Comparison Review: Gilmore Lite DPS vs Elpac - Page 2

Like I said, the GL v2 w/ DPS is a step towards the GS-1, and if I had to estimate, I'd say it's about 70-80% of the GS-1's performance.

But while that might sound close, I find that the GS-1 simply outpaces even the GL v2 w/ DPS in every aspect in ways that IMO are instantly obvious. To use the three-curtains analogy again, I find that the GS-1 removes all 3 curtains, not just the first. It's also much more transparent on the input signal, and has a smoother, deeper, clearer bass that's better integrated into the spectrum and doesn't come off as unbalanced. Deep if needed, and very smooth, like a giant hand of mystery sinking into the ground to scoop up notes you don't even know are there. Instead of the GL's forwardness it has more of a warm-blanket sound, and there's a finesse over the treble response that's not aggressive at all. Extremely black background both at rest and during playback and soundstage is simply peerless on it - with the K701 and AD2000, it allows you the feeling of looking anywhere you want without restriction. The GS-1 isn't 100% transparent to my ears either, but it's a lot closer than the GL, and its versatility can't be overstated.

Lest this come across as possibly over-stating my praise of the GS-1 though, I have found a few minor areas in which it's not entirely ideal however, and I'm literally banking on my next (and intended last) amplifier to correct those areas.