GUSTARD H10 High-current Discrete Class A output Stage Headphone Amplifier

[lukeap69]

Now that you have me thinking about this, I have to say that it is almost impossible to tell whether the difference is on the H10 input side or the DACs output side. Another head-fier sent me a private message about his Aune S16 and said the xlr outputs sounded way better than the single ended ones. I had attributed the improvement solely to the H10 when in fact it is more likely a combination of the two.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. The DAC balanced output is also another factor to consider so different DAC may have different result. Oh, well...

 

[zilch0md]

  My H10 sounds more tubey than my hybrid Lyr 2. Yeah, I know it's crazy. 

 
Thanks for the warning!  

 
I'm getting less and less interested in getting the H10 for my HD800, but my attention has shifted to the idea of using it with the LCD-2 and PM-1.

 

[Schopenhauer]

   
Thanks for the warning!  

 
I'm getting less and less interested in getting the H10 for my HD800, but my attention has shifted to the idea of using it with the LCD-2 and PM-1.

The LCD-2F + H10 is epic. I'm starting to think it's a better pairing with the H10 than the HE-500. Or, at least, that I may very well prefer the combo. With the +6dB pregain enabled, the LCD-2F + H10 is like a kick in the face that doesn't hurt: There's so much impact, so much obvious timbre, but, at the same time, so much butter (i.e., it's so smooth!)!

 

[stuartmc]

Ha!...a kick in face that doesn't hurt. I like that. We used to call that "jump factor" but I like your expression better

 

[lukeap69]

   
Thanks for the warning!  

 
I'm getting less and less interested in getting the H10 for my HD800, but my attention has shifted to the idea of using it with the LCD-2 and PM-1.

I would agree Mike. It is still a good amp for the HD800 but I like the pairing more with my PM-1 and Q701. 

 

[Schopenhauer]

Anyone here have experience pairing the Alpha Dog with the H10?

 

[doco]

welp order the H10 just now. i will do the usual burn-ins for the he-560 and H10. happy holidays! it looks like i won't be disappointed when i read through the thread a third time.

 

[Schopenhauer]

  welp order the H10 just now. i will do the usual burn-ins for the he-560 and H10. happy holidays! it looks like i won't be disappointed when i read through the thread a third time.

I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed. The H10 makes the HE-500 come alive. I can only imagine what it will do with the HE-560, which is supposedly less demanding.

 

[Schopenhauer]

I've got an Alpha Dog on the way! After I've spent some time with them -- psychoacoustic burn-in etc. -- with a number of different amps, I'll post my impression of the Alpha Dog + H10 pairing. 

 

[lukeap69]

I've got an Alpha Dog on the way! After I've spent some time with them -- psychoacoustic burn-in etc. -- with a number of different amps, I'll post my impression of the Alpha Dog + H10 pairing. 

That would be nice.

 

[swannie007]

Well, got home today and opened up and connected the X10 to the H10 and........what a letdown!!!!! Maybe I am doing something wrong but it sounds like crap! I am very disappointed. The Rotel RDD-06 sounds much better with the H10. At first I thought there was something wrong with my interconnects so I changed them with some others that I know are good, no luck. Then I thought my cans might be the problem so I swopped them out, same. I have changed the USB cable as well but no luck. It sounds like my headphones have a blown driver and the sound is all fuzzy. I am going to let it settle in for a few hours and try different tracks and see if that helps. About 50% of the tracks I play sound like crap and the others are fine, sort of. Maybe I just have a lot of not too good recordings and this DAC just reveals it. Oh well, I have ordered some nice new usb cables and interconnects(Balanced), hopefully they will sort this out. I am going to try a few other things like moving my wireless router and a few other little things and see if it improves. As I type this, there is a Greg Karukis track playing and it sounds just fine so maybe it needs time to settle in and it needs to be fed with premium recordings! Oh well, I'll move back from the ledge now. Merry Xmas and Happy New Years to all of you out there from "Down Under". Cheers, Swannie.    

 

[stuartmc]

Swannie my lad, take heart and step way back from that ledge. The H10 has quite a steep break in curve. It goes from do-do to meh, to omg in about 50 hours. Unless you have something else very wrong going on, I'll make a very large wager that you are experiencing the same thing that many of us have.

 

[stuartmc]

If you go back and read my early comments, I said that I almost wanted to hang myself with the interconnects! Lol

 

[stuartmc]

On a brighter note, Polychen has confirmed shipment of the X12 and I should have it inside of a week. It will be squaring off against the Aune S16.... I'm thinking Roman coliseum gladiator last dac standing mayhem, ha ha.

 

[stuartmc]

Oops.... Wait a second, you're talking about the X10, not the H10! My bad, lol. I think the same Gustard break in rule may apply nonetheless. Gustard uses the same robust transformers and caps in both units and there is even more "stuff" in the signal path with the DAC.