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Headamp GS-X : Long-term satisfaction? Still competitive using newer phones? Thank you.

post #1 of 20
6/18/10 at 9:21am
Thread Starter 

The Headamp GS-X has been out for a few years, and I was just would like to ask if it is providing long-term satisfaction from

owners or anyone who is familiar with it. I notice that it rarely comes up for sale used, if ever, and I would guess that's

a good sign.

 

How does it perform with the newer crop of headphones (HD-800s, PS1000s, T1s, say)?

(Most of the reviews are with older phones.)

 

Have there been any reliability issues?

 

I am asking this because I am considering one and have not seen any recent comments on it, so thanks in advance.

 

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post #2 of 20
6/18/10 at 2:30pm

I've had previous experience with the Headamp GS-1 (which I sold a few years ago) but still have my portable Headamp AE-2.  I just put in an order for a GS-X about three months ago, which I'm hoping will be ready relatively soon.  I have no reason to doubt that the HD800s will be a great match with the GS-X.   I base this on the following:

 

When the HD800s came out, I decided to go balanced and was mulling over several balanced amps, and for a number of reasons, decided to try out the new Headroom UDAC and BUDA -- a few preliminary reports suggested this was a "good match" for the HD800s (there is a lesson here - don't always believe what you read!)   I no longer had my GS-1 at that time (bad mistake!!).   So I lived with the BUDA/UDAC for about 7 months but after extensive listening with the HD800s, felt that something was just not quite right, even with a Cardas recabling for the phones.   Out of curiosity, I tried running the HD800s from my portable (AE-2) and was nearly bowled over with what I heard -- even though a portable, the AE-2 brought the HD800s back to life.   Certainly the AE-2 is not a GS-X by any means, but all of the Headamps - portable and desktop - have a very similar sound signature, with an emphasis on transparency.   The bottom line is that although the GS-X may not be the very latest "amp du jour",  it is a very solid, classic design that has stood the test of time.  I should add that Headamp products are of outstanding build quality and have an excellent track record in terms of long term reliability.   I am eagerly awaiting my GS-X!

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post #3 of 20
6/18/10 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you tw very much for that insight. Some extensive reading here leaves me with an almost unanimous highly positive

impression from a decent number of intelligent people, and the sound signature seems just what I want.

Yep, it looks like a pretty solid bet. Best to you.


Edited by rgs9200m - 6/18/10 at 5:18pm
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post #4 of 20
6/19/10 at 1:25am

Yes, it's still at the top of the scale of headphone amps, it's competing with the beta 22 up there, Dreadhead uses one for the HD 800 I think.


Edited by khaos974 - 6/19/10 at 1:26am
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post #5 of 20
6/19/10 at 6:33am
Thread Starter 

Thank you. Yep, after considerable agonizing, I'm going with the gsx. The Beta22 seems to be a constant work in progress to me

without a clearly defined stable provider with warranty, support, track record, etc.

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post #6 of 20
6/19/10 at 10:20am

Yeah, the Headamp GS-1 and GS-X are still "state of the art" solid state amps, but the wait time is supposedly now 6 months for these amps because most of the focus is on building Picos.  On another thread I read of someone who finally cancelled his order because he still hadn't received a GS-1 nine months after placing an order.  I have nothing against Headamp, but think those kind of wait times are just too long, especially when customers are prepaying for these amp. 

 

Justin should work like Craig Uthus of Eddie Current and announce limited build runs of the GS-1 and GS-X, take names and deposits on a first come first serve basis at the start of a build run, and then ship out the amps when the build run is complete 6 to 8 weeks later. 

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post #7 of 20
6/19/10 at 10:52am

I'm still enjoying my GS-X with K1000s after owning it for close to two years.   It's a fine amp.

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post #8 of 20
6/19/10 at 11:02am

I have yet to see a negative review of the GS-X. In fact, I know a couple people who prefer it to their Beta22.

Asr wrote an excellent review on it that I think is worth reading. A quick search will bring it up.

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post #9 of 20
6/19/10 at 10:06pm
Thread Starter 

bump


Edited by rgs9200m - 6/19/10 at 11:30pm
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post #10 of 20
6/19/10 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 

Has anyone by any chance heard a GSX with Grado PS1000s or Beyer T1s ?

Also, any thoughts on a Sony XA5400ES CD Player as a source?

Thanks again.

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post #11 of 20
6/20/10 at 12:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgs9200m View PostThe Beta22 seems to be a constant work in progress to me

without a clearly defined stable provider with warranty, support, track record, etc.


The beta22 is a diy project and the gsx is a retail product. By definition one has warranty with full support and the other doesn't (that being said Ti/AMB is very helpful).

The design/boards/builds has/have been finalized for years, it is up to you how crazy the build is that you wish to undertake.

There is a canonical choice of a "maxed out build" too.

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post #12 of 20
6/20/10 at 12:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nattonrice View Post


The beta22 is a diy project and the gsx is a retail product. By definition one has warranty with full support and the other doesn't (that being said Ti/AMB is very helpful).

The design/boards/builds has/have been finalized for years, it is up to you how crazy the build is that you wish to undertake.

There is a canonical choice of a "maxed out build" too.


The GSX is a Dynalo which is a DIY design.  Now I'm sure that Justin has done some circuit changes over the stock schematic and optimizations as some parts have become out of production over the years.  However it is theoretically possible to replicate the GSX.  The only iffy thing would be the saework, but if you have the money to spend I'm sure you could get a pretty spiffy case going for a Dynamid build as well.

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post #13 of 20
6/20/10 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by itsborken View Post

I'm still enjoying my GS-X with K1000s after owning it for close to two years.   It's a fine amp.


Could you comment on this combination please. I am curious and there is also a thread in the high-end forum asking how they pair together.
 

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post #14 of 20
6/21/10 at 7:47am
Thread Starter 

Quick question: can/should the GS-X amp and power supply be used with one stacked atop the other? Thanks.

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post #15 of 20
6/23/10 at 11:27am

I just read Dreadhead's excellent Head-Fi review that compared the GS-X and B22 -- balanced.

 

His conclusion was that they are, for all practical purposes, identical in SQ. This was written a couple of years ago so he might have changed his mind since.

 

Anyway, I have concerns about the comparison. Primary is the power supply. The GS-X, I believe, comes in 2 separate cases, one for the dual amps and one for the dual ps. The B22 unit that he used for comparison was housed in a single case, with dual amps and a single s22 ps.

 

Most -- if not all -- b22 builders today would strongly recommend 2 separate cases -- one for the 4-board dual amps and one for the dual s22 ps.

 

Dreadhead felt that the single s22 ps was more than sufficient, but I believe most balanced users would agree that no less than a dual is acceptable.

 

I'm not sure if the results would be different, but eliminating the differences in configuration might result in a different conclusion.


Edited by feifan - 6/23/10 at 11:29am
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