SRG II Part 2

Having listened to the SRG II each day for a week I reckon I'm in a position to report on its performance,according to my ears !

I should explain firstly that headphones have been a second choice for my listening medium since I have a source/loudspeaker set up which has taken many years to fine tune,also the dedicated listening room has taken time to "get right". The source is a Wadia 861se CD player with the Great Northern Sound Co's "Statement" mod's and this is connected directly to a pair of ATC 50 ASL active loud speakers.There is a good synergy between these two which gives a very realistic reproduction and sound stage.

However the probable future need to downsize my house (and lose the listening room) plus the onset of "sleepovers" by the grand children has led me into headphone territory.

My first amp was the Green Solo which performed pretty well but still left me wishing to get the speakers back on,the soundstage was almost "empty",good detail however.

I then progressed on to a Solo SRG with PSU 1 and changed my Grado GS1000s for a pair of ATH W1000s which was a big improvement,a better sonic presentation altogether but I was still not 100% satisfied.

In truth I was not prepared for the dramatic improvement the SRG II/PSU 1 gave ! The bass and lower mid range is substantially better giving me a more spacial soundstage,and conveying more the emotion of the music.A favourite DG recording of the Dvoraks "New World" with volume up to 12 o'clock was quite a stunning listen,for example there was more "slam" to the tympanies,smoothness to the woodwind section and the silky violins were just right ! Further listening to old favourites from Porcupine Tree,Joe Bonamassa,Gandalf Murphy,Jackson Browne,Joe Satriani,Aynsley Lister and Emmy Lou Harris reinforced my initial impressions that I was at last satisfied with headphone reproduction.

Overall a good fullsome sound that fills the head so realistically.With a good recording,cymbals and hi hats had just the right tizz,synthesiser came across with good depth and acoustic guitars had good presence and realism.The attack and decay of notes gave a sense of "being there",more so than the regular SRG.

After gathering and noting these impressions I spent more time switched off from appraising the equipment and just listened to the music,an easy thing to do with this amp,it is indeed so musical in itself.I have had the ATCs switched off for a week now and don't feel any withdrawal symptons,that is praise enough !

Two problems now arise,first,I have got to send the SRG II away and I will be sorry to see it go,secondly,what about the "Ultra Linear" Solo,if it is an improvement on this model then I have got to hear it,if there is a Beta test unit of this latest model being offered to forum members then please put my name on the list Graham !

In any event my own regular Solo will be returning to sunny Yorkshire for modification once that service becomes available for either the II or Ultra Linear upgrades.

Thanks to you Graham for the opportunity to hear this super amp it is a credit to your efforts.

Question now is where to send it to......back to Slee HQ or on to another forum member ?