Shindo Monbrison landed...

[Jerome W]

Hi guys,
Just a few words about a nice Monbrison that I just got. This is the old version, without the window in the front plate.

In my living room system I wanted to downgrade and sold a few months ago my CJ Premier 17LS, to use my dac as a preamp. ( The AMR DP777 has an inboard preamp for digital sources and 2 analog inputs ).
I knew that I would have to give up some musicality. The beginning was tough. I really missed the 17. The sound was too thin, without the texture and rich tonality of the 17. But I finally got used to it.
Until I found this Monbrison on the used market.
I could not resist the temptation.

The Monbrison drives a Nagra MSA power amp. To the Rega RS10 speakers.
Here is a pic of the room before getting the Monbrison :


I am extremely happy with the sound. This preamp is more extraverted than the mighty Giscours in my main system. But keeps an incredible insight into the music.
Only Shindo owners can understand what we mean when we say that nothing can replace a Shindo preamplifier. With the right power amp, they make decent systems sounding like million dollars ones.
The only problem is the gain. Really high. Much more than my Giscours. I did not expect that. Although I set the MSA at the 2V sensitivity, I really do not have a wide run of the Monbrison volume control. I could live with that anyway.
A power amp with a real adjustable gain is way better for some Shindo preamps.

[sheltie1]

Nice! How do yo like the RS10's? You don't see those much here in the US.

[Mike]

Nice! Congrats.

[Jerome W]

Nice! How do yo like the RS10's? You don't see those much here in the US.

Thanks !
Neither you can see them a lot in France or even in UK. Rega did not sell many of them.
Seems that for most people, Rega cannot be associated with high quality. Too bad.
These RS10 are wonderfully crafted and they sound delicious. Very clean and refined sound. Very natural. The larger part of the spectrum is reproduced by the small full range driver. Which gives stunning easiness and coherence.

[Jerome W]

Nice! Congrats.

Thanks Mike !

[cmarin]

Jerome,

What a wonderful system and a stunning room! Congratulations!

The "Japanese" sound (e.g., Kondo, Shindo) is often described as "polite" by those preferring a more dynamic and full range sound. But there is a musical purity to the "polite" sound that unmistakably adds soul and engagement that is addictive in a properly balanced system.


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[Jerome W]

Jerome,

What a wonderful system and a stunning room! Congratulations!

The "Japanese" sound (e.g., Kondo, Shindo) is often described as "polite" by those preferring a more dynamic and full range sound. But there is a musical purity to the "polite" sound that unmistakably adds soul and engagement that is addictive in a properly balanced system.


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Thanks Carlos.
I would not say " polite". But extremely natural.

[cmarin]

Yes agree. Natural is a more appropriate term.


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[Pallen]

Having owned an Aurieges, a Monbrison and now a Masseto, I agree that 'natural' is a good description as is 'full bodied', 'ballsy' and 'smile inducing'. And with a tonal beauty that is hard to beat. The high gain of these preamps has been a challenge (in power amp matching) for me also.

[Jerome W]

Having owned an Aurieges, a Monbrison and now a Masseto, I agree that 'natural' is a good description as is 'full bodied', 'ballsy' and 'smile inducing'. And with a tonal beauty that is hard to beat. The high gain of these preamps has been a challenge (in power amp matching) for me also.

Tonal beauty is a very simple yet completely accurate when it comes to Shindo preamps.
Obviously these preamps are not "neutral" in the hifi sense of the word. They do something very difficult to express.
Like a full deep massage to the signal. You remove it from the system and all the beauty of the music just vanishes.
They magnify anything you throw at them. While not sounding boring by coloring always the sound with the same shade.
I have been extremely impressed by my Giscours. And after all these years, I am still very impressed by the Monbrison.

[Jerome W]

Monbrison in the main system.
With CCQs.
Shindo IC's and speaker cables to home made Altec speakers inspired by the Petite Latour.
807 compression driver with W32 horn. And 414A 16 ohms replaced by the more efficient 414Z, still 16 ohms but going from 95/96 dB to 100 dB.
No use with the CCQs but I also use some days in that system 300B SET monoblocks and a MC225.

