This is my review of the Choco Emei Audiophile integrated amplifier. I find it to be one of the best bang for the buck high-end home audio integrated amplifiers under $2000!
*Important update: Kinki studio apologized late last night for the misinformation that was relayed to me. I was sent the new board during my review and was told the price is $150 USD. After the video, Kinki Studio Rep realized the factory was quoting only the shipping and handling costs. The total cost for the upgrade board shipped to you is $494 and while I think it’s still well worth the upgrade, it is 3X the price they quoted to me for the review, which is a bit disappointing.*
Choco Emei Integrated Amplifier: https://www.kinki-studio.com/product-page/choco-emei
Related Videos:
Galion TS A75 Review: https://youtu.be/-cUgWRojb30
Denafrips Apollo Review: https://youtu.be/fTA17NVqbMA
Kinki Studio EX M1 Review: https://youtu.be/0yhWioOykZY?si=cP_rTMi-G_Zts0sr
Kinki Studio B7 Monoblocks Review: https://youtu.be/NneBfU3U-O8
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jayiyagi
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Speaker stands: https://amzn.to/3ssRhI3
Better speaker stands: https://solidsteel.it/my-product/ss-7-vintage-hi-fi-speaker-stands/
acoustic panels I use: https://ua-acoustics.com/
acoustic curtain: https://amzn.to/31d1zAM
BDI Cabinet I use: https://bit.ly/2OJRwQQ
https://amzn.to/3chBuFZ
other BDI Cabinets: https://bit.ly/3ctxXV1
https://amzn.to/30bsUCH
my fav hifi tweaks: (Isoacoustics devices) https://amzn.to/3j5FGvM
0:00 Intro
1:22 Choco Emei Build Quality Review
9:35 Choco Emei Sound Quality Review
17:21 Best Bang For Your Buck Amplifier!
#audiophile #hifi #homeaudio
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Hey guys! Thanks for stopping by. Thank you so much for the 100k Subs, if you are not already subscribed, consider doing so! You don't want to miss the 100k Special Video Coming soon 😉
Important update: Kinki studio apologized late last night for the misinformation that was relayed to me. I was sent the new board during my review and was told the price is $150 USD. After the video, Kinki Studio Rep realized the factory was quoting only the shipping and handling costs. The total cost for the upgrade board shipped to you is $494 and while I think it's still well worth the upgrade, it is 3X the price they quoted to me for the review, which is a bit disappointing.
Choco Emei Integrated Amplifier: https://www.kinki-studio.com/product-page/choco-emei
Related Videos:
Galion TS A75 Review: https://youtu.be/-cUgWRojb30
Denafrips Apollo Review: https://youtu.be/fTA17NVqbMA
Kinki Studio EX M1 Review: https://youtu.be/0yhWioOykZY?si=cP_rTMi-G_Zts0sr
Kinki Studio B7 Monoblocks Review: https://youtu.be/NneBfU3U-O8
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jayiyagi
follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jays_iyagi/
follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayiyagiofficial
Follow soundstage take 2 reviews: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPOzvlhtSqn5xdc__ftuSt4Rxy_wm5Af0
Speaker stands: https://amzn.to/3ssRhI3
Better speaker stands: https://solidsteel.it/my-product/ss-7-vintage-hi-fi-speaker-stands/
acoustic panels I use: https://ua-acoustics.com/
acoustic curtain: https://amzn.to/31d1zAM
BDI Cabinet I use: https://bit.ly/2OJRwQQ
https://amzn.to/3chBuFZ
other BDI Cabinets: https://bit.ly/3ctxXV1
https://amzn.to/30bsUCH
my fav hifi tweaks: (Isoacoustics devices) https://amzn.to/3j5FGvM
0:00 Intro
1:22 Choco Emei Build Quality Review
9:35 Choco Emei Sound Quality Review
17:21 Best Bang For Your Buck Amplifier!
Hey jay hope u r well
Why not review the Musician knight 1
Well, turn the damn thing on. Let us hear it instead of your diarrhea like drivel!
Been following this little green purist amp for a few years now. I emailed Kinki studios regarding the low capacitance over a year ago. They responded by telling me they would offer this upgrade. I’m glad to see you use this upgrade in your review. Well done Jay. Not much of a dampening factor on this unit. I agree that you get bang for the buck on this amp. I like the green. What did you pay all in for this Canadian? I live in Bc. Thanks for another great review.
gr8 video… first time I watched this channel. found it very helpful and I enjoyed watching the content…like it was well written and scripted. congrats on 100K. !!!
