A Holy Upgraded The Grail SX

Many Grails in the past, in 2009, van den Hul launched its authentic “The Grail” transimpedance-based MC/MM phono preamplifier. I reviewed it in 2018 when it value $7950. Yes, it’s pretentious to call something, however particularly an audio product, “The Grail” however no less than it wasn’t referred to as “The Holy Grail” and it wasn’t packed in a cup and didn’t promise mystical therapeutic powers. But it certainly did ship the promised excellent sonic efficiency and it’s nonetheless in manufacturing, now costing $8995..

That authentic “The Grail”, that includes gracefully sculpted wood facet “cheeks” and a white “pebbly completed” aluminum principal chassis plus “fundamental black” outboard energy provide, gives a single-ended present amplification-based MC enter and a single-ended voltage primarily based MM enter in addition to capacitor-free inductor-resistor primarily based RIAA filtration amongst a number of helpful circuit attributes.

A significantly upgraded model, The Grail SE+ ($23,995), which I reviewed in 2020, included twin mono circuitry, improved energy provides, and added a selection of balanced XLR or single-ended RCA in one among its two current-based MC inputs and balanced-only within the second MC enter plus a single-ended shifting magnet voltage amplification-based enter. van den Hul additionally sells a “The Grail SE” ($19,995) dual-mono model and “The Grail SB” ($16,995) absolutely balanced version.

When I first reviewed “The Grail” I assumed that it was not designed by Mr. A.J. van den Hul, who to one of the best of my information will not be {an electrical} engineer. That proved right once I heard from German engineer Jürgen Ultee who instructed me in an e mail that he was the “employed hand” designer of The Grail in addition to of many different merchandise badged with acquainted model names, although for apparent causes he wouldn’t identify them.

There’s completely nothing mistaken with this association for van den Hul or for another firm that contracts with Mr. Ultee or another equally located “for rent” designer. Having reviewed three The Grail iterations designed by Mr. Ultee, clearly he’s a significantly gifted man!

Introduced final August (2023) the brand new van den Hul The Grail SX is a sleeker-looking all steel chassis, satin aluminum completed design that includes a single umbilical related exterior energy provide and no wood facet “cheeks”. It prices $28,995 or $5000 greater than The Grail SE+.

The new Grail SX includes a “redesigned” circuit board, which van den Hul claims considerably improves sound high quality, offering enhanced sound staging and “airiness”. The new board additionally offers for “mixed-mode operation” which means when utilizing a balanced XLR enter the sign is obtainable at each balanced XLR and single-ended outputs and each could be concurrently used. The identical is true of the single-ended inputs, for which each the single-ended and balanced outputs can be found and may each be concurrently used.

Here’s The Grail SX characteristic checklist discovered within the helpful PDF guide:

Feature checklist:

a particular designed Phonograph preamplifier part, distinctive on the earth
balanced design for inputs and outputs
inputs: three Phonograph inputs, two balanced for MC cartridges, one for MM (unbalanced)
Phonograph RIAA – equalization with coils solely, no sound impairing capacitors in filters
particular printed circuit board materials with gold conducting paths
particular tools foot fabricated from chosen wooden avoids mechanical vitality storage
low noise shifting coil enter stage, much less annoying noise even with low-output cartridges
automated adapting MC enter stage for shifting coil cartridges, no matching resistors wanted
chance to compensate phonograph cartridge sensivity (stage adjustment)
strictly separated amplifier sections and circuit format ship a really pure soundstage
energy provide with Gyrators for every amplifier stage delivers very excessive noise cancellation
the exterior energy provide works with 120V and 240V mains voltage (reversible inside)

Though it doesn’t particularly say so, The Grail SX’s MC inputs, as with earlier “The Grails”, characteristic present supply, not voltage-based amplification circuitry, designed to maximise the capabilities of low-output, low-internal-impedance MC cartridges. Once-esoteric, this characteristic is now not “distinctive on the earth”, although it’s doable the directions confer with one thing else.

van den Hul claims the circuit is acceptable for low output MC cartridges with inside impedances starting from 10 to 400 ohms. As with the unique Grail, this one options capacitor-free, L-R (inductor-resistor) RIAA filters.

