[a1rocketpilot]

All right, time for me to throw in my $.02. I've been backed up with schoolwork and theatrical stuff so I really haven't had much time for other things. This is my first formal review, so bear with me if it isn't very polished.

First off, lets start with the build quality. The GLite was much smaller than I expected. I unfortunately was not able to get pics of it with my system, as my camera was out of commission at the time. Despite its small size, the amp felt very solid in its construction. I was particularly impressed with the thick front fascia. My only qualm with the build was the black finish. It seemed to attract small marks and what not and in that respect, I prefer the semi-gloss finish on my HA-2 MKII SE.

The GLite didn't have any problems driving my DT-770/80's or my HF-1's. However, when it came to the K340's, things weren't so peachy. I would have preferred a slightly higher gain (my HA-2 has a custom gain of 7, and that is just enough to provide the volts that the K340's need, and of course, more V is always appreciated for those phones). Even with the pot turned all the way to full, the volume wasn't quite enough for my tastes, and I do not listen to my music that loudly.

As far as the sound quality, my assessment closely matches Skylab's. The GLite has a lush lower-midrange. I found that it sounded great for female vocals like Frou Frou or Rilo Kiley. The bass was fast and detailed, though a little light in the deepest parts. The highs were a bit soft for my tastes, and it didn't quite have the sparkle that I like in my HA-2. The soundstage was nice and wide, but didn't quite have the same depth to it that I found with the HA-2. When crossfeed was enabled, the HA-2 was much superior in that regard. However, since the GLite doesn't have the crossfeed, I left it disabled during most of the comparison.

Compared to the more expensive HA-2, the GLite performs admirably, but falls short in my opinion. I prefer the more neutral sound signature of the HA-2, and its synergy in my system. I love the combination of the DT-770's and the HA-2, it is an ideal match for me. Then again, an amp that was almost $1K when new ought to perform better than a $500 amp. This shouldn't detract in any way from the GLite. As long as you don't have K340's, the GLite is a very capable amp and doesn't take up much real estate on your desk. And finally, I would like to thank Asr for arranging this set of peer reviews. Thanks for this opportunity to try this wonderful piece of kit!

Aditya