Shindo advice

Thanks, gentlemen. The upgrade program explains a lot. Not something you think about with Shindo/Kondo et al, but a good business move. On the "large slice," that's what I sensed. I watched Dudley skip right to the Masseto when he knew he wanted to buy for the long haul. My gut was telling me to sell some Bordeaux and get the Masseto!

OK, decision made.

Time to wade back in and sell my old friend, the Joule...ah, the vagaries of the bazaar.

I'm still interested, though, on peoples' opinions on the Monbrison v. Masseto. I hear "great tone" and "just more of that," but it seems that ears that hear Shindo could say something, um, deeper.

Anyone care to wade into that?

Thanks again for the advice.

Thanks again everyone. On the Joule LA300, I saw that Jud was running a special $7100 price and it is enticing. I just became enamored with a Shindo before he came out with it. I'm also attracted to the one box solution on line/phono. On the other hand, my phono runs off the tube rectified power supply in the Joule linestage and I could then keep my phono, which is the most recent MkV and sounds heavenly. My experience with Joule pre's is that they have always been a tad rolled on top and plummy on the bottom end (and resist rolling...)and which is why I am looking for my next pre. Bobheinatz, if you would, do you have any general opinons on the LA300 versus the Monbrison, just in their types of sound, even if its only a cursory opinion?

On Matt at Pitch Perfect, I have only heard very good comments on him. Alas, I am a spoiled former TAS/Ultimate Audio reviewer who now always buys used, so I'm sure that his time would be better spent with paying customers, which is the way it should be. When my book gets published and I'm on Oprah, then...Petrus retail, fedex'd overnight, here I come!!

Thanks Bobh, I understand about the opinion.

Then, what do you think of the LA100Mk3's versus the LA300? I haven't heard any comments on the LA300 and would be interested.

KCS? Hmm, new to me. Is this Kelonik Cinema? If so, website looks like they are geared towards HT applications. On the WAF, I don't listen to my wife much on these things, but I don't want to torture her either!

I've been thinking about Audio note speakers, the ones Art Dudley runs, or maybe some Devore 8's or 9's. Just haven't settled on an idea yet. I will be running an 8-10W SET, so there is that. And I'm very, very demanding about spatial decay and expansiveness, harmonics, voice and involvement. Others like accurate; I like gorgeous. It must be a beauty-machine...

Any ideas/comments?

Thanks again.

Bobh, I got the wrong KCS...they look very purist. Not much resale, I assume, but then again I'm looking for speakers for the long haul. I only see one model, the Seas Exotic, is that what you have?

Thanks, Bobh. We have a lot in common. Incidentally, I was one of those Supratek guys; I had one of the first ones in the States and wrote a review for Ultimate Audio mag (that went under before it was published) and that Mick had on his web site.

So, now you have me intrigued...whats more I live in N. IL, not too far from KCS I assume. We'll see.

Right now I need to get a preamp!

I wanted to put my two cents in on Matt Rotunda at Pitch Perfect in San Fran, CA. I've been in touch with him and he's been very helpful. A real gentleman. I would encourage anyone looking at a Shindo to give him a call.