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Japanese Exotica Kondo, Leben, Luxman, Zanden

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  #21  
Old 06-25-2011, 01:01 PM
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Alberto Alberto is offline
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Originally Posted by Rilands View Post
Alberto,
Honestly, I never thought you'd get back to where you were several months back when you started selling off that last great system. You must of done your homework and made some very good decisions. I'm glad to hear your not having any remorse and all has been so successful for you. I'm sure many of us have some equipment we wish we never let go. I know I do.
Congratulations.
Mike,

It was a combination of homework, well-informed and well-intentioned friendly advice ... and a LOT of luck.

My previous pre+amp+speakers (C220, MC501, SF Guarneri Homage) sounded delicious – but it took a lot of work to get them to that point. Months and years of major tweaks (e.g. room treatment) and minor tweaks (e.g. warm-sounding cables.) And I still had issues with lack of deliciousness on some recordings and when listening at lower volume. Go back one year and you'll see me mentioning the need for tone controls or loudness in a lot of thread.

My previous system sounded delicious with about 70% of the recordings and came "alive" at relatively higher volume - closer to 80dbs than 70dbs ... a bit too loud for longer listening sessions.

I had noticed that my little Bottlehead SET amp sounded intoxicatingly delicious on all recordings and at all volumes, that's one of the reasons I decided to go the low power amp + high efficiency speakers route.

I know - as a fact - that I would not have landed where I did were it not for the help, suggestions and discussions on this forum. Very specifically, I would not have the Tannoy speakers if it wasn't for Serge (PHC1) and Stephen gently, but persuasively and with tenacity, turned my attention toward Shindo. But everybody helped with their advice, opinions and non-judgemental attitude. Neither Shindo nor Tannoy are brands that our esteemed host sells (or that anyone advertises here) but I continued to feel welcomed and appreciated even though I went from an all McIntosh + Sonus Faber system (one of the most popular combinations here) to McIntosh + Shindo + Tannoy.

That's what makes AA special. That's why I active on this forum more than anywhere else.

Alberto

PS I still have quite a few McIntosh components - more than any other brand: MDA1000, MCD201, MC250, C34V, MR80 and Mac1700 - and no intention to sell any of them. So, yes, I am still a big McIntosh fan!
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  #22  
Old 06-25-2011, 01:34 PM
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chessman chessman is offline
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Alberto, I do not have a single McIntosh piece, but I have always felt welcome here. I love the fact that this is a "love of music and audio reproduction" site instead of a one brand "fanboy" site armed with trolls.
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  #23  
Old 06-25-2011, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by chessman View Post
Alberto, I do not have a single McIntosh piece, but I have always felt welcome here. I love the fact that this is a "love of music and audio reproduction" site instead of a one brand "fanboy" site armed with trolls.
+1
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  #24  
Old 06-25-2011, 09:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alberto View Post
Neither Shindo nor Tannoy are brands that our esteemed host sells (or that anyone advertises here) but I continued to feel welcomed and appreciated even though I went from an all McIntosh + Sonus Faber system (one of the most popular combinations here) to McIntosh + Shindo + Tannoy.

That's what makes AA special. That's why I active on this forum more than anywhere else.

Alberto

PS I still have quite a few McIntosh components - more than any other brand: MDA1000, MCD201, MC250, C34V, MR80 and Mac1700 - and no intention to sell any of them. So, yes, I am still a big McIntosh fan!
Alberto.......Bless you my son. Say three Hail Mary's, four Our Fathers, and the Shindo transgressions shall be forgiven.
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
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  #25  
Old 06-26-2011, 12:55 PM
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esteban esteban is offline
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Quote:
The only listening fatigue I am experiencing is because I am sleeping less, just so I can listen more.
Alberto, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I've been extremely sleep-deprived ever since I got my first taste of tubes (in the form of the Prima Luna DiaLogue One). The bags under my eyes prove it!

It's always great to read about your adventures in Delicious Land. A great journey, and an even more rewarding destination. Looks (and sounds) like you are 101% satisfied with your current set-up. Some people can never, ever reach that goal. Congratulations on your achievements.
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  #26  
Old 07-01-2011, 08:54 AM
JohnThomas JohnThomas is offline
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Hi Alberto,

I've been following all of your threads on your Shindo adventure like a TV series completely involved with all of your finding. A couple of years ago when I was looking for a USB Dac I was at Don Better's in Ohio and he had Shindo mono amps with Shindo preamp ( I'm not sure what model as my concern was with a Dac). He first played a cd thru ARC-CD8 (Gene Harris) for fun since I always wanted to here the CD8. I was completely amazed at how warm and lushest it sounded at first I thought it was the cd player but no matter what Dac he hooked up it was the same beautiful sound.

