Another incompetent product you may compare to Shindo's Claret and the phono section of the amp discussed here.
There's really no point in criticizing a circuit if the designer's aim is not accuracy. The concept of "straight wire with gain" is so ingrained in the audio world to point of dogma. If the designer is approaching it like food, he just wanted some flavors in the sound. I built "accurate" preamps before -- transparent, dynamic, extended top to bottom, etc... -- and my friend heard it and he happily went back to his Marantz 7. And who can blame him. They are his ears. I've heard Shindo gears before and they sound good to my ears.
I personally like coloration and flavors. If the device provides me the kind of sound I like (provided it's low noise as noise in a product would be a deal breaker for me though), I don't care if it's accurate to the source or not because I did not make the recording! The only difference between me and the so called high end world is that I am honest about what I like but for an audio company, at least in America, to admit that they like anything other than a "neutral" sound would spell death. The audio press would grill them. Many designers have to keep their mouth shut holding the "neutral" banner while sneaking in some flavors of their own. In Asia, people are more tolerant of "effects" boxes and they get along with the "neutral" boxes just as well. Whenever I see the word "neutral" in English language magazines, I pretty much flip to the next page. The influence of Harry Pearson has done more harm than good. I despise his writing.
There is nothing wrong with FX boxes but the Trade Descriptions Act means they should be labelled as such. My impression is that the audio press likes FX boxes, provided they are unmarked.
Not the way I would chose to implement a phono stage, but what exactly do you find incompetent about it? One concern revolves around the inclusion of a notch filter in the path, there probably are others.
I am a happy dilletante. I can measure the competence of an engineering product only to a degree, which is rather uninteresting. My statement was ironic. A reaction to two opposing opinions regarding Shindo gear: one says, his stuff is divinely unique. The other says its more or less overrated **** ("Shindo is not competent"). EMT is not known for its incompetence. And if Shindo released a product (Claret) which is rather EMT than uniquely Shindo, both statements just make no sense any more. I would like to see more Shindo-schematics, because I am curious. What makes good sound?
I have a MM preamp I made 20 some years ago using LF 353 as RIAA eq amp. fed by a flat low noise front end with a gain of 30.
I tuned it by ear with dire straits brothers in arms LP vs CD
that preamp and cartridge blows away MC carts costing thousands.
Tight fantastic bass and sparkling highs.
I tuned it by ear with dire straits brothers in arms LP vs CD
that preamp and cartridge blows away MC carts costing thousands.
Tight fantastic bass and sparkling highs.
Beauty is in the eye/ear of the beholder/listener.
There is no accounting for taste.
Problems may occur if people confuse Truth and Beauty.
'Tuning by ear' almost inevitably leads to Beauty, however fervently the tuner may believe he is achieving Truth.
There is no accounting for taste.
Problems may occur if people confuse Truth and Beauty.
'Tuning by ear' almost inevitably leads to Beauty, however fervently the tuner may believe he is achieving Truth.
Yes everybody has to make a decision. I would prefer a beautiful lie over truth. I believe thats why I "switch on" music. To be entertained, lied at in a charming way. On the other hand, it could be, that beautiful lies just please my ears better than the truth, just because they are beautiful. But, if there is something like a beautiful truth, maybe nobody had to decide? BUt I am not sure.