any respect in which you find what you presently have unsatisfying? If not, I'd suggest you might be looking for an itch to scratch!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

there is quite a consensus that the simpler design of the XA25 that I own may actually sound better than the beefier models

Fwiw, if you haven't got anyone nearby than you are more than welcome to bring your XA25 and compare against an EX-M7. As good as the XA25 is however I will respectfully say that I am confident that within a few moments you'll be thinking about moving the XA25 on.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I see them listed through Aliexpress when do a search for the brand.

Your best bet is going to be is to try and go through one of their several distributors and some dealers they have around the world.

Btw, EX-M7 is an ultra wide bandwidth design (0 - 2.5MHz). This partly helps it to be ruthlessly revealing of recording and associated component quality particularly pre amplification. Get it right and as I recently said elsewhere KEF Reference loudspeakers are unlikely to know what hit them.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Benchmark AHB2

Good amp. Worth a whirl 👍

 

[MUSICRAFT]

it's difficult to surpass this Norwegian gem of an amp which is near perfect.

Well as i said earlier our client chose an EX-M7 (using his H190v as a pre amp) over a H590 and a H600 as it surpassed them to power and drive the challenging and resistive 804 D4's. And best of all "I saved myself £7.5k".

 

[Jasonovich]

Well as i said earlier our client chose an EX-M7 (using his H190v as a pre amp) over a H590 and a H600 as it surpassed them to power and drive the challenging and resistive 804 D4's. And best of all "I saved myself £7.5k".

These Kinki's aesthetically they're a feast to the eyes. 🙂

They kind of have the Hegel-ish dials and central display, though I suspect many modern brands are also vying to occupy the same mindspace.





All these brands are doing a Hegel, meat in the middle, a lump of mash to one side and swede mash on the other, look at Atoll's new IN400 Evolution, looks familiar 🙂

 

[davidf]

I had a customer come to see me who had an M7 and P7 Kinki pre/power. While he liked it, he said it wasn't quite 'blowing his skirt up'. So I set him up a system to closely replicate his own, and while listening to the Hegel H400, he stood up, and it was like watching Marilyn Monroe - his skirt was flying everywhere! And he'd purposely wore his thicker, heavier skirt that day too. I just wished he'd worn pants that day. A g-string. Anything really. Small price to pay though to help an audiophile achieve audio nirvana. He's doubly happy as he now has an amp that actually doubles its power into 4ohms, and doubles again into 2ohms - handy for the increasing number of loudspeakers appearing that dip down that far.

True story? Who knows? Who cares?

 

[Jasonovich]

I had a customer come to see me who had an M7 and P7 Kinki pre/power. While he liked it, he said it wasn't quite 'blowing his skirt up'. So I set him up a system to closely replicate his own, and while listening to the Hegel H400, he stood up, and it was like watching Marilyn Monroe - his skirt was flying everywhere! I just wished he'd worn pants that day. Small price to pay though to help an audiophile achieve audio nirvana. He's doubly happy as he now has an amp that actually doubles its power into 4ohms, and doubles again into 2ohms - handy for the increasing number of loudspeakers appearing that dip down that far.

True story? Who knows? Who cares?

When two tribes go to war💥.......😂🤣

 

[nopiano]

Fwiw, if you haven't got anyone nearby than you are more than welcome to bring your XA25 and compare against an EX-M7. As good as the XA25 is however I will respectfully say that I am confident that within a few moments you'll be thinking about moving the XA25 on.

That’s a kind offer, but my hearing isn’t what it used to be, so if I changed anything it would be to take my own advice and get the ATC actives, or even KEF LS60 for simplicity. That said, the Sonus fabers sound enjoyable with almost any amp, at least to my aging lugholes! 🙂

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I’m also starting to see past passive systems in favour of active speaker systems now that streamers are getting way better and as a streaming preamplifier would feed actives with less fuss and clutter, I wonder how long expensive passives systems will last…….
I recently heard some ATC SCM40A fed by AURILAC streamer and a SUGDEN preamplifier and it was very very special indeed.

 

[Jasonovich]

I’m also starting to see past passive systems in favour of active speaker systems now that streamers are getting way better and as a streaming preamplifier would feed actives with less fuss and clutter, I wonder how long expensive passives systems will last…….
I recently heard some ATC SCM40A fed by AURILAC streamer and a SUGDEN preamplifier and it was very very special indeed.

