Last call for testers list!
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
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URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=224
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 3:31am
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Topic: Last call for testers list!
Posted By: Graham Slee
Subject: Last call for testers list!
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 9:35am
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The Beta Novo headphone amplifiers are reaching completion and I want to get them out to volunteer listeners ASAP. Volunteer listeners, otherwise known as Beta testers, are the kind of people who like to hear a new product in the comfort of their own homes for a couple of weeks, without any obligation to buy, but are obligated to give their impressions here (good or bad but hopefully good), and are obligated to pass it on (by properly repacking the item and ensuring it gets shipped on with the best possible chance of it arriving at its next destination). If the product fails on its way round, that's not going to be your problem by the way: I will exchange it for another in that unlikely event. As our membership here is yet still small and from all over the planet, it could make sense to have two or three units to cover different areas of the planet. I'm thinking in particular of any Australian, New Zealand and nearby Far East members, where the cost of shipping is lessened by having a rota of members or even gathering new beta testers in that part of the world. As for the last in the chain, we have Decibel HiFi as our Australian distributor, and it could be handed back to them. Similarly, remote parts of Europe (old eastern block). What I'm looking for I guess, is an individual in those regions to act as "boss tester", for the want of a better description. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to get the listening started, so please post here your wish to be included or confirm you're still interested from the previous thread on this subject. Oh, and also tell me your location and we can get together some rotas. Thanks, Graham ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Replies:
Posted By: Darren/Audio Elevati
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 10:30am
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Graham
Ian and I will gladly do this if that's your wish. Not spoken up so far as not sure we're qualified so much re headphone listening as we don't get chance to do it very often. Very happy to have a go and will give whatever feedback we can to assist.
We've got 7 different Audio Technica phones inc 595 and 650, Grado SR325i, Sony earbuds, Koss something or other and some old Sennheisers that need new foam for the earpads. ------------- http://www.audioelevation.co.uk - Audio Elevation - taking your hi-fi to another level. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 5:30pm
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OK, you're on the UK rota. Which position has yet to be established. Come on guys (and gals if any), UK - Europe - Australia: I'm willing to do up to three beta's for this community to roughly cover these areas and make it so nobody has an unreal shipping cost to send it on. Final stop for Oz will be in Oz (Decibel HiFi - I still have to tell Brian about it), so don't be shy, wherever you are, this is your chance to use a Novo for 2 weeks for the cost of shipping it on. ------------- 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: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 5:50pm
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OK - I will put my hand up. Why not email those who already nominated - unless they are on the RG dist list. |
Posted By: that_hertz
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 6:28pm
Please put me down Graham. Preston, UK. |
Graham Slee wrote:Posted By: ServerBaboon
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 7:54pm
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I have refrained from volunteering before now because I have only one pair of AT headphones (ath-a900) and a freebee £30 Byerdynamic to test with and can only compare with a green solo so I have assumed there are others better qualified to judge. (Manchester - UK) |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 9:29pm
I don't agree! Are you now on the list? ------------- 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: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2008 at 9:32pm
Good suggestion. Is there anybody here who'd usually be on the Rockgrotto beta testing rota? If so, we have 2 beta Novo's going to Rockgrotto this week. This is getting a tad confusing - never mind, solder on! ------------- 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: Jake
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 3:45am
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Gday Graham, I am very interested to be involved if possible. Am I to understand you are sending a unit to the colonies? Cheers, Jake |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 12:01pm
Hi Jake, I thought that would be the best way. Otherwise someone would be landed with shipping from this side of the world to down under, and then someone else viccy versa - not good  I think.So yes! As tg was first [above] will tg PM his address/telephone details? Hopefully tg will pass to you after about 2 weeks. Are there any more headphone enthusiasts out your way you'd feel suitable to hand on to? ------------- 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: Jake
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 12:11pm
Thanks Graham. I look forward to it, and will happily submit my findings as best I can. I do have a good friend with very discerning tastes (he also owns a Reflex and a Solo), who will be keen to test. He is time poor though and not online very much and I would be relaying his results myself if that is ok. Cheers, Jake |
Posted By: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 12:14pm
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Graham, I am in Sydney, I think Jake may nearly be close enough to Brian to drop it in rather than post - not sure, but he is in Qld at least 600 miles north of me. Trying to think if there is anyone else here who posts anywhere I know of regularly, DC is in Sydney but seems rather quiet lately - don't recall if he signed up here or not but he would be good. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 12:38pm
tg, DC is in Rockgrotto isn't he? If so it'll be OK to pass to him as part of the down-under Rockgrotto team [saves postage], but don't forget Jake. I guess DC could pass to sandyk who's also in Sydney - see how it compares to his Jaycar? Perhaps I'm taking too much of a risk here  ?But I'll send to you first and we'll see how it pans out. ------------- 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: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 11:51pm
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Graham, one thing is for sure. Both dc and SandyK will give you an honest evaluation, plus who knows Alex (SandyK) may have some tricks up his sleeve that you may find usefull.
