Tube Research Labs Dude vs. Shindo Labs preamps

I think Grannyring and Dev make some good points. Maybe you could tell everyone what amp you are planning to use with either of the preamps. Listing the rest of your system probably would help too. You might get better advice in the end.

System synergy is always important as we know. I have found the Dude plays wonderful music in many different systems and is very flexible if you will.

In the end I find personel preference to be a greater factor. Some like this or that...

Tthean, does resale value, or the ease of resale, in the least bit important consider your next preamp purchase? Is it a factor or is that out of the equation?

Hi all, I really appreciate your responds. My philosophy has always been 'less is more'. Over the years I have tried many preamps and always ended up in disappointment. I still prefer direct from CD player to power amp with volume controls. Maybe most of the preamps I tried are about $1-2K price, so I might have missed the more expensive and better preamps out there.

For the last couple of years, I started to read how the owners of Shindo and TRL praise about their preamp in the Audiogon. It stir up my curiosity, especially when someone even said that Ken Shindo himself believes that the preamp is the heart and soul of the audio system! This completely goes against my belief system of better not having them! I also felt like they not only praise their preamp, they actually adore, admire and worship the unit! Quite frankly, this started to scare me a little (in a good way). The scariest part was this is coming from majority of them, not just a few! Well, if these preamps be able to connect them so emotionally to the music, then I want to be part of them.

Long story short, I think I owe it to myself and not give it a try and see how it will change my belief system. I am also looking at Herron Audio VTSP-3A, but at the end of the day, the hype from the TRL Dude and Shindo owners help me to narrow down my decision. I live in DFW, Texas area and we do not have a lot of good audio dealer in this area, not to mention these 2 brands. Yes, Grannyring, I will take up your offer.

My system consists of Sony XA-5400ES SACD player, 300B SE amp with volume controls, modified K & K Audio ST70 power amp, a 91db speaker system with Dynauio dome mid and tweeter with JBL 12" alnico woofer. The crossover is designed by Dennis Murphay, http://www.metrocast.net/~jaden/. A great guy with tons of crossover design knowledge, this pair of speakers is very dynamic and transparent with flat frequency respond from 45hz to 18K hz.

The preamp is the heart of the system based on my experience also. Subjective preference means some go active and some so passive. Some go tubes and some go SS.

I am in Southern, MN.

A great tube preamp can be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings it all together based on my experience.