The Monbrison performs extremely well with the CCQs. The Giscours will not be "needed" in most set ups I believe.
As Art Dudley and Jonathan Halpern say, there is no real hierarchy in the preamplifiers line. More lateral change.
In absolute terms the Giscours is better. But for musical emotions, you could prefer the Monbrison with the CCQs in my room.
The Monbrison is really a blessing compared to its price tag, especially on the used market. But also if you have to buy it new.
I have been a long time McIntosh fan.
But the best McIntosh preamp of all times ( C1000 but I did not hear the new C1100 ) cannot reach half of what a Monbrison does.
No remote. No balance adjustment. No HT pass through. Not balanced. But SO MUCH MORE MUSIC AND EMOTIONS.
A really different world compared to the classical even high end industrial products.

There are probably not many preamplifiers on the market able to compete with a Shindo preamplifier. Or spending fortunes on a Kondo maybe....
The only thing close to it is not in audio : a traditional Thai massage made by a Master ! Lol !

I will describe more the differences between the Giscours and the Monbrison in a few days.

[Jerome W]

[kev313]

It has been said that there is no hierarchy in the amplifiers. There is said to be absolute hierarchy in the preamps. That said, many people have preferred the old Monbrison to subsequent versions claiming that it retains the old Shindo sound which you have so accurately described vs a belief that the newer models have modernized the sound. I possess no opinion on that as I have never heard this model.


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[Jerome W]

It has been said that there is no hierarchy in the amplifiers. There is said to be absolute hierarchy in the preamps. That said, many people have preferred the old Monbrison to subsequent versions claiming that it retains the old Shindo sound which you have so accurately described vs a belief that the newer models have modernized the sound. I possess no opinion on that as I have never heard this model.


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Hi Kev.
My mistake then.
Anyway in absolute terms the Giscours is better. But one could prefer the old Monbrison without having to feel special.

[kev313]

Hi Kev.
My mistake then.
Anyway in absolute terms the Giscours is better. But one could prefer the old Monbrison without having to feel special.

I think that Monbrison might be a special piece and is worth seeking out. It's a very. Ice addition to your system. I had the modern Monbrison. Still excellent, but the VR was a significant improvement.


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[Walter]

Monbrison missed so many of the qualities of the mono preamps that it could only be described as a downscaled version of a superior preamp from Shindo or the poor mans Shindo.

[kev313]

Monbrison missed so many of the qualities of the mono preamps that it could only be described as a downscaled version of a superior preamp from Shindo or the poor mans Shindo.

Oh thank goodness. I used to think I was the biggest @&$! on the forums.


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[Walter]

Just my observation based on listening experience.
“Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

[Jerome W]

Monbrison missed so many of the qualities of the mono preamps that it could only be described as a downscaled version of a superior preamp from Shindo or the poor mans Shindo.

Not my opinion.
The Monbrison is very far from being a little preamp or a poor man one's.
Depending on your room / speakers / power amp(s) synergy, the Monbrison could even sound better than the Giscours.
I will elaborate on this later....

[Walter]

If the sm

[Elberoth]

Congrats. Beautiful room !

[Jerome W]

Congrats. Beautiful room !

Thanks Adam !

[Jerome W]

I have listened for a few days to the Monbrison in place of the Giscours in my main system.
I could not test the Monbrison phono inputs. They are noisy and without enough gain on a SPU so I ordered new tubes.
Tests were made only with digital.
Both preamps are very different.
With my CCQs amps and Altec based speakers, with Shindo IC's and speaker cables, here are the differences that I got.
The Giscours is more silent. More relaxed and laid back. It is also darker, less shiny. The timbres are a bit more refined. The bass goes a bit lower. The stereo scene is huge and very deep.
The Giscours sounds like a "serious" guy. Working in a bank. With a perfectly ironed shirt and suit.
The Monbrison sounds more alive. Faster. The bass goes maybe less low but is more punchy and has more authority. The treble is more shiny and sparkling. Opposite to the laid back Giscours, the Monbrison is very extraverted.
The Monbrison is a young rock guitar player living during the night and sleeping in daytime. Compared to the Giscours banker. Not the "ideal" husband for your daughter. But maybe the one that will make her more "alive" and less bored.
On my system, the synergy is clearly towards the Monbrison. The sound is more engaging, more foot taping. The timbres are still beautiful and charming. The bad boy is handsome.

My Giscours performs flawlessly. It has not been modified by anyone.
I prefer the Monbrison for digital over both my Giscours and my CJ GAT.

[Walter]

Your Giscours is heavily moded and no old stock original Giscours. So you can compare only on this basis, worthless for all other Shindo users.
And because of its non- original condition its nearly worth nothing for Shindo collectors.
You could expect more faults in Monbrison than tubes only. Just a hint from expert user of old gear.