Due to the current fluctuations in exchange rates and the impact of the recession on manufacturers, please regard the prices on this page as ‘guide’ only. If you are interested in the equipment you must contact me for a current price.
Pre-Amps
Power Supplies
Headphone Amps
Individually hand built in the United Kingdom, each Graham Slee pre amp is the accumulation of 25 years research into the art of near perfect electronic sound reproduction.
Extensive quality control systems check each individual model to ensure all parameters (S-N, gain, RIAA accuracy, distortion etc) are as intended.
All models improve with use during the first couple of weeks, revealing more about the music with each consecutive rendition.
Phono Stage Pre-Amps (for Moving Magnet)
Gram Amp 2 Communicator Phono Stage Preamp £159.55
Designed to give above-average performance in a budget to 'mid-fi' system. In a better system it 'punches above its weight' and produces a stereo image with width and depth beyond the speakers and often beyond the boundaries of the listening room!
Intentionally, its gain is slightly on the low side which makes it most suited for use with medium to high output moving magnet cartridges. This also makes it an ideal phono preamp for the DJ whose disco records can give a much higher output - its lower gain means there's less chance of clipping (overload) so higher volumes can be achieved with reduced speaker wear.
This great little phono preamp is purposely made small, lightweight and unobtrusive so it ships relatively cheaply in a tiny package (complete with its external power supply). Its #16 gauge black anodised aluminium case with silvered lettering looks good in any setting, but most of all it makes it possible for this high performance UK made phono preamp to be offered at such a competitive price!
The Gram Amp 2 Communicator phono stage preamp is supplied with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply. It can also be powered by our PSU1 power supply which can be ordered separately
Gram Amp 2 Special Edition Phono Stage Preamp £234.01
A phono stage preamp for moving magnet, high output moving coil and moving iron phono cartridges.
The Gram Amp 2 Special Edition phono stage preamp was first launched in 2001 with a number of improvements over its legendary stable mate, the Gram Amp 2 (now called the Communicator).
The Special Edition of the Gram Amp 2 phono stage preamp features 50 percent more gain to deliver a higher output favoured by owners of passive preamps when using medium to high output (4.5mV or above) moving magnet phono cartridges.
For the 2009/2010 season, the Gram Amp 2 Special Edition phono stage preamp is supplied with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply. It can also be powered by our PSU1 power supply which can be ordered separately.
The Era Gold V £377.10 (£520.80 with PSU1)
The Era Gold V phono stage preamp is for moving magnet, moving iron and high output moving coil phono cartridges in the range 2mV to 10mV.
It is one of the very few phono stage preamps ever to remain in Stereophile magazine's class-A recommended section for four years! It still features as a Stereophile recommended product. It was also Hi-Fi News 2005 award winner along with the Elevator EXP.
A fixed gain RIAA phono stage preamp, the Era Gold V marked a "sea change" in phono stage preamp design. The Era Gold V pushed bandwidth wide open, something phono stage preamps just didn't do! It brought high stability video frequency technology to vinyl to the surprise of many. Musical boundaries were broken down to reveal sound-scapes extending well beyond the listening room! And from normal commercial pressings at that!
It also brought about an understanding about "burn-in" that few hi-fi enthusiasts had known before. Burn-in was well understood by precision ADC (analogue to digital) chip technology engineers early in development history. Common electronic components like resistors had been found to take as long as six months to settle to the point of maximum accuracy. Those reviewers patient enough discovered the secret depths of the Era Gold V phono stage preamp, which after 3 weeks being constantly on, delivered hitherto unknown levels of vinyl musicality.
The Era Gold V, though superseded by the Reflex M (M2) is still available due to popular demand.
Jazz Club Multi-Curve Phono Stage Preamp for moving magnet sensitivity cartridges £674.57 with PSU1
The Jazz Club multi-curve phono stage preamp isn't just for jazz - it's for all records!
This phono stage preamp features a number of different equalization curves in addition to the fixed RIAA curve you get with a regular phono stage preamp.
It's an essential phono stage preamp for the archivist and listeners who play antique records. Its switch-matrix equalisation gives immediate results saving the guesswork of digital manipulation.
More than that, its fast circuit "rides" the clicks: its propagation speed input to output, and negative feedback too, are so fast that clicks and pops are controlled - not exaggerated like with run-of-the-mill phono stage preamps. The result is a reduction of record noise, and for the archivist that means less "cleaning-up".
Add to that the "miraculous" Ear Gold V musicality - the platform on which the Jazz Club is built - and early recordings regain more of the life, colour and sparkle locked in their grooves.
