Shindo pre + buget amp or Leben amp + budget pre


Relatively new to Audiogon and was looking for some advice. I'm putting together a new system, and I've decided on the WTL Amadeus with Denon 103 cart for my source, and Devore Super 8s for speakers.

I can't decide whether to get the Shindo Augieres pre and run it into a budget amp (possibly used), or get a Leben cs300xs and use a budget phono stage (again, used). Eventually I would upgrade the budget component, additional funds permitting ...

Thoughts? Thanks in advance ...
pdicorpo

Showing 1 response by 4musica44107

That is a very nice system you are putting together!

I have a Shindo Aurieges-L in one of my systems and a Leben RS28-CX in another. Both are excellent but I have changed my thinking and now slightly prefer the Shindo to the Leben. I would recommend the Aurieges and the best phono stage you can afford to get the most out of your Amadeus. I believe most other Shindo owners would recommend that you eventually get an appropriate Shindo amp as well to reap the musical benefits of an all Shindo system. I know I am in the minority but neither of my Shindo preamps are paired with a Shindo amp. My Aurieges is a great match to my Bedini 25/25 driving a pair of Omega Super 8 Alnico XRS, and a friend of mine has in the past very much enjoyed using first an Aurieges and more recently a Monbrison paired with a Levinson 334 to drive his Gibbon 9s. So there are two of what I suspect are many examples of Shindo preamps working well with non-Shindo amps.

What ICs and speaker cable are you using? Many Shindo owners like Auditorium 23 to fill those needs.