Well, I've been listening to the Novo this evening, comparing it to my GS-1 and my Darkvoice 332.
As a bit of background my first headphone amp was a DV 336 and I became dissatisfied with it as it because it didn't present a window on the sound that was transparent enough (I did some valve rolling, of course) and the DV 332 got me where I wanted to be. The microdetails at the high frequency end gave the DV332 the transparency I was looking for. Then I acquired the GS-1 and I didn't find it so hugely different from the DV332. The DV332 has slightly more valve warmth but not much. They both have smooth and grain-free high frequencies.
Now I've been comparing the Novo to these two amps using initially my K701s and my DT880s. Then I got out my K501s (I haven't used them since I got my K701s) and ended the evening lying on the carpet enjoying music through the Novo + K501s. This evening has got my K501s out of storage and put them centre stage.
I actually think I prefer the Novo to the GS-1 and the DV332, although I could live with either of these amps. They are all good amps. I prefer the Novo because it sounds slightly faster (microdetails again) in the higher registers, and is consequently more transparent. The high frequencies seem to go up as far as I can hear without any grainyness, harshness, rolling off or other aberations, with a 'weight' in the lower registers that brings a sort of authority to the sound, but without being 'rounded' or plummy. I know it sounds crazy but the GS-1 sounds sort of valve-like compared to the Novo, and the DV332 sounds just a bit more valve-like. Compared to the Novo they both sound slightly coloured - slighty too 'rich' and maybe rolled off in the treble. The image kept coming to me - with the Novo it is as though the window is just a bit cleaner. Sometimes I would go back to the Novo just to hear a passage again with that extra bit of transparency and detail and no colouration.
I have been with a few exceptions using classical music for this, initially vinyl (because I think vinyl is my best quality source), and later with CDs or FLACS through the Squeezebox 3 and Beresford DAC. I used solo piano, solo voice (Schubert songs), medieval music (I like the clatter and rawness of the instruments) and some orchestral music. Also some Patricia Barber and Robert Wyatt. I haven't been listening at very high volumes, with the volume control of the Novo and GS-1 both at about 12:30.
These are just my first impressions. Unfortunately the Novo arrived at a very busy time for me as I have to move out of my flat on Monday while my kitchen and bathroom are redone. I plan to take the Novo, the GS-1, the DV332, my iBasso D1 and my several iRiver H140s filled with FLACS and continue the comparisons in my temporary accommodation. I may throw my RSA SR-71 into the mix as well.
I just went to the Graham Slee Web site and, yes, the Novo costs £235. I would be interested to know how its sound compares with other Graham Slee amps. I'm really impressed by it. I doesn't look so much, it is small and light and has a wall-wart, but I think the sound is really good, and it offers really brilliant SQ/£.
The surprise for me this evening was that on some recordings I was preferring the K501 to the K701, again because they seem faster, and there was an extra amount of transparency, liveliness and smoothness. I wasn't missing any bass with them on the music I was listening to. I'm thinking that the Novo + K501 is a very good rig.
More to come.
