Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Graham Slee Projects Amp 3 Fanfare/Amp 2 SE Phono Preamp by Opus 104

Model:	Amp 3 Fanfare/Amp 2 SE
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$475/410
Description:	A dedicated MC preamp and a MM/HOMC preamp
Manufacturer URL:	Graham Slee Projects

Review by Opus 104 on July 11, 2010 at 07:40:35
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for the Amp 3 Fanfare/Amp 2 SE

These two phono preamps definitely share a "house sound." I would characterize that sound as on the warm side of neutral with solid, authoritative bass, a lush midrange and smooth highs with just a trace of reticence at the very top.
These preamps are detailed, but don't scream the detail, just present it in a natural way.
The MC Fanfare has sufficient gain for all of my LO MCs. I used the Uwe ebony body DL-103 and the Dynavector 20XL for most of my audition.
The MM Amp 2 SE was paired with a Shure Ultra 500 with Jico SAS stylus and an ADC XLM MKII with NOS eliptical stylus.
There's a definite advantage to two separate dedicated phono preamps. I can have both of my main tables connected and ready to go.
On to spoecifics. Up first, the Amp 3 Fanfair/DL-103 combo playing Linda Ronstadt's "Heart Like A Wheel" (Cisco re-issue). Bass is deep and controlled on "You're No Good." Highs are smooth and, again, natural. Cymbals have a quick attack and natural decay. My two favorite cuts are on side 2, "Willin'" and the LP ending James Taylor cover of "You Can Close Your Eyes." Vocals on these two are startlingly real. She is in the room with you. The Grahams bring this out.
The Amp 2 SE/ADC XLM combo is a bit warmer on this LP, but in no way soft or bloated. Maybe richer is a better word.
Next up, one of my regular "test" LPs, the original MCA pressing of Steely Dan's "Gaucho." The Amp 3/Dyna combo really cooked on this one. "Babylon Sisters" and "Hey, Nineteen" had that famnous drive and snap.
Now, about noise. Most of the negative comments I've seen about these two preamps have been regarding noise and I'll grant neither are as quiet as my Musical Surroundings Phonomena II preamp. But, at the same time, the noise was never obtrusive or evem noticable in normal use. Only in a dead quiet room with the volume cranked way up and no signal present could I hear any hiss, and then only right at the speaker locations, never at my listening chair.
And the Graham's combination of richness, smoothness and natural detail far outweighed any noise considerations.
So, final decision time. For me, the strengths of these two Graham preamps far outweighed any weaknesses and they will replace my Phonomena II as my everyday phono preamps. Highly recommended.

Product Weakness:	Just a tad reluctant at the top of the top octave, taking a bit of shimmer from percussion.
Product Strengths:	Bandwidth, strong bass, rich midrange, smooth highs with natural detail. Wide, bit not too deep soundstage. Quick and dynamic.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: PS Audio Trio C-100 integrated
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Thorens TD-150/Technics SL-1600 MKII
Speakers: Magnestand modded Magnepan MMGs.
Cables/Interconnects: All Cardas ICs/AQ Type 4 speaker cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock/Linda Ronstadt and Steely Dan
Room Size (LxWxH): 16 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Counterpoint PAC-15
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): Home

Amplifier:	PS Audio Trio C-100 integrated
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Thorens TD-150/Technics SL-1600 MKII
Speakers:	Magnestand modded Magnepan MMGs.
Cables/Interconnects:	All Cardas ICs/AQ Type 4 speaker cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock/Linda Ronstadt and Steely Dan
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Counterpoint PAC-15
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Home