Sumiko Blackbird, Shindo and EAR

Play it where it sounds the best.

Well - most likely a cartridge that is designed for a 47KOhm load and 40dB gain cannot sound good into a 20 Ohm load and 66dB gain.

The Shindo MC input really only works well with a handful of cartridges (Shindo SPU and Miyabi).

Good catch, Restock. The review says that "it CAN be used with MM..." My interpretation is that one does not have MC, he can use MM. But let me try it with MM and I will let you know how it does.

That usually means you could use it into a MC input with a gain of say 55dB and a loading in the several KOhm range. In this case the 20 Ohm load of the Shindo could almost damage the cartridge as this is way below the internal impedance of the Blackbird (which is 180 Ohm). It should sound worlds better with the MM input.

Restock, I tried it with the MM input, and I think you're right that it sounds even better...not worlds better, but I find it a tad more transparent. Thanks so much for the tip.

** and I think you are right that it sounds even better... not worlds better, but I find it a tad more transparent.**
It sounds like the difference between a very good, well implemented tranformer vs. not going through a transformer at all. I think this may be the case here, and this would follow the less is more theory.

Ggavetti, glad to hear the MM is improving the sound.

One more correction:
The Shindo MC input by its nature is designed for very low impedance
cartridges (examples are the Miyabi and Shindo SPU), but of course these
two are not the only ones. There are some other low impedance carts that
may work as well (Dynavector, Lyra, Ortofon, etc.).

And of course you could use external step-ups like the Auditorium 23 or
Cinemag with the Shindo MM to increase the number of cartridges that work
with the Monbrison.

Rene

Very interesting, Restock...are you basically saying that you do not think the blackbird optimizes the capabilities of the shindo? thanks.