Gilmore Lite mk2 Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifier Measurements' started by purr1n, Nov 29, 2019.

  1. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    A little searching, and boom!

    [​IMG]
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Dammit. Bipolar power supply needed. I won't be able to jigger up anything soon.
     
  3. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    From my comments on the BF2 compared with the Modi 3 (which I forgot I demo'd). All impressions were with the GL MK2. I chalked it up to the transparency of the amp revealing the characteristics of the DACs, but maybe it was about pairing?

     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's both. It's revealing, but also a bit fast / twitchy on the transients so proper synergies - and personal preferences.
     
  5. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    An LPS cleans this up. Most probably would not notice, for for us discerning listeners. Note: I heard the Lite MKII with a different power supply.
     
  6. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Not great with low impedance (20 ohm) LCD-X.

    In comparison the Liquid Carbon, even with all its faults, really makes the LCD-X feel more "alive" and "dynamic" (but with inferior high frequency timbre/tone). Not sure if that's due in part to a balanced chain with Gungnir Multibit A1, since it's similarly dull-ish out of the Lyr 3.
     
  7. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Just wanted to update this that the pinout posted above is wrong, which is not there anymore, but here it is:

    Glimore - male.JPG Glimore - female.JPG

    This is from an MKI, and I am sure the new ones are the same.

    I am working on a cheap linear power supply that would cost 1/2 to a 1/3 of the upgraded power supply.

    PS - "N" is neutral, not really ground or even chassis ground, and NOT the neutral connection of the input power. Just the neutral point between the power rails.
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Thank you for bumping this thread @Azimuth it’s good to know that a Gilmore amp exists that doesn’t measure perfect and is not cold and sterile. Is this a sign of the apocalypse? Does this mean I can’t use Gilmore amps as a reference for everything unholy anymore?

    I must have heard the MK1 years ago because it definitely followed the Gilmore house sound.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Knowing you, I don't think you will like the sound. Super macro detailed and very well micro detailed, but also very stereotypical solid-state sound. And no, it doesn't measure perfectly despite people assuming it would because it's "wire with gain". I don't think the switcher PS does it any favors - probably responsible for all the grass. I bet with a proper power supply, the tonal and transient presentation could be much better.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I would never buy or own one after everything Keven Gilmore did to this community ten years ago. It's just an interesting twist of things.
     
  11. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    I bought a used Lite Mk2 from Head-Fi a couple years ago. It came with an LPS, APS48-ER-125. The only info I can find on it is that it was stocked by HeadAmp in the past, maybe specifically for Gilmore amps?
    In any case, if anyone in CONUS wants to use it to compare to an SMPS Lite Mk2 I'll send it to you; or you can borrow the amp and LPS both.

    aps48-er-125.jpg
     
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  12. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    The new power supply did wind up happening, has any one had a chance to compare the Power Supplies featured here to the original stock one and the new PSU option from HeadAmp?


     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2021
  13. winterfog

    winterfog Facebook Friend

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    I bought my Lite Mk2 from the initial build run sold through Drop. It came with the same exact cable-wart plastic box LPS as the one in your picture, so I can confirm this was the original stock PSU for the Lite mk2. (Original run also has an amber LED - so much nicer than white.) I also used to own an original GL and it came with a similar ELPAC branded LPS in a plastic box of the same size & weight, though it was in the style of a gigantic wall-wart instead of a cable-wart. Both are heavy as literal bricks and supposedly linear rather than switching in nature; I think they're more similar than different. I think it was likely the switch to a universal PSU that triggered the switch in PSU type from linear to switching for the Lite mk2.
    I've been thinking about buying the new upgrade power supply since I like the Lite Mk2 and I'll post an update if I do.
    EDIT: Not going this way. Decided I'm happier with the Jot 2. I still quite like the Lite Mk2 tonally, but the Jot 2 simply pushes more resolution & microdetails through my LCD2, even comparing single-ended to single-ended. I think a power supply upgrade would narrow the gap but I'm not going to throw money at that possibility.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2021
  14. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    So it is not an SMPS, just a badly designed half-wave rectifier. This explains so much.

    I have so much more in my DIY solution, although it was not easy.

    [​IMG] https://i.ibb.co/tZfJdgL/Dyn-Power-Supply.jpg
     
  15. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    There are 2 coils stacked in there
     
  16. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    An SMPS has switcher before a smaller transformer.

    I also only see 4 diodes and one regulator. And also really small caps.

    Whatever it is, it is a cheap design and sounds horrible. At least with the Gilmore amp.
     

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