My mother says that devil knows so much not because he is the devil but because he has been around so long. Well, Alex is getting way up there in age so he should know a lot.  ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Jake
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 5:32am
Actually Im in Gladstone, Qld about 540kms from Brian, although I do go to Brisbane fairly regularly. If I cant deliver personally, no problem to post, its usually only overnight. Cheers, Jake |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2008 at 2:16am
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Jake, dc has been quiet due to a new job. At least that is wha he has indicated. I believe there is a girl in there somewhere. :-) ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Jake
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2008 at 7:54am
Who is dc? David Coulthard - the walking jaw?
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Posted By: jonclancy
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2008 at 12:06am
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Hi Graham,
I'd like to be considered, please. Not much of an expert, but I like a tune and have a selection of sources and a few sets of cans here.
Many thanks
Jon
(nr Bristol)
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Posted By: less
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2008 at 7:18pm
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Hi Graham, not done this stuff before but would be willing to give it a go, especially as I would be interested in getting my hands on one of the kits! Have Shure SE530 IEMs and a pair of Sennheiser HD580s Regards Les Sutherland ------------- I don't do mediocrity! Les Sutherland |
Posted By: Zafonic
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2008 at 8:37pm
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Hi Graham
I would like to be one of the beta testers please. I'm located in London and was speaking to John today who was very helpful and sent me the link to the website. Just one thing: I will be going on holiday from 9-15 September so if it is possible I would be better able to test the Novo after 15th September. I hope this is ok. Thanks Shane |
Posted By: dazzer1975
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2008 at 10:39pm
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I would like to be involved with the testing if possible? I have a home amp the little dot mk II and have been waiting for funds to buy the solo with psu. Aside from this I use portable amps, yet have a selection of full sized cans. I would be more than eager to test for this new amp as home gear is my next focus to move into. Currently have beyerdynamic dt880, audio technica w1000, akg k701, k240 (mid production sextett), k280 parabolic and k100, and audio technica esw9 although the latter is obviously more of a portable headphone. My portable earphones are the aforementioned esw9, shure se530, etymotic er4p and also the p to s adaptor cable, etymotic er6i, sennheiser cx300 and koss kc75 sources would be a selection of portable players e.g. imod 5.5gen iriver ihp120 or pc with pico dac using it as a kind of pre-amp to the novo If you feel I could contribute that would be great. p.s. I am in Rochdale nr Manchester. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 11:32pm
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OK, this is the rota:- Darren/Audio Elevati[on] that_hertz ServerBaboon jonclancy less Zafonic dazzer1975 2 weeks and pass it on by Royal mail special delivery (weighs less than 2kg). Maybe Darren would like to collect from us? Should be mid December by the time the last report's in. ------------- 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: jonclancy
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 9:33am
| Great news! Thanks Graham!! |
Posted By: Darren/Audio Elevati
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 10:12am
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Yes, will collect as soon as I can. Thanks for the opportunity. ------------- http://www.audioelevation.co.uk - Audio Elevation - taking your hi-fi to another level. |
Posted By: that_hertz
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 11:01am
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This calls for some new SACD's....
Thanks again Graham.
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Posted By: Zafonic
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 11:40am
Thanks very much, Graham 
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Posted By: dazzer1975
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 12:48pm
| oh wow awesome stuff, thanks Graham for the chance to test this amp, I look forward to hearing it. |
Posted By: ServerBaboon
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2008 at 9:44pm
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Thanks a lot Will it be a brand new unit or will it have had some burn in. |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2008 at 11:17pm
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As a norm manufacturers send out units w/ zero or very low hours (testing). This due to the many other obligations they have.
Based on my listening impressions the Beta Novo may need a long burn-in period of at least 300 hours and as many as 500 hours. Mine has a tad over 300 hours and it recently changed. I will let it go about 100 hours past the last change and then I will be sure. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: that_hertz
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2008 at 1:52am
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HI Miguel So when is the big review due? |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2008 at 1:15pm
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The short answer is I do not know.
Why? Well, first I need to make sure the amp is fully burnt in and not prone to change. Thus why I posted that I will let the amp go for at least 100 hours beyond the last change I hear. If this was the only thing then by next weekend I would have my final impressions.
However, Graham and his staff/friends have developed an tweak that improves the sound of the amp. The parts are on their way and depending on how quickly they settle ...
Sorry for the long answer. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: that_hertz
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2008 at 10:32pm
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Many thanks for posting an update Miguel :)
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Posted By: less
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2008 at 8:58pm
Thanks Graham, I'm looking forward to this very much. Les ------------- I don't do mediocrity! Les Sutherland |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2008 at 9:28am
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Zafonic has asked to be removed due to other committments so the UK list is now 1] that_hertz (completed) 2] Darren/Audio Elevati[on] (reaching completion) 3] ServerBaboon (next) 4] jonclancy 5] less 6] dazzer1975 7] FritzS (he's not in the UK so dazzer1975 should send back to me so I can post it on) If any of you asked to be on the list and I haven't included you please remind me now. ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |