The noble Ken Kessler reviewed our PW1 for Hi-fi News in the UK. He became heavily impressed by what he called the “chameleon” qualities of the PW1, meaning that it could expose both a tube and solid state character, whichever suited the music most. We are very honoured that Ken offered the PW1 the ‘Hi-fi News Outstanding product’ badge. Please enjoy some excerpts of the text below, you can read the full article as pdf via the link on the right
“The sound of the PW1 is so inviting – instantly exhibiting more in common with valves than transistors to these ears – that I found myself experiencing the ultimate in hi-fi litmus tests: realising I had been listening for four hours or more without a pause. Even my desire for a ‘comfort break’ couldn’t wrest me away from the PW1!
(…)
this phono stage has the range to go from near-silent to jump-from-your-seat bursts without any constraints.
What threw me off-balance, however, were the warmth and ‘bloom’ to the overall sound. Here my prejudice was exposed – I was expecting solid-state hygiene, but instead I heard sonic textures and richness in keeping with the all-valve 1950s equipment in the recording studio [of Miles Davis’ debut album, ed.].
(…)
Irrespective of the cartridges, Grimm Audio’s debut phono amplifier is magnificent.”
“This is a fantastic phonostage, both transistor-quiet and valve-warm.” Ken Kessler, Hi-fi News
