Beyond sound, take a look at the quality of the internal layout and construction of the Shindo gear - it inspires a lot of confidence. |
Sounds like a nice piece 4musica44107. Would be great to compare the two directly in the same system. |
@Grannyring,
I understand your point and already realized from your comments and review that you believe the Dude punches way above its price point. I suspect many of us have that belief about one or more components we have used and enjoyed.
Case in point is the Shindo Aurieges, which costs ~ $3.3K now. When I get the Aurieges, for me, in my experience (I previously owned one for nearly one year before upgrading to the Masseto) and IMHO, it will be a significant upgrade over my ~$10K Ref 3 in terms of sheer musicality. When I had both the Ref 3 and the Aurieges I A/B'd them in 3 different systems and the Aurieges was far better musically. Of course, the Ref 3 offers many more features and conveniences than the Aurieges.
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One thing to consider is the Dude costs about $4000 now with it's new beefy face and chassis. I think the Dude has put on some weight and may be up to 60-70 lbs. The Shindo Masseto costs almost 3 times more - $11,500!
I have not heard heard any Shindo preamp, but the Dude seems to be priced more real world. Don't let the price fool you as it can take on any $$ contender :-) |
Tthean et al - I am enjoying this thread and hope to see more responses. I have 4 systems, each with a different preamp: Shindo Masseto, Leben RS28-CX, Audio Research Ref 3, and Quicksilver linestage. That is how I rank them musically. I hope someday to upgrade the Leben to a Monbrison and the Ref 3 to an Aurieges, so the comments in this thread are of interest to me.
@Grannyring - The characteristics you associate with the Dude are the same ones that I experience with Shindo preamps and to a lesser extent the Leben. I have not heard the Dude.
Eventually all 4 systems will have a Shindo preamp. The Shindo sound is, for me, that seductive, because it delivers the musical goods like no other preamp I have heard. |
Tthean,
What are you looking to improve in your system? What about the sound would you like to improve?
The Dude is a champ at these things.
- imaging is magic and state of the art
- 3D stage with great depth
- sense of scale and ease no mattter how loud
- music has body, texture and dimension
The above helps the Dude sound like music and less like electronics.
Your system is very nice indeed.
Knowing your likes and dislikes in a sound system will help greatly. |
The preamp is the heart of the system based on my experience also. Subjective preference means some go active and some so passive. Some go tubes and some go SS.
I am in Southern, MN.
A great tube preamp can be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings it all together based on my experience. |
Hi all, I really appreciate your responds. My philosophy has always been 'less is more'. Over the years I have tried many preamps and always ended up in disappointment. I still prefer direct from CD player to power amp with volume controls. Maybe most of the preamps I tried are about $1-2K price, so I might have missed the more expensive and better preamps out there.
For the last couple of years, I started to read how the owners of Shindo and TRL praise about their preamp in the Audiogon. It stir up my curiosity, especially when someone even said that Ken Shindo himself believes that the preamp is the heart and soul of the audio system! This completely goes against my belief system of better not having them! I also felt like they not only praise their preamp, they actually adore, admire and worship the unit! Quite frankly, this started to scare me a little (in a good way). The scariest part was this is coming from majority of them, not just a few! Well, if these preamps be able to connect them so emotionally to the music, then I want to be part of them.
Long story short, I think I owe it to myself and not give it a try and see how it will change my belief system. I am also looking at Herron Audio VTSP-3A, but at the end of the day, the hype from the TRL Dude and Shindo owners help me to narrow down my decision. I live in DFW, Texas area and we do not have a lot of good audio dealer in this area, not to mention these 2 brands. Yes, Grannyring, I will take up your offer.
My system consists of Sony XA-5400ES SACD player, 300B SE amp with volume controls, modified K & K Audio ST70 power amp, a 91db speaker system with Dynauio dome mid and tweeter with JBL 12" alnico woofer. The crossover is designed by Dennis Murphay, http://www.metrocast.net/~jaden/. A great guy with tons of crossover design knowledge, this pair of speakers is very dynamic and transparent with flat frequency respond from 45hz to 18K hz. |
Tthean, does resale value, or the ease of resale, in the least bit important consider your next preamp purchase? Is it a factor or is that out of the equation? |
System synergy is always important as we know. I have found the Dude plays wonderful music in many different systems and is very flexible if you will.
In the end I find personel preference to be a greater factor. Some like this or that... |
I think Grannyring and Dev make some good points. Maybe you could tell everyone what amp you are planning to use with either of the preamps. Listing the rest of your system probably would help too. You might get better advice in the end. |
Hi Grannyring,
I know you did and wasn't trying sugest anything else, just making it clear that no matter what system it may be that there is allot more going on than just plopping in a pce and coming to a conclusion of this or that. |
Dev
I did say in his set up.
Next best is in the same system - mine. Not perfect but just an offer better than nothing. |
Hi Grannyring, you are exsperienced and know better there is allot more to it than just plopping in a different pre-amp.
Tthean, you have only mentioned these two specific pre-amps so you oobviously have done your home work in what they have to offer along with your needs are and both do such, next would be to get them into your own set-up and live with them for a while to evaluate strengths and weeknesses and what you prefer in your own set-up.
Other pces in your set-up might need to be changed to get your over all preferred sound, that will be the big question.
Best to look at others set-ups whom have the same and see what other associated gear they have paired up and if such compares to what you have currently then see if you can go for a listen.
It's the joys of this hobby, never ending good luck in your journey. |
I don't know if anyone has compared these two preamps so it may be quiet on that subject.
You may have read my review and I can say with confidence the Dude is in a class of very few regardless of price.
You are welcome to listen to my Dude compared to any pre you decide on. Just bring your pre over and you can compare.Sell the pre that pleases you the least. Perhaps you are close enough were I can bring my Dude over. Most likely won't find a used Dude but can find the other pre in question.
I have compared the Dude to many a top end pre and the Dude has always sounded more like music.
Hope you hear from someone that has compared both. |
So all the Dude/Shindo boys will write in and praise their units using the same thoughts used in other threads that they have already posted. I am sure you have read them all.
Why these two preamps? Because you read all the hype?
Buy and try. Start with the Dude because it ..... |
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I have heard many preamps in my time but unfortunately have not heard the "Dude" I own a Shindo Auriges with phone stage and it is simply the best, by far preamp, I have ever heard. If you love the sound of a live musical experience the Shindo brings me closer to that then anything else. I wish I could afford one of there power amps |