78s were from the pioneering days of the phonograph. Each record label had its own idea as to the best cutting curve and therefore the EQ varied considerably between record labels (and record label alliances). The Jazz Club features eight identified EQ curves for 78 RPM records.
With LPs and EPs (extended play "singles") the story was much the same, but as can be seen by the reduced number of curves, record label EQs were starting to converge.
For today's RIAA LPs and singles (the record industry standard curve officially introduced in 1954) the Jazz Club is sonically identical to the Era Gold V - the only circuit layout difference is that its RIAA de-emphasis components are situated in the EQ switch-matrix.
Even some modern pressings can benefit by applying the 10kHz NAB cut (-16dB) instead of RIAA (-13.7dB) - notably some toppy sounding Tamla Motown and other recordings that are unusually bright. It may not be due to record
The Jazz Club, though superseded by the Revelation phono stage preamp, is still available due to popular demand.
Moving Magnet Cartridges: The Reflex M (M2) £502.72 (£646.43 with PSU1)
Phono stage preamp for moving magnet, moving iron and high-output moving coil phono cartridges in the output range 2 - 10mV.
One of the great innovations that made the Era Gold V phono stage preamp miraculous and the Reflex our next generation of Stereophile "class A" recommended phono stage preamps is their extremely good open loop linearity.
Negative feedback is used in most all amplifier stages to straighten their open-loop distortion, but often lashings of negative feedback has to be used to force them into linear operation. But as tube amp enthusiasts know, lots of negative feedback doesn't do good music.
The Reflex M phono stage preamp is highly linear before negative feedback is applied. The result is an uncanny reality which transports the listener into a very involving musical experience.
For the 2009/2010 season, the Reflex phono stage preamp is offered with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply option. The PSU1 linear power supply option is still also available.
Phono Stage/Phono Preamp for RIAA/78 rpm/Pre-RIAA Vinyl: Revelation M and C Phono Stage Preamps (moving magnet and moving coil versions) £689.88 (£833.60 with PSU1)
Both Revelation phono stage preamps are identical to the original Revelation phono stage preamp with the exception that the Revelation M is now lower noise, and the Revelation C is for moving coil.
- Revelation M phono stage preamp: for moving magnet, high output moving iron and high output moving coil cartridges.
- Revelation C phono stage preamp: for conventional (low) output moving coil cartridges.
The Revelation phono stage preamps build on the sonic strengths of the earlier Jazz Club phono stage preamp.
The different equalisation (EQ) curves for non-RIAA records are selected on a switch-matrix on the front panel. When switched to RIAA for all modern (post 1954) records, the Revelation shares the same performance of its Reflex stable mate.
Like its Jazz Club predecessor the Revelation also "rides" the clicks, reducing surface noise through higher propagation speeds. Apart from badly worn or damaged records, surface noise is relegated to a position well behind the music...
For the 2009/2010 season, the Revelation phono stage preamps can be supplied with a universal-voltage energy-efficient plug mounted power supply. It can also be powered by its original linear PSU1 power supply, and both options are available
Phono Stage Pre-Amps (for Moving Coil)
Gram Amp 3 Fanfare RIAA Phono Stage Preamp £255.30
RIAA phono stage preamp dedicated to moving coil cartridge pre-amplification.
The Gram Amp 3 Fanfare phono stage preamp is a dedicated (fixed gain) conventional output moving coil cartridge phono stage preamp designed for moving coil phono cartridges having outputs in the range 0.3 to 1.2 mV (300 to 1,200 µV). Corresponding output being 240 - 954mV (1kHz reference).
The moving coil phono cartridge is often considered "high-end" so it and the phono stage preamp necessary for its use can be a "purchase too far" for the average vinyl fan.
Today however, there are some excellent "budget" moving coil phono cartridges. There are also budget priced moving coil phono stage preamps, but to be quite blunt, you'd be better-off sticking with moving magnet. The performance of budget moving coil phono stage preamps is often "lack-lustre", either because of cost constraints, or design ineptitude, or poor quality in manufacturing and test, or all three.
The Gram Amp 3 Fanfare phono stage preamp represents the "minima" in cost while giving a real "maxima" in moving coil performance. It's quite amazing considering its budget price tag.
What would you rather have? A bit of hiss as you change records and reduced surface noise with an incredibly good musical performance when you're playing them? Or deathly silence between records and an even more dead sound decorated with clicks and pops?
Developed over a four year period the Gram Amp 3 Fanfare phono stage preamp is a highly stable fast phono stage preamp maintaining acceptably low self noise.
One of the biggest mistakes in any amplifier design, especially phono stage preamp design, is to treat self noise performance (hiss) as the "holy grail", when vinyl noise even on quiet pressings is considerably greater. Too many judge a phono stage preamp on its amount of hiss with no record playing.
The advantage in accepting a slightly higher hiss level, one that's still below the surface hiss of quiet vinyl, is an overall improvement in all aspects of musical performance, but few designers are willing to take such a step because magazine reviewers almost invariably view any audible hiss - even without a record playing - as a negative. The simple fact of physics is that the wide bandwidth required for a convincing musical performance doesn't come in ultra-low noise packages.
The Gram Amp 3 Fanfare approach to hiss versus bandwidth is nothing new to the Graham Slee line-up: all our phono stage preamps err on the wide-band side and obviously because of the physics produce a little hiss, but ask any owner if they'd consider any other brand? The answer will be a quite definite no!
But the really great bit is record noise! Clicks and pops can have a favourite record being allotted to the trash bin - it doesn't have to be like this. Because of how fast or wide-bandwidth a phono stage preamp such as the Gram Amp 3 Fanfare works, the annoying clicks and pops or even the distortion of a high level finale of a well worn record will often go unnoticed.
For the 2009/2010 season (by December 2009), the Gram Amp 3 Fanfare phono stage preamp is supplied with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply. It can also be powered by our PSU1 power supply which can be ordered separately.
Reflex C Moving Coil RIAA Phono Stage Preamp £502.72 (£646.43 with PSU1)
The Reflex C phono stage preamp is our new one box solution for conventional (low) output moving coil cartridges having an output of 0.2 to 1.0 mV.
The NEW Reflex C phono stage preamp is what moving coil cartridges have been waiting for!
Previously only possible with our Elevator EXP/Reflex M combo, the Reflex C brings that missing excitement to moving coil cartridge listening, revealing the secrets hidden in your vinyl - as well as great dynamics, delicacy and just the right amount of warmth. The soundstage is simply spellbinding!
It does what valves (tubes) did so well, but couldn't do with moving coil because of valve noise - the best sounding valve gear was ultra-linear, and we've made ultra-linear possible in solid state.
Imagine a tube/valve solution for moving coil phono stage pre-amplification? If only! Unfortunately tubes/valves don't have the open-loop gain and are too noisy to do moving coil pre-amplification unless you also use a step-up transformer (or even better, our Elevator EXP flat gain step-up stage). But now, with the Reflex C phono stage preamp you can get the sound you're searching for - yes, that illusive tube/valve linearity from solid state!
For the 2009/2010 season, the Reflex C phono stage preamp is offered with a universal-voltage energy-efficient mains plug mounted power supply option. The PSU1 linear power supply option offering an even more dynamic feel is also availabl
Phono Stage/Phono Preamp for RIAA/78 rpm/Pre-RIAA Vinyl: Revelation M and C Phono Stage Preamps (moving magnet and moving coil versions) £689.88 (£833.60 with PSU1)
Both Revelation phono stage preamps are identical to the original Revelation phono stage preamp with the exception that the Revelation M is now lower noise, and the Revelation C is for moving coil.
- Revelation M phono stage preamp: for moving magnet, high output moving iron and high output moving coil cartridges.
- Revelation C phono stage preamp: for conventional (low) output moving coil cartridges.
- They are switchable-equalisation-curve versions of the Reflex M and Reflex C phono stage preamps.
- The Revelation phono stage preamps build on the sonic strengths of the earlier Jazz Club phono stage preamp.
Like its Jazz Club predecessor the Revelation also "rides" the clicks, reducing surface noise through higher propagation speeds. Apart from badly worn or damaged records, surface noise is relegated to a position well behind the music...
For the 2009/2010 season, the Revelation phono stage preamps can be supplied with a universal-voltage energy-efficient plug mounted power supply. It can also be powered by its original linear PSU1 power supply, and both options are available - see prices below
Phono Preamp/Phono Stage Moving Coil Head Amp: Elevator EXP £573.92
The Elevator EXP does just what its name suggests: it elevates the tiny signal from conventional moving coil cartridges to moving magnet level, and at the same time gives it the EXPress Elevator treatment
Owners of our moving magnet sensitivity phono stage preamps and owners of valve (tube) phono stage preamps will need this step-up device between turntable and phono stage preamp to use a moving coil phono cartridge.
The Elevator EXP provides a choice of another six load resistances on its easily understood front panel switch matrix in addition to the standard 100 Ohm moving coil loading. Keen eyed technical observers will note a further two positions are possible on the matrix, these deliver 90 Ohms (left down/right up) and 29 Ohms (left up/right down) which are so close to other values as to be arbitrary - still they may be of use.
PSU1 Linear Audio Power Supply £169.95
The PSU1 is the linear audio power supply supplied with our flagship phono stage preamps and headphone amplifiers.
Safety certified to IEC standard 60950.
The PSU1 linear audio power supply has a stabilized output voltage of +24VDC at a down-rated 200mA. It is available with DC plugs to fit 2.5mm (standard issue) or 2.1mm DC socket pins, and with detachable mains cords to suit UK, European, Australian or USA outlets (specify at time of order).
Two mains voltages are available: 115VAC and 230VAC. They have sufficient latitude to accommodate voltages from 90 - 130VAC and 180 - 260VAC respectively, when powering Graham Slee products.
The PSU1 is designed to be a remote power supply placed well away from sensitive equipment like turntables and cartridges which are susceptible to pick up of stray magnetic fields. For maximum isolation it is best sited off the hi-fi rack.
It uses a specially manufactured mains transformer made using top quality transformer steel thus consuming minimal excitation (core magnetisation) current whilst optimising transformer regulation. A benefit is that it keeps transformer buzz to an absolute minimum which is only audible at very close quarters.
Transformer secondary, rectifier and reservoir capacitor interconnections are kept to the absolute minimum length minimising charging current losses and interactions.
The output is regulated at a stable +24VDC suitable to power all existing Graham Slee audio products featured on this website (In April 2010 an unregulated 30VDC (nom.) output will also be provided for users wishing to use their own regulator).
The PSU1 can be used to upgrade the sound quality - sound-staging, more vivid tonal colour and bass detailing - of Graham Slee phono stage preamps and headphone amplifiers supplied with switch-mode or linear plug-top power supplies. Upgrading to the PSU1 has the effect of taking your Graham Slee phono stage preamp or headphone amplifier to a higher level of musical performance.
Switched Mode Plug Top Power Supply £26.26
The "Green" power supply described on our product pages for use with our budget stages or as entry level option for our flagship products, is a switched mode technology plug-top design.
It complies with EU Eco-design requirements on external power supplies (EPS), as well as many other carbon reduction laws around the world, including Californian CEC. It also complies with safety laws including UL, cUL and CCC.
The power supply itself does not contribute any audio properties - it is the modifications made to our range of products that has made it possible to successfully use low carbon switched-mode power.
Our investigations, which started in 2006, into making highly sensitive audio circuits successfully work on switched-mode power have led to a greater understanding on how to obtain a great sound from our phono stage preamps and headphone amplifiers. Even our highly sensitive moving coil phono stage preamps, the Gram Amp 2 Fanfare, the Reflex and the Revelation C, and the Elevator EXP flat gain moving coil step-up amplifier work without problem and deliver the sort of performance the Graham Slee name is famous for.
As with all our products, the owner requiring a no compromise all-out musical performance, can upgrade to the Graham Slee PSU1 power supply, although, because it is linear, it is not as efficient and therefore not as carbon friendly.
The "Green" power supply is self adjusting to mains voltages around the world and supplied with the appropriate plug-head to fit UK, European, Australian or US power outlets.
Its efficiency is due to it operating at an ultrasonic frequency instead of the mains frequency. This means it can use a tiny transformer for a similar amount of power as a much larger conventional transformer.
They produce a very quiet whining noise instead of the buzz you hear close up to a conventional transformer, which although won't be heard normally, may be sensed in a very silent room. However, those seeking a no compromise power supply, will choose our PSU1.
The "Green" power supply along with some of our earlier linear plug-top power supplies are the only products in our range not manufactured by us.
Headphone Amplifiers
Solo SRG II Headphone Amplifier £377.10 (£520.80 with PSU1)
The latest edition of our flagship Solo headphone amplifier - the SRGII (Studio Reference Green MK II) puts a real life force behind the music.
The Solo SRG II headphone amplifier combines conventional negative feedback with line driver load sensing to exert greater control over your headphones where it is needed.
It therefore reduces or eliminates altogether the comb-filter effect most headphone impedance curves exhibit in the upper midrange and treble frequencies. It also ensures correct matching with the widest range of headphones and overcomes cable capacitance and inductance problems which could otherwise strip the music of its airy qualities and sound staging. The Solo SRG II headphone amplifier does everything better as well as giving a more weighty bass.
The Solo SRG II headphone amplifier has two line level inputs and a front panel input selector with centre off. It is housed in a strong anodized aluminium eurocard style enclosure. The volume control also acts as sensitivity adjuster and therefore the full rotation can be used (see further explanation below). The Solo SRG II headphone amplifier is suitable for use with headphone impedances from 16 Ohms to 600 Ohms.
Headphone Matching, Suitability and Volume Control Settings
The Solo SRG II is designed to work, and self adjust, on two different input levels (in either switch position): 1] professional (unbalanced) 0dB: 775mV, where its output is to drive 600 Ohm headphones for certain studio applications, and 2] domestic -10dB (DIN): 250mV, where its output is to drive 32 Ohm headphones. In either mode of use it will return virtually identical output power as well as similar sound pressure levels with identical headphone sensitivities.
In typical usage however, it will be used with different headphone impedances in the range 16 - 600 Ohms, having quite different headphone sensitivities (SPL), and input levels between 250mV and 1V. This gives a number of permutations which could not be covered with a gain setting switch, and instead, the Solo SRG II uses a combination of IEC/DIN 61945 headphone amplifier output "matching system" with an accurate Alps volume control which is used over its entire range to accommodate such widely differing conditions of use.
As such the user may find the ideal volume control position required for his/her listening tastes considerably different to that of a hi-fi amplifier. The left-right track matching of the volume control is adjusted by Alps, its manufacturer, for best channel balance between its 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock settings and as such when set for zero volume some residual signal may be heard on one channel and not the other - this is normal and part of the volume control design.
Novo Discrete Solid-State Headphone Amplifier £255.30
Award winning discrete transistor headphone amplifier.
The Novo headphone amplifier beat the similarly priced Lehmann Rhinelander, Creek OBH-21SE and Project Headbox SEII headphone amplifiers in the April 2009 What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Group Test..
Not only would you expect such a great sounding headphone amplifier to cost considerably more, you'd think a discrete transistor headphone amp should be in the highest echelons of price! But as many more people are finding from Graham Slee, good old down to earth honesty is the name of the game.
The Novo headphone amplifier has a single chained phono (RCA) jack input allowing you to drive it from your favourite music source and then run another interconnect on to your main amplifier. It can also be fed from a preamp output or recording output.
Dynamic headphones of between 16 Ohms and 600 Ohms are driven to similar volume levels and the full rotation of the volume control can be used to make up for differences in headphone sensitivities.
With very sensitive headphones the Novo headphone amplifier volume control should be used with care to avoid hearing damage.
Voyager Portable Headphone Amplifier £192.51
The shirt/blouse pocket sized Voyager portable headphone amplifier makes music on the move a whole new experience. Capable of projecting an airy musical outside your head performance using good headphones the Voyager portable headphone amplifier can even make cheap headphones sound good: its contour switch compensates for the limited tonal range of lightweight street-wear headphones making them sound like real hi-fi headphones. From the moment of your first listen you will never want to travel without it.
Running on a single 9 volt "E-cell", the Voyager portable headphone amplifier has a long battery life: usually lasting a month of average usage at good volume levels - and on occasion 3 months! This is because it uses a low loss battery polarity-protection system leaving more power for your music. When at home or at work it can borrow power from your computer USB port* or be powered from its mains adapter (supplied). Laptop users on the move can also make use of the USB* power facility, thus preserving battery power.
Rechargeable 9 volt batteries charged on a separate charger may also be used.
The Voyager portable headphone amplifier uses noiseless DC to DC conversion to increase the 5 volt USB voltage to 9 volts ensuring no loss of level when powered from USB.
Stereo input and headphone output are on high quality Jalco 3.5mm jacks. The volume control is a high quality all metal Alps miniature "velvet" potentiometer of similar construction to the Alps AC27/30 often found on really expensive amplifiers, but a whole lot smaller. Switches are also by Alps - known for their precision. A clear low noise red LED warns you when the Voyager is switched on, helping you to conserve battery power.
The Voyager portable headphone amplifier case is made of durable precision machined textured ABS, featuring a black and silver anodised aluminium fascia plate carrying the necessary functional markings. A clip on cover securely holds the battery within its hard wearing foam lining.
Each Voyager portable headphone amplifier is individually hand built in Britain by time served engineers and fully specification tested to ensure perfect operation. The circuit uses conventional through-hole non-surface mount components to help achieve its excellent and airy sound quality making it unique amongst miniature headphone amplifiers.
