The VT25 amp and the 2A3 amps have very similar schematics. Both have been widely circulated on the web, so I think it's OK to share them here. One interesting difference is that the VT25 uses a bit of local feedback between the output tube and the driver. The 6SN7 driver doesn't have a lot of current going through it, so perhaps that local feedback is why I liked the sound of the VT25 amp a bit better. The 6SN7 driver on it's own can have a hard time controlling the grid of the output tube. The SV300BTE, which I also liked, uses a 6V6 driving a 300B through an interstage transformer, so there's plenty of "oomph" there. That was a very nice sounding amp, but it was also significantly more expensive.
SunAudio, Sunvalley and Shindo
- Thread starter blue_lu
- Start date
The Sun has plenty of gain, and has gain controls on the front so can be run without a pre very effectively. I have done it direct from my DAC. If your mate has a phono pre, try direct from that.
I also heard an Aikido pre with my Sun and it sounded very, very nice. If I hadn't already had my Shindo I might have kept it.
The US importer keeps Shindo prices high. I've heard the gear is more affordable in Japan. No clue about popularity in Japan.
SunValley is a subsidiary of Toyota Motors. Factory assembly of the 300b amp is $400.
SUNVALLEY KIT — www.VKmusic.ca
www.vkmusic.ca
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The thing regarding the sunvalley phono stage is (according to Herb Reichard): "It's all in the glass." So as long as I don't have that illusive Stock of NOS Telefunken and Siemens tubes (probably never will) one might better look somehwere else. Some of the tubes Shindo uses in in his designs seem a lot less mainstream and less in demand.
With 2a3 Amps it is a similar problem to my understanding - finding and paying for these NOS tubes - you really have to have a trustable source. This is the advantage of 300b amps - lots of small tube manunfactorers doing high quality (and high price) replicas these days.
With 2a3 Amps it is a similar problem to my understanding - finding and paying for these NOS tubes - you really have to have a trustable source. This is the advantage of 300b amps - lots of small tube manunfactorers doing high quality (and high price) replicas these days.
Really ? I have only seen much more expensive offerings. Could you share some pointers where to look / what sets to look for? Thanks.
The most common RCA’s Dual Connected Black Plate (aka S plate) 2A3 go for about $300-400 a pair on eBay and other tube sellers these days. The grey plates can be had for cheaper but don’t come up for sale often.
I got a NOS pair of RCAs labeled as Ken-Rads
Richard Austen
Junior Member
I never feel like Shindo products justify their price. Albeit I live in Hong Kong where prices are more attractive than in the US. The same US importer carries Line Magnetic which tend to be 4 or 5 times more expensive in the US.
I would also note that you can't lump all the companies products based on listening to one or two products especially when listening to a complete system. And taste always comes into play. I like Audio Note UK and noted that when my Canadian dealer retired he bought a SORO. He loved it. He could afford more but for home that was it. My HK dealer loathes the amplifier so much that he refuses to carry it.
Who knows it could be how the amps work on different voltage, could be types of music you listen to, the speaker interaction, the sources. Shindo is probably easier to resell in the west if you don't want it after awhile.
I would also note that you can't lump all the companies products based on listening to one or two products especially when listening to a complete system. And taste always comes into play. I like Audio Note UK and noted that when my Canadian dealer retired he bought a SORO. He loved it. He could afford more but for home that was it. My HK dealer loathes the amplifier so much that he refuses to carry it.
Who knows it could be how the amps work on different voltage, could be types of music you listen to, the speaker interaction, the sources. Shindo is probably easier to resell in the west if you don't want it after awhile.
Are you discussing preamplifiers or amplifiers, or both? I ask because I saw this review sometime ago on a website. I believe it was
SAS Audio Labs B11, a Line Preamplifier.
"Graham: "I took the B11a into a shop in Auckland. I know the owner fairly well, and we agree that Shindo make some wonderful pieces of kit. (I wasn't looking for a change!) Almost immediately we started listening, he said "That's really fast!" We also agreed that the B11a was much clearer, making the Shindo Aurieges sound slow, muddy, and coloured." "
Hope this helps.
pos
So I saw that Limberpine mentioned me to chime in, and I have been away from the forum for a bit.
I think in the right system Shindo can sound lovely, but was not actually the case for my system. I prefer integrated amps and had a Shindo Apetite 6v6 for a bit...was quite nice but not really correct for my preferences. Their was some background noise when nothing was playing, I thought maybe the 6v6 set so I changed it out but the noise persisted. In the end I let it go back to its original owner...and had for another period Dennis HAD AMP/Preamp. This sounded better to me than the Shindo in my system. It had an advantage of being able to work with many tube types and was quieter.
Now you might ask what am I using , the answer is both a PP Luxman (SQ150n) and at times the Fi 2a3 integrated and since summer an Audion Special Edition 300b integrated. In general I prefer the latter two to the Shindo. I have been in Japan twice this year for extended periods and never seen Shindo gear for sale or in a Jazz Kissa.
I did visit Sun Audio and had a wonderful exchange wit the owner and their gear is lovely, but I feel SET (pun intended) for now. I am using Takatsuki 300b tubes in the Audion and various new and old 2a3 in the Fi....both sound exquisite with my Spatial Audio Triode Master Speakers.
I think there is a premium paid for Shindo gear in the USA......and of course some issues to getting it serviced in a timely manner, but if you do it right I am sure it sounds very wonderful, just preferred a different path for my system
I think in the right system Shindo can sound lovely, but was not actually the case for my system. I prefer integrated amps and had a Shindo Apetite 6v6 for a bit...was quite nice but not really correct for my preferences. Their was some background noise when nothing was playing, I thought maybe the 6v6 set so I changed it out but the noise persisted. In the end I let it go back to its original owner...and had for another period Dennis HAD AMP/Preamp. This sounded better to me than the Shindo in my system. It had an advantage of being able to work with many tube types and was quieter.
Now you might ask what am I using , the answer is both a PP Luxman (SQ150n) and at times the Fi 2a3 integrated and since summer an Audion Special Edition 300b integrated. In general I prefer the latter two to the Shindo. I have been in Japan twice this year for extended periods and never seen Shindo gear for sale or in a Jazz Kissa.
I did visit Sun Audio and had a wonderful exchange wit the owner and their gear is lovely, but I feel SET (pun intended) for now. I am using Takatsuki 300b tubes in the Audion and various new and old 2a3 in the Fi....both sound exquisite with my Spatial Audio Triode Master Speakers.
I think there is a premium paid for Shindo gear in the USA......and of course some issues to getting it serviced in a timely manner, but if you do it right I am sure it sounds very wonderful, just preferred a different path for my system
