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Reflex M/PSU1 loan
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morris_minor View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Mar 2012
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    Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 12:55am
Well, I've had my loan Reflex M about 5 days now, and thought I'd share a few thoughts (so not really a review as such . . .).

To put it in context this is what I'm using it with:
  • Technics SL-QL1 direct drive linear tracking TT - much modified: external PS, upgraded bearing, copper bonded platter, new feet, additional damping - all by Vantage Audio (about as much as you can do to a £50 deck off eBay to make it play like £2k+ TT)
  • Technics P22 cartridge with a Jico SAS stylus
  • Pro-ject pre box SE
  • Solo SRGII with Sennheiser HD650 'phones
  • Harbeth !Xpression DPM1 Pro active monitors
  • Mark Grant cables
  • Digital source for comparison: Squeezebox Touch/Metrum Octave NOS DAC
  • (It's temporarily replaced an Era Gold V)
Most of my critical listening has been done with the 650s, but through the Harbeths the sound stage is wide and deep and though the speakers lean a bit towards the analytical side (as you'd expect for studio monitors) sound from the Reflex was well rounded and engaging. On other systems I'd expect it to be quite warm.

It's quite hard trying describe things without using the tired old cliches, but I'll give it go.

Orchestral music has been a joy. The layout of the acoustics, and the instrumental timbres has been really satisfying. Quite noticeable was how, when music lines were doubled, it was easy to hear which instruments were playing, their individual characters could be clearly heard. (This was on Chandos and Archiv recordings of Tchaikovsky and Handel).

Dire Straits has always been a favourite, and on both Love Over Gold and Brothers in Arms, the detail and slam presented was really pleasing. I'd never heard Mark Knopfler's voice in so much detail - almost rasping at times, and on Brothers In Arms' first chorus his quiet voice trembles with emotion - something I'd never picked up on before.

In fact this was quite common: whether detail in the mix, or extra definition of instrumental timbres, lots of things presented themselves that I'd never noticed. Not that anything was spotlit, it was just clearer. I'm sure that going back to the Era Gold V I'll now hear them because I know what to listen for, but the Reflex has definitely dug out lots of fine details that escaped before.

Other discs have been Buena Vista Social Club - all the background noise and chat at the end of tracks now more audible, and some tracks by Sade - always a class act IMO, and the smooth and breathy voice over slick arrangements has never sounded better. Again, the micro detail came to fore - lots of quiet percussion lines suddenly had some definition.

Last up tonight was that rock/synth/choral/orchestral confection of I Robot by the Alan Parsons Project (on a Classic Records 180gm disc). Such clarity of detail and tonal richness! I could go on . . .

What I will add is that I was able to pickup additional detail in the decay part of sounds: a tom drum, for example, when struck has components that decay at different rates - the hit goes almost immediately, the head decays more slowly and the timbre changes as it gets quieter, and the body of the drum reverberates a little longer. Couple that with a snare hit and you have a very complex bunch of sounds that given a good recording the Reflex M  can distinguish.

So you might infer from this that I'm having a good time with it; you'd be right! Next to try is change of cartridge, and some choral and classical instrumental music. I'll write more later in the week . . . 
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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morris_minor View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Mar 2012
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Points: 6197 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 12:58am
It's late - and being a thicko I just posted this in the wrong review section; maybe someone could move it for me? Ta.
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 7:47am
Glad to help you. Thank you for your review Bob.
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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Points: 6197 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:16pm
The testing continues .  .

Now with an Ortofon X1-MCP, a high-output moving coil.

A couple of choral discs - music by Walton and Bax on Argo and Hyperion respectively.

The Walton of Christchurch Cathedral Choir, Oxford was beautifully rendered with a multilayered acoustic, and full organ. Over the Harbeths at high volume the atmosphere was very impressive indeed.

The Bax pieces with the BBC Northern Singers have additionally, piano, harp, cello and double bass (though not all together!). Set in a drier acoustic, the individual voices can be picked out and the harp and cello lines in particular are especially detailed. Like the earlier discs, the micro-details of plucking, bowing etc are laid out before you in a most realistic fashion. The word "analytical" could be used, but that implies a kind of sterile and matter of fact approach, whereas, for me at least, the detail in the sound adds to the musicality and the ability to communicate the performance.

I can see it's going to be hard to pack the Reflex up to send it back to Jon . . Ermm
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 9:01pm
It is rather good isn't it? Who's next?
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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Points: 261 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Frostg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 11:18pm
After allowing 4 days burn in I could wait no longer and put my first vinyl on the deck through the reflex m and the solo UL. And there I was, with Ella and Louis sat in my back room singing just for me, they brought along a great backing band as well. I just could not wipe the smile off my face,it was heavenly. Was a real struggle to stop the listening. Can't wait for more tonight.

Graham and team thanks for such fabulous products, and I believe it will only getter better over time.
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Points: 6197 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 11:31pm
Ok. Tonight's listening used an Ortofon OMP40 and included a Speakers Corner 180gm issue of Elgar's Introduction & Allegro for Strings (Barbirolli/Sinfonia of London on HMV). You could hear the roisin flying off the bows! Spine tingling stuff.

Then there was the soundtrack by Philip Glass to the film Koyaanisqatsi (the film that launched a thousand advertising visual cliches). The sepulchral tones of the bass soloist (aided by a good dollop of reverb) were splendidly presented, and I have to say I haven't found the music as exciting before as I did this time. I had only intended to dip into this, but ended up listening to it all. I have the performance on CD as well, and a re-recording on DVD-A but the LP easily held its own.

At the moment it's Walton's 1st Symphony with Haitink and the Philharmonia (HMV). I have to admit an obsession with this piece of music; I must have almost 30 performances of this on the music server. Haitink's isn't the most idiomatic performance, but EMI's recording is a corker. The orchestra is laid out in a believable acoustic and brass instruments especially have a rich fruitiness that's especially enjoyable.

Before my time with the Reflex is up I'll need to get out some jazz and spin a few Blue Notes. I haven't played this much vinyl in such a short space of time for years. Who needs FLAC files or those pesky little silver discs? LOL
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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