Just took delivery of the Red Wine Audio 30.2 and-


...and this thing is quite miraculous really. Have recently had the Lavardin IS Reference and Shindo Aurieges/Montille combo in house played over Living Voice IBXR2's via Auditorium 23 speaker cables with a Lector CDP 0.6T mk. 2 player-- and let me tell you, this little Red Wine punches like Mike Tyson and sings like Callas.
Specifics? Yah-- I got yer specifics right here... tight DEEP bass (I mean it-- frightening!), black backgrounds, wiiiide soundstage (the sidewalls are alive with the sound of music yada yada)Defined/refined treble (supposed to get better with age-- 100 hrs or so). Shall I continue? Thank you.
A breezy user interface, sharp looks, a crisp feel to the volume control/solid build in general and no need for a Fatboy Electraglide mk. 8 SE power cord etc. This amp is thus far dynamic, detailed and refined.
Criticisms? So far a few minor ones. It could be-- and I mean could maybe be... a hair brighter balanced. The treble's all there in spades, though it's certainly a shade darker than the Shindo gear for example (which for my taste-- may be a hair too tipped up tonally-- so what 'the tonal truth' is here... only Harry Pearson knows).
The RWA is punchier and more alive than the Lavardin (as promised by the Vinnster), with perhaps a broader soundstage and a bit more dynamics-- yah--not quite as sleepy-- which was perhaps my only niggle with that otherwise splendid amplifier.
Finally, in the way of niggling, I myself might like even finer gradations on the volume control for those times with a string quartet when you'd like juuuuuust a WEEE bit more volume to make it sound live-- but not a whole lot. Incidentally, the remote is super small and cutie and functions like a charm-- perfect.
Now the kicker--- I have a Manley Stingray enroute to my home as I type this and that comparison should be REAL interesting.
I shall rid myself of the loser, and that means yes-- as phenomenal as this RWA 30.2 is so far-- if tubes give it a sound trouncing-- back to Vinnie it shall go within the alloted trial period (and dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out etc).
I am very interested to hear the tonal differences, as I thought the Shindo stuff would be richer etc. and perhaps the opposite is true. Incidentally- both the Shindo stuff and the RWA are quite pacey and involving-- high on my priority list. Havent listened to many great piano recordings with the RWA as yet-- and this is one of my true tests in terms of tone/density and all that jazz. Perhaps tonight.. I'm praying for density and not just leading edge flash n' tinkle.
But even still-- the sheer convenience of the thing--the elegance/simplicity of the design and the direct and uneventful way in which it goes about the business of DOING its business... is something rare-- certainly at this price point.
It isnt often I like the sonic signature of components a certain Head Moonie recommends (IMHO often a touch on the squeaky clean and bright side or possessed of, to me anyhoo, idiosyncratic tonal signatures-- at least in the past)-- but on this one I wholeheartedly agree. If I were to review the RWA amp in two words or less after only a single day of hearing thing, I would write: NO JOKE.
The RWA 30.2 is thus far cutting a good deal of mustard. One day of ownership though doesnt quite cut the ketchup in terms of the credibility of this opinion and so we shall see what tomorrow holds; the Stingray, the power, pride and prejudice of Evanna Manley and Bob Neill, my own sonic pleasure, and the very existence (in my home anyway) of the RWA amp hang in the balance...

(too much? Dramatic though-- you gotta admit- I was on my lunch hour. Well.. better than just saying Vinnie's a friggin' genius and the RWA is really err.... good so far:)
abramsmatch
Were they talking about the Red Wine Audio 30.2 you mean? It aint exactly struggling in that department! Never heard the first version though. I would call the Shindo gear slightly pacier though at this point. As for 'better'-- well, I'm witholding judgement till I have a few more hours on the RWA amp.
What's important to know is as yet-- no particular amp KILLS the other and they vary widely in price... so that's something, eh?
...okay, I won't push any further. :-) let us know what you think in a couple weeks. so far, I'm getting that Shindo is better and it should be, given the price.

but do let us know your initial thoughts on the Sig to Stingray comparison.

a British zine said that the original Sig 30 struggled a bit in the pace/timing department. but I can't remember if they used a pre with it. I bet that would help.

thanks.
Well-- I may not be able to comment on the full capability of the shindo gear as I am not bi-wiring the LV's with the Auditorium 23 speaker cables or using a Shindo interconnect, both of which are apparently highly recommended (almost mandated in fact) by those in the know for optimal Shindo set-up.
I will say in my current set-up, the Shindo gear and the Lavardin are rather enjoyable to listen to. The Lavardin is to me, slightly less pacey than the Shindo gear, and in the current set-up, slightly warmer. There is less separation between the musicians as well. It is about on a par with the Shindo gear bass-wise.
The Red Wine Amp seems to be punchier/more dynamic than either set-up (though the Shindo may have the edge pace-wise-- like Naim gear) and there is no denying that "little chip" or whatever is in the thing hits like a freight train with low taught bass.
I feel the RWA amp is more dynamic than the Lavardin piece and perhaps more so than the Shindo gear, though again the Shindo gear may not be optimally set-up. Like the lavardin, it does not seem at this point to plumb the depths as the RWA does bass-wise. And again, the RWA may not be quite as toe-tapping as the Shindo stuff. (But Shindo is green like Naim-- so that's to be expected, right? ;)
Please note-- my listening experience with the RWA is quite preliminary as Vinnie recommends 100 hours of break- in and at this point, there are like 6 hours on it total!! I still have not had a chance to listen further-- so I really wasnt going for an in-depth review-- just wanted to express my Shock and Awe that it was holding its own with the other stuff in-house in many ways from the moment I turned it on.
It perhaps is a mite 'papery' tonally right now but again-- no break in!!! In other words-- this thing has potential with a capital 'P.'
I am due to receive the manley Stingray tonight and that's a comparison I'm anxiously awaiting!!
So, is Shindo Aurieges/Montille better? What about the Lavardin? Do you think it is a good buy?

Personally, I'm very curious (and it would be fabulous if the amp sounds great) but I need to get over pyschological aspects of buying a tiny chip and a couple capacitors. Perhaps if I could view stereo equipment as listening tools, then I could get past this prejudice.
The 30.3? Wow that will render the 30.2 obsolete-- I mean like it wont even WORK anymore when the new one comes out! Isnt that how it goes?

Judging from the limited responses... Guess there's not a heck of a lot of knowledge about Red Wine Audio products here on audiogon yet. Well-- they are definitely worth checking out in my estimation. Superb value for money and no-- they dont make new models every 2 months. I think the 30.2 is only the first update in a few years or so-- but word has it it is certainly mo' betta.
I read somewhere that the 30.3 would be released soon and would really, really rock.
If you mean

does it ROCK BABEEEE...

well we listened to some John Mayer Continuum and Michael (or is it Elliot) Yamin at high volume at my girlfriend's request (I'm more of a fat guys-wearing-helmets-and-screaming-about-love-and-death guy myself)... and it positively stomped all of the amps in terms of effortlessness at pounding/keeping the beat etc. True too for bass weight.

It is no weenie--- that is fo' shizza.

Now I havent gone 'In da Club' wid fiddy cent yet.... but I'll let you know. I'll bet the RWA can hammer it out though.
Go Shorty-- is yo birfday
We gonna pardee like is yo birfday
We gonna sip Bacardi like is yo' birfday...

It should be interesting to see if the Manley Stingray can free ma soul/get lost in ma rock n roll..... or maybe it'll just take tea, have crumpets and a cigar and O Sole Mio around the place.

Big Luv for ya,
Big D
Sounds like eureka then, but does it do this?

Oh, give me the beat boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away