Vosne vs Giscours

[Pronan]

Originally Posted by Freestone

And anyone go to the petrus?!?

What's the price of these various preamps?

Last price I had on the Petrus was from the 6moon review/article and I think the number was in the realm of 55k dollars

[shindostevesan]

I upgraded through the Shindo pre-amp ranks owning the Masseto, the VR and now the Giscours.

Of all the Shindo gear I've gone through--amps and pre-amps--the VR is the only piece that seems a non-linear progression. Meaning it sounds somewhat unique, not just more of what the Masseto, its predecessor in line, sounds like. To be specific the VR is slightly dark and more about control than the alive, large character of the Masseto. Instruments are spot lighted against a velvet background and tonally it may be beyond reproach. But honestly, I preferred the Masseto to the VR. This is going to boil down to a matter of taste.

The Giscours picks up in spades from the strengths of the Masseto. It is alive, airy, dynamic, colorful, big and involves me in the music in a gripping often mesmerizing way. It seems impossible there is more Shindo magic to be had with the Petrus, but Matt assures me there is. Is the Giscours worth the difference in price over the VR? To me, that's a huge yes, but remember you might prefer the different magic of the VR.
It sounds like Art Dudley does.

Steve

[Freestone]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

I upgraded through the Shindo pre-amp ranks owning the Masseto, the VR and now the Giscours.

Of all the Shindo gear I've gone through--amps and pre-amps--the VR is the only piece that seems a non-linear progression. Meaning it sounds somewhat unique, not just more of what the Masseto, its predecessor in line, sounds like. To be specific the VR is slightly dark and more about control than the alive, large character of the Masseto. Instruments are spot lighted against a velvet background and tonally it may be beyond reproach. But honestly, I preferred the Masseto to the VR. This is going to boil down to a matter of taste.

The Giscours picks up in spades from the strengths of the Masseto. It is alive, airy, dynamic, colorful, big and involves me in the music in a gripping often mesmerizing way. It seems impossible there is more Shindo magic to be had with the Petrus, but Matt assures me there is. Is the Giscours worth the difference in price over the VR? To me, that's a huge yes, but remember you might prefer the different magic of the VR.
It sounds like Art Dudley does.

Steve

Also one needs to decide where the extra dollars will make the biggest difference in ones system. Maybe the speakers instead? Turn table? Or the preamp?

Steve already has one of the best speakers and tt already.

[Pronan]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

I upgraded through the Shindo pre-amp ranks owning the Masseto, the VR and now the Giscours.

Of all the Shindo gear I've gone through--amps and pre-amps--the VR is the only piece that seems a non-linear progression. Meaning it sounds somewhat unique, not just more of what the Masseto, its predecessor in line, sounds like. To be specific the VR is slightly dark and more about control than the alive, large character of the Masseto. Instruments are spot lighted against a velvet background and tonally it may be beyond reproach. But honestly, I preferred the Masseto to the VR. This is going to boil down to a matter of taste.

The Giscours picks up in spades from the strengths of the Masseto. It is alive, airy, dynamic, colorful, big and involves me in the music in a gripping often mesmerizing way. It seems impossible there is more Shindo magic to be had with the Petrus, but Matt assures me there is. Is the Giscours worth the difference in price over the VR? To me, that's a huge yes, but remember you might prefer the different magic of the VR.
It sounds like Art Dudley does.

Steve

Steve,
Great description, the Masseto I have heard the VR I have not so its interesting to get that perspective. My Giscours represents a significant leap in kit and the task is now to select the right amplification.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

I upgraded through the Shindo pre-amp ranks owning the Masseto, the VR and now the Giscours.

Of all the Shindo gear I've gone through--amps and pre-amps--the VR is the only piece that seems a non-linear progression. Meaning it sounds somewhat unique, not just more of what the Masseto, its predecessor in line, sounds like. To be specific the VR is slightly dark and more about control than the alive, large character of the Masseto. Instruments are spot lighted against a velvet background and tonally it may be beyond reproach. But honestly, I preferred the Masseto to the VR. This is going to boil down to a matter of taste.

The Giscours picks up in spades from the strengths of the Masseto. It is alive, airy, dynamic, colorful, big and involves me in the music in a gripping often mesmerizing way. It seems impossible there is more Shindo magic to be had with the Petrus, but Matt assures me there is. Is the Giscours worth the difference in price over the VR? To me, that's a huge yes, but remember you might prefer the different magic of the VR.
It sounds like Art Dudley does.

Steve

Steve,
Thanks a lot for this accurate description.
Cheers,

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[sibelius]

Steve:

Nice comparison. I owned the Masseto for a year and now own the VR. You are correct - Two completely different beasts. While I am seduced by the tonally darker and richer VR, I can see where some folks would prefer the livelier sounding Masseto. Just goes to show that when you are talking about this level of equipment you really should audition in person.

[shindostevesan]

The Shindo comparison that I'm most curious about--and have never heard addressed on this forum or any other--is between the GM70's and the Western Electric 300B Limited amplifiers. My assumption is the 300B's have a sound unto themselves, that tube embodying much of what the Shindo sound is all about.

If anyone has heard these compared at Matt's or wherever, pls pipe up!!

Steve

[Freestone]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

The Shindo comparison that I'm most curious about--and have never heard addressed on this forum or any other--is between the GM70's and the Western Electric 300B Limited amplifiers. My assumption is the 300B's have a sound unto themselves, that tube embodying much of what the Shindo sound is all about.

If anyone has heard these compared at Matt's or wherever, pls pipe up!!

Steve

I did at Matt's but I hesitate to offer an opinion as I am not qualified enough - and loved both. And he was running the hotter tungsten tubes not your copper ones.

I think first you need to move up to the big Latours as an equally expensive but more dramatic change?!?

[FranklinLG]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

The Shindo comparison that I'm most curious about--and have never heard addressed on this forum or any other--is between the GM70's and the Western Electric 300B Limited amplifiers. My assumption is the 300B's have a sound unto themselves, that tube embodying much of what the Shindo sound is all about.
Steve

I would be curious about this, too. From the looks of the WE 300B ltd, it looks like Ken implements some interesting uses of 3 external tubes with the famed 300b, instead of the typical 2 that I've seen with other amps and in how my Sophias are arranged. EVERYONE I have ever spoken to about that amp describes it as the pinnacle of tubed sound.

But I do wonder if you could look at it in its most basic or raw form as a 300B vs a GM70 (Graphite or copper) tube comparison to get some idea about the differences. I do wonder if you heard those two tubes in a general context if the Shindo versions would be a more developed and refined example of both. My guess, and that's all it is, would be that it comes down to taste. Do you like the power, punch, refinement and dynamics of the 300B or GM70.

But then, what do I know!

[FranklinLG]

FWIW, Freestone, I'm pretty happy with my set-up. It's not on the level of ShindoStevenSan's, but certainly a decent arrangement.

My challenge is the cost delta to go from my VR to a Giscours is much less than jumping into the Shindo amps side. That's primarily because of my need for mono-blocks with my room and rack layout. So I somehow justify the strange logic that going to a Giscours would be easy and rewarding... LOL Plus that would be less than 1/2 the cost for me to enter into the price of a Shindo SET mono... One of these days I'll stop resisting the force and give in. It will likely be a CC34 amp, but my desire is the GM70...