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Reflex (a sort of a review)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sol Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2008 at 2:50pm
Originally posted by IvanM IvanM wrote:

 A sort of an update to a sort of a review
 
well written .. thanks for sharing that!
 
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And finally!  Considering I never tire of listening to my records at the moment, I am tempted to ask: if music be the food of love is the Reflex the Viagra?
 
 
LOl ... now in marketing speak you really should have sold that to Graham! If he sues it ... please ask for credit ;o)
 
I'm holding off doing a final review ... unlike you I've had no time to play with the TT set up. Using the Solo and HD650 combo I'm hearing closure synergy between my digital set up over spekaers adn headphones than I am between my viynl rig. That's not to say it's bad .. afr from it ... but there's tweaks to be done with the turntable. 
 
It doesn't help that I've moved the entire rig through 90 degrees in the room, that I also bought a turntable, the reflex, and the positioning in the room has lead to a change in sound anyhow! My reference has gone! That said, the Reflex and Arezzo TT, RB300 with a Goldring Eroica MC Hight Output are sounding rather sweet. Definately more presence, and emotion coming through than the digital rig.
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tg [RIP] View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tg [RIP] Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2008 at 7:01am
I have also noted the improvement on the second side played, I put this down to the cartridge suspension warming up.
The effect is much more noticeable on my DL 103 than my DL 301, presumably because of the much stiffer suspension on the 103.
WRT spending $$$, either of those low output cartridges plus the step-up transformer I use with them cost me less than a Goldring 1042 MM would have.
Maybe they would not do it for you, but they sound like music to me.
I do like the way the Reflex allows cartridge "tuning by ear" - and I do not have to strain to hear when it is not right.  It's almost a "reflex action" LOL

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cyreg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2008 at 10:59am
Hi tg, you mean that it takes about 20 minutes after starting up a vinyl listening session, before you have the right sounding result?
That sounds familiar and  could be your Reflex. Why?
Well Graham himself told users and reviewers about the EraGoldV having that attribute and that one should keep that in mind. 
I myself never noticed it nor specifically listened for it.
It will be system-quality dependend and also a big difference if listening through loudspeakers or headphones? 
So probably we will hear from Graham if it could be the same with the Reflex?
If not the Reflex than you should probably be right with the suspension!! Han
TecnoDec/RB250/MP110>GramAmp2C/PSU1; Cyrus CD8SE; Cyrus FM7 > Exposure XXXV > Harbeth C7ES-3 '35th Anniversary'
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tg [RIP] Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2008 at 11:46am
Han,
I only rarely use headphones when playing records and then more if I am doing an LP rip - eg recording it to hard disc.
I much prefer using speakers, headphones are for late night head banging sessions, or equipment comparisons sometimes.  Tend much more to be PC based or CD when using headphones.
Graham has discussed cartridge warm-up at one time or another and Geoff Husband of tnt-audio has mentioned it on more than one occasion.
I first noticed it when using the DL103 which is a very stiff (low compliance) cartridge, when first set on a record it would sound somewhat thin and tinny, lacking in the full body and rich timbre and tonality, tizzy at the top and a little sluggish in attack.
I do not think it to be related to the Reflex except insofar as it truthfully relays the info fed it.  My Reflex is almost never turned off (maybe once in 6 months to re-arrange cables) - it may be that it also improves with signal passing, but that is more subtle and not so obvious.
The effect was sufficiently noticeable that I would commonly play a side with the preamp switched to another source before beginning a listening session.
The effect is not as marked with the present DL301 which is much more compliant.
Probably more noticeable on orchestral works where the full range is more common.
I note that some cartridge manufacturers recommend increased VTF at lower temperatures and decreased VTF at higher ambient temperatures - one assumes due to lowered elasticity of cantilever mountings at lowered temperatures.
In that respect, it is worth noting that my observation of this began in the cooler months, after my Reflex had arrived and burned in.  Changeover to the present cartridge was not made until end December when temperatures were much higher (and generally still are - it is now 10:30 pm and I am wearing no shirt and have a fan on to provide some cooling)
IIRC you are using a Rega Elys which would probably be even more compliant than the 301 and following my line of reasoning, would be less inclined to show the effect unless in fairly low ambient temperatures.
Perhaps listen to a fairly dynamic and full range piece of music first up and then play it again after listening to the second side and see if you notice a change.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote olli_1963 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Feb 2008 at 4:13pm
Hi,
I now own my Reflex for 6 month after trading in the Era Gold V.
Boys, wait, the Reflex even gets better.
When I listen to Pink Floyd The Wall, Side C, Tracks 1 and 2 there is no 3D-effect, there is something more, like surround-sound.
Sounds obscure, but at the end of track 2 (the one after "Hey You") it is like a wave approaching and then braking over you - I didn't have an experience like that before.
You have to try it.

Besides the long burn in time there is another drawback:
the mains-cable is a joke.
If you use a good shielded cable it will sound better.
And the cable from the PSU to the Reflex (Era Gold as well) is a joke too - ultra thin and not shielded too.
I would like to replace it as well but I'm not willing and to manipulate the PSU.
Good mains cable is so important and improves sound quality - the guys at gsp should know that.

