Shindo Giscours internal phono stage SMOKES the ARC Ref Phono 2 !

[pitch perfect]

Originally Posted by Jérôme W

Not so sure Serge.
What would be the use of the MC input then ?
I think that the Masseto does not play in the same league as the Giscours.

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Hi Jérôme,

Glad you are enjoying a Giscours in your setup.

The MC input of the Giscours, and all Shindo preamps, runs through a step up transformer designed for low impedance cartridge.

The MM input bypasses the internal step up (and feeds direct into the same phono stage).

The use of an outboard step up - designed for high impedance Denon - would maximize your music enjoyment, due to a better mating of the phono stage and cartridge.

If you think it sounds good now, running into the appropriate SUT would be akin to listening to rain fall on your neighbors porch from afar, or sitting under your own front porch and hearing the ran pitter patter above.

-M

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Jérôme W

Not so sure Serge.
What would be the use of the MC input then ?
I think that the Masseto does not play in the same league as the Giscours.

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

Ah, always the skeptic until proves himself otherwise... I remember you were very skeptical of Shindo as well. As Matt pointed out above, the MC in Shindo is designed around super low impedance cartridges like the Shindo SPU for example. The Denon you are using is not one of them. I shared my findings about the A23 SUT here... http://www.audioaficionado.org/shind...15-shindo.html

[PHC1]

Auditorium 23 Step Up Transformer

Auditorium 23

[gortnipper]

Hi Jérôme - have you had a chance to hear a Manley Steelhead? I am wondering how it compares to the better Shindo (Giscours, VR) phonos?

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by pitchperfect

Hi Jérôme,

Glad you are enjoying a Giscours in your setup.

The MC input of the Giscours, and all Shindo preamps, runs through a step up transformer designed for low impedance cartridge.

The MM input bypasses the internal step up (and feeds direct into the same phono stage).

The use of an outboard step up - designed for high impedance Denon - would maximize your music enjoyment, due to a better mating of the phono stage and cartridge.

If you think it sounds good now, running into the appropriate SUT would be akin to listening to rain fall on your neighbors porch from afar, or sitting under your own front porch and hearing the ran pitter patter above.

-M

Hi Matt,

Thank you !
Ok I got it now.
But I'm sure that you can understand easily why I cannot imagine at this time how my vinyl set up could sound better.
I'm coming from a dedicated highly considered phono preamp, which is adaptable to almost any cart on the market, and while I can play with various loads options and even equalization curves with it ( RIAA, Decca...), it does sound like a budget component compared to the Giscours.
I will follow your advice and Serge's one for sure. But I'm going to enjoy first the Giscours "as is" for a while.
About low impedance carts, what about the Rega Apheta ? It is supposed to be designed for a phono stage accepting very low impedance at 50 ohms maximum. But less would be better. Do you think that I could use it straight in the MC input of the Giscours ? Then I could use the Apheta in the MC, and a A23 SUT in the MM for my Denon.

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[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Ah, always the skeptic until proves himself otherwise... I remember you were very skeptical of Shindo as well. As Matt pointed out above, the MC in Shindo is designed around super low impedance cartridges like the Shindo SPU for example. The Denon you are using is not one of them. I shared my findings about the A23 SUT here... http://www.audioaficionado.org/shind...15-shindo.html

Serge,

You're right I am skeptical. But an open minded one !
And I value your experiences and the pro's advices like Matt's. The proof ? I remember you clearly stating that the inboard phono stage of the Masseto was at near the level of the Ref 2 and you did not have the impression to miss anything. That is the only reason why I tried the phonostage of the Giscours.
Will try an A23 SUT. In a few weeks !

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Ah, always the skeptic until proves himself otherwise... I remember you were very skeptical of Shindo as well. As Matt pointed out above, the MC in Shindo is designed around super low impedance cartridges like the Shindo SPU for example. The Denon you are using is not one of them. I shared my findings about the A23 SUT here... http://www.audioaficionado.org/shind...15-shindo.html

I just re read your thread Serge. It is excellent and says everything.
So what have you done to your EMT cart ? Matt took it back ? As for the A23 ?

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[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by gortnipper

Hi Jérôme - have you had a chance to hear a Manley Steelhead? I am wondering how it compares to the better Shindo (Giscours, VR) phonos?

Hi,
No I did not have the chance to try the Steel Head.

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[Jerome W]

A23 DL103 SUT ordered !

[PHC1]

Jerome, excellent! The A23 SUT will raise the level of performance quite a bit higher. Don't forget, you have to use the MM input with it...

I still have my EMT TSD15 cart. Just like the other advise I got from the Shindo guru Matt, this cartridge goes very well with the Shindo sound and experience. I will hold on to it in case I ever come back to Shindo for another system in another room.