Jun 13, 20213 min read

The color of the bass, the timbre in a voice… (M7 - Power Amplifier)

Athena and M7 is a dream team. I never heard my analogue system so good before.

I had reached a completely new level . Not only High-end. It was high end.

Your enthusiasm and your wonderful items reached not only my ears. You reached my heart.

Hifi Setup

Denafrips Athena Pre-Amp
Kinki Studio M7 Power-Amp
Denafrips Hermes DDC
Denafrips Pontus II DAC
Burson Audio Headamp
Audioquest Nighthawk Headphone
Transrotor ZET 3 turntable
TMD
Konstant Reference power supply
SME 309 tonearm
EMT JSD 5 cartridge
Croft R Phono-Pre
Telefunken & General Electric NOS Tubes
MacMini Late 2014 with Uptone MMK Kit
Uptone Etherregen
Highly modified speakers based on I.Q.300 T by Audio Physic mastermind Manfred Diestertich
Gigawatt EVO Powerstrip
Farad 3 Power-supply for Etherregen
Keces P8 12 V Mono for MacMini
Keces BP 600 for Pontus II & Hermes DDC
Synergistic Research Orange in all Items
Neotech 3160, Nanotec 309, Furutech TCS 31/21 and SO22 power cabeling
Long Grain Silver-Wiring for: HDMI, Speaker-cable, Coax, XLR, Farad3 and Keces P8
Mundorf Silver/Gold XLR

Listening History.

I am now in this audiophile circus for many, many years. I tried a lot, and cultivated especially my analogue section step by step. And I was happy with my set-up. But, everybody knows, that we are always curious, looking to go one step ahead. Even, when it is only a very litte step. A new plug here, a new fuse there. Last year I made a fundamental discovery with the Uptone Etherregen and the Farad 3 power supply. This switch beamed my digital section to a new level.

My digital section was good before, but that was a big step ahead.

I checked, what’s going on there. And I discovered Vinshine Audio and Kinki Studio. I was impressed about the effort they made. And I ordered Athena Pre, the M7 and the Pontus II. For a price I have payed for one item, or two real Highend cartridges. They arrived quickly…in these times very quickly. Wow. What a building quality. So I connected them…to be honest…the first days I was disappointed. But the Trio grows, better and better. After the burn-in process …300 hrs for M7 and Pontus…and I think 500 hrs for Athena I realized, that I had reached a completely new level . Not only Highend. It was high end. Alvin and his crew were all the time available. Alvin helped me 24/7…The very best support I ever get in audio-business.

He recommended to add a DDC to my Pontus. I ordered the Hermes DDC a few minutes later. Same procedure…long burn in, careful check for the right cabeling…and..bingo. Better realistic Soundstage…3-D illusion,…more realism in voices…phantastic.

I was already happy with the result, but he recommended to try Hermes DDC too in my chain. It took a while to find the right labeling, especially for HDMI. But now…boarding completed.

Athena and M7 is a dreamteam. I never heard my analogue system so good before. The combination of a high end MC-System with a transformer to a tube based phono-Pre was already top notch. But Athena and M7 work out the last informations of my system. The color of the bass, the timbre in a voice…. The set-up is my personal high end point. My set-up for the next 150 years.

You, Alvin and your team come from Singapore. But your enthusiasm and your wonderful items reached not only my ears. You reached my heart. Thank you very much for these items. Highend is the search if beauty and emotions. Thank you for all your time, your support and help. And for the always friendly communication. It’s not a deal. It’s more than that. Much more. Stay healthy and strong. All the best. Cheers.