Take the PSU as far apart from the Reflex as possible and do not place the Reflex near other amplification, motors or power supplies.
This all makes differences in sound quality.

-----------------------------
best regards,
Olaf

Garrard 401, Syrinx PU3, Grado Reference, gsp Reflex
Ayon Spark, Ayon Butterfly
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Feb 2008 at 5:58pm
Hi olli_1963,

Thanks for your impressions, I'm very grateful.

But regarding the DC lead, I think you may not understand how it works.

You got all this great sound using "a joke", yes?

Now if we shield it, how? The power supply is class II which is a non-earthed item for reason not every country has earths.

If we shield it then the minus or 0V side becomes the shield from the phono stage, this is the only effective way of preventing RFI. I guess we could just connect the shield at the plug end, but this has no effect on RFI above roughly 20MHz. But the shield on the minus/0V side would.

However, in tests this had zero effect of removing any RFI. What did remove the RFI was to fit clip on ferrites on the speaker cables as close to the power amp as possible. Now nobody would suggest that unshielded speaker cables are a joke would they?????

But the output of an amplifier is also an input - FOR RFI.

As for the wire size - we have tried larger and larger sections with no improvement.

I am very careful not to upset my customers because I was brought up to believe the customer is king, but you talk as if we don't know what we are doing? Do you think the Reflex was an accident? Or do you think the Era Gold V before it was one also?

We do actually know what we are doing you know?

If you think we should fit beefy this and beefy that because it fits a misinformed mental image of hi-fi, you are sadly mistaken. I design things to work and don't give a damn about false image or false worship. I thought you would have recognised this from the sound you are getting?

QUOTE: "Boys, wait, the Reflex even gets better.
When I listen to Pink Floyd The Wall, Side C, Tracks 1 and 2 there is no 3D-effect, there is something more, like surround-sound.
Sounds obscure, but at the end of track 2 (the one after "Hey You") it is like a wave approaching and then braking over you - I didn't have an experience like that before.
You have to try it." UNQUOTE

It does it because I designed it that way - a process that cost the best part of 2 years of my life working mostly night and day. If I thought I would gain myself a favour by making something different I would have. I am not one of these trendies who call themselves a "designer" - I work in engineering - sorry if I just burst peoples image of me - I am not a magician either - I just spent all my working life in electronics (I'm now 52) to be told I don't know what I'm doing????

But thanks for the compliment.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote IvanM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Feb 2008 at 12:30am
A slightly off topic update, to a sort of an update, to a sort of a review.
 
Last night I was struck by the thought that I was listening to my set-up using unfamiliar interconnect.  Previous to receiving my Reflex I had Nordost Red Dawn in the loop; whereas since I’d had it, I had used Van Den Hul The First Ultimate.  I can’t quite remember why I changed, it was a daft idea adding another variable but I hadn’t considered it to be a significant issue. 
 
 I may have been influenced by John C’s comments and I remember that that the 1mtr long Nordost was draped all over while VDH at only 0.5 mtr was physically tidier.  Also, I’d had the VDH for a couple years but never really used it but had read good things about it (I try not to be influenced but I guess I was).

I have never doubted the benefit of a decent interconnect but have always tried to keep in mind that their job is to preserve the signal not change it.

Anyway, I decided to stick Nordost back in.  To say that the Nordost and the VDH sound different is an exercise in understatement. 

In short, relative to the VDH, the Nordost has splashy treble, a much more forward and wider presentation and crucially (for me) a lot more texture than the VDH (you may remember I had blamed my cartridge for a perceived lack of texture).  The VDH, characterises a much smoother and more natural treble, a darker background and a general sense of precision and evenness at all frequencies.   Paradoxically, while the Nordost has a bigger sound there is actually less perception of space between instruments than with the VDH.  The Nordost also sounds busier (or fuzzier – hard to describe) and oddly louder.  Those are the most apparent differences but there are many more.

On balance I would say that the VDH is sonically the best (most natural, accurate) but I think I prefer the Nordost, being prepared to put up with the more tiresome (somewhat CD like) treble to get at the extra bit of instrumental texture and drama (at least until I find a better compromise).  This is probably more to do with the fact that I have grown used to listening to the effect of the Nordost and what is most right is probably coming second to what I am most familiar with.

I am now happier than ever with the sound from my records through the reflex.  Or to put it more emotionally, it has now snuggled me even closer to my personal audio happy place.

Two points here perhaps.  1.  Only change one thing at a time (I ought to know better, I know, I know).  2.  It is important to make decisions on how things actually sound: not how they should sound.  Even my limited grasp of electronics can see the potential RFI downside of an unscreened cable, in fact some of the less pleasing characteristics of the Nordost sound may well be down to this.  However, on balance, it still works for me.

Next job is to make up a pair of CT100 leads as recommended on this site.  From personal experience I know CT100 to be a good solution, especially on long runs.  Then a bit of totally subjective comparison testing (I can only say what sounds different/better to me, through my ears, on my kit).  I have some QED and Audioquest leads knocking about too so if I get around to it and if there’s anything interesting to report, I’ll pop it into the cables section of the forum.

I'd like to agree with you but then we'd both be wrong.
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