Hi Bongo,
may I ask you after all those years and many of your listening experiences, how do you like your actual Shindo 604 and why did you decide for them, and against O96, Zu, A23 755, etc.
I am actually looking for speakers for my Giscours / Cortese, all of the above mentioned are in race, but the german Suesskind Puls as well, maybe not so well known in the US and Canada.
Please report about your experiences during your search and now long time experience with the Shindo 604 at home.
Thanks very much,
Balazs
Hi Balazs,
I’ve had the 604‘s for a few years now. I actually ordered without the chance to audition first, based on a few reviews, the recommendations from users of this and another forum, and help from my dealer. I couldn’t be happier with them. They took about a year to break in, and until they did, they sounded muffled (boy did I worry I’d made a mistake).
They are perfectly matched (impedance, etc.) to Shindo electronics and there is something just very right about that setup. And particular, they just seem to be able to create a vibrant sensation of either a performance happening in the room, or of being at a performance venue. This sensation seems to depend mostly on the size of the listening room, with the smaller room bringing out the former had a larger room bringing out the latter. There’s just something enchanting about the combination of the large resonant hollow cabinet and horn speakers that create such a dynamic, enveloping, but textural and tonal experience.
I’ve never heard the A23 speakers, so can’t comment. My dealer suggested that I consider the Hommage Cinemas when I was about to place the order for the 604’s, but they were too expensive.
At a dealer, I listened to Devore Silverbacks with a Cortese / Monbrison setup as my first Shindo experience. I was very impressed with how well they played with such a low watt amplifier. Big enveloping sound and sweet high-end. Very good. I could sense that the low-frequency was a little loosey-goosey, which would be expected from such a matching.
I later heard both the O93 and O96 with line magnetic amplification at an audio show. Both were very nice, but for some reason, in those
hotel rooms, the 093 matched the room better. I really liked them.
I heard the 096 in a dealer with all Shindo amplification, and thought it sounded quite good. However, it was a small demonstration room, and I remember thinking that the speakers sounded smaller than expected. They didn’t quite groove as much as I’d heard they would and they didn’t have the chance to inhabit (fill) the space with ambient effect or texture. Considering how important room dynamics are, and the fact that everyone who hears them loves them, I think the audition room was probably working against them. Something tells me that they would sound even better than the silverbacks, given the right room. The rear ports where the main reason I didn’t order them, because I have solid walls and floors, and I was worried that the low-frequency reinforcement would overwhelm whatever space they were in.
I’ve read lots of great things about Zu speakers, but I’ve only heard them at shows, and I was never impressed enough to stick around for very long. They just seemed to have, and this is just my opinion, a rather harsh high frequency response and a bit of a flat (wall of sound) presentation. I remember thinking they just sounded a little like old Cerwin Vega speakers. Now, I’ve read all the reviews on these, especially the Druids, and I bet they are incredible with the right amps in the right room. Their high sensitivity are also are a good match for low wattage amplification. The last time I heard Zu speakers was in 2013.
One thing that impresses me about the 604’s, is that they are fairly forgiving of the room dynamics. They sound very nice in a 20 x 20’ billiard room with 10 foot ceilings. However, they sound even better with room to breathe in our main living room/kitchen, which is about 25‘ x 45. The 604’s also have a lot of integrity, and by that I mean they are very handsome and capable, but also humble and understated. They are impeccably built to perform a function without superfluous design. I think the Japanese excel at this type of thing, striking a lovely balance between function and form. I guess some people get audio gear because it seems impressive, but I feel like Shindo gear, and this is going to sound a little weird, are more like living beings. I’m actually fond of them. Excellent hand made things are special, regardless of cost. I feel exactly the same way about my little $800 Almarro amp.
So, that’s my experience. Have fun thinking about and hopefully getting the speakers you want!