The coil-based, capacitor-free RIAA filter

The Grail SE+’s twin chassis outboard energy provides are changed right here by a single one; the SE+’s internally mounted DIPswitches permitting settings for 56, 64, 70 and 73dBs of acquire, have been changed with a twin swap (one per channel), that provides you the selection of 52, 60 and 66.5dBs of MC acquire (20dB much less into the MM enter). Those helpful with a soldering iron can change the MM enter’s impedance from the usual 47kOhms or add capacitive loading if want be.

Setting Up and Operating The Grail SX

I related The Grail SX to my preamp utilizing its balanced outputs and used each its single-ended and balanced MC inputs. The default acquire setting is 60dB and that proved greater than adequate for the bottom output shifting coil cartridges I used with it.

A clear again panel makes connecting every part straightforward except your tonearm connecting cables are of the “slender Y” selection just like the set beneath, through which case they won’t be useable as a result of again panel’s twin mono format that locations the left and proper channel inputs a good way aside.

Three buttons on the entrance panel management every part. The heart button turns the unit on and off. The button to the correct selects MM or MC, whereas the one to the left selects MC1 or MC2. Simple! And since there are not any loading choices, The Grail SX is actually “plug and play”. The solely warning: mute your preamp earlier than switching between inputs otherwise you may expertise a loud “pop”.

Compare that to my description of utilizing SE+ : “The again panel could be very busy, with 12 jacks, two umbilical connectors, and a pair of toggle switches (one for MM/MC and the opposite for selecting which of the 2 MC inputs is lively) positioned in shut proximity to at least one one other…If you will have two MC-cartridge–fitted arms related, you’ll attain behind, discover the toggle swap, and throw it to pick between them. If you will have a 3rd arm fitted with an MM cartridge, you’ll throw the opposite toggle swap. If you employ the single-ended inputs, you need to use the single-ended outputs.” In different phrases, large working system improve!

The Sound: Black as Night, Black as Coal

How can I evaluate the beforehand reviewed SE+ with the brand new SX? I can not. It was a lot simpler to check the unique single-ended The Grail with the way more formidable, pricey and absolutely balanced SE+. While it wasn’t honest evaluating the unique The Grail to the way more pricey CH Precision P1/X1 combo, that did spotlight The Grail’s lesser dynamic “slam” and its looser much less prolonged decrease octaves and its comparative general lax musical grip.

The SE+ produced clearly larger macrodynamic slam that rivaled that of the P1/X1 combo and its backside octaves have been daring, deep and well-defined. The SE+’s midrange readability and “see into the stage” transparency was likewise extra much like that of the CH Precision and its skill to cleanly delineate devices in three-dimensional area with out including unnatural edge definition.

At this level primarily based on my expertise with them, I believe that low output, low inside impedance cartridge lovers have to no less than expertise a trans-impedance phono preamplifier in their very own methods even when it’s one of many least pricey. All of them, no matter value, produce background quiet that solely one of the best voltage-based phono preamps handle. There’s one other engaging high quality all that I’ve heard additionally share, and that’s a surprisingly refined supply of excessive frequency transients—by no means edgy and overly outlined or “antiseptic” as many voltage primarily based ones produce, nor comfortable and ill-defined as lesser tube-based phono preamps produce.

On the opposite hand, in contrast to with voltage-based phono preamps the place you may change loading and generally have an effect on high finish steadiness, with transimpedance-based phono preamps you might be caught for higher of worse with what you get. What I’ve gotten from all of them no matter value is an nearly tube-like “good” transient liquidity and general transparency. The higher ones do it higher and The Grail SX is up there with the higher ones.

Macro-dynamic efficiency right here is highly effective, and easy and picture three-dimensionality and sound staging each depart little to be desired. Right now I’m enjoying a gatefold copy of Basie Jam #2 (Pablo 2310-786) recorded May sixth, 1976 at RCA studios, Los Angeles. These are enjoyable, mid-size band jam classes that includes nice gamers: Basie, Louis Bellson and John Heard rhythm part plusBenny Carter, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Clark Terry, Al Grey and Joe Pass. Can’t go mistaken with that group, although they’re all previous their youthful prime.

I’m listening to “Doggin’ Around”: Joe Pass hanging in 3D to the correct of the left speaker, Clark Terry on the opposite facet and Bellson method again stage heart. It’s foolish how “within the room” Terry is, doing an extended, deft circuitous solo with Basie laying low behind him and Heard dealing nimble bass notes. Everyone’s having enjoyable jamming, they’re all and it’s as near being there because it will get. Images are crammed in and under no circumstances skeletal, transients are well-defined and never edgy, instrumental harmonics are wealthy and plausible and when Bellson does a solo in the direction of the top of the observe the hits keep the place they’re within the confined area through which he’s been positioned to keep away from leakage—and you may clearly hear that too.

