Considering Shindo 753 Speakers
 

The Shindo 753 speakers intrigue me as a significant upgrade to my Aud 23 Solovox speakers. I would appreciate hearing back from any of you who own or have heard the 753's as to their musical merits, especially in comparison to the Solovox and/or the large Shindo Latours. My preamp is the Masseto and amplification is currently via Wavelength Cardinal mono blocks. I will eventually upgrade to Shindo amplification but first want to address the speaker upgrade issue. I listen primarily to vinyl and some digital. Many thanks in advance for all comments!
Best Regards,
Steven

Well, since I am not getting any replies to my question on this forum or on audiogon, I will change the question to approach an upgrade path in plan B mode. If I were to keep the Solovox speakers, what Shindo amplifier(s) would any of you care to recommend?

Steven, My advice would be to chat with a dealer. If they still make the 753, it looks formidable.

change or add partner?
 

Instead of switching your speakers, did you consider adding a high quality tweeter to your Solovox ? One of the best tweeters available is the WE replica 597A from Line Magnetics Audio. Coupling to the Solovox can be done very easily and simply through a PIO capacitor (+/- 1 uF) and an extra strip of (A23) cables.
I am sure you would be not only surprised but overwhelmed by the musical result.

I add a link to an article (in German) where Roland Kraft describes the outcome of pairing the Rondo (with at the base the same - or nearly the same - chassis as in the Solovox) with the LM 597A http://www.fidelity-magazin.de/equip...cs-hochtoener/

redundant

Steven,

As always, the key question is: "What aspect of the sonic signature of your current system are you trying to address or improve?" If we don't know the destination it's hard to give advice.

What do you feel is missing from the Solovox?

Alberto

Bill (Loop4fun) - I have talked with my dealer about the 753's. They are still made, but my dealer does not carry them. Before I would consider a long road trip from Ohio to New York to hear them, I am hoping to get some feedback from people who have heard them. I do like the way they look, and another plus is the fact that my wife also likes the way they look!

Riesling - That is an interesting idea about incorporating LM's replica WE 597A's. (Thank you for the link. Wish I could read German!) Pursuing that option would almost certainly involve communication with Keith Aschenbrenner (sp?) of Aud 23 if for no other reason than to get his blessing. and guidance.

Alberto - You are quite right; I did not give enough information in my original post. I have owned my Solovox's for 4 years, and as much as I love them, I find myself more and more missing the upper and lower frequencies. I also wish they could play louder and with even more (lifelike) presence. My dream speaker, the one that could address all of that and so much more, is the new Aud 23 Cinema Hommage. It is, without a doubt, the best overall speaker for me that I have ever heard. Just flat out superb in every way. Unfortunately, they are quite expensive ($54,400 per pair) and have a very low, perhaps not even measurable, WAF!

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies!

Best Regards,
Steven

I had never heard of the Auditorium 23 Cinema Hommage speakers.
They certainly look interesting!

http://inlivingstereo.com/wp-content/uploads/22a1.jpg

Bart - I should have been more clear in my reference to the Cinema Hommage speakers I covet so badly. There are two models of which I am aware, the 22 and the 23. The photo you included with your reply is of the 23. The one I heard was the 22, which is smaller and IMO nicer looking!

Best Regards,
Steven

Correction! I just checked the Aud 23 website. Bart's photo is of the Hommage 22A. The smaller offering, which is the one I would love to own, is the Cinema Hommage.

Best Regards,
Steven

Hi Steven,

Thank you for providing that key information. Those Aud Cinema Hommage are a sight to behold! But I've learned that WAF is good thing ... unless you have a dedicated room (or are willing to put up with spousal discord) a good looking speaker is a good thing to have. My wife loved the Sonus Faber Homage (another Hom[m]age) as much as I did --- little pieces of functional sculpture.

Alas, many horn speakers, starting with that bane of wifes world-wide -- the Klipschorn -- have been an aesthetic challenge.

