Is the magic in shindo or verity?

The Shindo stand alone phonostage is a custom product that can be ordered. It does not appear on the standard list of products. All of Shindo's stuff is already pseduo-custom and there are a lot of special products that Shindo can make if you ask.

The stand alone is a custom unit so it does not have a separate name. It is currently being built into the Auriges chassis. The unit can be ordered with lots of options. The one I heard had two different EQ curves for 78's as well as the standard RIAA curve.

I heard the unit in comparison to the Shindo Massetto, the one I believe you listened to. I give a slight edge to the stand alone unit over the one in the Massetto whereas I prefer the phono in my Vosne-Romannee. The differences were pretty subtle. All three units have that Shindo sound.

The Garrads are wonderful tables. Bear in mind that the full Shindo 301 table is heavily modified from a stock Garrard. The entire bearing assembly, spindle shaft, and platter are replaced.

I find that the Shindo gear integrates into many systems. It may not work in every case but it usually does. The place to start if you want to go this route is with the preamp. There is a special synergy in an all-Shindo system. I started out two years ago with a Shindo preamp and have since replaced everything top to bottom with an all-Shindo system sans speakers. I'm contemplating a custom Shindo speaker built around an Altec 604 to complete my system.

The Verity speakers are very nice, but I have to agree that the huge differences between the two rigs is probably mostly due to the Garrad/Shindo analog setup vs. the Zanden digital. Tough to compare and draw very meaningful conclusions. Cheers,
Spencer

RChau I recently bought an Aurieges L. Would I be able to order a Shindo phono-stage for it, or am I over simplifying? You're right about the Shindo magic, its intoxicating, I'm now looking for an amp to match with it and hope to assemble an all Shindo system one of these years.

Mikeyc8

You can order a stand alone Shindo phonostage to go with the Auriges-L. However, the stand alone phonostage is in the neighborhood of $6K-7K. It would probably make more sense to trade the Auriges-L in for the two-box Auriges with MM phono or one of the higher models like a Monbrison.

I alo started out with an Auriges-L. I spent one week with it and had to go on travel. As soon as I returned, I ordered the Cortese. It has been downhill ever since.

If the Verity Fidelio can be brought to superb levels of performance with Shindo amps or any other amp, then we still listen to Verity Fidelio.
you could say it is 'nor fair' to partner say 6000$ loudspeakers to an 35000$ amplifier set-up and get unbelievable results.
but it only proofs at what the Fidelio is capable of.
it's all in the match.

cheers