Graham Slee Novo Headphone Amplifier

Graham Slee Novo Headphone Amplifier

A small headphone amp with a big, lively sound. What Hi-Fi? gave the Novo a best headphone amplifier award three years running. Hand-built in Britain by Graham Slee. Demonstrations may be possible by arrangement with Graham Slee – just ask.

Discrete by Design

Most budget headphone amps let a single chip do all the work. The Novo uses discrete transistors instead – the approach usually kept for far pricier amps. It’s compact enough to tuck in anywhere on your system.

Good to Know

• Drives 16 to 600 ohm headphones (8 to 2,000 ohms acceptable)
• Rear-panel pass-through sockets, so it can sit inline between your source and amp
• Supplied with a basic power supply that adjusts to your mains voltage
• Upgrade later to the PSU1 power supply
• Step up: the Solo SRG II

Questions about the Novo? Call us on 01482 223096 or email shop@fanthorpes.co.uk.

Specification

• Headphone impedance range: 16 to 600 Ohms preferred; 8 to 2,000 Ohms acceptable
• Power output (rms, both channels fully driven): 32 Ohms: 27mW/channel; 600 Ohms: 23mW/channel
• Distortion (THD plus noise, ref 1kHz): 0.02%
• Frequency response (-3dB): 32 Ohms load: 27Hz - 35kHz; 600 Ohms load: 10Hz - 39kHz
• Output noise (20Hz-20kHz, CCIR quasi-peak): -84dB
• Input sensitivity (for specified power output): 32 Ohms: 250mV rms; 600 Ohms: 775mV rms
• Channel balance: better than 1dB, "9 to 3 o’clock" positions
• Crosstalk: Left to Right -57dB; Input to Input -68dB
• Mute: signal off mute, non-shorting
• Output stage: bipolar class AB
• Supply voltage: 24V DC
• Size (approx.): W107 x H50 x D125 mm inc. controls