GoldPlanar GL2000 Thread

[FullBright1]

The hybrid pads that come with them are better than the stock leather pads as it adds more soundstage while only sliiightly affecting the low-end.

Overall, an excellent value for around $600 USD, though definitely not the best pair of headsets that you'll ever hear.

Zeos also said the hybrid pads sound best.

And, why are they not the best sounding headphones we'll ever hear?
What's wrong with their sound that prevents this??? ?

Also, what set(s) of headphones that you own, sound better, to you?

 

[FYFL]

I have had these double sided GL2000s for a while and have been posting about them with comparisons to my other gear in the Chinese equipment thread!

The hybrid pads that come with them are better than the stock leather pads as it adds more soundstage while only sliiightly affecting the low-end.

Overall, an excellent value for around $600 USD, though definitely not the best pair of headsets that you'll ever hear.

Transients, soundstage, dynamics, details and low end are great, with emphasis on transients and macro details, however, I find that the Mids are slightly recessed and both male and female vocals miss some punch. Tested on Chord stack and DAPs (DX300 & Cayin N6ii A01) with and without the powerful Romi Audio & Less Fox BX-2 Plus.

How they stock up to other planars as far as power requirement is concern, and should I order/make replacement cable? I don’t care for 4.4 balanced connector and wire looks like something I would use on IEMs.

 

[MSA1133]

Zeos also said the hybrid pads sound best.

And, why are they not the best sounding headphones we'll ever hear?
What's wrong with their sound that prevents this??? ?

Also, what set(s) of headphones that you own, sound better, to you?

Upper mids and vocals are impacted when compared to other headphones. If you value vocals, these will not be your first option. For Soundtrack music, these excel, for example.

I agree with Andrew regarding the LCD-X,the GLs are great but could be considered as a side grade and a different presentation of sound at that level. The HEDDphones are fast and more visceral with great vocal presentation for metal. Diana V2s are also more detailed, smoother and coherent. They also have better controlled and textured low-end. Finally, the SR1As, Abyss 1266 TCs and Utopia are a cooompleeeeetly different league... Leagues even, but it isn't a fair comparision given the price points.

All in all, excellent value and remarkable build quality.

 

[MSA1133]

How they stock up to other planars as far as power requirement is concern, and should I order/make replacement cable? I don’t care for 4.4 balanced connector and wire looks like something I would use on IEMs.

They ran fine on the DX300 4.4 balanced port which has 1.24 W on 32Ω load. But they got better performance with more quality power coming from the Chord Hugo TT2 and the portable Romi Audio BX-2 Plus Class A amplifier. Bass is tighter, soundstage is wider, slightly better details and layering. The bass slam is there when connected to both the DAP and desktop/dedicated amp setups which was pretty good.

Edit: No issues with the cable, it's a good length and doesn't get janky/tied up. Straight and flexible with no microphonics. Haven't tested other cables on the GLs, though.

 

[FYFL]

They ran fine on the DX300 4.4 balanced port which has 1.24 W on 32Ω load. But they got better performance with more quality power coming from the Chord Hugo TT2 and the portable Romi Audio BX-2 Plus Class A amplifier. Bass is tighter, soundstage is wider, slightly better details and layering. The bass slam is there when connected to both the DAP and desktop/dedicated amp setups which was pretty good.

Edit: No issues with the cable, it's a good length and doesn't get janky/tied up. Straight and flexible with no microphonics. Haven't tested other cables on the GLs, though.

So they do scale well with more refined gear? That’s very optimist as it gives some room for fine-tuning. I take that you haven’t tried it on tube amp to see if that option works? OTL tube amp probably isn’t the way to go but direct coupled tube amp might be able to push it just enough to get it over the hump. It might add some of that euphoric qualities and tame those upper mids/ lower highs a bit?
Im very curious what they sound like now...... and can’t wait to get that Drop box on my doorstep.

 

[FullBright1]

Upper mids and vocals are impacted when compared to other headphones. If you value vocals, these will not be your first option. For Soundtrack music, these excel, for example.
I agree with Andrew regarding the LCD-X,the GLs are great but could be considered as a side grade and a different presentation of sound at that level. The HEDDphones are fast and more visceral with great vocal presentation for metal. Diana V2s are also more detailed, smoother and coherent. They also have better controlled and textured low-end. Finally, the SR1As, Abyss 1266 TCs and Utopia are a cooompleeeeetly different league... Leagues even, but it isn't a fair comparision given the price points.
All in all, excellent value and remarkable build quality.

What do you mean when you say that the GL2000's mids are " impacted"..

You can say that about every set of headphones, as compared to every other set.
So, that's kinda moot = utterly vague.

I could say that all the Abyss gear has a impacted treble as compared to the Senn HD600, and in fact that is a fact....but, does that mean the Abyss Treble is not great?

Next...

The LCK GX are not a primes sound, if we are discussing summit fi., so, if you think it is, i'll have to give you a psss on your evaluation of the GL2000, no offense intended.
As, If we are comparing the LCD-GX to gaming sets, then, they are very fine, but as true audiophile gear, they dont really compete with anything that costs $1000.
They are woody, dull, soft sounding, mid-toned, and the bass is reserved and strange.
They are trying to be flat and neutral, and that is what you get.