I guess much of it is down to lifestyle but l have noticed the active speaker market has become more boyuent.
My Adam active speakers have a unique feature that cannot be replicated by conventional amplifiers.
The tweeter section is served by AB class amplification and the lower frequencies has class D.
Pair of speakers with four amplification modules, pretty neat 😊

I use to switch power on directly for each speaker, which was a pain because they're awkwardly positioned on my desktop but I solved this by rerouting the mains to a central mains switch, so much easier.

 

[davidf]

I guess much of it is down to lifestyle but l have noticed the active speaker market has become more boyuent.
My Adam active speakers have a unique feature that cannot be replicated by conventional amplifiers.
The tweeter section is served by AB class amplification and the lower frequencies has class D.
Pair of speakers with four amplification modules, pretty neat 😊

The original LS50 Wireless were Class D for bass and Class AB for HF...can't recall if the current ones are or not.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I’m also starting to see past passive systems in favour of active speaker systems now that streamers are getting way better and as a streaming preamplifier would feed actives with less fuss and clutter

I recently heard some ATC SCM40A

As good as Streamer/DAC/Pre Amps have become and as good as they can sound with ATC actives however with all things being equal ATC actives are capable of performing to an even higher level with analogue pre amplification of appropriate quality. Fwiw, in this respect analogue pre amplification such as Qualition Audio's C200 valve pre amp incorporating Tungsram ECC83's and their implementation helps to offer a a level of quality and synergy between the C200 and ATC actives that is simply outstanding 🙂

 

[MUSICRAFT]

These Kinki's aesthetically they're a feast to the eyes. 🙂

View attachment 9196

Indeed they are👍 and also the exquisite build, fit, finishing and vault like solidity 🙂

Btw, OP fwiw the following reviews say that the EX-M1/EX-M1+ @ £2850 show Pass Labs XA60.8 mono amps (which are superior to the XA250.8 btw) @ £15550/pair a thing or two, are almost as good as a Nagra Classic Pre Amp and Nagra Classic Power Amp @ $38,000 and almost as good as a $40,000 D’Agostino integrated amplifier!

The kicker is that at the same price as the EX-M1+ @ £2850 the EX-M7 is significantly better and for not much more @ £3749/pair the EX-B7's are even better.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mZpd4NSXzg

Review | Kinki Studio EX-M1+ 215 WPC Integrated Amplifier

There was a time … not too many years ago, when Chinese-made hi-fi components were kind of looked down upon by Western audiophiles. Luckily, those days are going away fast as the Chinese have come on in leaps and bounds lately with cutting edge yet affordable components from digital-to-analog con...

audiophilestyle.com

 

[Jasonovich]

Indeed they are👍 and also the exquisite build, fit, finishing and vault like solidity 🙂

Btw, OP fwiw the following reviews say that the EX-M1/EX-M1+ @ £2850 show Pass Labs XA60.8 mono amps (which are superior to the XA250.8 btw) @ £15550/pair a thing or two, are almost as good as a Nagra Classic Pre Amp and Nagra Classic Power Amp @ $38,000 and almost as good as a $40,000 D’Agostino integrated amplifier!

The kicker is that at the same price as the EX-M1+ @ £2850 the EX-M7 is significantly better and for not much more @ £3749/pair the EX-B7's are even better.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mZpd4NSXzg

Review | Kinki Studio EX-M1+ 215 WPC Integrated Amplifier

There was a time … not too many years ago, when Chinese-made hi-fi components were kind of looked down upon by Western audiophiles. Luckily, those days are going away fast as the Chinese have come on in leaps and bounds lately with cutting edge yet affordable components from digital-to-analog con...

audiophilestyle.com

Yes I did see Steve Huff's video, very nice indeed.
60 pounds this amplifier, Steve stop saying that, of course, he's referring to the weight! 🤣

Have you compared it to Atoll's 400 Evolution (new version), interesting to hear your thoughts?

It's lovely to see so many brands at this price range, trying to win the hearts and minds of the consumer.

Sam from Stereophile has chipped in his comments.

View: https://youtu.be/C-g1buOv-8Q?si=V8VRfjqoWTMkGGjg