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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 |
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shaz
New Member Joined: 21 Nov 2019 Location: NC, USA Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: 05 Dec 2019 at 2:39am |
Hi All,
What started as a quest to figure out what was wrong with my TT setup has led me to this great place. I've recently acquired a Rega P6 fitted with an Ortofon 2M Bronze for my birthday. For the longest time I had it connected directly to my Rotel RA-1572 integrated amp and I just could not get it to sound right. I would endlessly A/B tracks between a digital source (Tidal via PC-USB) and what I was getting from my TT and was driven mad by how flat, almost lifeless things sounded. Sound was rather bright, mids were thin and details that I knew were there were veiled. I knew something was not right, I just couldn't put a finger on it. It's really hard to describe what you ears hears in words but that's the best description I could come up with. But when you have listened to something for so long, you expect it to sound a certain way. After much deliberation with folks over at Steve Hoffman forums, the first observation was that I needed a 2mm shim to raise the Rega arm up to better suit the Ortofon. So I did that, and while I got a slight bit of improvement, it was not noticeable enough to make a huge difference. I felt that I got some of my lows back. But that thin bright sound lingered. A few suggested that the integrated phono pre on my Rotel could be the culprit. So I decided to get my hands on an external phono pre and I put a deposit on a P******t Tube Box S2. At the same time, I was told about this amazing piece of art called the Reflex M and the loaner program. I did not hesitate, I came here, registered and within a couple of days I was talking to "BAK" who was an absolute joy to deal with and I had a unit shipped my way. Upon connecting the S2, I immediately noticed a significant improvement over what I was hearing. Music has come alive, was full and while it was a tad bit too bright for my taste it still sounded eons better than what I was hearing through the Rotel's phono. And I thought to myself, that's it! I'm on the right track now, we have finally arrived. The records starting sounding better than their digital counterparts. I got the sound I was yearning for. I was ecstatic! And then I remembered, the Reflex M.. A couple of days later, FedEx knocks on my door with my care package from Bruce. I must say I was not expecting much, how much better can these records sound? Well apparently, a LOT better. Within 30 seconds of playing the A-side of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here.. a pressing from 1975 I picked up when I was in Chicago on a work trip. I was appalled. The bass lines.. the drums punched deeper than ever.. better than any digital version that I had ever heard. I was floored. This old pressing, that's been through so much. How can it sound that good? I spent the rest of the week and the weekend going through my humble collection of 35+ records and it was like I was experiencing them for the first time. The soundstage, the separation, the thickness of the sound was simply delicious. Needless to say.. the TubeBox is going back and I am a believer in the dark voodoo magic that Graham Slee has created in this small silver box. I can only begin to imagine what the Ascension can do, but I must crawl, before I can walk and eventually run. This has been a truly eye opening (and ear opening!) experience. I cannot wait to put my order for my very own Reflex M and when the time is right I would love to try the power amps and invest in those. I'm a believer of this product and what GS has achieved here. I am thankful for this community, and Bruce for volunteering his time to educate me about this and for giving me the opportunity to test this marvel of a device in my home. I don't think you can do this any better. I just felt that I should share this lovely experience with all of you. I cannot wait to start this journey and I look forward to all the many things I will learn and tinker with along the way. So much music to listen to.. just not enough time! Glad to be here! Shaz aka. Andy
Edited by shaz - 05 Dec 2019 at 3:23am |
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Audio: Rega P6 Shimmed > Ortofon 2M Bronze > Reflex M (Loaner) > Rotel RA-1572 > Revel F36C
Power: Niagara 1200 + AQ NRG Z3 |
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RichW
Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1471 |
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Hi Andy & welcome,
Great write-up of your discovery of the ReflexM, which I think Graham once described as 'The best I can do', before the idea behind the Accession came to fruition. It is a superb amp no doubt about it. You'll probably find your record collection expanding now.. |
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Majestic/Enigma, Accession MM & MC.
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patientot
Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1531 |
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Shaz,
Glad to hear the Reflex M is working out for you. And don't worry about having only 35 records...these things have a way of multiplying exponentially before you even notice :). RE: Chicago, I don't physically get out to the stores there as often as I'd like...it can be a great place to shop for records.
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SL-1200 MK7 (modified) + Reflex M + PSU-1 used with AT150-40ML, AT VM95ML, Stanton 680mkII + Ogura, and Shure M35X cartridges.
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Aussie Mick
Senior Member Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Location: Bendigo Aust. Status: Offline Points: 1091 |
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Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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