Another Solo impression
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=2116
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 5:07am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Another Solo impression
Posted By: kirschv
Subject: Another Solo impression
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2013 at 6:34pm
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Moin, the new Solo is now running 24 hours to AKG 271 MKII without any interrupting from power. So I like to tell you my first impressions. This morning from an old-aged Revox tuner heard Queens "Thank god it´s christmas", the song seems to fit to the season, otherwise it wouldn´t be in the playlist as near to the top as Wham. The bass-lines (heard them first time after listening to the song every christmas season about 30 times) came a little fluffy but very swinging. The higher frequencies sounded a little harsh. All in all amazingly transparent. Now listening to "Unplugged"-CD from Eric Clapton with my old Rega Planet. Harshness is gone for the moment, bass is still a little fluffy like in the morning, transparency didn´t disappear, more timbre and musicality moved into the sound. WOW! If these impressions will develop further on I may could get in danger to become a headphone junkie. I´m waiting excited for the findings of the next listening sessions coming days. After Christmas days I come back to bring some more details here. |
Replies:
Posted By: kirschv
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2013 at 9:45am
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Day 8 - after starting listening sessions Fluffy bass got under control - sometimes missing. Harshness is gone - but overall sound is a little thin at the moment.  May to change the connection wire, now it´s a Sommer cable, there are opportunities from Inakustik, Kimber wire, Einstein Audio. First leave the Sommer cable there for tracking the development of the amp. Yesterday had a longer session, first with an old record of The Feelies, "Crazy rhythms" - end 80´s indie guitar rock from Canada. Later on Joe Bonamassa live in New York 2011. A firework of details and tone colour as well as at the same time laid-back and driving dynamics. Brilliant!  So, I´m waiting some days or weeks longer for a little more volume. Then sound will get perfect. Next year more information. I wish everybody a happy new year and many excitement with music! Volker |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2013 at 1:56pm
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Thank you for your good wishes, Volker! Mine to you, as well . . . Your Solo is coming along fine. As you say leave the same cable in place until you don't hear any more changes in the sound. You do know you can borrow Graham's Lautus and CuSat cables from the forum? These are what the Solo was developed with, so the "synergy" between them can be taken for granted . . .  .------------- 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 |
Posted By: Suggs
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2013 at 7:10am
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Hi Volker A Happy New year to you also. If you do want to borrow the Cusat or Lautus cables, please let me know by Private Message and I'll arrange it for you. I'm sure you would find them a worthwhile listen ------------- Derek |
Posted By: kirschv
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2014 at 9:49am
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Day 13 Wow, the bass comes with accuracy and pressure at the same time, and the colour tonality is affecting. Dynamics is still on board. Harshness is nearly complete gone. Impressive. What is remarkable at the moment? The radio stations sound really difficult through my old but wonderful Revox Tuner. All the stations under public law operated are sounding very well, the private operated stations differ between too much bass, to much high notes or too much from everything. It seems that the sound of the Solo will come to it´s best condition next time. So the next step will be the change of the interconnect. I´m looking for getting a Lautus Ph/Ph as part of the loaner programme next week. This is a great opportunity. I´m very excited. News will be reported in due time. |
Posted By: kirschv
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2014 at 3:18pm
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Day 17 While surfing the single Forum sections listening to Greg Brown and his 1996 record "Further on" there comes a feeling of listening to a more spatial depth as in former times. The sound seems not to change significantly anymore but the dimensionality alters. Going onward and listening more music. Wonderful! ------------- Volker |
Posted By: kirschv
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2014 at 8:40pm
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Day 30 I was the whole week away from home for work, so I needed a new portion of headphone listening at Saturday and Sunday. That were the last two days with the Lautus cable from loaner programm. Sent it back today with some kind of plaintiveness. Will not get this faboulus sound next weeks again. So I will use my time to listen to the differences of the existing cables until there is time and money to order some GSP cables. By the way, my wife can watch TV as much as she wants now, for that time I´m free to live with my headphone music. Well done! ------------- Volker |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2014 at 8:23am
Thank you for keeping us updated, Volker! It's never easy sending loan items back . . .  ------------- 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 |
Posted By: kirschv
Date Posted: 16 Mar 2014 at 11:52am
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...just another impression of my Solo. Changed the Einstein Audio Integrated against a Naim Supernait (Version I) for a while. The Supernait hast a headphone output at the frontside. So it´s time to check versus Solo. The Naim output is 3.5 mm, the Solo´s one 6.3 mm. So, it needs a little time to screw the adapter when changing from one output to the other and back again. But it doesn´t hinder for listening remarkable differences. With Naim it is sounding precisely and clear but not sharp. With Solo it is the same but much more rich, colourful and even more dynamic. It is still clear that this Solo seems to be an enrichment for every serious headamp freak. For me it is! ------------- Volker |