Giscours

About the Giscours

The Shindo Labs Giscours is a top-tier stereo preamplifier originally released in 1986 and significantly updated eighteen years later by Ken Shindo. It features new old stock Western Electric 349A tubes in the linestage, amorphous core moving coil step-up transformers, a dual mono design with separate output transformers for each channel, and twin tube rectification. The chassis and circuitry have been completely redesigned to elevate performance. The Giscours is renowned for its highly realized sound, massive output transformers, and specialized circuitry that create a lifelike and emotionally involving musical experience. It includes switchable phono inputs for both moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) cartridges, with the MC input sensitivity at 0.2mV and impedance from 2 to 100 ohms, and MM input sensitivity at 3mV with 100k ohms impedance. Line inputs include CD, FM, AUX, and TV. Outputs are balanced XLR with 8V/600Ω impedance. The unit supports AC 117V or 220-230V at 50/60Hz and consumes 50W of power. Dimensions are 400mm width, 165mm height, and 270mm depth, weighing 11kg. The Giscours is considered a classic and a centerpiece for high-end audio systems, especially prized for its refined vinyl playback capabilities and musical flow.