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

[MLegend]

Thanks man. I hope it doesn't because after Tyll on innerfidelity posted measurements for the Violectric V281, I've been kind of avoiding violectric products because the bass roll off on the V281 is ridiculous.
 
Here are the measurements http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/ViolectricV281.pdf
 
I really hope the same implementation isn't on the H10 because I would be kind of scared to open it up and change it knowing I might break it.

 

[stuartmc]

  Thanks man. I hope it doesn't because after Tyll on innerfidelity posted measurements for the Violectric V281, I've been kind of avoiding violectric products because the bass roll off on the V281 is ridiculous.
 
Here are the measurements http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/ViolectricV281.pdf
 
I really hope the same implementation isn't on the H10 because I would be kind of scared to open it up and change it knowing I might break it.

Holy smokes! No wonder they have been telling everyone to disable it.

 

[MLegend]

I know right. Are you sure the H10 doesn't have it?

 

[stuartmc]

99.99% sure.This is what the V200's manual says:
 
"Towards the low end, your HPA V200's frequency response is not restricted at all. This means that even extremely low frequencies - right down to DC - will be amplified. "DC-coupling" as this technique is called, is not necessarily useful since neither DC nor very low frequencies are audible, but may damage your headphones on the other hand. Therefore, the HPA V200 offers a low-frequency limiting option as well. For this purpose, the two “LO-CUT“ jumpers to the left and right of the "VOLUME" control can be swapped from “DC“ to “AC“ position. When set to "AC", low frequency response is limited to 12Hz, again referred to the "3-dB point". See also: technical appendix, page 26." 
 
If you go to page 26, it diagrams physical jumpers on either side of the volume pot. The H10 has a better layout for its volume pot that shortens the signal path, hence the long extension rod from the front control knob to the pot mounted near the back of the board. There are no such jumpers on or near the H10 pot, so no filter is applied.

 

[MLegend]

Yeah i've been reading that manual up and down just to make sure hahaha because you better believe if that stupid bs was applied by default I would change it immediately and give everyone a heads up about it. I haven't opened up my H10 at all so I don't know what the board looks like in person so I wasn't sure if the same jumpers were on there or not. Thank you for letting me know Stuart.I appreciate it. I really wish someone would measure the H10 though, just for real world performance that we all could actually see instead of just reading the specs given. That would be extremely helpful and considering how many people have the H10 as there amp it would benefit a lot of people.

 

[Beamharit]

Hi Guys,
 
Just got X12 + H10 for a week to drive my LCD2.2, I also change to the burson discrete op-amp. I connect via XLR with 0 gain, the volume knob stays at 9 o'clock all the time, is this Ok or should I use -6 gain?
 
I used NFB11 for couple of years after I got Gustard combo I was so impressed.

 

[MLegend]

Well honestly it would ultimately be up to you in the end. If you want more precise volume control then use -6 gain. If 0 gain has plenty of volume for you and no channel imbalance then don't change it. 

 

[MLegend]

Does anyone have any recommendations for opamps to buy? What do they improve from the stock opamps. I'm not going to solder so I am only asking for one that I can just pop in and use. Thank you.

 

[Beamharit]

  Also i thought i should post my op-amp rolling adventure notes here from the results I had with the H10, when I had the bifrost uber in the chain, which i switching to the X12 soon. I described it the best way I could.And I listen to each for a while and took notes.
 
The Combos that I liked
2xLT12132xAD797BRZ =Wide sound stage, Spacious,Tight hard Hitting bass,Airly Sound
2xLT11242xAD797BRZ =Tight Bass that hits hard when needed,Forward Mids,Big Sound Stage, Big Sound stage 
2xLT14892xAD797BRZ =Natural, Tight bass,Big wide Sound stage,Good Mids,Clean Highs
 
 
 
 
The combos that I didn't like
 
2xLME 49860 + 2x LME49990 Bright and flat
2xLME 49860 + 2x LT1363 Bloated bass narrow SS
2xLT1361 +2x LME49990 Netural and Flat
2xLME49860+2xLT1357  Punchy bass,very good SS,Good Depth
2xLT1124+2xLT1357 Good Highs, