Voyager Portable Headphone Amplifier

"The GSP Voyager is the best sounding portable headphone amp I've heard to date...
 ...It's notable for two things; its eerie smoothness across
the midband and strong but supple
bass. Driven by 'the Hi-Fi World' iPod
(Classic, running Apple Lossless) it
produced very nice noises indeed,
removing at a stroke the iPod's cold,
steely, hardness and limp bass response. In its place is a warm, fulsome and naturally musical sound with nicely detailed treble that's
as fluid as it is spacious. In short:
it sounds just like a Graham Slee
phonostage!"
David Price, Hi-Fi World, April 2008

Other headphone amplifiers by Graham Slee: Solo SRG | Novo discrete
 

"I had a chance to listen to a Graham Slee Voyager Portable Headphone Amplifier and OMG! this thing sounds amazing. It drove my HD600's (300 Ohms) to much higher volume levels without any distortion and everything sounded so much fuller, if I closed my eyes I could have sworn I was listening to a tube amp!! This is on my shopping list as my next portable amp, simply stunning." From a UK Head-Fi meeting.
 

under the bonnet

Rockgrotto Review

"Great fun this little thing is! ...... sure, it doesn't "look" expensive but it sure does sound expensive and that's what counts.

I had a good listen last night before I went to sleep (the best time to listen when you're most relaxed) and this little guy brought about a couple of hair standing on the back of the neck moments..... The first was listening to Mike Oldfield "the songs of distant earth" and the second listening to Roger Waters "pros and cons of hitchhiking"...... On both occasions it was with the contour switch ON.

To hell with being a purist (flat earth brigade and all that bunkum) this amp sounds best with contour circuit switched on... there is more weight to the sound (more body if you like) and at low to moderate listening levels I prefered it over flat.... at medium to high listening levels I'd listen to it flat as it may start to run out of steam with contour switched in.

Pretty perverse listening to a portable rig with a pair of ATH W-1000 but they're the only closed backs I have at the moment (apart from Senn HD=200 and a pair of Senn PX-200.. both of which I detest) I'll be honest, I'm on holiday and I want to show the W-1000 off.

Synergy between the W-1000 and Voyager couldn't be better.... the voyager (contour on) does a VERY good job of dressing the W-1000's in velvet which really does give you the impression you're listening to a typical "warm" sounding valve amp.... close your eyes, let the music wash over you.... open your eyes and ask yourself "is that little thing REALLY producing that sound?" YES.... it is!

The Voyager seems to get inside the W1000's wooden ear cups and spray a fine mist of high quality varnish onto them... It enrichens them, it softens them and it makes them an absolute pleasure to listen to. Think of the W-1000 as a fine instrument in much the same way as musician considers a fine instrument like a stradivarius (well.... a silly comparison but they're both made out of wood and they both play music)

Your average Joe on the street couldn't even pronounce stradivarius let alone play one.... only a master violinist can get the best out of one of those puppies... The same holds true with amplifiers / headphones and the old "garbage in / garbage out" addage holds true..... feed the W-1000 with a shrill sounding amp and yup, you guessed it, the W-1000 will treat your ear drums to an ear bleedingly awful battering.... however, feed those beauties with a velvety, silky, mellifluous amp and, boy, you're in for a treat!

Out of all of my amps I can honestly say the Voyager is my favourite partner to the W-1000, whether it's because I'm listening with contour setting on or whatever, I don't care.... to my ears this is what the W-1000 should sound like... rich, flowing and silky smooth.

You ever enjoyed a nice glass of vintage cognac with a cuban cigar? (nope, neither have I!) well..... that's what this combo is akin to..... put your feet up, relax and let the wonderful vibes this combo create take you away into the land of exotic things.... wonderful!"

edited from this post at Rockgrotto (click here)

Features explained

The powerful sound from the Voyager portable headphone amplifier gives an average (noticeable) 10dB boost in sound pressure level above that of most portable players. The Voyager portable headphone amplifier's fast wideband circuit assures all the sound quality of the source is delivered to the headphones, even when used with high performance sources up to studio standards.

It is fully portable, powered by its own replaceable standard issue 9 volt (MN1604; 6LR61) battery (supplied installed). If left playing into headphones from a continuously looping music source, the battery can last 50 hours or longer. Usually however, battery life will last a number of weeks if the power switch is set to its other positions when not in use, or when being powered by USB connection or by its AC adapter. It does not recharge the battery - a rechargeable 9 volt battery does not have the capacity of a disposable 9 volt battery.

A number of pod type players will sit comfortably on top of the Voyager.

The Voyager is light weight, similar to that of a "classic" pod player.

The street-wear contour switch is designed to improve the tonal range of street-wear headphones. For use from domestic and studio players using Hi-Fi or studio headphones, the "flat" position may be found more appropriate.

The Voyager can be used in the office taking its input from line-out sources like the 3,5mm jack on many computers. While in use at the desk top, it can be powered by a spare USB cord having a mini AB plug.

The Voyager is supplied with an AC adapter that can power it when used at home or in the office

Hi-Fi and studio quality stereo headphones can be used with the Voyager. When using high impedance headphones at home (typically 300 Ohm types and above), it is best used with high output line-level sources like a CD player, amplifier line/tape out, or the output of a phono preamplifier, if required to reach high volumes. A 3,5 to 6,3mm jack plug adapter may be required for some Hi-Fi or studio headphones. A stereo phono to 3,5mm jack plug, or DIN to 3,5mm jack plug cable may also be required depending on your home equipment. It will not drive electrostatic headphones.
Headphones of 16 - 600 Ohms impedance can be used.