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Shindo Cortese - First Impressions

Yesterday, I picked up my new (to me) Shindo Cortese from Matt at Pitch Perfect Audio in San Francisco. Even though the amp was a trade-in from another customer who was moving up the Shindo line, It looked perfect and like new in every way.

I've only listened to the amp for 4 to 5 hours. Too soon for a long term review, but enough for a quick first impression.

For those who might not be familiar with it, the Cortese is 10W/ch amp based on the industrial strength Siemens F2A tube and it's an SET (Single-Ended Triode) design.

On the 1-10 Alberto's Audio Deliciousness Scale, this amp is not a 10, not even an 11, it's a 12! Seriously!

I never thought a manufacturer would have the "bollocks" to create something that is so insanely delicious and so forgiving that it has to polarize anyone who listens. The Cortese does not walk a fine line between analytical and musical (to use some common audiophile terms) -- it steps over that line, takes twenty steps toward musical side, drops its trousers and moons anyone and anything on the other side.

After an hour of listening, I realized that this amp is voiced the exact way I would voice an amp if I knew how. Warm, liquid, continuous with a round and tuneful bass that belies its measly 10W per channel, a midrange to die for (but that was expected based on the SET design) and a treble that ...

... Ah, yes, the treble. At first I though "There's some trouble with the treble." For the first time in years, I found myself (me of bat-like-ears and super-sensitivity to harsh or excessive highs) thinking "I need more treble." The treble was there, smooth and extended, but a bit too "timid" -- cymbals sounded as if the drummer was holding back a little, the upper harmonics on horns and strings were also a bit muted. It sounded delicious - but too delicious and forgiving.

But I knew that there's no way this amp would have been one of Stereophile's Art Dudley's long term favorites -- or none of the other reviewers -- if the treble was this gentle and forgiving.

I knew what was "wrong": My entire system (including cables) and room treatment, had been chosen and designed to deal with harsh or excessive treble from lesser recordings. I had accepted the fact that I needed tone controls to tame a good 30% of my favorite recordings. But not with the Cortese. The treble on this puppy is so smooth that I adjusted the tweeter cross-over on Tannoys from -1.5dbs to +1.5dbs! Now the treble was just right for my tastes. It might still be a bit too gentle and rolled off for others, but keep in mind that everything in my system (including the Tannoys) is very forgiving and I have a feeling that with more neutral speakers it's going to be right for almost everyone (OK, perhaps not for people who prefer the sound signature of manufacturers like Krell.)

There's not much to add about the mid-range. It's your run of the mill, magical SET sound. Perfection to my ears.

The bass was the most pleasant, although somewhat anticipated, suprise. The Cortese has the most tuneful and extended bass I've ever had in my system. I had some thoughts of getting a larger pair of Tannoys and I kept taking the subwoofers on and off my system. With the bass from the Cortese any desire for larger Tannoys has evaporated, subs will probably go to the garage next week - who needs them. I might even move the speakers further away from the wall since I moved them closer to get more bass with the Montille. The depth and "chest impact" of the bass is one thing, the other is the tuneful aspect of it. Every bass note is distinct - the opposite of one-note-bass.

Soundstage: wider but also about 2' taller. I love a high soundstage. Even though the speaker drivers are less than 3' off the ground, the sound stage is easily at 6-7'. This means I can sit on my chair and look "up" to the music as if I was in a concert. I love it!

That's it for a first pass. In the days and weeks to come, I will play around with different cables since now I no longer have to worry about having cables that are too resolving.

If I sound ecstatic and overjoyed, it's because I am. I knew that this amp was a step in the right direction for me. I knew it would be more delicious than any other amp that has graced my system, but I was not prepared for an amp that said:

"Here Alberto - Mr. Delicious - try ME out, I am just for you. You can now play ALL your records and forget about tone controls and loudness and subwoofer and bigger speakers. I AM your tone controls. I AM your loudness. Pack your subwoofers, forget bigger speakers for your little room. I have it all. Just for you my friend. Enjoy me ... and spread the word to other delicious sound hounds."

OK, enough writing. I am going to forget that today is a spectacular sunny day in the SF Bay Area and go do more listening. The pull of the Cortese is stronger than the pull of the mighty sun!

Alberto (Delicious Sound Hound)
as1963
as1963 OP
19 posts
 
David: "Your over the top endorsement, however does make me curious as to what other SET amps you are comparing the Cortese performance with? Where is your base line? One man's 12 is another man's 5."

Hi David!

My "rating" is purely subjective and not meant to be taken literally or over-analyzed in terms of calibration. As the name "Alberto's Audio Deliciousness Scale" (and the implicit reference to Spinal Tap) should suggest, it was meant to be somewhat humorous and over the top. Just to be clear: I don't actually have a well-defined 1-10 scale, nor have I used the idea of a Deliciousness Scale before with other products.

