where to take the plunge...

[FranklinLG]

Hey there, I'm looking for some input from anyone with direct experience with the Shindo line of amps. I have a pair of Sophia 300B mono blocks, but I've begun toying with getting a shindo amp to match our Shindo Vosne pre-amp. We have a pair of O96 speakers from Devore. So we're not looking for huge wattage. Candidly, I'd like to jump in to something I'll be happy with for a LONG time. So this means for me that I'm mostly interested in the monoblock varieties.

I look forward to your input - and for your help with finding the right mix of bang for our buck!

J

[Freestone]

I think only Matt or Jonathan or John can give you a meaningful answer?

[Masterlu]

Paging Matt...

[dirtbag]

Franklin,

not many choices in monos, just be prepared to open your wallet.

We are all so fortunate

[Cucumber_Jones]

When will you do a vr review? Loads of amp choices!

[fjn04]

Franklin- I would ask Matt or your current Shindo dealer about the Corton Charlemagne 25 Watt mono's. I am quite enjoying mine w/ my 0/96's.
Rest of my system: Monbrison, WT Amadeus/Emt Tsd-15, Choir Hashimoto H-7 SUT, Lignolab component stand. I have not heard their other mono amps.

[shindostevesan]

I have never heard your speakers, but my Petite Latours sing big with the GM70's. I am set for a long time (although the 300B Ltd have my curiosity).

Steve

[TommyC]

For the O/96, you can try the Shindo SET amps. These should be sublime.

Pick your poison:
WE 300B
Lafon GM70
Cortese

[FranklinLG]

Originally Posted by Cucumber_Jones

When will you do a vr review? Loads of amp choices!

Ah yes, the VR review. It's about 3/4 done. It will be up by labor day weekend - promise!

FWIW, the delay has more to do with me just being mentally fried from writing and typing all day for my "day" job. For me, the VR has been revolutionary. It really brought the music alive for me! And it is really the main driving reason I'm considering a Shindo amp. My reasoning there is that if the pre-amp can deliver this much to the experience, then maybe the amp will finish that "synergistic" sound. But I do wish they were just not so darn expensive!

J

[FranklinLG]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

I have never heard your speakers, but my Petite Latours sing big with the GM70's. I am set for a long time (although the 300B Ltd have my curiosity).

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for sharing. I'm actually quite interested in the GM70's. My biggest issue is just grasping how much of a difference there might be between my Sophia Electric 300B monos and something like the GM70. My Sophias are restocked with great NOS Jan tubes and a pair of the Full Music premier 300B tubes. The costs of my tubes cost almost as much as the amps, and when you factor some other tweaks, including caps, the cost delta is less than $1,000. So I think I've pushed these to their maximum...

For the most part, I love these. I think they sound the best of anything I've ever had. But I have noticed some build quality issues and there is a strange hum issue tied to the amp's grounding. This requires very careful and creative placement of the amps. I also have one amp that "rattles" the rectifier tube, even when I switch tubes. So I know it's the amp and not the tube. This, coupled with a few other items, makes me feel dissatisfied with the build... And in turn the amp...

So I'd really welcome yours or anyone else's input on the GM70's (or other Shindo mono amps) and also the audio sound quality bump from going from a budget friend Sophia, tweaked to the max, to a not so budget friendly shindo amp. Also, FWIW, I'm not that interested in the stereo amps. I like mono style!

Ultimately, getting some input on user's candid thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to PM, if necessary, if you aren't comfortable being too candid here!

PS I'm not going to even consider the Shindo 300Bs... Way out of my financial comfort zone.