The Best Listening Session Of My Life!!!

[Alberto]

<< Jerome - I recommend you don't read this! >>

In past two days, the Shindo Cortese proved itself as an amp that could deal very well with lesser recordings of great music, and it was now time to test it with great recordings of great music and with an extended and focused listening session.

So, last night, after dinner, I retreated to my listening room, put Pink Floyd's "The Wall" on my turntable, turned off the lights and sat in my listening chair.

For the next couple of hours I was transported to a sonic nirvana that I thought was not possible in my 11' x 14' x 9' room. The soundstage extended so far beyond the walls that they actually disappeared - sonically speaking (the fact that I was listening to "The Wall" was not lost on me.)

But it did not stop there. The ceiling also disappeared. The vertical sound stage extended well above the ceiling. There is a "sonar-like" ping sound in the track "Hey You!" that seemed to emanate from 30 feet in the air ... just above my head.

The images in the soundstage were incredibly solid and holographic. Each sound came from a distinct place, with its own identity and sonics. It did not sound like two speakers emulating multiple sound sources, it sounded like multiple and distinct sound sources.

All of the above was bathed with a warm and totally fulfilling bass - smooth and continuous and/or full of impact and chest thumping pressure depending on the material.

I have listened to "The Wall" countless times; on my systems, on other people's system, in stores with mega$ systems, with speakers and with headphones, but I've never heard it sound like this.

I sat transfixed the whole time. I had to believe what I was hearing, but I couldn't - and still can't - quite understand how and why the Cortese can pull this off. And I know it was the Cortese because that's the only component I've changed in the system.

A couple of times I checked the sound levels and I was surprised it was barely touching 85dbs! The volume knob on the preamp was just below the "noon" position. This surprised me, it sounded so rich that 85 dbs was completely and entirely fulfilling.

I have been transported by music many time, but never quite like this. I can't imagine a better or more fulfilling sound than this. I kept telling myself "wow" -- and other expletives that I'd rather not repeat.

This was - by a huge margin - the best listening session of my life. It exceed any reasonable - or unreasonable - expectations. Any doubts I may have had about going to an all tube low-power amp + high-efficiency speakers evaporated last night. The ability to get amazing sound and room pressurization with 10+10W and 90db speakers trumped the weakness of having a small room -- perhaps it turned a small room into a huge advantage.

With the right recording, the Cortese with the Tannoys took the room out of the equation in a way I would have never thought possible. I've read in the past reviewers making comments like "Not only the speakers disappeared, the room itself disappeared." I always thought "That must be nice." Now I can say "Yes, that IS nice, make that: that is GREAT!"

I know this is a bit of an indulgent post. But I had to share this with someone and I know many of you will understand this kind of sonic joy. It makes the money and time we spend on this hobby all worthwhile.

Thank you for listening.

Alberto