It's arrived..... Review to follow.
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Headphone Audio
Forum Name: Write A Review
Forum Description: Satisfied with your Graham Slee headphone amp? - share your experiences here
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1750
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 4:02am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: It's arrived..... Review to follow.
Posted By: 11rushgarrick11
Subject: It's arrived..... Review to follow.
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2013 at 9:30pm
Well the title says it all really. I now have the ultra linear in hand. Courier dropped it off just 21 minutes before I had to catch the train but I had just enough time to get one song through it... Obviously some real time needs spending with my new bundle of joy but I'm tattooing this Sat at a convention (us headphone fans are not all pipe n slippers ya know )  I know where I'd rather be this weekend though, locked away with mr Cohen and Mr Garfunkel on repeat (that sounded soooo wrong) tee hee.Like I said above I managed to fire one song through it before dashing to the door, Jake Bugs splendid vocal track broken. If there's one thing that was instantly noticeable even without giving the amp time to run in, and that was just how splendid the vocals sounded. I'm a vocal nut so things are looking good! A full detailed review to follow over the coming days/weeks. Perhaps I've found the amp that makes vocals sound like they are real and in the room with me. (Had these for a while now) And big praise must also go to the 701s. They never put a foot wrong, ever (in my opinion)! They are the only cans to genuinely move me to wells in my eyes. Anyway best get some drawing in... Ps thanks Jon! Can't wait to get back home to my costal town sleeps ville and daydream away with the splendid ultra and a pot of tea. Real review up in a few days... Take care all ------------- the real art of conducting consists in transistors :p |
Replies:
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2013 at 9:32pm
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The Solo UL is one of Graham's gems and I am glad to help with GSP's loan scheme. Happy listening Rob! ------------- 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. |
Posted By: 11rushgarrick11
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2013 at 8:04pm
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V small update: I'm the type of chap who will take at least 13 days to give my kit the thumbs up or thumbs down (obviously,some kit takes longer), the point...I won't rush a review out or part with cash till I'm smitten. However as I'm ploughing on with testing I like to write notes an keep things updated. So after the first 24 hours. Bliss.... Quite fitting, the titled track from to Venus and back from Tori Amos. Tori can be a REAL chore to recreate faithfully, she is all over the place (in a good way), vocals in one direction, peaks and troughs, quick sudden snap changes and bursts that demand a vice like grip. Certain tracks can feel like an out of control bull if that makes sense... Slee the bull tamer... Due to my AS/MS I'm painfully awake in the very early hours and if im not drawing up folks tattoos im engaged with my 701s and the last 24 is no exception. Before I knew it though, morn had arrived.. And left a dark and sultry night behind. With track one bliss loaded up from tori I was taken, completely taken some where dark, actual reality had been kicked off and left at the door.. With the dark morn now upon me and the sultry lyrics been elegantly forced out from the 701 it felt dirty with every listen. I've now had this track on repeat for at least 11 times... The ultra linear is working some dark juju.. It's made the track feel more sleezy and its ability to burst and drop with command needs to be heard. Don't be confused by the bull tamer tag, your still on a wild ride but luckily the slee has a tight grip and some direction.. Like I say very, very early thoughts and feelings. I genuinely wanted (I know how mad) not to be smitten with this amplifier. I'd heard good things and to be honest I thought yawnnnn... I will be the judge of its credentials. I'm not one who minds eating their own words though and liked to be proved wrong when justified. You will also get honest thoughts..!! One final note, I'm not a huge subscriber to electronics having an audible change of note after time. On paper there is an argument but to my ear I've found it hard to unequivocally say its noticeable. This was not the case with the ultra linear though after time it seems to me to find its feet a bit better, this might be some pseudo placebo effect my brains conjoured but non the less the feelings there... Ok, till we meet again take care.. ------------- the real art of conducting consists in transistors :p |
Posted By: mitch65
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2013 at 8:48pm
Loving the enthusiasm, keep up the good work  ------------- Greg Rega Planer 3 Gram Amp 2 Audiolab 8000A Auralic Aries Mini Russell K 50 |
11rushgarrick11 wrote:Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2013 at 9:20pm
I guess by repeating the burn-in message over and over it's finally doing the auto suggestion trick - such a cunning fellow I am ...  Except I'm nothing of the sort. Far too much proof exists regarding burn-in or the settling-in of component chemistry. I know there are some manufacturers, reviewers, dealers and customers who believe in mankind's magic, but at the end of the day electronic components start off life as some substance or gas or whatever, dug up or extracted out of the ground (it can't really be from another planet can it?...). It's chemistry that's been put through wads of processes including thermal and mechanical stresses, and finally it's soldered at 3 to 4 times boiling point, and has then to somehow move electrons around perfectly from first switch on? Pull the other one... burn-in is a fact! ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: jamescodway
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2013 at 9:45pm
Absolutely love the lucid storytelling... more please!  What else have you tried before the 701s? Best James ------------- Voyager - HD25 |
Posted By: 11rushgarrick11
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2013 at 11:22pm
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Hi James, thanks for the kind words! Will update soon... With regards to what else have i had in the past. Grado SR80's didn't enjoy (needed to buy higher up the pecking order for better results, in my opinion), Senns hd590s now discontinued, still the prettiest to look at! Moved to the 600s and lots of folk like them, they didn't move me though. Akg 701s just dropped my jaw and continue to do so... On the move the mdr ex600's from sony. Some might be put off by the brand name but the closest in ear monitors to the 701s. I real gem!! Loved also by a few of us over at head fi.. Take care ------------- the real art of conducting consists in transistors :p |
Posted By: jamescodway
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 8:00pm
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I can understand that headphone journey... great to hear you're loving your 701s. I dug out Tori Amos from Montreux (1992?) after reading your posts. Quite a trip down memory lane and she certainly used to have an amazing voice. I'm still getting acquainted with her post 1995 recordings. Best James ------------- Voyager - HD25 |