But I'd say that between the Solovoxes and the Cinema Hommage there's a wide spectrum of speakers, including Shindos owns, that will give you what you are looking for -- and for less spousal discord and less money.

I have classic (wood, leather) decor with warm tones around my house, so too modern looking speakers would clash. I've "settled" for Tannoys which match our style and furniture well, sound great and, like the Solovoxes, are point sources (which really helps with imaging IMO.)

The search and hunt is half the fun, so keep us posted!

Alberto

What about the Volti Audio Vittora Speakers? These offer some serous build quality and great specs for tube amps. The cabinets are made from 1" thick Baltic Birch, frequency response of the Vittora System is 25Hz - 20Khz and Sensitivity is 104db.

The fit and finish is superb and one of the most beautiful speakers that I have ever seen.

http://www.voltiaudio.com/images/vit...svittora44.jpg

You could begin by asking the US dealers first for their help (Toneimports or Pitchperfect) and their "blessing" for coupling the 597A to the PHY21LB15. I confirm from personal experience that "Rondo with 597A" driven by a Shindo chain is a winner !
The interesting thing is that this is a step that permits to take a next step (if you wish so), as the 597A can be coupled with other horn drivers (LM555 -> Hommage 22A) or even with other wide range speakers (TA-4181). Check the bottom line here Ken

Alberto - Your comments about spousal accord and WAF made me smile. My wife has been wonderfully supportive of my audio passion (addiction?) - I have three very good systems, none is in a dedicated room, and two are in semi-formal rooms (living room and den). So I have tried my best to make certain that the audio equipment both sounds good and harmonizes with room aesthetics. And so, the search and hunt (aka fun) continues!

Beowulf - I have seen photos of Volti speakers and read many good things about them. But they would be too big for our living room.

Riesling - Thanks for the additional information about incorporating the replica WE 597A's. I assume that the 597A's would simply be placed on top of the Solovox enclosure; not sure about the sonic consequences of drilling into those cabinets! Anyway, the next thing I plan to do is audition the new Aud 23 Hommage Ken speakers, which I believe my dealer is receiving very soon.

Thanks again to all of you for your replies and suggestions!

Best Regards,
Steven

No need to vandalize your precious Solovox.

You can put the 597 on top of the Solovox, on the floor, on the inner side of the speakers, on the outer side, behind the speakers... in order to get the best result in your given room and main listening position

this is my actual favorite constellation
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/...psne4kscmt.jpg

Yes, there is always a problem with the highs with widerange speakers. Not many have solved this and when, it will become too much expensive.

I have owned the PL in field coil for the last year and have wanted for nothing. The 753 have a 15 inch woofer rather than the PL's 12. I would expect them to sound tonally similar and if so, I would highly recommend them. The PL are even more coherent than the single driver Lafite I owned and have much more presence. No contest. I can't compare these exact two speakers you asked about, but I've owned both speakers of similar design. I'd never move from the PL as the Latour are too big for the room.

How about the 604 in field coil as a possibility? You can get it in both the Latour and Petite Latour cabinet size. Kevin bought it in the Latour cabinet.

Please do not put the 597A on top of the Solovox.
The volume difference between both drivers is to much....:yes:

My advice: 1m behind, but the on the same horizontal level like the Salabert drivers.
You can choose between the Salabert or outside...

The highs from the LM597A are in the beginnig very strong. After 6-7 months they moved to very smooth highs...

Kind regards

At this point I have pretty much ruled out the replica 597A option.

I have heard the 604's before. I liked them, but I recall overall preferring the Solovox with all of its "shortcomings" . . . :->

So next up for an audition is the Hommage Ken's as soon as my dealer gets them in.

Unless of course I just do what my wife fears is inevitable - order a pair of the Cinema Hommage and a pair of the D'Yquem's! And a preamp upgrade, too! :->

Best Regards,
Steven

I think better and worse is always subjective, and more correctly is "better suited" or "worse suited" in high end audio. I have a hard time taking a blanet comment like "brand x is better" very seriously.

I was taken with the shindo. Others may not be, but it's at the top of my list.
fight the good fight

Finally you said something that actually makes sense. I agree completely.

Shindo doesn´t claim aiming ´accurate´ or ´correct´ sound reproducing, he defines himself as ´sound create producer´...

Just an update to share with all of you who have so kindly tried to help me.

I still hope to soon audition the new Hommage Ken speakers as one possible upgrade path from my Solovox. But in the interim, I tried moving my Shindo V-R preamp to the Solovox system. It was such a remarkable improvement over the Masseto (I listened to vinyl on that system until about 3a this morning) that I decided to keep the V-R there, get another preamp for the system that had the V-R, and order the D'Yquems to go with the V-R and Solovox. I expect that the V-R/D'Yquem combination will provide the best sound I have heard from the Solovox.

I will let you all know how everything sounds once the D'Yquems arrive and start to get broken in.

Best Regards,
Steven

Yes, the VR is a great new preamp!

System update - Well, the D'Yquems arrived a while back and they are breaking in nicely. Together with the V-R, they were making my Solovox speakers sound the best I have ever heard them sound. So good in fact that I wanted to take my system to the next level, and so I replaced the Solovox with the alnico version of the Shindo 604. Now I finally have "that sound" in our living room system that I have been coveting for years!

Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful comments and suggestions!

Good listening!

Best Regards,

Steven

congratulations!

Congrats Steven. I think it's fair to say you have arrived. We will have to see some photos now (-:

Steven,

If you are looking for a new home for the Solovox's where they will be safe and loved : ) I would love to adopt them!

Simon

Simon - The ONLY reason I parted with the Solovox's is the simple fact that they would not work in either of my other main systems. I traded them back to Don Better of Don Better Audio toward my purchase of the Shindo 604's. So far as I know, Don intends to sell them. They are in pristine condition. But I predict that the attendant "adoption papers" will cost you! : )

Best Regards,

Steven

Steven,

I called Don, he's not selling : (

Simon

I think Matt at Pitch Perfect might have a pair...

Steven,
I have 604's on order, and I'm already thinking about moving from my Aurieges to a Masseto or even V-R. Did you listen to the 604's with your Masseto - can you compare Masseto versus V-R with the 604s?

Thanks,
Craig

Craig,

I listened to the 604's at Don Better's home several times and with a variety of electronics. I did hear the 604's with the V-R but not with the Masseto.

For what it's worth, as much as I enjoyed my Masseto with the Solovox's, the change to the V-R alone was just tremendous for me.

Congratulations on your 604 decision! I hope you enjoy them as much as I am enjoying mine!

Best Regards,

Steven

Thanks, that's helpful. There's a V-R for sale on Audiogon, and it's tempting, but it seems priced on the high side.

I saw that V/R on Audiogon. The Monbrison would be a nice upgrade from what you have.
After that, no doubt a V/R. I have seen a few Monbrison's for sale recently, both on Audioshark and Audiogon. It might be nice just to enjoy your speaker upgrade first. Either way, your systems going to be really good. Cheers -Don

Don - that advice sounds like Glen, the dealer I use. He's a good dealer.

Solovox's are now available on Don's website.

LM597 with Rondo
 

Hey Riesling,

What are you using for a crossover with the LM597a and Rondo set up? A capacitor in line? If so what magnitude?

Thanks,

Simon

Hi Everyone,

I am also on the verge of ordering the we753, just wonder if the petite latour or the 604 field coils would be a better choice. The we753 uses a field coil tweeter with a 15 inch woofer while the petite latours uses all field coil drivers but 12 inch woofer and the 604 petites field coils has a 15 inch in smaller cabinets. My listening room is too small to accommodate the full size offerings from Shindo so it's between these 3 choices. Would appreciate any inputs.

Good luck with your choice! I have the PL in field coil and love them. My room is too small for the Latour or 604 in the Latour cabinet. The PL are bigger and heftier than I expected. I think naming them Petite is somewhat misleading! ;)