HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2 Headphone Amp (on Massdrop)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Peter78, Oct 8, 2017.

  1. Peter78

    Peter78 New

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    I saw this amp on Massdrop, yesterday, and did not see another thread about it here (apologies, if I missed one).

    https://www.massdrop.com/buy/headamp-gilmore-lite-mk2-headphone-amp

    According to the description, "The Gilmore Lite mk2 is a miniaturized version of Kevin Gilmore’s discrete dynamic headphone circuit." I'm not sure if this is a Massdrop exclusive or not but was curious to know if anyone here had heard one. From the description, it sounds interesting, though the dubious “wire with gain” language is used (stating that the amp is as close to that as possible). The specs. aren't particularly detailed (for instance, output power is stated at 1.5 watts, but not at what impedance, etc.).
     
  2. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    They're seriously rehashing the dynalo? A single ended dynahi might be more appropriate given the price. This would have been revelatory at the price 10 years ago but the hobby has moved on. The magni 3 is $99 these days.
     
  3. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    $500 seems like a ton of money for a single ended solid state amp with a wall wart. What exactly are the selling points here???
     
  4. Xen

    Xen Friend

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    And it's a proprietary wall wort...It looks small, but you have to lug that brick along with it.
    @CEE TEE It would be really nice to know the dimensions of the thing being sold.
     
  5. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    The big screenprinted Head-Amp logo on the top?
     
  6. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I still think we should give it a listen. Who knows, it could be great.

    ZMF Zach loves it aparantly. @CEE TEE please give us your opinion of this thing. I think @AllanMarcus heard it, maybe he can post some more detailed impressions.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2017
  7. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I think the selling point was GSX MK2 cut in half for $500. Price doesn't seem that bad to me. Do you think a Jot would demolish this thing?
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    You would have to pay me to listen to the sandpaper amp that is the GSX MK2.
     
  9. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Too clinical / overly detailed?
     
  10. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Christ on a bike, that's not a positive. Hopefully it bears no similarity at all, soundwise.
     
  11. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I've never heard the GSX MK2 so it being a piece of crap is news to me. It was on Tyll's wall of fame so I figured it was a generally well-regarded amp.
     
  12. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    It's like listening to a cheese grater. It's an amazing bit of kit, you could use it to repel an alien invasion, but there's little pleasure in it.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The original Gilmore lite wasn't much better. Different grade of sandpaper. No idea how the Mark II version will sound. I surprises me to this day that there were actually people with HD800s plugged into the GSX2 bobbing their heads to music. I think most of us would have had our brains fried in six seconds.

    Do be fair, I've heard some Dynalos and Dynamids (balanced version a la GSX), and they sounded nothing like the HeadAmps' versions. It depends upon build and parts. This thing does seem awfully expensive. Like you said, Magni 3, and the Magni 3 ain't using that SMPS shit.
     
  14. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    To be fair to HeadAmp, the power brick is a linear regulated affair, not a SMPS.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I stand corrected.
     
  16. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I've built a pretty decent dynalo years ago. Still doesn't mean the topology holds up.
     
  17. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I can't trust Headfi reviews but Zach said he was really impressed with this amp so I might pick one up to try out. Any LA members interested in giving it a spin?
    What in particular, is wrong with the Dynalo circuit?
     
  18. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    This is a very accurate description of said amp. I was hoping the lite version had the technicalities of the full multigrit version minus the harshness....doesn't seem to be the case. Please correct me if I'm wrong though.
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This very well might be different from the old Gilmore lite.
     
  20. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Very curious to see how it stacks against the original glite with DPS.

    You can tame some of the treble grain but even with an awesome power supply, you don't get the resolution up top and I've never heard string harmonics sound right on a dynalo build. I've heard really good dynahis that kick butt. Maybe i suck at dynalos, though.
     

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