Shindo Masseto w Koetsu .3mv output


Hoping to get opinions on whether the MC stage of a Shindo Masseto has enough gain to produce strong dynamics from a Koetsu Rosewood Sig Platinum cartridge  (.3mv output). Or would I need a SUT?

 

Bonus question: any opinions on whether I would get better overall sound using an Aurieges pre (newer version) w an Hommage SUT through its MM section, or by playing straight into the MC section of a Masseto? The cost of each of these setups could be close to one another on the used market. When I say better sound, my priorities are a very organic "you are there midrange", lots of instrumental textures, realistic soundstage cues, and overall emotional impact of the music.

 

Thanks very much for any thoughts. My table is a Sota Nova vacuum and tonearm is Jelco TK-850 10". Amps are Quicksilver v4 monoblocks.

montaldo

If you have not you should read the article below which should answer your question. Short answer: The Masseto is a better choice, and has a SUT built in to it.

Like the version of the Aurieges I tried last month, the Masseto is a full-function preamplifier, with line and phono stages under one roof. The Masseto goes a step further, providing a switchable choice between moving-magnet and moving-coil phono inputs, the latter accomplished with an onboard pair of amorphous-core step-up transformers.

The Masseto didn’t just play music better than the Shindo Aurieges: It sounded better, too. The more expensive preamp had a distinctly wider frequency range, no doubt because of its lower output impedance. And while I didn’t expect the stunningly low noise floor of the Aurieges to be bettered so soon, the Masseto did just that: It was even quieter, darker, and deeper between the notes—and, as with its less expensive brother, I simply could not get the Masseto’s phono section to hum.

 

Thanks for answering the bonus question! Appreciated. May I ask what cartridge you used and its output in mv?

Stu

+1, @jperry

The Masseto is a much better pre/phono than entry level Aurieges. If you still looking at options, also consider used Monbrison Pre from Ken Shindo era, which has an outstanding MC phono stage. I used my Monbrison with HANA Umami Red / SME 15AV TT. 

@montaldo 

A friend of mine had a Masseto, which has now been upgraded to a Petrus. 

I heard his Masseto with his Koetsu Coralstone (not sure of the output) and my Ikeda 9GSS (0.3 mVrms (1kHz 35.4mm/sec. at 45 peak))

His system sounded great with both cartridges