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 We've heard it - believe the hype. Where to start? How many of us listen to our mp3 players, ipods, mobile phones or whatever mobile music devices with those tiny headphones supplied? If you've an interest in hi fi, you have probably upgraded the supplied headphones to something better already, you might have experimented with lossless technologies to maximise the quality of the sound you enjoy and so on. Now, you can take a massive step with the Voyager headphone amplifier. And we mean massive. The portable Voyager Headphone Amp is made for use on the move. Pair it with one of our purpose designed interconnects and the Voyager will take you on a voyage to audio heaven! You simply plug your player into the Voyager (you need a suitable lead for this purpose - see our Audio Elevation i-lead) then your headphones into the Voyager then sit down and place your chin gently on the floor. That's what will happen when you realise just how big your tiny "street" 'phones can sound with the fantastic Voyager. Proper hi fi on the move at last. And it's designed to fit in your shirt pocket. Measured against the new "Classic" ipod, the ipod almost "sits" on top of the Voyager snugly (use a tasteful elastic band like we do to hold them together!). Roughly the same weight too, so you won't feel weighed down at all. Powered by the PP3 9v battery (supplied fitted), you can expect around 50 hours' use before replacement is needed. But, read on as there are other power options which will make the effective life seem much longer. PC use? There's a USB input so sit down at your computer, plug into an unused USB socket and the Voyager is powered by the USB, saving battery life. Imagine, proper hi fi at the computer. Nice.
Make no mistake, this is a proper headphone amplifier that you can use with your home audio system. Yes, you get a plug top mains supply and really can have a proper headphone amplifier in your main system that you simply take with you when you go out (just like your ipod). Again, you are saving the battery whilst it's at home. The Voyager is designed to work with most headphones, whatever the size/impedence. We've heard it using Grado and Sennheisers as well as earbud 'phones and it's stunning with everything you plug into it. A nice touch is the contour switch, supplied to make your earbuds sound massive. You will not believe the bass capabilities. People are ordering these like crazy so don't delay. Treat yourself and take that next hi fi upgrade step. The Graham Slee brand speaks for itself and many are simply buying on the strength of that - after all, it's handmade in England by engineers. Need we say more. Now available is our own Audio Elevation i-lead - a 3.5mm jack to 3.5mm jack lead just 100mm in length and designed specifically to go between your mp3 player and the Voyager. And, what's more, if you buy at the same time as you order the Voyager, we'll give you a fiver off the price. Details can be found here. A bargain upgrade just got cheaper and you owe it to yourself to have the best, don't you?! |
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Dimensions: L. 12.5 W. 6.7 H. 2.8 (cm)
Weight: 180 grams approx. (700 grams with plug top PSU)
Case colour: Black
Case material: ABS and Polyester
Battery life: 50 hours continuous play, 2-3 weeks average usage
Output: 12mW rms into 32 Ohms, 10mW rms into 600 Ohms
Frequency Response: Flat: 5Hz to 70kHz (-3dB), Contour: +10dB at 45Hz and 20kHz
Channel Balance: 0.5dB*
Hum & Noise: -94dB CCIR Q-pk 20Hz-20kHz, <-100dB "A" curve weighted
Stereo Crosstalk: -52dB
Distortion (THD+Noise): at 80Hz: 0.03%, at 1kHz: 0.03%, at 5.6kHz: 0.05%, at 16kHz: 0.13%
Power sources: Battery, 9V (MN1604; 6LR61), USB 5V via "mini-B" (internal analogue voltage conversion to 9VDC), AC/DC mains adapter 12-24V DC, (polarity protection on each)
* = typical
This is my daily companion, along with the Classic ipod 160 Gb and Sennheiser CX500 earbuds (see separate review). All tracks on the ipod are in lossless format.
You don't buy the Voyager for its looks! It's the sound that matters. Face it, the Voyager is going to be in your pocket (where your mp3 player will be too). In my coat pocket, I can operate by feel the volume, power, contour etc. so it's not a problem at all. In fact, I like to see everyone else with their "standard" mp3 player and "standard" (awful) ipod headphones and feel smug in the knowledge that they don't know what I have in my pocket (!!) and are missing out on so much.
Sound is a revelation when compared to your mp3 player alone. More power, more control, more clarity, more detail, don't make me go on...ok and the bass...you won't believe the bass - it's the most dramatic difference in my view.
Decent headphones soon find themselves on your shopping list as you realise there is more to come.
We're working on an ipod lead - dock connector to 3.5mm lead - a further major upgrade. Our suppliers are working on something really amazing and I'm guinea pig for prototypes. So far, the sound is superb but it's a harsh environment and reliability is the issue. Once we have perfected it, this will form part of our own Audio Elevation range so keep watching! NOTE: this is our i-lead product, now in full production and selling fast.
