Electro Stimulation Ward > Signals and Noise

New Grover IC impressions (August 2007 graphite version)

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LKdog:
Thought maybe it would be useful to start a separate thread on the new Grover IC's.
If that is not OK, mods can remove.

My first comments:


1) Pretty detailed and open which is a positive
2) Kind of edgy and forward-not so positive
3) Nice build quality

I am guessing they go through some changes for awhile.
I have about 36 hours on them right now.

How long for break in?

Any other comments welcome!

Carlman:
I just plugged in my new graphite IC's... replacing the previous all-white versions... Once they get a few hours on them, I'll swap in the older white ones and make some comparion notes.  At the moment, they sound pretty good to me... but yesterday I was at a 6-hour speaker, amp, preamp, dac, and cable comparison... with speakers that are a lot more forward than my own... So, they sound pretty relaxed at the moment. ;)

lonewolfny42:

--- Quote ---Once they get a few hours on them, I'll swap in the older white ones and make some comparion notes.
--- End quote ---
Great.....I still have mine from the first Group Buy...I've not updated them yet. Thanks....

Carlman:
I was on a roll for the past hour or 2 and compared:
Grovers newest to the previous version (the ones with white techflex and white shrinktube; forever called 'ww' to me now vs. 'graphite' for the new version.)
Grover's ww's to JPS labs IC's (don't know which one, they're purple and have '3' in the name)
JPS Labs to Reality Cables
Audience Au24 to JPS Labs
Reality Cables to Audience Au24
Grover's graphites to Reality Cables

I like them all but each one does its own thing well.  Here's a brief summary:
Audience is best at pace/timing, also does imaging well
JPS Labs has great instrument separation and realistic vocals.. Imaging is very good too.
Reality Cables have great decay and realistic mid details, good imaging
Grover's ww's are great at a fairly neutral and detailed presentation
Grover's graphites ruthlessly reveal upper mid and high details, but these really need a lot more break-in.

In my system I use:
McIntosh MC220 preamp
McIntosh MC402 amp
Audio PC
Scott Nixon's latest uber-DAC
Reality Cables for SC's
Dedicated outlet to RSA Haley
All preamps and sources powered by Haley
All power cords are Black Sand Cable

I'll play around with these a bit more and come up with better character descriptions. 

Thanks,
Carl

LKdog:
I updated my signature to list my two channel system.
In general this setup is very slightly on the warm side of neutral as a reference or baseline to
my comments on the Grovers.

Looking forward to what people experience with these IC's.

-Tony

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