Description

High priority on tone, soundstage and overall balance of sound.
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Tekton Design MOAB
    These speakers use a double tweeter array to produce the midrange. The Be tweeter between the arrays is used as the actual tweeter. Then two big ass woofers are added. Extremely well reviewed and high value speakers!
    • Innuos PULSE
    Network Streamer internal with a RECAP2 power supply by Dr. Sean Jacobs built-in. Uses the innuOS 2.0 and Sense software. Its the best sounding streamer, OS and control software I've every used.
    • Aria Audio Aria Signature MK2
    This is a beautiful hand-built amplifier that puts out100 watts of Class A power with very high current capability. A extremely seductive yet authoritative sound with the Moabs.
    • Border Patrol DAC
    I've recently gone back to the world of Non-oversampling DACs. They simply sound more natural than high-resolution oversampling DACs. This is the USB model with Jupiter caps. It took a couple hundred hours to fully bloom but it was worth the wait.
    • Network Acoustics Muon System
    This is a complete digital cable system (filter, LAN cable, USB cable). This at a higher level than the famed EVO system.
    • Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF
    This is a classic power conditioner. It's UEF/EM based and compliments every component plugged in to it!
    • DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables
    DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables. They use multi-strand copper, an open weave, cotton cord in the center and ERS cloth at both ends. It's the formula Danny Richie uses for his cables. They have an open, airy yet very solid sound. The key is to break them in for hundreds of hours and use them as a "full loom" throughout your system.
    • Synergistic Research Black Box

    The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Subwoofers, Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.  

    • Synergistic Research ART System
    This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
    • Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Podiums
    These decouple and "float" your speakers on a spring-loaded metal base. It opens-up the sound and adds solidity to the bass but doesn't make the sound harsh like most metal speaker bases.
    • Synergistic Research: Atmosphere XL-4, Atmosphere, Mini-Atmosphere, FEQ X4 (2), UEF Dots, UEF Panels, Risers,ECT and GCT
    The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, Risers, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room. Bottom line they work: create a huge/realistic listening experience!
    • Synergistic Research Galileo SX Grounding Block
    The Galileo SX Grounding Block makes the system absolutely silent at idle and creates very black backgrounds for music. I made my own "high definition" grounding cables.
    • Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
    The Akiko Audio, Kemp and Zero One products treat the signal and power in my system keeping the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible or by adding more standard frequency Schumann Resonances. These products are excellent at making your system sound more "natural".
    • Perfect Path Technologies Total Contact, RCA caps, Stop-It duplex plugs, E-Mats & E-Cards
    This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around my components which greatly helps the sonics.
    • Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases and Tranquility Pod
    I use original MIGs under the Tranquility Bases.
    • Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
    The PEAs are battery powered. Spintronics is the ability to control or manipulate how electrons spin. Electrons spinning around electronic signals carry audio information. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
    • Puritan 156, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
    The Puritan is an excellent line conditioner. The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices actually add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems. The proof is in the listening.
    • Timbernation and Bright Star Audio Platforms
    Solid maple platforms stained cherry for electronics and Bright Star platforms for the subs.
    • Puron AC Line Conditioner
    I've added two of these line conditioners into the same outlet that feeds my Puritan 156 line conditioner. They open the sound soundstage, give a more realistic presentation of vocals and reveal a little more texture and impact to the bass. Highly recommended!
    • Stein H2 Harmonizer system
    I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone at each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
    • Tombo Audio Lotus Harmonic Enhancer
    The bell on the top gives high resonance frequency while the tip on the top of the bell performs as a wave guide streaming high frequency up to the ceiling.
    • Townshend Audio Allegri
    The Allegri is an autoformer based passive preamp. There is absolutely no noise but with with excellent soundstaging and dynamics. 

    • Cayin Audio Mini-CD MK2
    This is an excellent little CD player. I mostly stream but I still have hundreds of CDs.

Comments 566

Owner
Like all of Shindo's products, the first impression I had of the Shindo TT in my system was he obviously spent hours and hours refining the mechanics and ultimately the sound. I own another very nice Garrard 301 set-up but the Shindo 301 truly is better. I know I've said this a number times before but the sound just seems too "relax" - all of the dynamics are there but it never makes you tired. I've heard a lot of systems which you can check-off all the requirements for good sound: solid bass, open midrange, clear treble, big soundstage, etc but in the end you don't want to listen for more than 15 minutes or so. Shindo is not like that at all, it hits you on a much more emotional level.

sbayne

Scott: I noticed you moved from the Garrard 301 to the Shindo Garrard, what are your impressions of the the new table?

mikeyc8

Owner
Thanks everyone for your kind words!

sbayne

Congrats on the Shindo 301!! Great system you've put together.

doc_stereo

Hello Scott, Way to go with your addition of the Shindo 301 Player system. Unbelievable music making machine...enjoy!

