I have a different take. I believe for the most part the Shindo preamps have a similar "house sound" but you basically get more as you move up the line. I first purchased a Masseto and moved up to the Vosne-Romanee. They both are clearly Shindo's but the VR gives me even more emotional connection to the music than the Masseto. I believe the amps, on the other hand, sound clearly distinct from one another and should be evaluated based on ones personal preference (with speaker compatability taken into account)rather than the retail price.