I've always been in the camp of the same company for preamp and amp. So I started day dreaming of what a Shindo preamp would sound like with a Burmester amp. Since I like to listen to a wide range of music at all different levels(depending on the mood). I was thinking wow I can try the entry level premamp Aurieges since it so inexpensive then I could have two preamps ready to go depending on the mood. Then I remember that the Burmesters input impedance is very low around 5000 ohms I think. So the Aurieges would not work under 10X rule of thumb. It seems I would have to go up to the Masseto which has an output of 600 ohms I think. Now we triple in price. Then I woke up from my dream.
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  #27  
Old 07-02-2011, 10:22 AM
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audiot servant audiot servant is offline
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Default 100 per cent delicious downunder!

Hi Alberto,

Can I just say many thanks for your happy crazy joyful posts that ended up setting my sights on Shindo... now have a humble Aurieges L after hearing the buzz... 250 hours in and it is doing things i just didn't think musically possible... electric joy!

loving Shindo from Australia

Graham
audio.t servant

Main Music:Meridian and Onkyo transports>Wireworld silver starlight>Pure Music>Mac Air with 256GB SSD>Wireworld silver eclipse 6, Straightwire and Kimber ICs>Calyx DAC>Shindo Aurieges L>Sanders Magtech>Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 SCs>Magnepan 3.7 (and more Wireworld on its way)

Head Music: Audeze LCD2 and AKG 702>Violectric V200 headphone amp

AV:Oppo 95 (coming soon)>Straightwire ICs>Peachtree Nova>Quicksilver GE 8417 monos>biwired Kimber 8tc>Proac Response 2
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  #28  
Old 07-02-2011, 11:03 AM
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Alberto Alberto is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnThomas View Post
Hi Alberto,

I've been following all of your threads on your Shindo adventure like a TV series completely involved with all of your finding. A couple of years ago when I was looking for a USB Dac I was at Don Better's in Ohio and he had Shindo mono amps with Shindo preamp ( I'm not sure what model as my concern was with a Dac). He first played a cd thru ARC-CD8 (Gene Harris) for fun since I always wanted to here the CD8. I was completely amazed at how warm and lushest it sounded at first I thought it was the cd player but no matter what Dac he hooked up it was the same beautiful sound.

I've always been in the camp of the same company for preamp and amp. So I started day dreaming of what a Shindo preamp would sound like with a Burmester amp. Since I like to listen to a wide range of music at all different levels(depending on the mood). I was thinking wow I can try the entry level premamp Aurieges since it so inexpensive then I could have two preamps ready to go depending on the mood. Then I remember that the Burmesters input impedance is very low around 5000 ohms I think. So the Aurieges would not work under 10X rule of thumb. It seems I would have to go up to the Masseto which has an output of 600 ohms I think. Now we triple in price. Then I woke up from my dream.
John,

You have an amazing system. From everything I read, Burmester is a world-class delicious brand - and I would not mess with it by mix-and-matching.

Aside from impedance issues, there are other factors that make pre/amp mix and match a bit of a gamble. Besides, at least in my case, it's the Cortese amp that is mostly responsible (I'd guess 70%+) for the amazingly delicious sound - moving up from the Auriges to the Monbrison added refinement and detail but it was a much more subtle difference than the difference between the Montille and the Cortese amp.

As many have said before me, the best and most reliable way to experience the Shindo sound is with a Shindo pre and power amp (and ideally a Shindo interconnect). Deviate and your mileage may vary .

Based on what I've heard in person, the baseline Shindo system for me would be the Auriges + the Cortese. If you plan to listen to a lot of vinyl then the Monbrison makes a lot of sense because you get an amazing MC/MM phono stage. But I can't imagine anyone having this as their 'B system' :-).

One of these days I will have to go and have a listen to a full Burmester system - so I can empathize even better with your crying for joy .

Alberto
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  #29  
Old 07-02-2011, 11:07 AM
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Alberto Alberto is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by audiot servant View Post
Hi Alberto,

Can I just say many thanks for your happy crazy joyful posts that ended up setting my sights on Shindo... now have a humble Aurieges L after hearing the buzz... 250 hours in and it is doing things i just didn't think musically possible... electric joy!

loving Shindo from Australia

Graham
audio.t servant

Main Music:Meridian and Onkyo transports>Wireworld silver starlight>Pure Music>Mac Air with 256GB SSD>Wireworld silver eclipse 6, Straightwire and Kimber ICs>Calyx DAC>Shindo Aurieges L>Sanders Magtech>Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 SCs>Magnepan 3.7 (and more Wireworld on its way)

Head Music: Audeze LCD2 and AKG 702>Violectric V200 headphone amp

AV:Oppo 95 (coming soon)>Straightwire ICs>Peachtree Nova>Quicksilver GE 8417 monos>biwired Kimber 8tc>Proac Response 2
Graham,

Thank you so much for the note. I love it when my enthusiasm results in more people enjoying a delicious sound. I agree with you about the Auriges being amazing for the price. That's why, even though I have a Monbrison now, I am not selling the little Auriges. No way. No how.

Alberto
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  #30  
Old 07-03-2011, 01:02 AM
omodo omodo is offline
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Graham, where in Australia are you? it's good to see another Aussie Shindo owner, there doesn't seem to be very many of us around
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