Enjoy the Voyager on the move but don't forget you can use it at home too. Unless you can afford the Solo, the Voyager makes an extremely competent home headphone amplifier. When compared to the built in headphone output of most amplifiers, this will blow them away.
You owe it to yourself to get a Voyager as soon as possible.
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| Product reviews |
| Rating: Good Comments: Hello Ian, The Voyager has bloomed and is a real pleasure. It makes my little Senn PX-100 sound a lot like one of the bigger models (imaging, richness, detail). A class act! Thanks for all your help in getting this little gem to me. Submitted by: Jerome Lutzker on 29/05/2008 19:21:52 |
| Rating: Good Comments: I purchased the voyager and i-lead in early January 2009. I use them most days (approx 3hrs a day) and i am still on the supplied battery! The voyager makes my ipod sound fuller and more detailed and it will go to higher volumes than the ipod would without any loss to the sound. The sound is warm and in many ways it makes you feel that you have much higher quality headphones than you are using (i use it to trsvel with px200's). The beauty of this amp is that it improves all headphones from cheap street headphones to hi-fi cans - i love playing my ipod through the voyager to Grado SR60's - now thats listening! The only slight negative is the voyager will not fit easily in a trouser pocket with an ipod but i always take a shoulder bag when travelling anyway. Also let them run in for a couple of days then thay will be right on song. All in all, a quality product at a highish price - but hey, there's nothing like knowing that you've got the best! Submitted by: Richard Field on 23/05/2009 01:01:46 |
| Rating: Good Comments: This portable headphone amp is `jaw dropping` - elevating the ipod sound to a hifi experience on the move. Stop trying to get headphones that make your ipod sound better, beleive me buy a Voager. Ken Submitted by: ken barrett on 23/07/2009 12:57:33 |
| Rating: Good Comments: Bought the full set up - Voyager,iLead and Sendstation Line Out USB and am impressed with the results. High res mp3s played through this are very listenable and elevates the 'standard' ipod play back to a new level. Performance is boosted across the board. A great set of products and good service. Submitted by: Ian Threadgold on 20/08/2009 18:58:59 |
| Rating: Good Comments: Have been trying all kinds of combinations with the Voyager which I've very happily enjoyed for a year now. The headphone/earphone out from the Ipod Classic just doesn't have enough oomph (nor volume) for me so a portable amp it was. From there I've used the I-Lead and latterly the I-Basso connector courtesy of Audio Elevation both of which connect via the Ipod lineout dock. Both excellent quality leads though I would say the I-Basso offers more flexibility when you've got your Voyager strapped to your Ipod for use when exercising. I used the I-Lead very happily for a year but then encountered a problem because of the tight turn required in the stiffish, sturdy cable when looping it back round parallel in a confined space ie cable coming out of the lineout dock and then looping back tightly into the Voyager line-in. The I-Basso is just less stiff/more flexible to bend back on itself without stress on the connections. IEM's a different proposition (to complete the package). Have been using Ultimate Ears Super Fi 5 Pros and the Triple Fi 10's - both excellent for separation but even with Voyager, bass can be elusive unless you get the Comply foam tips and make a perfect seal. Otherwise they just sound too toppy. Have just though switched to Sennheiser IE8 (don't be tempted by the cheap versions on ebay, they're impressive looking fakes) and while they don't quite have the same separation as UE IEMs they have excellent soundstage and apocalyptic bass - too much in fact when using the super-seal foam Comply tips - you either need to loosen the seal or use the silicone tips. Voyaager, I-Lead, I-Basso connector though all highly recommended. Submitted by: Chris Skudder on 21/02/2010 20:15:16 |
| Rating: Good Comments: £175 for a little black plastic box that only does one thing might seem a bit excessive but the sound quality makes it worth every penny. Voyager is a wonderfully clean-sounding, musical and transparent amplifier. Good recordings can sound holographic, but Voyager is amazingly engaging even with low-quality sources and recordings. Drives low-impedance cans with ease. Plenty of juice to reach a satisfying listening level with no hint of strain. Battery lasts for months. I've never regretted buying mine - it brings endless mobile listening pleasure long after the price is forgotten. If you enjoy portable music then don't hesitate. Submitted by: SW on 25/02/2010 23:10:38 |
