The upgrade bug is chewing on my ass a little. I'm happy with my system, but since I could swing a Gilmore at virtually no cost to me (if any), I feel that I must consider getting one.

Here are most of the components of my META42:
AD8620
2x EL2001 input
2x EL2001 output
1x EL2001 ps
2x 1uF Wima MKP-10 Polypropelene Cap
2x 2200uF Cerafine Electrolytic Cap
2x 220uF Cerafine Electrolytic Cap
2x 6.8uF Wima Electrolytic Cap
Cardas GRFA RCAs
Neutrik locking jack
Elpac Linear Power Supply
Alps Blue Potentiometer
Vishay resistors

I would be using the Gilmore primarily with my ATH-W1000 (low impedence), and I am already happy with the META42. Do you think upgrading to the Gilmore with my current system would "wow" me over my META42, or should I consider a source (like an external DAC) upgrade first?

It may be worth your while to wait a bit and see how Antness' new "maxed out" Gilmore sounds. If it comes with a stepped attenuator and higher quality psu, it should sound significantly better than the standard Gilmore.

I will definitely wait for the next version, but I'm still wondering if it will be a significant upgrade from my META42 with my system.

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Have you tried a better/different ps with your Gilmore amp?

Before you try a Gilmore, you should probably experiment with your current Meta. Try swapping in OPA627/637 op-amps or AD8xx in place of the AD8620. (Both choices have better bass than the AD8620, but a bit less high-end verve.) This kind of experiment will totally change the flavor of your amp, and for a small cost. You might like the change, you might not, but you'll have learned something about your musical preferences in the process. Also, you should consider replacing the output buffers with double (or more) stacked EL2002. This makes a big and noticeable difference in sound as well, at least it did for me in the two Metas I've built. And the cost is so low. (Also, to my knowledge, all the Gilmore reviews that compared against the Meta have been comparing against the EL2001, so even if you do get a Gilmore later you'll be able to contribute to the Head-Fi fountain of knowledge.)

Personally, I think you can have more fun doing these things in the short term. With the Gilmore you're stuck with one specific sound, so it would be helpful to be able to recognize if that's the type of sound you like.

I don't think the gilmore will come with stepped attenuator, it will increase the cost about 100.00 plus more, for a decent one, and he is going to keep the price like that more or less, I think that maybe it will included only some cosmetic modifications and another PS, but in the circuit itself???? But let's wait, I'm waiting for it, I hope it worth the wait.....

Hi Puppyslug--

I ran my BB Gilmore with a few other psu's running at slightly different voltages and several iterations of the Gilmore psu with different output caps and ceramic/poly caps. I have to say that the differences between the psu's were very slight thru my Grado 325's and Ety 4P/4S's, but were immediately noticeable when I used the Gilmore amp as a line level preamp driving my McCormack DNA1/Apogee Stages. The differences were mostly in terms of high freq. extension, transparency and soundstaging.

I actually found that when used as a line level preamp, the Gilmore amp was very sensitive to changes in psu components. Again, these changes were much more difficult to pinpoint thru my headphones.

More than the psu, however, I think that you'll find that a stepped attenuator will be an immediate and noticeable improvement in the Gilmore, whether used a headamp or preamp.

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What were the specs of your "Max Out" META42, specifically how many EL 2002s or 2001s and what op amp?

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Thanks LT,

Do you happen to know whether the buffers were EL 2001 or 2002?

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I would bet that Lou's amp had 2001's. I ordered a JMT "max-out" META42 a couple months after Lou and mine has 2001's.

Here's a pic of the inside of my META42:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d.jpg.orig.jpg

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Don't think that the Max out META will cost you much less than a Gilmore, the last quotation prices I got, from some of the DIYers here and there, was around 350.00 completelly MAX OUT, but for 150 more you could get a Gilmore that is a way better amp, so I suggest that is you can afford it, go for the Gilmore, but wait for the new one....And leave the META for portable purposes, that at the end that was the way it was intended to be....