My Grover linestage arrived yesterday

[cwon]

Grover shipped my linestage just before he went on vacation and it arrived two days later. It sounds (or doesn't sound) great.

It's open, quiet, fast as anything, harmonically rich from top to bottom, detailed without added edge, dynamic...what more can I say?

It's 1 3/4" tall and 17 1/4" wide and weighs about nothing; the face plate reminds me of the black slab in 2001 - real minimal without lettering - it almost disappears in my stack. All the indicators are handwritten by Grover on the back or bottom of the chassis. Also signed by Grover, like his cables. Cool.

I've been listening to Steve's BLUE by Joni Mitchell lately to adjust my setup and inserting the Grover was sort of revelatory. Everything opened up and I could hear deeper into what was going on. On other discs, I kept hearing low level things that I didn't hear before, and these details added to the richness of the arrangements without sticking out in an exaggerated way.

I don't know how many of these Grover intends to build, but if you were thinking about it, I'd say see if you can still get one. If you think about the price before the first disc is done playing, it'll be something like, "Did I get a steal or what?". And you won't need to tube roll your preamp anymore.

Thanks Steve and Grover.

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

CONGRATS! :cheers: Ya sound very pleased.

Do ya have a picture of your rig that ya can post?

Thanks,
Jeffrey :)

[audio]

Yeah, I would love to see a photo also. If you are so inclined, I would REALLY love to see a photo of the inside/guts without the cover on.

[Cliff]

Well, could you just send the whole unit to me, so I can inspect it more closely :D

[Ron Stone]

You know, if you leave a key under the welcome mat, you'll never get locked out. You should do that before leaving for work tomorrow.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Cliff
Well, could you just send the whole unit to me, so I can inspect it more closely :D

Hey Cliff,

Would ya do the same w/ the unit in your avatar so i can inspect it more closely! :D

-Jeffrey

[Cliff]

If I had the unit in my Avatar Jeffrey, do you think I would have any time to be browsing/posting here :D

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Cliff
If I had the unit in my Avatar Jeffrey, do you think I would have any time to be browsing/posting here :D

Hi Cliff,

NO....... i think you're far to smart to miss out on that! :)

OTOH, Grant claims to have a similar unit and he LIVES here! :D

-Jeffrey

[Cliff]

Originally posted by Jeffrey


Hi Cliff,

NO....... i think you're far to smart to miss out on that! :)

OTOH, Grant claims to have a similar unit and he LIVES here! :D

-Jeffrey

Hmmm, Jeffrey. And where is it that Grant lives? :D

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Cliff


Hmmm, Jeffrey. And where is it that Grant lives? :D

Hi Cliff,

Given his 12,000 posts, it must be in SH's TVland! :D

-Jeffrey

[Clay]

CWON, What are you doing for LPs and a phono amp?

[msimonov]

Could you post any pictures of this line stage ?

~Mikhail

[cwon]

This is the Grover on my rack. The columns on the left are Argent Roomlens.

[cwon]

This is the Grover with the hood popped. Check the tiny tubes on the left.

[cwon]

This is the rear of the Grover with his signature and handwritten indicators.
Clay, I don't have an LP set up at the moment, although I still have my favorite LPs.

[Jamie Tate]

So, what's it got in way of inputs and outputs? I know they're all customized but what are we looking at?

7 inputs and 2 sets of outputs? Any tape loops?

What are the knobs for? Volume and input?

What about tube color? How much does it have?

[Jeffrey]

Hey Jamie,

Do ya have any questions? :D

-Jeffrey

[cwon]

5 line level inputs, 2 outputs, 1 tape loop.
Front panel, left to right, toggle stereo/mono, selector knob, toggle tape/source, ganged volume knob, toggle power with LED indicator.
6 of the tiny tubes, I don't remember what color.
Detachable power cable. I asked for a polarity switch, so that's the toggle on the back next to the IEC jack.

[Cliff]

Originally posted by Jeffrey
Hey Jamie,

Do ya have any questions? :D

-Jeffrey

:laugh:

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by Jeffrey
Hey Jamie,

Do ya have any questions? :D

-Jeffrey

I'm a curious guy when it comes to holes. That sounds dirtier than I mean it to be. :D

[pigmode]

How does it compare with what you had before? Can you describe your power amp?

[cwon]

There's more "air" than my previous preamp, and the bass has more tonal structure.

My amps are Wright AU-15 monoblocks that use 2A3 output tubes.

[doug s.]

looks cool. too bad no remote... :(

what pre did the grover unit replace, in your rig?

doug s.

[cwon]

It replaced a Wright preamp which was THE preamp which really got me excited about tube equipment.