Hi Jay, great review! I am going to get Elac 404 and still looking for an amp to pair with them, what do u suggest 1: Helgo 190 or 2: this amp with eversolo a6/8? Thanks
Chi-fi products are catching up the products coming from the west, so In Future you should review more Chi-Fi products which are competitive in sound quality in addition to competitively priced rather than ignoring them. Remember not all your viewers can afford new and highly priced products from the west. You don't want to disregard these viewers.
Hi Jay,
The subwoofer's power cable caught my eye. Could you tell me which cable you use and if it fine-tunes the sound?
Thanks!
Nice review, Jay ! Just for your information : E Mei is named after a well known mountain in Sichuan Province in China and should be pronounced "Uh May".
Why are you promoting a sound that is muffled, distorted and unlinear?
not sure how this would compare to my Rega since i am considering going up lthe Rega ladder? can spend up to 5k. if this was not sold dealer direct it would probably retail at $4k? my first love is Classical music. would it pass the strings test like i hear at the Symphony? that's a hard one.
Put UR faith in a 22lb amp? 😮
Whatever happened to your friend Thujan?
Mediocrity (the state or quality of being mediocre) not mediocracy (government or rule by a mediocre person or group).
Good review!
I think the green colour goes great with plants ☘️💚🌿
I had the EMEI in my system. Darn good for the price really darn good. It’s really great for someone who wants good sound not not spend an arm and a leg.
I had the EMEI in my system. Darn good for the price really darn good. It’s really great for someone who wants good sound not not spend an arm and a leg.
Just got to say this , i got some Martin Logan electrostatics in my life.
The not great S/N ratio of this unit reflects the low price
Congratulations Jay! You've come a long ways since I started watching you, and I'm sure you will continue to grow. I enjoy you're show. Appreciate you. Take care.
What’s the deal with those stacked Arendal subwoofers? Will you be reviewing them?
Operationally, I assume everything is handled by the one knob. Volume, input switching, anything else? (balance, etc?)
Congrats on the 100k!
100k! Congratulations J🎉🎉
Congratulations and another good review.
I would love to hear this amplifier, but to be honest, it looks like an office photocopier.
this is absolutely my favorite and top pick amplifier under $2500, to this day I regret not buying the review sample. I still think about buying one for myself at least once a month lol.
I bought a choco and it blew out four times and was a complete nightmare. After the 4th time, and me replacing the board, which was not easy, Choco finally agreed to give my money back. This is after I paid for freight to China. In terms of the sound when it worked, it was decent, but I bought a Heaven 11 Billie and like it a lot better. Also, the Choco remote is garbage and I had to stand about 8' away to get it to work. I could go on, but buyer beware. The only good thing, after literally 200 emails, is that Ken from Kinki did reply to the problems. I might add the that the Billie phono sounds surprisingly great compared to a Mani and IFI.
Jay is little snob with expensive Hi Fi.
Not sure I like the term chifi. 😢😅
How is the sound compared to Kinki Ex-M1+
Personally I think this os one of the uglier units I've seen. I prefer a more boring "invisible" type of style.
So under 2000 nothing sounds good 😂
Hi Jay, Great review man. Thanks. What would they do with Magies? 1.7 and the sorts … ? Thanks for letting me know.
hi, a comparison between this and the Kinki Studios EX-M1+?
Have the EMEI and love it. I saw it in one of your videos like 6 months ago and was wondering if you were going to make a video on it. I was worried about all the hype when it came out but you and Nemo described it perfectly. Mine has better looking binding posts and she’s not as green as it appears in videos/photos. Cheers🎉
i appreciate ex m1 esthetics more than choco. beauty follows function.
Hyperbole
(hai-pur-buh-lee)
One of the highest value seen in category….. And the others or the actual best would be?
For some reason, I really like the way it looks, be better in silver or black tho
One thing about the speaker binding posts…the binding posts shown in this review match the binding posts shown on the web page of Emei other reviews on the Choco Emei have a different style of binding posts, the clear plastic insulator over gold type and I do not like that type at all, I was very interested in making a purchase until I noticed the different binding posts on different reviews a big deal breaker for me because it makes me wonder what other parts within might be switched up err substituted during production
Congrats on 100,000, Jay! Terrific work. Your channel is so helpful and your reviews are thorough and insightful. Thank you.
Title should be under $1700. $300 is a heft chunk.
Jim, pick 1.
Kinki mu+++
Of. This Job
It's sound is a lot different
So 1 sounds
Like what? You missed that. Is tje damn thing. Better over all
Don't give me a circle nutty long answer. If you
Want to answer me.
Looking at the price and style I prefer Advance Paris
No pre out ? No tape loop ? People still record?
How does your beloved Vincent SV237 MK2 integrated compare? (also reasonably priced and also manufactured in China)
Thanks a lot for the fantastic review. What would be a good DAC and streamer to go with this, also a good value say under $400 combined?