| Rating: Good Comments: Graham Slee Voyager review. Graham Slee Voyager, portable headphone amplifier. Audio-technica ATH-M50 headphones. iPod120GB (5th or 6th gen.). Sendtation PocketDock line-out mini USB adapter. Audio elevation iLead. After around five years using the Bang & Olufsen A8 clip-on type earphones, it was about time to upgrade my portable listening. I had long since decided to find a good portable headphone amp and managed to listen to a few different models including an iQube V2, iBass D4 and a HeadAudio amp that I cannot recall the name of. I spent a few hours going over discussions and reviews on the HiFi forums and various blogs that I could find. The more I read about the Voyager and Graham Slee products in general the more intrigued I became, the Voyager was not the cheapest of the bunch, but then again, in HiFi terms, it represented a lot of bang-per-buck. Headphones I considered were the Sennheiser HD25, Beyer T50p and the B&W P5. After listening to the B&W P5, I wer on the verge of buying that until a friend that is a sound engineer at Denmarks Radio, said that I should try a headphone that he had been using at work. That turned out to be the Audio Technica ATH M50, I were sold, it was better in every respect to what I had heard in the B&W and miles ahead of my old B&O A8, it was also a reasonable price. I really like a wide variety of music, but my preferred listening tends to be Blues, especially acoustic blues, I also like rock that is driven by a strong bass line and good percussion sections. The Voyager has been burnt in by setting my iTunes library to shuffle the 9000 track library and hooked upto the headphones playing at a high, but not deafening, level. I am now onto my fourth battery so it must be around the 150 - 200 hour mark I put together a playlist with music (All ripped to AIFF 48k 16bit) to do some listening…. Into the Mystic – Van Morrison. The voyager pushed this track along with great clarity, the bass guitar can be heard holding the music at a good pace. The horns are crisp without being too harsh. New York sessions 67 - Van Morrison. Van Morrison at what I think was his peak. Vans vocals stand out with the passion that is easy to hear with this combination of Voyager & ATH M50. It is also fun to hear the American influence with the Mowtown style backing singers, and the fact that the studio engineers are quite willing to let the tapes roll whilst the musicians are clearly just having a blast… Down in the hole – John Campbell. This track is all about bass guitar and the powerful, gritty voice that John has. I can only remember hearing this track with more presence on a very high end system that cost well over £60,000. The Voyager & ATH M50s create a real depth and presence to this track that it deserves. The Trinity Session – The Cowboy Junkies. This is one of my all time favorites Cds. It was recorded in a small church in downtown Toronto. Again the Voyager produced a very solid and realistic soundstage. The atmosphere of the session and the environment can easily be heard along with instruments being moved or placed on stands. Bang Bang – Kira. Rock from a great vocalist with a gritty, down to earth voice that works well with a good rhythm section and some good lead guitar solos. Cold sweat – Kira. Another track from Kira. This the amp / headphone combo really does transport me back to the front row of a smallish venue in Copenhagen, with the bass being strong enough to feel the music without overpowering the character of the vocals. Walk on – Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry. Acoustic guitar, Harmonica and vocals from a duo that influenced more that one-generation. I have heard this Album many times, on many different systems, but so far this is by far the most engaging an FUN way to listen to these wonderful musicians. There is no shrillness or lack of bass that make it just works. Driftin Blues – Eric Clapton. This is a recording from his time with John Mayall. Another firm favorite. The feeling of being at the concert is very real, the only thing lacking is physical effect of the bass guitar & drums, turning up the volume produces a well balanced sound that, with a little good will and a couple of whiskeys produces the feeling of bass…. I could go on and on…. This combo of Amp / Headphone has me finding new nuances in the music that I know well, much of the time it is like hearing a fantastic LP from a band that you had never heard of before and wondering how you had missed such a great band… I have found myself not only going back to my favorite Lps, but also finding out that lots of those Lps that never really got much playing are being listened to with renewed enthusiasm. As you can guess, I REALLY like this combo. Regarding the Amp itself, it was delivered with 2 scratches on the back, not really a sound issue, it just pissed me off somewhat. The plastic case probably is very hardwearing, but I am sure some potential buyers are put-off by it. I think a rubberized covering would be an improvement in use as well as appreance. The Contour / Flat switch is now more or less permanently on Flat, although there are a few recordings that benefit from the contour. I found that before the burn-in the contour was used rather more, I am sure that I still have some way before the burn-in is complete. Regarding the switches in general, they both perform flawlessly, I would however prefer another method, maybe something along the lines of the wonderful volume control, this has the feel of a finely engineered piece of kit. In general, I think if Graham could persuade Apple to stock this amp on their store it would be an instant hit, although they might ask a certain Mr Ive (another Brit.) to give it a quick cosmetic once over…. As proof of my appreciation for Mr Slees fine engineering and audio talents, I will be in the very near future putting together a home Headphone system with his Ultra Linear at the core…. Happy listening Mike Devlin Submitted by: Mike on 16/08/2010 11:59:46 |
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