The GS-1 Thread - Page 5

OK.... April Fools Day is over, so now for some serious discussion. I WAS being serious yesterday stating that the GS-1 was warm sounding. That has remained true but not to the same extent. I now have the amp hooked up to my sacdmods player. I am using a warm sounding interconnect (magwire original) and a signalcable power cord with sennheiser 650 headphones. The Sound Odyssey Music Hall cd-25 with the GS-1 was to warmish and made the amp sound slow and a little dark.

Moving on to today with more burn in and the revised set up, the GS-1 sounds extremely good. I have the amp running through the pass trough in my singlepower mpx3-6/12sn7. Therefore, its a simple matter to turn the mpx3 on and do a direct comparison. The GS-1 has a midrange tone much like the mpx3. This amp is warm and powerful sounding but not dark. The amp is refined. The treble is the best I have heard from a solid state amp. Sibilance is handled exceptionally well, in particular. The bass is full and rich exhibiting none of the bass leaness that I heard with the gilmore v2. The presentation is more relaxed than the gilmore lite being much less forward. In fact, the presentation is more relaxed that any versions of the gilmore amps I have owned (v1/v2/v2-se).

Comparing the GS-1 directly to the mpx3 (paper-in-oil caps/solen stage 1 upgrades/ 12 volt option) I am surprised how well the GS-1 performs. I have been listening to the pair almost continuously since 8:30 am. I am amazed a solid state amp can get this close to an exceptional sounding tube amp. I have been listening to Warren Hayes Live At Bonoroo, Santana Supernatural, Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Blvd 30th anniversary edition(the live concert disc #2), Allman Brothers Live At The Filmore, Kelly's Lot Trio, Joe Satriani Surfin With The Alien, Keb Mo best of compilation disc and Neil Young Unplugged. The type of music...acoustic vs electric, rock, blues, instrumental MAKES NO DIFFERENCE to the GS-1

Are there any differences? Well the most noticeable difference is the singlepower is more dimensional. You can hear the recording space better and the soundstage has a little more depth. The singlepower doesnt sound more distant though. They have about the same presence. The GS-1 sounds slightly more upfront vs the mpx3 but not forward. Both amps have what I would call more a more relaxed presentation which is what I most enjoy.

Any other differences? Well the bass is somewhat different but equally good on both amps.The midrange tonality is strikingly similar. I guess the singlepower digs out a slight amount more detail and does seems to portray decay more realistically. But hearing these differences takes both concentration and time to hear; these difference are not immediately obvious. As I said, the treble from the GS-1 is the best I have heard from a solid state amp. I hope this doesnt change as the amp gets more hours of use. The treble from solid state amps is what has always pushed me towards tubes. Well thats enough for now. But certainly you can discern from my comments the GS-1 is an exceptional amp.

I had the newer version gilmore lite for a month and wrote a review with SeanH. I have not heard the lite since. I cant remember how warm the gilmore lite was but I know I liked the lite better than the v2. Furthermore, I know the lite was more transparent and about as warm sounding as my gilmore v1. This GS-1 definitely has a warmth... tonality probably is a better description, like my mpx3.

When I listen to one for longer stretches and get caught up in the music I have to concentrate to hear which one I am using. To explain more, I have each with identical senn 650's intertwined and I am positioned far to the left where I cant see which headphone is hooked to which amp. I have to wait and concentrate on the notes decay or listen for the sense of space in a live recording before I can tell which amp is playing (when I check I am right too ). The singlepower is more expansive and tails off more naturally on decaying notes and I can pick this up. The best way I can probably describe the difference is the GS-1 sounds a little smaller and closer and very slightly less refined. I do like the live recordings more on the mpx3 but listening to the GS-1 for longer periods I dont feel cheated. To the contrary, I seem to get just as involved in the music.

More late, late night listening and this amp is impressive. I have owned 5 gilmore amps including the v1/v2/v2-se and a specially modded v2-se. I am already convinced the GS-1 tops any of them. This amp has a richer tone and more refinement than any previous gilmore amp I have heard. Well done Justin....now for some preamp duty.