shindo vs. atma-sphere

Thanks everyone for your responses. They have all been a big help.

Odds are I would get the MP3, not just for cost but also for space considerations. But the Shindo sounds awfully good too.

If you want to hear the difference brought by resistors, get a variety of pairs and try them in the phono load position on the backside of the preamp (at least on the MP-1, I assume a similar spot for the MP-3). They are simple to swap and the gear is so revealing that yes a single resistor's difference in each channel is audible. Audio Note Tantalums, nude Vishays, Caddocks, for example.

That's a nice lot of tubes to play with. For me, finding quiet 12AT7s was challenging. Some of my favorites are the Sylvania GB-6201 and the Siemens 12AT7. Ken-Rad and Sylvania for the 6SN7s, RCAs too. Among caps I had the CuTF version of the v-Caps installed and definitely found the upgrade worthwhile vs. stock. Andy at VTS is a great source for 6SN7s.

I have a high-performance DIY unbalanced line stage with single 5842 RF tube p/c > Magnequest output transformers (tube rectified OPS.)  My 5842 outperformed a highly regarded commercial 300B preamp and ditto a 6SN7 preamp. 

Yesterday I finally AB tested my 5842 vs. $4500 Atma-Sphere MP-3 line stage only w/V-Cap upgrade ($600 SRP IIRC.)  

The rest of the system is superb, as follows: Huge custom server/streamer built summer of 2021 has 4x the power of Chord's M-Scaler and more power than a $30k Extreme player; running HQ Player's most advanced filters/algorithms (separate outboard NUC runs Room library function only) > Holo Audio May KTE3 DAC > preamp > Atma-Sphere's class D mono blocks (ETA this month) > AudioKinesis Gina satellite w/AudioKinesis Space Generator reverberant field accessory speakers.  Two kilo-watt sub amps > four AudioKinesies subs in a distributed array.  All Clarity Cable.  

MP-3 outperformed my 5842 in every way. Bass clarity was improved a lot as was the nuance and illusion of a human being playing an electric bass.  The program was live, starting with just bass, electric piano and maybe some percussion. The size of the venue went from largish on my 5842 to sounding like it was outdoors; the walls and ceiling of my room seemed to disappear.  Detail, clarity and transparency improved with more of see-through effect; the presentation more closely mimicked big electrostatic panels.  Image separation improved as did the space between the images. The stage and images appeared to form a large, natural and beautiful arc from a center seat row 3 to 5.  The music had more swing, verve and emotional connection, that effect that makes you savor to the last and final silence.  

I was prepared for my 5842 to outperform the MP-3; no dice!     

The MP-3 is a world class preamp IME.