As a matter of fact, as far as I know, I am the only person I know who has been using deliciousness as an audio adjective with any regularity.

Since I am disclosing stuff, I best admit that I also did not actually measure the twenty steps that I said the Cortese took on the musical side of the analytic vs. musical line before dropping its trouser and mooning everyone and everything on the other side. :-).

My post was motivated by the pure joy and excitement I experienced when I put the Shindo Cortese in my system and room and it not only lived up, but surpassed, many of my expectations in terms of sounding musical and delicious.

I hope, and fully expect, that anyone considering the Cortese will refer to the reviews written by professional reviewers.

I have two pieces of somewhat more objective data to share however:

1) The day after I got the Cortese, I had the longest listening session of my life. Roughly from 10AM to 10PM - with short breaks for lunch and dinner.

2) Before, about 30% of my records did not sound good to me without some form of tone controls to tame harsh highs or thin sound. With the Cortese that number has dropped to - I am guesstimating - less than 1 or 2%. I am rediscovering and playing so many CDs (and a few LPs) I had given up on.

I appreciate you disclosing that you are a dealer and, while I don't know what products you represent, I am fully prepared to believe that they might also rate highly on my subjective delicious scale.

Cheers!

Alberto
sbayne's avatar
sbayne
480 posts
 
I think people who take to Shindo gear understand its about the music. My wife is a professional musician and a number of my friends are as well. Listening and playing music is an emotional event for them. We have literally spent hours listening to record after record on my system. Office friends I have had over usually listen for about 5 minutes, say its cool looking and then ask why I still use records. Its all about the sound to them - not the music. One coworker told me his sub plays a lot lower and louder than what he heard in my system. The whole conversation was about how loud his system could play, not about the spectacular music he had just heard. Oh well, to each their own. Take care and enjoy!
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dlanselm
111 posts
 
Alberto,

Your response was nicely written and had a very friendly tone, I appreciate that. You are a very likable guy.
; 0

The next part of my response is mainly rhetorical to Kharl. Alberto, please do not feel the need to answer any of the questions I pose.

Kharl,

A "review" that does not compare the product in "review" to other competing products is not as helpful as one that does, IMO. Knowing ones baseline is helpful information, if one is using these forums to make buying decisions, or to make a short list.

Karl, I personally have enough experience to know that Alberto was not comparing the Cortese to SET amps that I would personally rate a twelve, on a scale of one to ten. But their are readers of all experience levels on these forums who may not be aware where the Cortese really fits in the SET hierarchy based on absolute performance.

Who knows though everyone likes/values different things in their system, and their is no "best" in audio. But I will admit I would be SHOCKED if Albertro stated the other SET amps he compared the Cortese to are the Wavac 833 MKII, Zanden Model 95OO MKIII, and the Audio Note Ongaku. Top SET performers in absolute terms IMO. If he did state this I would expect the informed SET connoisseur to be VERY intrigued. However, if he stated his baseline amp was a Sony receiver, I expect many would not be as intrigued/interested.

Just my two cents.

David
Dealer Disclaimer/Almost Live Audio

(Sine I mentioned an Audio Note Ongaku in my response, I want to be transparent, I am an Audio Note dealer.)
as1963 OP
19 posts
 
David, I don't feel the *need* to answer your questions but I don't mind doing so - especially since you noted the friendly tone in my reply. We are all here to learn and discuss.

My previous amp+speaker set up for 3+ years was McIntosh MC501s and Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage - thus not SET - but not a Sony receiver either. Over the years, I also built for myself (or bought) a few Bottlehead tube amps and still have a Bottlehead S.E.X. as my headphone amp which I used - before the Cortese - when I needed some deliciousness to make bad recordings sound good - or at least tolerable. I've also auditioned at least a dozen serious SET systems over the years - but I was probably too "young" to really appreciate them and their delicious sound. Although I am sure a few of them would have been rated highly delicious.

As an electric guitar player, I've gone through dozens of amps over the years and slowly (and expensively) converged on low-power, point-to-point wired SET amps and I am currently enjoying the heck out of a Emery Sound where I regularly swap tubes in search of tone. My favorite guitar tube, BTW, is the lowly EL84 driven by a 12AX7 with a 6X5GT rectifier to give it just the right amount of voltage "sag."

Bottom line: I haven't done extensive auditions on multiple SET amps like some professional reviewers, but I know what I like and since I know other people have the same taste as I, I thought it would be valuable to share it. I haven't read much about Audio Note amps, but I know that Art Dudley spoke highly of Audio Note speakers and, if I remember correctly, he used them with Shindo amps with great results.

It's entirely possible that I would have had a similar reaction the Ongaku, but fate led me in the warm and embracing sonic arms of Shindo, and I can only write of what I know - limited as it may be.

I'd like to conclude with three cheers for *all* audio manufacturers who have committed to addressing the tastes and preferences of people like me who value delicious sound.

Alberto
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Excellent point Dlanselm.
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