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During the course of this review over many weeks, I have adjusted the components and cabling to keep improving the sound quality. What we have today, is what I would class as a ‘perfect' headphone based audiophile system.
While many people will argue about component selection, we all have a very individual view on what we expect from the reproduction of music. Those people for instance with slight hearing problems may very well aim for a sharper sound, and change cabling or amplifier to suit. What I have built for the review today has been carefully selected to give the finest sound quality from the Grado Professional Series 1000 headphones, but with a sweet, well rounded, fully bodied range of textures.
This would have been impossible without the Graham Slee Solo Super Ultra Linear Amplifier. This amplifier is a work of art, which significantly outclasses what we would assume possible from the very modest asking price. I am absolutely stunned that a large corporation hasn't offered to give Graham an extraordinary amount of money for his amplifier configurations. An engineer from South Yorkshire in England is managing to outperform organisations with infinitely more cash for research and development. While I don't know the man on a personal level it certainly appears to me that he is not in this for the money, but to push the digital audio platform into a warmer, more enlightening and enjoyable era. For those of you who yearn for a warmer sound from your collection, then this amplifier could very well be the miracle cure.
When this amplifier is combined with a high quality CD player and interconnect, the PS 1000 headphones literally have blown me away. The GS1000i is a marvellous headphone, which I thought was impossible to outperform. I was wrong, because once the PS1000 headphones are fully bedded in, they have more bass depth and a slightly more focused midrange, without a little ‘dip' in the frequency range. It would have been impossible for me to pick up on this slight weakness until fully experiencing the PS1000's.
I find it somewhat appealing that such an elusive and emotionally charged listening experience can come from the pairing of several family run businesses, rather than the merging of billion dollar corporations. Many say that true genius comes from an ultimate passion for the product, rather than trying to brainwash the public with an expensive marketing plan.
I have driven a Carl Fogarty Ducati 996 replica around the Nurburgring, I have dated many pretty ladies and I have travelled the world. I can also now add ‘ultimate musical experience' to the list of things I have achieved.
This setup I reviewed today can be bought online from various dealers for around £3,000. As a long term investment it is worth every penny.
Visit the websites of the companies involved – Grado // Graham Slee // Roksan.
KitGuru says: Astonishing sound quality, and it won't cause you to remortgage the house either.
Give me a break !
Do you need any reviewers? 🙂 please ?
I read KitGuru daily, I wanted to add that I think these reviews are great and I enjoy reading them. I am an audio fanatic and have been for 30 years now. My naim setup has cost me an arm and a leg and I have never adopted CD yet due to the harshness Zardon describes. This was a very enlightening and entertaining review and thoroughy enjoyable. You have made me want to try this setup and also pick up mike oldfieldds remastered discs
Finally, I was getting disheartened trying to find a decent review of this amplifier and today I find one.
Do you think the amplfier works well with Sennheiser I have HD650 headphones, not the 800’s. whats your views on this pairing? I use chord cables also, as I think they are lovely and warm? views?
Grado are spectacular. I have a set of their 125’s and love them. they come from New York too, so im biased :p
Someone who has a taste for classical music ! so uncommon on sites such as this. I normally read reviews of headphone and speakers tests with some 18 year old reviewer using his oasis 160kbit mp3 compressed recordings of wonderwall as a guideline.
refreshing, well written and inciteful. thank you.
Any idea if Graham slee export their amps to USA?
Been hearing a lot of good things about Graham slee on forums. But 600 is more than my cd player and headphones put together
Chrome finish? Bet that’s a total nightmare to keep clean, looks great mind you. Like the Harley of the phone world.
I need to contact Graham Slee and see if he can ship to Australia. I hate the sound of my headphone amplifier.
I also need to look at Grado phones, but probably something like the RS1. these are out of my price bracket.
what a brilliant idea and pairing of equipment. never heard of graham slee, but he seems active on his forums which is a nice thing to see.
Those headphones are works of art !
I have heard the Ps1000 headphones in a studio environment. they are mindblowing, but extremely difficult to power correctly. very demanding of the partnering equipment.
That Graham Slee amplifier has a hell of a wide support range.
Well I have eyeing these headphones now for a long time and this review just made me bite the bullet and hit the credit card. I only got them yesterday so I’ll let you know how it goes over the next few weeks. Thanks for answering my emails zardon you were a lot of help.
Could you please tell me the difference between the Graham Slee Ultra Linear and Ultra Linear de? Thanks you.
I love the new vented diaphragm!