Why I got the Solo ULDE
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=4377
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Why I got the Solo ULDE
Posted By: stefanm
Subject: Why I got the Solo ULDE
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2017 at 1:58pm
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Hi all, As rarely as it happens I had some money to spare and was willing to part from it as well. I decided to invest in my home audio equipment and make it a lasting investment. Due to limited space at home I primarily use headphones. In my case mostly the AKG K601 which I bought some years ago. Since then the headphone market changed drastically. I went out with my K601 and some CDs... (organ music, piano, cello stuff, acoustic guitar, nice base drums) to select a proper headphome amp. I found myself a dealer in Berlin carrying Graham Slee. The contestants happend to be the Lehmann Linear and the Pathos Aurium. The ULDE went first and I had nothing to complain about. Lots of power. Everything nicely controlled. Overall very pleasing and balanced. It was easy to hear Glenn Gould singing along. The presentation is lively and a thorough joy. The Lehmann linear was next. Same price as the ULDE with the PSU unit- It is hugely popular in Germany and highly praised by a lot of people (also in broadcasting). Well I think it did not pair well with the K601. Otherwise I can't understand all the praise it gets. Good old Glenn Gould was almost inaudible and it sounded somehow compressed. Next the Pathos Aurium. Twice the ULDE price. It has some fancy tubes in it and sounded very good and gave a nice rounding to all harshness that might be in the recording. Don't get me wrong. I find this a very important aspect. It doesn't hide anything but presents it naturally and does not harass all the time. Imperfections sounded better. Overall the ULDE won due to the way the low frequencies of the organ music sounded and how utterly convincing the cello growled. It was so easy to hear the friction between bow and strings but entirely non fatiguing at the same time. It had a somehow clearer sound than the Aurium. And well... the Lehmann was out anyway. It also sounded the most balanced of operated on low volumes. I try to limit the volume so this was very important. The Aurius need more volume to show its strengths. From what I understand I consider the ULDE also as fool proof and future proof. I certainly try outsome of the newer headphones that were released after I went for the K601 some six or seven years ago. Back then the K601 won against K701 and Sennheisers and some other brands as well. It had a pleasing treble roll off. By the way. Including the PSU power unit the Solo ULDE was even the least costly of these three amps. It had the best sound to my ears and my preferences and I am confident it will pair well with any headphone I might buy. Cheers Stefan |
Replies:
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2017 at 3:24pm
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I didn't know Norbert worked in broadcasting too. ------------- 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: stefanm
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 5:51am
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I don't think he ever worked there. Can't find it from his history on his web page. I read that the WDR, one of our broadcasters, uses some of his stuff. Can't find the source anymore. At least he has a strong and very good reputation among mastering professionals. I think it was bad luck how the Lehmann Linear and my headphone mismatched. Something was amiss or it was a faulty unit. I have no other explanation. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 7:41am
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Apart from tonal and timing capabilities, music must also 'connect' with the listener. It is this which newcomers to high quality sound may not understand, but it is what differentiates one product with another. It is also the "glue" which makes you want to listen more, and more deeply. Few headphones allow that 'connection' to happen. Most headphones seem to be designed with no consideration for it. After all, it is just the technicalities that matter  I need to get that 'connection' before I will release a design otherwise in my opinion a design is useless. Working with many headphones to try and make a headphone amplifier design 'connect' is a very frustrating process! Therefore your experiences are no surprise. ------------- 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: morris_minor
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 1:41pm
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You won't regret buying the ULDE, Stefan! It works wonderfully with my LCD-2s and HD650s. And I've no desire to change it (unless Graham finds an even better way of making a headphone amp, of course )------------- 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: msphil
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 5:35pm
You also have to remember that the ULDE gets better over time as it burns in. You won't be disappointed with your decision. ------------- 'You are, through your soul not your body, a human being.' |
stefanm wrote:Posted By: msphil
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 5:39pm
Hi Stefan, It's worth bearing in mind that the ULDE (like all of Grahams equipment) gets better over time as it burns in. You won't regret your decision. Phil ------------- 'You are, through your soul not your body, a human being.' |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2017 at 9:46pm
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As absurd as it may initially sound for me to suggest (to newcomers, at least), I have personally found that Graham Slee products sound noticeably better after a considerable power on period of at least several hours to several days. Graham's Bitzie sounds better after a couple of hours powered up than it does immediately after several days of being switched off. Capacitor charging is an exponential curve with a plateau just below 100% (equilibrium and reversible process) so it makes sense that the audio circuits take some time to reach full charge capacity/saturation, which I suspect affects phase integrity and stereo imaging quite profoundly. ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |