Thread: Amp with balanced inputs to match D2

I am a newbie here on the Lumin board. I've been thinking about changing from my Devialet 200, which I use with Roon, to a Lumin set-up. I think I'll get the D2 but need to find an amp with balanced inputs, which I understand is Lumin's preferred connection. I will only be doing streaming. My speakers are the Vivid Oval 1.5s. I wouldn't want to spend more than $2500. Any suggestions?

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the quick reply. I've been corresponding with a Lumin rep and I understand the new amp will be très cher, as the French say. A little too dear for my bank account!

All best, Michael

Originally Posted by Jack

Might be worth a look after a rave review from Srajen and one upcoming from Terry London plus the happy owners on Audiogon. If you are in the US, Mike Powell of Verastarr Cable will be the US Rep and service center. After currency conversion comes out to less than $2200 with free shipping.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/kinki/1.html

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussio...i-studio-ex-m1

@jack Certainly looks like a winner, thanks!

Another option, if the volume control of the D2 is good, going straight into an ATC P1 power amp.

http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/hi-fi/e...iers/power/p1/

Looks like a great option! Thanks!

Peter, thanks for sharing!

I can give a strong endorsement to the Simaudio 240i. I purchased one earlier this year. It sounds magnificent, seems to exceed the stated power specs with ease, and solved a nasty electrical noise issue I had. The noise floor dropped dramatically. Two hearty thumbs up here. You could go for the 340i if your heart is set on balanced inputs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Sean

Agreed on upping to the 340i if balanced inputs are necessary. It’s above the quoted budget, however.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, Sean!

Originally Posted by Jack

Another option. Note that price listed in review is in Australian dollar so no where near that high in US.

https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/au...ated-amplifier

Thanks, Jack, I'll check it out!

Originally Posted by Sean

Hey Flash, have you made some progress in your decision for amps?

I wanted to pass along some 1st-hand experience - the McIntosh MA252 is a great partner with the D2 and has balanced inputs. If you’re open to a hybrid integrated, it’s a worthy option. A notch down, though, as it’s a little out of your quoted budget at $3,500 retail.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is sweet looking kit! I am still sitting on my Devialet 200 and not sure what I will do. I am attending the Rocky Mountain Audio Festival in early October so I'll be the proverbial kid in the candy shop!

Originally Posted by Jack

Might be worth a look after a rave review from Srajen and one upcoming from Terry London plus the happy owners on Audiogon. If you are in the US, Mike Powell of Verastarr Cable will be the US Rep and service center. After currency conversion comes out to less than $2200 with free shipping.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/kinki/1.html

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussio...i-studio-ex-m1

Jack, just read the reviews. The Kinki sounds fantastic. Plus, it would match up nicely with a Lumin D2 thanks to its balanced inputs. Appreciate your post as it now moves to the top of the list!

After lots of thought, I am going for the Kinki EX-M7 and pairing it with the Lumin T2 ( not D2).

2.5 years later huh

Originally Posted by dznutz

2.5 years later huh

Funny, huh? I’m a tortoise 🐢 not a hare!

Originally Posted by Jack

The EX-M7 is a great sounding amp. I've had mine for almost a year now. You are apparently going to use the Leedh volume control of the T2 if your opting for the M7 over the newest M1. Good luck with that pairing.

Yes, I plan to use Leedh for volume control. Joel Chevassus, who occasionally writes for 6 Moons, is a champion of Leedh processing. He also exchanged his Luxman mono amps for two Kinki EX-M7 amps to pair with his Vivid speakers. I also own Vivid speakers (B1 Decade) so the pairing should be harmonious.

By the way, Jack, I lived in Greenville for 10 years when I worked for Michelin. I now live in Charlotte, having recently relocated from Charleston.

Originally Posted by Jack

I think you will enjoy the EX-M7 as I certainly do. I also have the newest version of the M1+ in my Family Room system. Srajen also just went to a pair of B7 mono's to use with his Audio Physic speakers in place of his LinnenberG mono's.

For now I am still just a part-time Greenville resident as I still have the house in Tallahassee though I suspect I will be in Greenville full time in the near future as our daughter ( our youngest), Son-in-Law and the first Grandchild are there. Still getting use to the weather differences especially in the Winter months.

I’ve corresponded with both Srajan and Joel about my decision, as I was aware of their accolades for Kinki products. Joel also wrote a terrific review of the EX-M7 for his French publication. Unfortunately, it’s not been translated into English but, as I lived in France for five years, I understood most of it.

The EX-M7 is now in transit.

My wife was born in Tallahassee. Much different than Greenville! Both are nice cities.

Originally Posted by Jack

Small world. I have lived in Tallahassee my whole life including college and career. I suspect I'm a bit older than you guys.

My father-in-law was dean of students at FSU. As for the age, I turn 70 this month!

Originally Posted by Jack

Actually you've got me by two years. Tallahassee was a much smaller place in those days. About 75,000 when I graduated from FSU. Since her father worked for the University your wife didn't go to the University high school did she?

My wife went to Florida High, where her dad was principal before taking the dean position at FSU. Later, the family moved to Salzburg, Austria, where her dad was director of the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies.

Hi Peter,
Your participation in many audio forums is just one of the reasons I selected Lumin as my next streamer, and in particular the T2. It took me a long time to determine whether to move from a one-box solution (Devialet Expert 220 Pro) to a high-end streamer and power amp. The adoption by Lumin of Leedh processing at no cost to current and future owners was the final piece of the puzzle that convinced me to make the move, despite never having heard a Lumin or the Kinki EX-M7 amp. My research consisted of professional reviews, user experiences and, finally, correspondence with industry people I respect, such as Srajan Ebaen and Joël Chevassus. Thanks again for your assistance!
Michael (a.k.a. Flashman)

A few days ago, I finally received the Kinki EX-M7 power amp. I connected it to my Lumin T2 streamer (purchased as a demo from an authorized dealer) via Grimm XLRs and proceeded to run through some of my favorite test tracks.

Right out of the box, the combination sounded terrific. Better than the Devialet Expert 220 Pro? Yes, with some qualifications as you'll see below.

On a song I know quite well, there is a dual vocal with one being slightly recessed. On the new combo, the sound could be pinpointed in space and was more apparent than on the 220. Perhaps the combo has better detail retrieval? Bass response was perhaps not as good as the Devialet but this might change after amp burn-in, estimated to be in the 300-hour range (!). Mid-range was definitely better with a more liquid sound on vocals. On some tracks, the sound-stage was wider and higher but not in an unnatural way.

The difficulty in comparing the new combo with the 220 is that I don't know how much to ascribe to the Lumin T2 vs. the Kinki amp. I didn't try the Lumin into the Devialet, for instance, since I knew the Devialet would apply its DAC after the Lumin DAC. I didn't think that would be a valid effort.

Negatives? The Kinki amp is a beast and not as svelte as the Devialet. It was nice to be able to turn the Devialet on and off using the Roon app. With the new combo, I can turn on the Lumin in the Roon app but I need to physically turn on (and off) the Kinki amp. Not a big deal but points to Devialet. Also, the Devialet didn't need much warm-up IMHO while the Kinki needs about 20 minutes. Interestingly, when the Devialet was on and I was not playing a song, I could never hear anything when I put my ear to the speakers. Just silence. With the Kinki, there is a slight hiss. You'd never hear it from a distance nor when playing a song but it's there. There is an AC filter switch on the Kinki and I will check with the manufacturer to see whether engaging that switch might make a difference. Again, not a big deal. Finally, the Devialet has other attributes, such as a phono stage and SAM profiles, so it is a more complete device.

In sum, I'm glad I made the change. I suspect I will listen to more music. Hard to believe that the Kinki amp will get better by 300 hours but we shall see.

Peter

I purchased the T2 as a demo from an authorized dealer. It must be burned in at this point!

Michael