Tube Preamps...I'm sold

Clfcarney, well I'm glad you have a sense of humor regarding your own opinion of being condescending, on to your other statements and questions.

1) I prefer not to share the name of the dealer who I got the Shindo preamp, he's a fine gentleman with a great store who made a mistake of not making sure that the Shindo PC was in the unpacked shipping carton. We had a long discussion regarding how the Shindo PC was vital to get the best performance out of the preamp and not to experiement with other PC's. However, since I live in another state, it was not possible to go back and get the Shindo PC, so I'm breaking in the Preamp with a Harmonix Studio Master Cord and will recieve the Shindo PC this week through the mail.

2) Regardless, of what happened concerning the PC my audition period is at least two weeks, so the Shindo will be fully broken in and used with its stock PC before I come to any conclusions regarding its performance in my system.

3) It was also discussed that Mr. Shindo selects what he considers the optimum tubes for voicing his preamps, so tube rolling is not recommended.

4) I'm fully aware that the Shindo is a full function pre not just a line stage, with a highly regarded phono stage. However, without getting into a very subjective debate regarding analog vs digital, I'm not at all interested in vinyl and have not been for over fifteen years. I accept that you experience "the emotional essence and flow" of the music more with analog then digital, I don't. The way you describe what you like in your system's overall signature reminds me of much of the writing style of Sarjan and the boys over on Six Moons website that I find quite entertaining and very mumbo-jumbo and quite silly most of the time. I listen to music for pleasure and enjoyment on an emotional level, not to have a spiritual experience.

4) Quite right, let's have fun and let the music roll.

4)

I have used passive preamps in the past and liked it better than the active stages I tried.
I then went dCS straight into different amps for quite a while and preferred that to the couple of preamps that I tried(amateur that I am,Audiofeil).
But when I got my Shindo Vosne Romanee preamp,it was a complete change of landscape like no preamp had ever been before for me.
It was like adding another amp into the chain,it transformed my system in an almost unbelievably positive way.
So,forgive me if I seem incredulous at your initial reports,but they differ wildly from my own experience of the Shindo gear,and ,frankly, from every other report I have read of others who have actually heard the gear.
Even someone as mainstream as Michael Fremer was quoted as saying the Shindo demo was the best he heard at a show in the recent past(pretty sure it was he).
But maybe the Monbrisson isn't the best choice for an otherwise all ss and digital system with low efficiency speakers and a tough load.
With your preferences,Teajay,I'm kinda surprised you even wanted to try it.

Clfcarney, you do sound like Teajay's non-committal on the Shindo gear is hitting you particularly hard. First off, you are not a dealer or have any finacial involvement with Shindo by any chance, do you? I ask because your threads certainly smack of hyper-enthusiasm for the brand, almost like there is a monetary tie.
This may not be the case, maybe you are just new to the hobby and very loyal to this brand. Maybe defending it so enthusiastically helps you solidify purchase decisions that you've already made, who knows?
The point is, it appears to this unbiased viewer that you are blindly loyal to Shindo for some reason. You like the sound of Shindo, that's fine, but to question another's choice of preamps or sources, and denegating them because they don't mirror you own, shows either lack of experience or some financial investment.

These threads have been used before by those to schill their own products, see D&K. If you are not making money, and you are simply not experienced enough to know that system synergy is more important than any one piece of equipment, then perhaps this can be a valueable lesson for you. Teajay is allowed to NOT LIKE Shido equipment, and you are allowed to LIKE it. You don't need to be offended, he's not questioning your purchase decisions. Why does his choice of source, speakers, amp and preamp irritate you so much? Why is he not allowed to enjoy his system? Why do you feel the need to express that your opinion holds more value than his?

It is really sad to watch. I hope that you can learn to play well with others.

Happy New Year,

John

Clfcarney,
Anybody that makes a statement such as:

"Details and ss are for young beginners who don't know any better"

is clearly an amateur in the world of high end audio. Whether or not you own or have owned Shindo, dCS or any other well known brand is immaterial. You have displayed a total lack of understanding regarding solid state products and audio in general with such an absurd assertion. Some day and with more experience it will all make sense.

I stand by my assessment.