Tech2
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Posts
- 1,041
- Likes
- 10
First a bit of where I'm coming from:
I picked up a NAD C 512BEE a few weeks ago. I figured a new source was in order, and had read that the 512BEE was a decent bang-for-the-buck player. I had been using a Toshiba DVD player (un-modded 3900).
My previous amp was a PortaphileV2. It's a very nice little amp, well made, with very nice sound for it's dimunitive size. Coupled with my Grado 325i, however, the highs were a tad fatiguing, considering the amp uses 8610 opamps. I never really considered this to be a problem, since I prefer a "brighter" sounding set-up.
Well, today, my headphome listening has irreversibly changed.
Upon getting my new Lite, I was immediately impressed with the build quality. Nice small package, beautiful fit and finish. I also like that the amp has a 1/4" headphone jack rather than a 1/8". That and the RCA connections VS a 1/8" input jack. (In fairness to the Portaphile, I realize I'm compating a portable amp to a "home" amp. I'm just happy to no longer have to use adapters and such with my new Lite.)
So, how about the sound?
I popped my copy of the Gladiator soundtrack, and the absolute very first thing I noticed is that the Lite does a fabulous job of taming the highs of the 325i. The highs are still there, but far less sibilant, and certainly not the least bit fatiguing.
Next up was Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas Flood. Same thing. Great resolution and detail, without the glaring highs. Bass seemed a bit tighter, mids are well defined.
So there you have it: My decidedly un-audiophile-like first impressions of the Gilmore Lite. All of the things I have read in these forums about the Lite pairing nicely with Grados is apparently true, to these ears anyway.
A final note: This is in no way intended as a negative directed at the Portaphile. It's a great little amp, which I will be using at work with the Toshiba player and my SR-60s.
I picked up a NAD C 512BEE a few weeks ago. I figured a new source was in order, and had read that the 512BEE was a decent bang-for-the-buck player. I had been using a Toshiba DVD player (un-modded 3900).
My previous amp was a PortaphileV2. It's a very nice little amp, well made, with very nice sound for it's dimunitive size. Coupled with my Grado 325i, however, the highs were a tad fatiguing, considering the amp uses 8610 opamps. I never really considered this to be a problem, since I prefer a "brighter" sounding set-up.
Well, today, my headphome listening has irreversibly changed.
Upon getting my new Lite, I was immediately impressed with the build quality. Nice small package, beautiful fit and finish. I also like that the amp has a 1/4" headphone jack rather than a 1/8". That and the RCA connections VS a 1/8" input jack. (In fairness to the Portaphile, I realize I'm compating a portable amp to a "home" amp. I'm just happy to no longer have to use adapters and such with my new Lite.)
So, how about the sound?
I popped my copy of the Gladiator soundtrack, and the absolute very first thing I noticed is that the Lite does a fabulous job of taming the highs of the 325i. The highs are still there, but far less sibilant, and certainly not the least bit fatiguing.
Next up was Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas Flood. Same thing. Great resolution and detail, without the glaring highs. Bass seemed a bit tighter, mids are well defined.
So there you have it: My decidedly un-audiophile-like first impressions of the Gilmore Lite. All of the things I have read in these forums about the Lite pairing nicely with Grados is apparently true, to these ears anyway.
A final note: This is in no way intended as a negative directed at the Portaphile. It's a great little amp, which I will be using at work with the Toshiba player and my SR-60s.
