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Violectric HPA V100 or GS-1??

post #1 of 21
3/19/10 at 5:46pm
Thread Starter 
What is you opinion regarding which of these two amplifieres is better?
Have you heard the V100? What's is the sound characteristics?
Thanks.
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post #2 of 21
3/19/10 at 6:52pm
V100. Check my posts.
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post #3 of 21
3/19/10 at 11:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waterlogic View Post
V100. Check my posts.
Checked your posts, not that much really in there.

As for the Lakepeople V100 vs GS-1, I'd really need to audition the V100 but 4 opamps and a 2 pairs of output transistors running off a massive unregulated psu with passive ground channel just doesn't look as nice as the Gilmore Dynalo with a nice quality regulated split supply in the GS-1.
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post #4 of 21
3/20/10 at 12:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FallenAngel View Post
Checked your posts, not that much really in there.

As for the Lakepeople V100 vs GS-1, I'd really need to audition the V100 but 4 opamps and a 2 pairs of output transistors running off a massive unregulated psu with passive ground channel just doesn't look as nice as the Gilmore Dynalo with a nice quality regulated split supply in the GS-1.
True, auditioning both would be fine. I also have not heard GS-1.
As to technicalities here is the user manual V100 :
http://www.audiophysics.hk/downloads...E%20Manual.pdf.

Best would be to ask Mr Fried Reim from Lake People whatever question, I am sure he would be glad to answer for head-fi . He did answer promptly all my emails before I decided to buy the amp.
As said, I tried all possible amps that were suggested for HD 800 within my reach, and V100 shines compared to those.

It would be interesting to learn what amp the developer of HD 800 uses ?
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post #5 of 21
3/20/10 at 2:59am
I asked Mr. Reim some questions about the V200, and here is part of his reply:

For my own opinion, V100 is the best buy as it looks good and sound nearly as good as V200.
Except you are in need of the USB input, then V200 is best.
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post #6 of 21
3/20/10 at 3:10am
Very useful to find tests on the Audiophysics page (downloads) mentioned in waterlogic's post above.
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post #7 of 21
3/20/10 at 3:56pm
I am a "Member of Trade - Manufacturer"
and hope not to be kicked out for answering questions ...

Axel Grell is the developer of HD800.
Sennheiser has got a so called "Hall of Fame" with some headphone amps inside.
Since spring 2009 one of Mr. Grells favorites is HPA V100.
He personally handed over one of three HD800 (a laboratory sample) during 2009 HiEnd exhibition in Munich to be used on Lake People booth.
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post #8 of 21
3/21/10 at 1:33am
Hard to beat the GS1, but good luck getting one new, unless you want to wait 6 months to a yr.
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post #9 of 21
3/21/10 at 6:37pm
Thread Starter 
I already have one with stepped attenuator. The V100 looks very interesting specially the variable input gain and I'm just wondering how it measures against the GS-1. I have not been able to find much about it but so far most is very positive.
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post #10 of 21
5/7/10 at 10:04am

So musicman59, did you find the V100 to be better than the GS-1? If so, with which headphones? In what ways?

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post #11 of 21
5/7/10 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 

I have both amplifiers side by side feed by the same source and using the same power cords and interconnects. I listen to 5 songs that I normally use when comparing or testing equipment. I know those songs very well.

They are:

From The Eagles Hell Freezes Over:
Hotel California Live acoustic and I Can't Tell You Why Live.

From Fleetwood Mack Tusk re-mastered:
Beautiful Child

From Journey Trail by Fire:
Trail by Fire

From Diana Krall The Look Of Love:
The Look Of Love


The GS-1 has a stepped attenuator and it was set in high gain. Its volume was a 12 O'clock. The V100 has the input gain switches to +6 and the volume was at 11 O'clock.Both amplifiers are very good but I think there are some very small differences. I think the bass of the V100 is bigger, stronger and faster. I think because of the bass the midrange and voices have more texture. In the highs are pretty close. The soundsatge is similar in size with the V100 maybe a little bit wider and deeper but the main difference in the soundstage presentation is where you feel sit in relation of it. With the GS-1 is like if you are sitting at about the 5 or 7 row and with the V100 you are more in the 1st or 2nd row. You are basically right there. That's why I think if feels faster and more around you 

One thing I have notice since the beginning and also my friend Adam (Thread here in headfi.com) pointed out 2 days ago when he was here is how quiet the V100 is. The sound is coming out from a very black background like from no where.
Based on the list price of the units where the GS-1 with stepped attenuator is $1,050 and the V100 is $770. In my opinion the V100 is clearly a better deal. Also the powerful bass, speed and closer to the soundstage presentation compensate very well the more relax presentation of the HD800.
If you are thinking in getting the T1 in a point of time the V100 makes them sound better that even my Rudi RP010B and my RSA Apache. The only thing I would recommend you to do is to contact Robert at AphroiduteCu29.com to re-cable them with his Zeus cable. It totally made mine better.


BTW, the voice of Diana Krall and Stevie Nicks were just plain seductive......

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post #12 of 21
5/8/10 at 2:02am

Nice review thanks musicman59.

Good to mention I don´t understand sometimes diy constructors who look at the picture, for instance see gain provide opamps or simple/older topology etc. and they curse it without listen. It is bad attitude..
 

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post #13 of 21
5/10/10 at 9:12am
Thread Starter 

I agree. After reading all those post bashing the opamps in the V100/V200 I contacted Fried to ask about rolling some other ones or upgrading form the factory.

His advice was to listen to the amp first and then decide. The amp as a whole is designed to work with those Opamps.

I listened to it and it sound great! to the point that I am already upgrading to the V200.


Edited by musicman59 - 5/10/10 at 2:13pm
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post #14 of 21
5/17/10 at 5:50pm


Just wondering...did anyone actually roll the opamps in the V100 yet? As musicman said, the amp is designed with the stock opamps in mind, so I'm wondering if replacing them would hold any advantage.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by musicman59 View Post

I agree. After reading all those post bashing the opamps in the V100/V200 I contacted Fried to ask about rolling some other ones or upgrading form the factory.

His advice was to listen to the amp first and then decide. The amp as a whole is designed to work with those Opamps.

I listened to it and it sound great! to the point that I am already upgrading to the V200.

 

BTW, mm, how do you feel about the V200 compared to the GS-1/V100? The 100 and 200 seem similar in their design but I've read that the V200 has a slightly different topology.
 

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post #15 of 21
5/18/10 at 11:33am
Thread Starter 

I have not compared the V200 to the GS-1 yet but to the sound of the V100 the V200 has a little bit less impact in the bass and a little bit less power with high impedance headphones.

On the other hand the V200 has a more refined sound. The midrange has a more liquid sound and the general presentation is sweeter.

 

I will post after I have time to compare it directly to the GS-1.

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