Shindo + Digital...Your Experiences

[FranklinLG]

Originally Posted by lowens

Yes digital is always in a state of significant change/improvements. Like anything you could wait forever. When funds prevail I will incorporate a Mac mini and a near state of the art dac. (Weiss, Lampizator, Arye....there are many) A system where an Ipad can be used as a controller/remote would be very handy.

Lowens,

I get your point. And I would not suggest anyone wait forever for the next great thing. However, I think the leaps in DACS right now is similar to what we saw with prosumer camcorders about 10 years ago. There was a rapid advancement and development of the product as things went toward HD. Then the products started to settle down a little. We're sort of seeing that with DSLR's right now. Yes, there are advancements, but the camera have come a long way and are at a mild plateau. So when I look at a DAC I simply believe that it is more prudent right now to wait another year or a few more years before going for the reference DAC that might cost $4K+. Until then, I will be happy with a solid DAC in the $1K range.

So for me, this works. The extra 3K in savings is being used elsewhere. For you, or others, it might be worth getting the 4K DAC. And both solutions are solid. There's really no right or wrong here.

As for incorporating the Mac mini or an Apple TV, you'll love it. And if you can even pick up an Apple TV now you could stream using your other Mac. I realize it may only allow you to use the Toslink, but it is still fun having everything controlled by your iPad. Just a thought.

[sibelius]

I'm similar to FranklinLG on this. I just purchased a Eastern Electric Mini Max Plus Dac for $1100. Why? I like the Sabre chip it uses and the unit is pretty versatile in that you can both roll tubes and/or opamps (which I've started to do). Is it Shindo quality - no, but I'm guessing I will probably replace it with a next generation DAC in a few years anyway so a DAC around $1000 - $1500 is just fine by me. Does it sound as good as listening to vinyl - absolutely not. But it is convenient. I can run a squeezebox touch through it and get pretty decent sound while I search through Rhapsody for new music while controlling everything on my couch with a Kindle Fire. My redbook experience also gets incrementally better with each DAC refresh. I bought my first CD player when I was in college back in the mid 1980's. While digital/hi-rez has come a long way since then I still have not heard a top quality digital system that can match a top quality analog one.

I have heard really nice things about the Lampizator and other hot-rodded DACS but can't pull the trigger because of the obsolesence factor. I have an aquaintance who spent big bucks on state of the art dcs stacks and has really regretted it. The nice thing about buying Shindo gear is that if taken care of it really can last you a lifetime.

[DesW]

Hi. Well I seem to have found my match all the way through with my current Digital setup--any doubters?

Des

[G-Man]

BlackCat just released their SilverStar 75 digital cable. It's a winner with Shindo, IMHO.

[dpetr]

Hi all - I'm new to the forum, but I've been a Shindo owner for 6 years. I started with an Aurieges and Montille, then I upgraded to a Monbrison, and a Montrachet about 6 months ago. I started out all digital, then I tried vinyl, but I just couldn't get into it like I thought I would, so I went back to digital, but this time, to a music server.

My Shindo dealer also sells Naim, and I found the convenience of the Naim UnitiServe to much to pass up, so I tried it and I love it. The challenge for me has been to find a DAC that fits a Shindo system well. I started with a Naim DAC, that I found it to be very flexible with many different inputs, but sonically I found it to be very dry. So I tried a power supply upgrade (Teddy Pardo XPS) which smoothed it out a bit, but still not what I wanted. While I had the Naim, I was searching for a new DAC solution, and I began reading about Audio Note and their famous DACs.

But the prices shocked me, even as a Shindo owner. Then I discovered Audio Note Kits - they offered a limited edition Level 4 kit at a fraction of what it would cost as a finished product. The only problem was, I'd never built a kit. After a little encouragement from my dad, who built a few kits when I was a kid, I placed my order, and bought a soldering station. After 3 weeks of very late nights, I finished it, and it powered-up on the first try.

What a difference! After just a few hours of burn-in, I was amazed at the sound. After a week of A/B-ing, I found the Audio Note to be much warmer and more detailed with a much larger sound stage - much more similar to the Garrard 401 turntable I had, so I sold the Naim. I knew I was on to something special.

I've been using the Audio Note DAC for 3 months, and I have added 2 tweaks - an Empirical Audio Pace Car reclocker between the server and the DAC, and a Shindo Arome CD transformer between the DAC and the Monbrison. The reclocker is basically a jitter reduction device, and it brings out a lot more detail. The Arome is more difficult to describe, but it seems to add more dimension to vocals.

I think my current setup sounds just about as good as that Garrard 401 and it's a heck of a lot more convenient. I'm going to stay put for a while.

Dave

[adhesiv]

Well my Metrum Octave is finally in the States and through Customs. Should be in my possession by the end of next week...it's been a long 10 week wait...I hope it was worth it.

What digital cables does everyone use? I'm in the market for one now to connect my Transporter.

[DesW]

G'day Ad' gotta agree with G-man the Black Cat Cable is the best bang for the buck out there--I tried others and only found the Stereolab TRON to better it--albeit at considerable cost.

Des

[Masterlu]

dpetr... Welcome!

[jwhite613]

dpetr... Welcome To AA!!!

[Plink]

Dave, are you using the Unitiserve with the Audio Note dac?

Just looking at the components and output stage and you can see that if you can solder, you are getting quite a lot for your money with that kit. Do you have to purchase any parts for the kit separately?

Would love to hear an Audio Note dac and I wonder how it compares to Acoustic Plan.