More Shindo coming my way!
 

I've just put a deposit on a Monbrison preamp! It's kind of soon after getting the Cortese and - frankly - I can't imagine my system sounding any better, but it was a great opportunity so I jumped on it.

Even if it sounds like the Auriges, its looks will be worth it:

Behold the beauty:

http://www.dagogo.com/assets/images/...Monbrison5.jpg


http://www.dagogo.com/assets/images/...Monbrison1.jpg

Should be gracing my system in about 2 weeks!

Alberto

Sweet!

Having dipped your toe into those "cool green waters" you are know moving into the deep end....

Where... your heart beats faster and you are able to dig deeper yet into the music.

Congrats Alberto.

Watch out Stephen,
You're starting to speak like the Guru of a Sect :D: !

Congrats Alberto,
I read on a French Shindo forum that the Montbrison is one of the best preamps available. Many people use it with other amps than Shindo : Air Tight mostly but also SS amps like Pass labs.
They all say that it is very close to the Petrus !

BTW, Alberto,
Do you still use the Montille in your system ?
If not, is it going back to your dealer ?

I'm thinking of the Lafon GM70 for my speakers.
I like the sound of monoblocks. In my opinion they have many advantages over stereo power amps. And the 20 W should be enough for my use : I quite never use more than 3 W on the 2301's !
I'm in contact with the Greek importer.
Sometimes you realize that Greece, like other European countries, are not really "concerned" by the European laws :D: !
It could be dangerous to buy from him because the French customs could refuse the amps and send them back....

You mate..are a nut! But a good nut!

Jerome,

About the Montille and Auriges ... I am planning to keep both of them - at least for the time being.

About the Lafons GM70 ... If you were in a country where Shindo was well represented, I'd be the first (OK, second after Stephen) to tell you to go and listen. Listen long and listen well. As I mentioned in my review, the sound of Shindo is - by all reviews and accounts - quite unique and polarizing. For many people, it's the sound they've been longing for all their audiophile lives, but for many others it may be too much toward the "musical" side of the poorly-worded but commonly used "musical vs. analytical" sonic signature.

But ... since you are not in a country where Shindo is not well represented, I am not sure I'd go to the lengths you suggest and take the risks you mention (i.e. customs sending the amp back.)

Having said that, I recently took a lot of audio risks by dismantling my previous system and starting from scratch, and I've been richly rewarded. But I also let chance and opportunity guide me. I bought the Montille on a whim (since an Audiogoner near my house was selling it.) Had a lucky chance to get an Auriges a couple of weeks later. Then the Cortese, and now the Monbrison.

Perhaps you can get lucky too with some compatriot selling a Shindo amp that's already in the country. It might be wiser and safer to spread the word and keep your eyes and ears open for used Shindo gear - despite your preference for new.

In either case, best of luck and I'll be following your audio adventures my friend!

Alberto

Holy Shi* ndo! :)

Andy,

There are days when I think everyone on this forum (or any audiophile forum) is a nut. But there are nights, after a listening session, all I can think of is: "I wish everyone could listen to music like I just did."

In terms of personal satisfaction and daily enjoyment, I can't think of many other hobbies that deliver the goods as reliably as a great audio system.

Besides, if you are careful about what you buy and how you buy it, it's not that expensive a hobby. Some of the gear I've owned over the years has cost me less than a dollar per day.

The Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage, for example, cost me $6200 and I sold them for $5800 3 years later (=$0.36/day.)

The C220, cost me $2500 and I sold it for $2300 almost 4 years later (=$0.13/day.)

The MC501s which I bought from a fellow AA member (thanks!) were essentially "free" - I sold them for the same price I bought them.

Digital gear can turn out to be more expensive because it depreciates more quickly and more deeply, but even then if it's amortized over time, it's typically a few $/day. I paid $6000 for the MDA1000 (from Audiogon, but new in box) about 4 years ago. Even if I have to sell it for, say, $3500, its cost over time was less than $2/day.

In the end, I estimate the cost of my audio system to be just a few $/day - probably as much as it costs to have cable TV.

Shindo gear, like McIntosh, keeps the price extremely well - so I admit to being a little 'nut' over Shindo :yes: but a thoughtful one :D.

Alberto

Just move that decimal point a few to the right for me! :confused-18: