The Shindo Experience

[campoli]

Originally Posted by Toobs

WOW!!! Shindo gear must be magical

much more...musical

[kev313]

Originally Posted by Toobs

WOW!!! Shindo gear must be magical

the Shindo life is anything but boring, especially here.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by kev313

the Shindo life is anything but boring, especially here.

I agree!

[omodo]

Originally Posted by kev313

For me it was the Shindo speaker experience that really brought it all into perspective.

That's an interesting comment.

There are a number of people here with not-insignificant investments in Shindo amplification who are not using Shindo speakers. Wouldn't a more logical path to the "Shindo Sound", at least for a comparable price point, be lower priced components with entry Shindo speakers, i.e. Lafite, PL/604 Alnico.

I'm sure the commonly used alternatives sound great, but I very much doubt they sound at all like Shindo speakers.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I agree!

So Ivan, you are a friend of my parents ! I thought this pic of me was strictly private !

[magoo]

Originally Posted by kev313

To be fair, I wasn't writing about *listening* to Audio Research.

I can't help wondering how else you'd form such an opinion other than by listening?

Now before I write anything, let me first say - In the event my numbers ever come up on the Euro lottery, I would be on a plane to LA heading for Pitch Perfect armed with an open mind and a cheque book.

Now for a little bit of Devil's advocate;

This forum taught me that a brand called Shindo exists, and that it's the holistic fusion of one man's idea of how music should be reproduced, less a product and more a chain of interconnected pieces, which *must* all be used together, amps, speakers, cables, TT etc.

All of which is fine - but I already have a system, and like most people I suspect, it's developed and changed over the years as I've learned what does and doesn't work for these ears. So you read about Shindo & you think.....yep, that sounds like the sort of sound you enjoy. Now, according to the oft repeated mantra - there's no point buying say a Monbrison to pair with my Snappers & WW cables, because I simply won't be getting the Shindo experience, unless I spend more cash on power amps, which then wouldn't pair with my little Harbeths....and so on.

The end result is an enormous bill, and a load of hi-fi I would need to sell privately rather than trade in - because I can't even buy these products legally in my country. Second hand is also not an option, as there's absolutely no way I'd part with that kind of cash without any dealer / product support in my country. If my Snappers go bang, I send them to their distributor, they will be fixed, in the UK; it matters not one jot that I bought them second hand from Poland!

Now, it's my guess that if I simply ignored the advice and bought a Shindo pre, inserted it in place of my Cary, I'd actually get a healthy dose of the Shindo magic & would love what I heard. I'd also have a well matched system, powers amps with enough watts & the correct impedance match to my speakers. Heck, I'd even take it's lid off and try out different tubes because to me, that's a part of the fun of valve amps......except that would be akin to heresy too.

Synergy takes many forms, it's sometimes found in unlikely combinations. Buying it top to bottom is certainly one approach, and I have no doubt a full Shindo system is an utter joy to listen to.......but it's not the only way, and while it might be effective, to me it lacks some of the romance of making one's own journey, mistakes and all. As it stands, what you call the Shindo experience is an elusive dream for many of us. It would maybe be better to sometimes be open to simply "what works" in the real world, at present, it rather comes across as a closed shop - unless you can go the whole hog, don't bother. And if you happen to be european, really really don't bother!


As you so rightly said Kev, there are many versions of reality, mine's just a view from over the pond

[kev313]

Originally Posted by magoo

I can't help wondering how else you'd form such an opinion other than by listening?

I've got an opinion about listening to ARC. I've listened to it extensively as a former owner. I've even got an opinion about purchasing it in the Chicago area and if there are any similarly situated members who would like my opinion, I'd be glad to share it privately.

To your point, though, this hobby (like my post) is about listening ... and so much more. You just need to read it in the proper spirit.



I agree, of course, you should listen prior to making an opinion. Funny thing...not all who've participated in the Shindo Experience agree. Not my place to question, though.

The remainder of your post, I think, is quite accurate. It is certainly not at all necessary to have an entire Shindo system to enjoy the brand. Not at all! I've been a Shindo owner in one form or another for the past 9 years. At one point I owned only the stand alone phono preamp that I used with a Brinkmann table and an MBL set up! Heresy!!! Who cares?! It's a lovely brand and wonderful gear. Mix and match. It still works. If you have a whole Shindo system, you realize the designer's intent. I'm sure that does not make it any different than most other brands - Audio Note, Kondo, etc.

Perhaps the only difference is many Shindo owners do attempt to complete the chain? It is no reason not to own not just a preamp, for example.

With respect to the cables, that is a different issue. The Shindo reps have explained that at length.

Speakers....a hot topic, for sure, so I'll be brief and non controversial. Use Shindo with any speaker that sounds good to you. Shindo speakers are an ideal match (not controversial, I hope?) but not necessary. The designer - a note to those who pick nits, here I am referring to Ken, the mountain of evidence he left behind, and his son, who continues Shindo in his place - recommends high impedance and efficiency. Interested parties can also contact me privately at any time and I will provide a half dozen ebay auction links at any given moment that will meet these criteria for under 3,000 in most cases. It does not have to be high $$ to work here.

[kev313]

Upon further consideration, I should add, that even if one were to construe my description of the Shindo experience as a purely listening event....

It is true that a full Shindo system can be expensive. OK. Many things in this hobby are and a full Shindo system can be much less than a full MBL or Kondo. In fact, a full system comprised of Montille, Aurieges, and Lafite with associated cables is probably less than a reference level ARC preamp!

That said, my system - Lafon gm70, Latour 604, VR, Aurieges phono - is, objectively, a lot of money. For the level of musical satisfaction, though, not so much in this hobby. There are probably two dozen speakers at any given hifi show that exceed my total system cost and at least 1/2 dozen that cost multiples of my system.

I don't like the pricing in the hobby either. That is another discussion. The fact of the matter is that this is life here. More and more companies chase the higher income buyers and the resultant low volume means higher individual sale prices must be the norm. I guess it's easier to sell a few $$$$$$ pieces than many $$$ or $$ pieces?

I'm very happy that Shindo does have an entry level option available. I started there with Montille and Aurieges.

To your point, again, I would never suggest that one needs a full Shindo system. It is an awesome thing, but there is nothing wrong with just using a preamp.

For example - it took me NINE YEARS before I had a full Shindo system. I've got small kids to feed!! That didn't stop me from enjoying my Shindo along the way.

As to the EU issues...what can you do? That is what it is and it is an unfortunate thing for Shindo fans.

[Ankkor]

Shindo people are the only group of people more fanatical than McIntosh people. There's some sort of an ethereal trippy thing going on here. I've got to hear this stuff.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Ankkor

Shindo people are the only group of people more fanatical than McIntosh people. There's some sort of an ethereal trippy thing going on here.

Ankkor.......In my opinion, you are correct in your observation. Perfect adjective, too.