Best, Alan

unoear

Well done!!

You're becoming a Shindologist.

lapierre

Owner
System edited: I've added the Shindo 301 to my system and CH Audio Design field coils to my Valencias. Not much to say other than these are major steps forward.

sbayne

Owner
Thanks Mjcmt. I've been around this hobby for many years. I'm starting to realize the way to improve a sound system is not through whiz-bang electrical engineering but through time-tested changes in the mechanical aspect of reproducing sound. In the Altecs for example, the winding of the voice coil, the quality of diaphram, the ratio of woofer to horn size, cabinet resistance (how much it flexes) and many other factors all add to the sound of the Altecs. Thats why I've been drawn to Shindo equipment. I've never met the man but its obvious Shindo understands this is as much art as it is science. He refines well-known, time-tested designs. Nothing fancy. Just a lot of hard-work and passion for music. I now realize the "old" Altecs made a lot of musical sense back in the 1960s and still do today.

sbayne

Love your Altecs. I had a friend in high school that had a Dynaco SS system and the Valencia (circa '68-'70) speakers. I was blown away by his system and it started me down the journey of high end audio. I will never forget those speakers and would love to own a pair someday.

Congratulation on a beautiful system.

mjcmt

Owner
Hi, still with the Valencias. Remarkable how good these are with the Shindo amps I have.

sbayne

Are you still liking the Valencias or are you moving on?

bnrlaw

ahhh, I see. A Shindo TT or speakers would round out your system very nicely. I see you've got a pretty bad case of the Shindo bug! :)

mikeyc8

Owner
Hi, I have a F2A Cortese as well so that is what I'm currently using for an amp. I'm just trying to raise some money to perhaps go into a pair of Shindo speakers or Shindo turntable. Scott

sbayne

Scott, I notice you're selling your Sinhonias, what are you planning to replace them with?

mikeyc8

Owner
Thanks Ken. I have not tried the bass busters although I probably will at some point in time.

sbayne

Hi Scott.

Love the changes you've made. I would love to hear those Valancia's some day myself. Do you have any room treatments on board? I thought I spotted some ceiling-corner tune's in one of your pics, and I see the Shatki Hallograph resonators in your corners. It seems you would really benefit from some 1/4 round bass busters in the corners behind the speakers?? Maybe you've tried them?

Nice job on a very fine system.

Regards,
Ken

kehut

Owner
Think of this way: they shoot across the width of the room not the length - so they shoot across a 15' distance. What you see in the pictures is an enclove where my equipment and albums sit which then opens into a much bigger area that extends 35' in length. The short answer to your question is yes I would use Altec Valencias in a fairly large room because that horn and woofer need room to breath.

sbayne

I'm not sure I understand. Your pix would indicated you have them set up on the short (15 ft.) wall. If your room is 35 ft. long and they are only 5 ft. from front wall and you sit just in front of back wall, wouldn't this make you about 30 ft. away from them?

bnrlaw

Owner
Mine shoot into a room thats about 35' long and 15' wide with 10' ceilings. The speakers sit out about 5' from the front wall. I sit just in front of the back wall which puts me about 9'-10' away from the speakers. I messed with the toe-in a lot. Finally decided on toe-in point that falls just in front of my listening position. Hope this helps.

sbayne

I, too, am interested in the Valencias but have heard they need some room to breathe. Would you be so kind as to share your room dimensions and how far you sit from the speakers?
Thanks!

bnrlaw

Owner
The Harbeths are excellent speakers. I could have lived with them much longer if I had not found these Valencias locally and given them a try. Its fairly obvious Ken Shindo uses speakers like Altec to voice his amps. I can't say the Valencias sound better in any particular area than the Harbeths but I can say they just sound "right" with my Shindo amps - thats the only way I know how to explain it.

sbayne

very nice.... love to hear your comments on how the Valencias compare to the Harbeths.

mikeyc8

Owner
System edited: OK, I did it - I bought a Shindo SET amp. I found locally a primo pair of Altec Valencia 846A speakers so I just had to try a Shindo SET. The overall tone and balance of the sound is excellent. I still think the Shindo Sinhonia F2a mono amps offer a better defined bass than the Cortese but with the Altecs the Cortese just sounds a little better through the treble and upper midrange - its a very close call though. Also, I went back to the Olive music server in my main system. I still listen mostly to analog but it is nice to have your whole CD collection at your fingertips.

sbayne

Thanks for your responses.
Enjoy your system. Looks like a lot of fun.

bnrlaw

Owner
Bnrlaw: Just to add a couple more thoughts on your question. The top end on the Sinhonias is very refined - much like a good SET amp. However, you can drive pretty much any speaker you want with them. With these amps there is really no reason to go to a higher efficiency speaker. The Harbeth 40.1 are excellent performers top to bottom which mate well with the amps so that is why I went with them.

sbayne

Showing 501 - 525 of 566 posts