The Kismets are more musical in general and the highs are more enjoyable specifically. The highs are not rolled off at all with the Kismets, but are more pleasing to my ears. I am very sensitive to higher frequencies.
Please note, I am using ESLs (Martin Logans), so dynamic drivers may respond differently.
Those chrome amps are beautiful!
I am quite certain I'm hearing the same thing you're hearing, except through dynamic drivers (NHT 2.9s). Treble through my Khartago Kismet ++++ is crisp, airy and detailed without ever being brash or bright. It's amazing to get this kind of extension and detail while remaining silky smooth. Bass weight, scale and depth makes my old NHTs sing and rumble like my brothers SVS and HSU subs, only better because I have stereo bass that's deeper, tighter and a lot more musical. Vocals are the most realistic I have heard come from the NHTs as well. I've never heard 160 watts sound so damn good!
BTW, I got my Khartago Kismet mid-March of this year and it's been powered up ever since with constant music, TV shows or movies running through it 24/7, making for more than 5000 hours of burn-in.
Mine isn't chrome, but still a wonderful looking amp.
