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Welcome to the Graham Slee Audio Products Owners Forum

 

Open to all owners plus those contemplating the purchase of a Graham Slee HiFi System Components audio product and wishing to use this forum's loaner program: join here (Rules on posting can be found here)

This website along with trade marks Graham Slee and HiFi System Components are owned by Cadman Enterprises Ltd

Hello from Sunny Yorkshire
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MartinP View Drop Down
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Joined: 14 Mar 2026
Location: Wakefield
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    Posted: 14 Mar 2026 at 6:20pm
Good evening everyone.

Just wanted to join so I could share in the GS Love and hopefully learn some things along the way.

I’ve been listening to records since I was young using my dad’s TT with an SME 3009 II Improved (I now own this arm too). The first record I picked up was FYC She Drives Me Crazy at release.

I’ve also got a Pioneer PL12D and an Audio Technica LP5 (horrible thing and worst purchase I’ve ever made). Both of these are now boxed up and stored.

I’ve recently just picked up a Technics SL1210 Mk2 from MasterSounds and it’s a joy to use and listen to. I’m using a 2M Red and if I fancy a change I also have a VMS30 Mk2. Also using a Teac Washi TT mat. 

I’m currently using the GS Communicator Gram Amp 2 and the GS Novo connected by Chord Shawline RCA. Into a pair of FiiO FT1 with the Velvet Ear Pads.

My only concern at the moment is it’s a little fatiguing on long listens. Any advice or recommendations on how to even the sound out and bring back some warmth. It also has a habit of getting confused on complex passages of music in Jazz or Classical.
Martin Pearman
Technics SL1210 Mk2
Ortofon 2M Red / Ortofon VMS 30 Mk II
Communicator Gram Amp 2
Novo
Chord Shawline
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Ernie View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Location: Birmingham UK
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Points: 430 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ernie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Mar 2026 at 10:28am
The joy of turntable ownership, the sum of the parts! I’d use the loan scheme and try a CuSat or Lautus cable and a PSU1 or two.

So is this just a headphone system, TT to Communicator to Novo? Have you set the dip switches on the phono amp? How many hours on the M2 and is it clean, is the tracking and antiskate correctly set? It’s a mechanical system with lots of variables, enjoy! Some recordings are just rubbish too.

How does a source like a CD or streamer sound. Still muddled?

It’s normally treble that fatigues, that “HiFi” sound which sounds great on first listen then wears you out after an hour. If your happy with the cartridge alignment, wear, tracking and antiskate try adjusting the loading dip switches on the Communicator.

Next I’d look at the cables (load scheme) and then the power supplies (again the loan scheme).

Then of course it may be the cartridge, I’ve  never heard an M2 but they seem well regarded.
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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MartinP View Drop Down
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Joined: 14 Mar 2026
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Points: 6 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MartinP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Mar 2026 at 1:22pm
Originally posted by Ernie Ernie wrote:

The joy of turntable ownership, the sum of the parts! I’d use the loan scheme and try a CuSat or Lautus cable and a PSU1 or two.

So is this just a headphone system, TT to Communicator to Novo? Have you set the dip switches on the phono amp? How many hours on the M2 and is it clean, is the tracking and antiskate correctly set? It’s a mechanical system with lots of variables, enjoy! Some recordings are just rubbish too.

How does a source like a CD or streamer sound. Still muddled?

It’s normally treble that fatigues, that “HiFi” sound which sounds great on first listen then wears you out after an hour. If your happy with the cartridge alignment, wear, tracking and antiskate try adjusting the loading dip switches on the Communicator.

Next I’d look at the cables (load scheme) and then the power supplies (again the loan scheme).

Then of course it may be the cartridge, I’ve  never heard an M2 but they seem well regarded.

Hi Ernie,

Thanks for the reply. 

It is indeed just a headphone system. I do have some B&W 685-S2 but I’m in the process of selling them due to the need for keeping the noise to a minimum.

The Communicator Gram Amp 2 doesn’t have any load switches that I’m aware of.

Both Phono Stage and Amp are left plugged in and turned on all the time. The 2M has about 100 hours minimum on it and is spotless, tend to clean up after use and quick clean at the end too.

The VTA, Overhang, Azimuth are all about as good as I can get it too.

I think to be honest after putting a few more records through it over the last day or so, I think it’s recordings and I’m just hearing badly mastered or pressed records. I’m currently playing the Vol1 of BBE Records J-Jazz series and it’s just wonderful. Sound stage, instrument separation and definition and micro detail all seem exactly where they need to be, even low end from double bass and drums all seem to be playing ball. 

I also think I was a little too over zealous with volume and just was playing a little too loud.
Martin Pearman
Technics SL1210 Mk2
Ortofon 2M Red / Ortofon VMS 30 Mk II
Communicator Gram Amp 2
Novo
Chord Shawline
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MartinP View Drop Down
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Points: 6 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MartinP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Mar 2026 at 5:09pm
So… it’s the 2M Red!

Not sure if it’s fubar or just a really terrible cartridge.

I switched over to the Ortofon VMS Mk2 (apparently equivalent to the Bronze?) but has a microline diamond and all the muddled and harsh highs are gone! It’s like night and day.

I’ve also rechecked the VTA and it was a smidge out, so with the Acrylic mat with the Washi mat on top this gets it 100% square.
Martin Pearman
Technics SL1210 Mk2
Ortofon 2M Red / Ortofon VMS 30 Mk II
Communicator Gram Amp 2
Novo
Chord Shawline
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Ernie View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Location: Birmingham UK
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Points: 430 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Ernie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Mar 2026 at 5:33pm
The joy of system variables. That way madness lies.
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Fatmangolf View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Location: Middlesbrough
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Mar 2026 at 8:22pm
Welcome aboard Martin.
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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MartinP View Drop Down
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Joined: 14 Mar 2026
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Points: 6 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MartinP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2026 at 8:36am
Thanks Fatmangolf. 
Martin Pearman
Technics SL1210 Mk2
Ortofon 2M Red / Ortofon VMS 30 Mk II
Communicator Gram Amp 2
Novo
Chord Shawline
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