Completely shifting gears, shifting on to chamber music, I performed just a few sides of an 8 LP ERC mono field set of Mozart Sonatas for Piano and Violin carried out by the Lili Kraus and Willi Boskovsky recorded a while within the Fifties for the French label Les Discophiles Francais (Boskovsky was additionally the Concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic from 1939-1971 and type of a Guy Lombardo sophisticate who performed New Year’s Eve live shows with the orchestra, largely enjoying Strauss waltzes, launched on British Decca).

The delicacy of the violin and piano recording is a check of each The Grail SX’s timbral accuracy and its presentation of microdynamics. Here was the principle space the place the $76.000 CH P10 was clearly higher however at fairly a price. While The Grail SX pleasingly delivered each piano and violin textures and timbres, the CH produced larger “see by means of” transparency, extra vibrant string textures and a extra convincing piano sound, with assault delicacy, a lot improved maintain and decay.

Microdynamic deficiency for no matter motive or causes is the one general criticism I can provide about The Grail SX’s sonic efficiency. It “provides up the ghost” on the backside of the dynamic scale. It’s one thing you don’t hear as a lot as you sense as a “delicacy loss” and it’s not associated to the noise ground so don’t ask me what it’s, or that except you hearken to the CH P10 or one other phono preamp at that efficiency and value stage you’re going to listen to it. But going between The Grail and the P10 makes it apparent.

It was straightforward to listen to on the reissue of Yusef Lateef’s Eastern Sounds (beforehand reissued as a “Small Batch” one-step and now as a less expensive OJC CR00615). On the opener, “Plum Blossom”, there’s a percussive tapping produced by an unidentified instrument. The assault and maintain of faucet sound produced by the 2 totally different preamps made clear the microdynamic distinction and now I’ll cease happening about it as a result of it’s solely a problem if the remainder of your entrance finish and system resolves every part.

Otherwise, The Grail SX is a kind of uncommon and most engaging “will get out of the way in which and lets your transducer of selection do its factor” phono preamplifier. If you need yours so as to add a “contact of heat” or “a little bit of sparkle”, The Grail SX won’t be for you. it’s as impartial an arbiter of timber, texture and transient assault as you’re going to listen to from a MC phono preamplifier. Its rhythmic authority produces the specified toe faucets. When I plugged numerous cartridges into the very positive phono enter of my darTzeel NHB-18NS preamplifier, the general sound bought considerably extra supple and comfortable and a few may want that to The Grail SX. On some records I did as effectively. It’s an excellent “inbuilt” phono preamp however for rhythmic drive, and tightly sprung drive, The Grail SX was the clear winner.

Conclusion

$29,995 is quite a bit to pay for a phono preamplifier. The Grail SX give you numerous: three inputs—two single-ended and balanced trans-impedance MC inputs and one single-ended voltage gain-based MM enter. It doesn’t embody a subsonic filter or a “mono” swap so regardless of the fee it’s very “fundamental”, however the sonic efficiency is “get out of the way in which” impartial timbrally and it options managed, full backside finish slam that in case your cartridge and the remainder of your system can ship it, bass efficiency you’ll absolutely respect with each document you play that you simply count on good issues from on backside.

The Grail SX by no means sounds skinny, or antiseptic or “scientific”. We’ve all heard these and the standard “work round” is a warm-ish cartridge. I by no means felt the necessity to insert a kind of although I’ve just a few. Still, in case you are a tube particular person, The Grail SX won’t be what you’re searching for except you might be interested by what an amazing stable state phono preamp may carry to your system. If you largely hearken to rock or jazz, you’ll actually respect what The Grail SX will ship. But it does an equally credible job on classical music. Enough for the “heat” of us? Perhaps.

The Grail will carry to the image quiet, black backgrounds, rhythmic group, macrodynamic “slam” and solidity, refined textural efficiency, stable, three-dimensional imaging, generously vast and deep sound staging and little or no if any of a sonic persona of its personal. That’s what most of us are searching for. Or no less than we are saying we’re. If yow will discover a strategy to audition The Grail SX at residence and also you’re comfy on the value, give it a hear!