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Shindo Labs Amps and Preamps

I have a pair of DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 loudspeakers and am considering purchasing a Shindo Labs amp. and preamp. to pair with them.  I've been working with a very nice and helpful dealer who has recommended an amp. and preamp pair, but to optimize the combo it looks like I also need at least one Auditorium 23 Hommage SUT, as well as Auditorium 23 or Shindo interconnects and speaker cables.  The total cost is high (approximately $30K to $40K) so I'd like to get some opinions on whether Shindo is really that much better sounding than another amp and preamp pair for my loudspeakers.  Unfortunately, I don't live close enough to the dealer to listen for myself before purchasing.  I don't mind paying a premium and don't want to offend anyone by asking this question, but is Shindo really worth the cost in terms of sound and build quality?  Thank you for your time and assistance. 
pacific_nw
wolf_garcia
6,686 posts
 
Shindo stuff is supposed to be world class and they know it, thus are able to charge whatever they want, although they’re simply wires in a box like everything else (well done and well selected components of course)…count on at least a 50% to 60% price reduction if and when you want to sell a Shindo amp. Dennis Had "Inspire" amps and preamps are only available on Ebay generally (sold used elsewhere from time to time), but they’re hand wired masterpieces that cost around $1500 for each component and are considered to be among the finest amps anywhere at any cost, but they’re hard to get…one of his SEP amps is for sale on Ebay now actually, and it’s the latest version (no connection to me and I own one already, but there ya go).
larryi
3,902 posts
 

Shindo makes some very good sounding tube gear, albeit, at a fairly stiff price.  I think that a good competitive alternative would be Audio Note (uk) gear.  They have a wide range of options and prices.  The lower price models are quite a decent bargain for the sound they deliver, the pricier stuff being better, but not nearly as good a bargain.  Like the Shindo gear, Audio Note's phono stages have only enough gain for moving magnet cartridges and are meant to be used with a step up transformer.  As a broad statement, I would say these two brands have a similar sound (which I like). 

Whether or not any alternative would sound better to you, would be purely a guess.  There really isn't a "tube sound;" the differences in sound between high end tube gear is, to me, much greater than the differences between comparably priced solid state gear. 

Given that the Devores are quite efficient and easy to drive, you have the advantage of being able to use low-powered amps.  To me, low-powered tube gear sounds much better than higher-powered stuff.  I find the O/96 to be a little on the "polite" side and not as lively sounding as I would like.  That might mean that they could use the kind of "kick" that an output transformer-less (OTL) amp can deliver.  While I have not heard the O/96 with such an amp, it might be worthwhile looking into the lower-powered Atmasphere OTL amp and their very good linestage.



rsf507
2,301 posts
 
It's definitely a different sound, for me not what I would ever consider. With your speakers I'd be looking at an OTL design like Atmasphere.  Before spending this amount of $$$$$ I'd want to listen first.
jwpstayman
397 posts
 
You might also want to consider Doshi amp/pre, another very good boutique, hand-made wonderful amplifier that will not break the bank, merely crack it!  Good Luck!
rhljazz
1,252 posts
 
I listened to the o/96's for several hours at my local dealer.  Amplification was a Leben CS 300x which is an integrated of 15W per channel (and it totally kicks #*# in dynamics) the sound was pure magic.  The Leben is under 4000.00 and saves you buying at least a pair of interconnects.  The dealer carries Shindo as well as Leben and Line Magnetic.  I don't recall the model of speaker cables. 
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