HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2 Headphone Amp (on Massdrop)

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

  1. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    The headamp gs-mini continues to impress me. Although I've gravitated towards tube amps over the past few years, the mini has essentially cured me of the tube amp rabbit hole. The hd800 will always love an OTL better than SS, but this amp rarely makes mistakes across a broad spectrum of different types of headphones.

    Build quality is exceptional. "Built like a tank" seems appropriate here. There are two things about this amp that really hit me in the sweet spot. The ability to drive so many different headphones to their full potential is #1. Andromeda with no hiss, check. Susvara? Just flip the mini to high gain and listen for this amp to kick it into gear.

    The second feature that makes this amp so good for me, is the ability to render natural tone. I LOVE the hd650 on the mini. The "650 scale" is on full display with this combo.

    It would be great to get this amp on tour. I know that the mini has made it to quite a few of the bigger meets, but I'd like to get this amp with a few of the seniors here to have for a home audition. I've offered up my own gear for "mini tours" here in the past, but I won't be able to in this case. It's an expensive amp and would be great if it could get a tour on SBAF.
     
  2. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I second this tour. It punches WAY above it's weight class and I can only attribute that to the simple design. The only thing it has over my Lyr 3 is that solid weight on the bottom end and no glare to speak of. It may not have the all tube details and layering, but it does everything else just right and a downright enjoyable amp and will get many to ponder how this amp is so good at this price.
     
  3. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I'd be curious to try it in house if there's a loaner.
     
  4. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Are you guys talking about the same amp? I think @Ice-man is talking about the HeadAmp GSX Mini, which retails for $1800, and maybe @rtaylor76 is talking about the Gilmore Lite Mk2? The GSX Mini would have to compete with truly TOTL amps to punch above its weight class. The $1800 price tag is a tough pill to swallow when the new DNA Starlett retails for $2k (or shit, when you can get a new Asgard 3 for $199).
     
  5. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    I think Gilmore Lite mk2 would surprise a few people regardless.
     
  6. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I did not catch that, so thank you.

    I will still say that Lite MK2 > Asgard 3.

    Now, I would like to see the GSX Mini compared up against some other SS TOTL amps, like Ragnarok.
     
  7. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    For me, I would put the Mini above the OG Rag (I have not heard Rag 2). I would also put the mini above my Questyle cma800r dual mono stack. VS Black Widow...I auditioned but did not own the BW. I remember BW being a warmer amp with good bass where the mini is more transparent and layered.

    I'm not sure that there is another solid state amp that I have owned or auditioned that I enjoyed more than the mini. Liquid Gold was very good. I'd still take the mini though.
     
  8. I_want_all_the_tacos

    I_want_all_the_tacos Friend

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    Have you heard the latest SPL stuff (e.g. X, E, XE)? I quite like the Phonitor XE, and that series tends to get similar praise for being very neutral, transparent, and clean. I know @Luckbad similarly claimed it to be his all-time favorite solid state. It seems that SPL and Headamp GSX are in similar territories price-wise and sound-wise. I would be interested in any head to head comparisons there.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'd put my JDS Labs CMOY above the Questyle CMA800R Dual Mono Stack.
     
  10. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I'll take that bet. 10 random dudes listen to both, preferred rig takes the prize.
     
  11. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    @purr1n WTF, no more to say on the Gilmore Lite MKII? I had it shipped to you first so you'd give a review.
     
  12. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    I love mine, but yeah enquiring minds would like to hear your thoughts about it.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It is OK if I post measurements first? And then maybe talk about it three weeks later?
     
  14. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    I'm resurrecting this old thread again as I will test GLM2 for the next few weeks starting from today. Thanks for @purr1n 's kind loaner offer.

    As a first step, I briefly test-drove the amp with all the three pairs of headphones I'm owning. Intended to screen which ones to hear more and which ones not.

    [​IMG]

    Test results
    • Senn HD650(6xx): passed
    • ZMF Verite open: passed
    • Grado Hemp: passed (a little unexpected; will elaborate more in later stream of consciousness)
    • "Passed" means I was motivated enough to spend more time with the combo.
    Very early thoughts
    • Gain too high. Higher than thx789 high if I recall correctly. Giving grado a little disadvantage (pot range was limited around 8 o'clock)
    • Something velvety (in a positive way) is going on highs even though I didn't use any akm in the chain
    • I guessed the amp would be in "sport+" mode (like Geshelli) by nature. It turns out it was rather in "normal/comfort" mode. Will elaborate later.
    • Anyway sounded much better than I remember from an audition years ago.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2020
  15. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I believe the original Dynalow schemaric had the default Gain of 11. I know on my DIY build, the person who built it before me set it the same and I plan on adding gain switch to knock it down to a Gain of 6 or 7 to make it more versatile with more sensitivie headphones.

    Also, HeadAmp for the Lite MK2 has introduced a upgraded, what they are calling, "Dedicated" power supply for $299. I am not sure it is a LPU and I hope at that price tag it is. Website says shipping on this Dedicated PSU says "end of Summer of 2020."

    https://www.headamp.com/products/gilmore-lite-mk2?variant=34607303557285
     
  16. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    I bet it will look like a second box coming with GSX2 or Blue Hawaii. Likely as large as the main lite2 amp box. Total $800 price seems too daunting though.
     
  17. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Another note about the power supply...

    I found that a linear power supply has big advantages. When I had the loaner of the mk2, it came with the stock PSU and one from MeanWell. Both looked like switchers. The MW sounded more like my linear supply build Dynalo. The stock PSU did not impress much and sounded more muddy and lost fine details with a gray background.

    The Mean Well appeared to be a bipolar 15V PSU, which I could never find, meaning it was likely an older discontinued model or custom ordered.

    All that to say that even a well built low noise switcher can greatly improve this amp. Some amps are only as good as its power supply and I believe this is one of them. (Not that it needs to be overbuilt)
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2020
  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    In the end I couldn't bear with its high gain. Even moderately inefficient Verite and HD650 suffer from pot range trouble to some extent.

    SYS inserted between Bifrost 2 and GLM2. Everything became more convenient, but possibly a little bit warmer in overall tone? (can't say for sure now).

    Anyway GLM2 can do Grado now. Back to the listening session.
     
  19. JeremiahS

    JeremiahS Almost "Made"

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    This amp needs more love... I have mentioned it before here but Kevin Gilmore and Ti Kan / AMB amps are old designs by today standard but they remain very competitive and better sounding than most newer ones. I think I have yet to hear a better solid state amp than the Beta 22 and Dynahi.
     
  20. Baten

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    I wish SBAF would get a loaner GS-X mini some day. That'd be real interesting to see how everyone likes it.
     

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