Abyss Diana2, have too much bass, but are quite detailed, and in fact, very lean sounding....
If you compared them to the Rosson Rad-O, for example, you would think you were listening to nothing but treble.
So, im not sure if what you are listing as your comparisons, are world class audiophile sound..., but as lot of people like microscopes on their ears and believe this is "audiophile sound" then ,those you listed, do that well, except for the GX, which does not.

And the Abyss 1266.... that's an odd tho beautiful bird, as its not a musical sounding gear, but its not designed to sound musical, its designed to sound like microscopic details on steroids.
I like that, but, its not something that you want to hear for hours...

Ok then, i'll get the GL's soon, and then i'll let the reader's here know if they should put them on the short list.

thanks a lot.

 

[MSA1133]

So they do scale well with more refined gear? That’s very optimist as it gives some room for fine-tuning. I take that you haven’t tried it on tube amp to see if that option works? OTL tube amp probably isn’t the way to go but direct coupled tube amp might be able to push it just enough to get it over the hump. It might add some of that euphoric qualities and tame those upper mids/ lower highs a bit?
Im very curious what they sound like now...... and can’t wait to get that Drop box on my doorstep.

Yup! Now that you mention it, I have a Cayin HA-6A tube amp that I haven't tested the GLs on! Time for some experiments!

 

[MSA1133]

What do you mean when you say that the GL2000's mids are " impacted"..

You can say that about every set of headphones, as compared to every other set.
So, that's kinda moot = utterly vague.

I could say that all the Abyss gear has a impacted treble as compared to the Senn HD600, and in fact that is a fact....but, does that mean the Abyss Treble is not great?

Next...

The LCK GX are not a primes sound, if we are discussing summit fi., so, if you think it is, i'll have to give you a psss on your evaluation of the GL2000, no offense intended.
As, If we are comparing the LCD-GX to gaming sets, then, they are very fine, but as true audiophile gear, they dont really compete with anything that costs $1000.
They are woody, dull, soft sounding, mid-toned, and the bass is reserved and strange.
They are trying to be flat and neutral, and that is what you get.

Abyss Diana2, have too much bass, but are quite detailed, and in fact, very lean sounding....
If you compared them to the Rosson Rad-O, for example, you would think you were listening to nothing but treble.
So, im not sure if what you are listing as your comparisons, are world class audiophile sound..., but as lot of people like microscopes on their ears and believe this is "audiophile sound" then ,those you listed, do that well, except for the GX, which does not.

And the Abyss 1266.... that's an odd tho beautiful bird, as its not a musical sounding gear, but its not designed to sound musical, its designed to sound like microscopic details on steroids.
I like that, but, its not something that you want to hear for hours...

Ok then, i'll get the GL's soon, and then i'll let the reader's here know if they should put them on the short list.

thanks a lot.

Oh sorry, I'm not an audiophile and English isn't my first language, I apologize if I sounded wrong.

About the LCDs, I meant the LCD-X, not the GX. It has a close sound signature to the GLs.

No problems at all I'm sure you and many others will enjoy it and have fun listening to your music which is the most important thing! I know I am.

 

[FYFL]

Yup! Now that you mention it, I have a Cayin HA-6A tube amp that I haven't tested the GLs on! Time for some experiments!

Definitely. That’s a nice amp. It would be a shame not to try it out. You never know, it might just work.

 

[FullBright1]

Oh sorry, I'm not an audiophile and English isn't my first language, I apologize if I sounded wrong.

About the LCDs, I meant the LCD-X, not the GX. It has a close sound signature to the GLs.

No problems at all I'm sure you and many others will enjoy it and have fun listening to your music which is the most important thing!

Yes, i understand.
Thank you.

Ahhhhhh, the LCD-X.
Its STILL the best selling Audeze Headphone.
Its STILL the most used Headphone, found in recording studios, in all of Europe, to mix and master.

I suspect that the outstanding Rosson Rad-0 is going to take that Crown, as time moves along.

 

[FYFL]

Ok then, i'll get the GL's soon, and then i'll let the reader's here know if they should put them on the short list.

You’re a lifesaver.

 

[PcChip]

My GL2000 Double Magnets are scheduled to arrive Monday, the same day as my ARES II ! I'll post up my impressions when I can

 

[FYFL]

I wonder how hard it would be to find pads for these headphones to experiment with tuning?

 

[Mhog55]

They ran fine on the DX300 4.4 balanced port which has 1.24 W on 32Ω load. But they got better performance with more quality power coming from the Chord Hugo TT2 and the portable Romi Audio BX-2 Plus Class A amplifier. Bass is tighter, soundstage is wider, slightly better details and layering. The bass slam is there when connected to both the DAP and desktop/dedicated amp setups which was pretty good.

Edit: No issues with the cable, it's a good length and doesn't get janky/tied up. Straight and flexible with no microphonics. Haven't tested other cables on the GLs, though.

With the DX300, how far from full potential are we talking?

 

[MSA1133]

With the DX300, how far from full potential are we talking?

Close to a Class A amp that outputs 5.3W to 32Ohms load. It'll be subjective and will differ from person to person, but it was enough to get me lost in the music!

With more clean power, the drivers played to their strengths and added abit more details, separation, layering & depth. It took me a while to remove them from my head and finally go to bed as the sound got more addicting.