I had the phono stage in my system for 3 weeks on the loaner program.

Once in position and all switches on the front set for stereo RIAA I set about listening to a selection of records that I use as a reference.

From the off the Accession sings, it is easily the best MM phono stage I have had in my system and the least expensive, I have even removed my preamp to just use the volume control on the Accession the system sounds way more musical and I am just loving the sound.

I have bought an Accession M off the back of the loaner program all be it with the PSU one.

I think the Accession M with PSU one is an amazing product.

Phil

Current System - MOFI Studio Deck and Studio Tracker Cartridge, Accession M with PSU one, Custom 300B PSE Mono-Blocks, Ascension Phase 3 Valve speakers

   You’re not the only one. Welcome aboard.

Mick.

I've had my Accession M for a few months now. I bought it used from Canuck Audio Mart (US) for a very reasonable price and determined from sending the serial number to John C that it was probably from around 2016/2017. 

I was using a Reflex M at the time, which I bought new from a Canadian dealer in June 2020, so I was still pretty new to Graham Slee products but had been very impressed and couldn't pass up the Accession M deal since I knew I was going to buy one eventually anyway.

My initial impressions were actually mixed, as I was comparing directly to the Reflex M within the first couple of days. I figured it would be fully broken in after so many years of use. Well, it might have been, but for whatever reason (the fact that it was unplugged for so long in mail, the fact that it was quite cold outside) it needed a good 3 days being plugged in to begin to show it's superiority to the Reflex M. In a way, it has only gotten better since. 

I should say that I have an Enigma PSU1 which I bought for the Reflex and use with the Accession now. 

The Accession offer what I can only describe as a natural, full sound with an "aura". Sounds kind of hokey, but when I listen to things, they have this light emanating from them. I think that what I probably really mean is that the atmosphere of the recordings is translated by the Accession. There's a lot of presence to the sound, even when it's quiet. It has really brought my entire classical collection to life, as well as offering superior listening of all the other stuff (jazz, rock, indie, reggae, hip hop, acoustic).

In a way, I don't have a lot of adjectives for the Accession sound because it's just "right." Everythings sounds as it should and I'm more focused on the music itself rather than how cool my phono stage is, which is exactly how it should be. In the end, hi-fi is about getting closer to the music, not making the music sound in a specific way that some equipment designer wants it to sound.

One of the best things about the Accession, beside how awesome it is to listen to my music through it, is the way it has killed my quest for better sound. I have arrived at sound I can be happy with. No small feat and such a relief to my pocket book.

Ok, well not really, because now I can focus on all the expensive AAA vinyl I want to own. So maybe it hasn't been that kind to my pocket book 

Thank you Graham for putting the music first in your design!

i'm lucky enough to have both an MM and MC Accession, and I'm never going to look for an upgrade (unless Graham brings out another game changer of course! )

Ah- the MM v. MC debate! 

In my opinion, MC can offer greater detail - especially as you go up in price. Stratospherically priced cartridges are always MCs. Whether that's because the maker would never get away with charging crazy prices for a MM, or because they're crafted by artisans meditating on the slopes of Mount Fuji who only produce one a month I'm not sure. 

In reality - for a real world system that's anywhere near affordable, MM plus an Accession can produce remarkable results. The Accession MC lends its unique technology to the low output brigade, enabling a good MC to sparkle its fairy dust while remaining eminently musical.

That's not really an answer to your question is it? 

So here goes - yes MCs CAN be a big upgrade over MMs if your system and bank balance can take it.

I see you have G1042. I used to have one that I used with an Era Gold V, and it produced lovely music; an Accession MM will only raise the SQ bar further and you'd have to have deep pockets to improve on it!

Is it true that you have to spend a good sum on a MC cart to get vary good sound quality as I was on this forum with someone from the USA (I think or it could have been Canada ) and he said that from his experience he had never heard a good budget MC he was talking well over $1000 I'm not sure what that is in Pounds but lets say around £1000 now that is a lot of money to me and something that is well out of my budget, It's just that you can get budget phono amps and amps with both and it seems to me that if you have to spend big then the MC part is a waste of time, if you know what I mean? I'm just curious that's all

Mick 

I guess I will wait until I’m rich to venture into the MC world. Should happen any day now... 

One day I’ll try it out. 

Apologies.

But perhaps the EH version would be worth a try?

Stephan