[Airborn]

Eric,
PM answered, before I saw your other posts.

[DeeCee]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but anybody ever hear the Gram Amp 3 (the LOMC phono pre)???

This popped up on my radar a week or so ago and it has just about the PERFECT form factor as my old phono pre is fine for MM but just doesn't have quite the right "oomph" for LOMC (high hum & noise).

This one is so new, there is very little on it...

Thanks,
DeeCee

[Scott F.]

I've got one in house burning in. Guessing, I should have the article complete and up for publication sometime early fall.

[DeeCee]

Cool.  Can't wait to check it out! 

(You can always drop a hint like "This could be the new SOTA of LOMC phon pre's!" or "Gee, this really sucks!"). 

What cart are you checking it out on?

- DeeCee

[Scott F.]

...well....without divulging too much I can say that my initial impressions of the 3 is much like the rest of Grahams gear, very good. When it comes to carts it will be a variety, Dynavector, Music Maker, an odd Shure or two and a Van Den Hul modified Spectral. I'll see if I can't get my hands on another couple of low outputs between now and then. I'll be sure to include a comparison to the old GramAmp 2, the Jazz Club and the new Era Gold Reflex.

[DeeCee]

If you can pull a Benz Micro Gold outta your hat I wouldn't complain...  aa

Cheers,
- DeeCee

[eric the red]

I just upgraded to the PSU-1 with my Amp 2 SE.  This just may be my last phono stage as it REALLY rocks now... 

[TheChairGuy]

I just upgraded to the PSU-1 with my Amp 2 SE.  This just may be my last phono stage as it REALLY rocks now... 

Just remember this statement is chronicled for all eternity on the internet now 

Glad to hear you're loving life and your vinyl 

[DeeCee]

...pulled the trigger on the Gram Amp 3 (got a deal on a demo unit).

So hopefully this will re-spark an increased vinyl playback.

Will let you know general impressions after warmup.

- DeeCee

[eric the red]

If it makes you feel any better-I haven't turned my cdp on in a month...

[DeeCee]

Not too sure if it does make me feel better... Just another source to make my
income disappear!

Heh,
DeeCee

(I guess it beats booze, gambling and loose women... at least that's what I'm sure my wife would say!)

[DeeCee]

Today was the first time I played a CD since I got the Gram Slee 3, so I thought it would be a good time good to let folks know my general impresssions on the Gram so far...

Config: VPI HW-19Jr/Rega RB-300/Benz Micro Gold - Sonic Euphoria PLC - Aragon 4004 Mk II - Aerial Acoustics 7 (originals - not 7B)

Took a little time to get all the nasty hum/hiss outta the system - this seems to be due to cable shielding/location (time to rewire the tonearm with Cardas???).

Finally I was able to nearly eliminate it totally (after about 45-60 minutes of futzing around).

Out of the box it was relatively flat and compressed dynamically so I let run and run for several hours.

After a later serious review... hmmm ... still kinda dull.

Then I had an inspiration - played the Cardas sweep record and Voila! Instant life and dynamics! I should have thought of that in the first place.

It presented a nice wide stage and rendered my vinyl collection listenable again.

Its presentation is solid, non-flashy and honest - solid bass and well presented highs. The mids are true to form.

My main beef (so far) is that there could be a little more dynamic range, however the unit is still breaking in and the only noteworthy comparison that I have made in the phono pre department was the phono portion of the Juicy Music Blueberry (Tercel extreme equivalent) - which waaayyy outpaced it (then again it was over double the price).

The Slee is no giant killer but a very nice performer (and it helped that I got a really nice deal pricewise).

I would guess that the optional Power Supply Unit would add that missing portion of "oomph" that I would like (I never met a jacked up power supply that did not bring a noteworthy audible postive change to any of my system components).

I'm sure it is still breaking in and will probably get even better (especially since I was unable to listen too much as of late).

Very happy listening to the licorice platters again and well worth the cost of admission!

- DeeCee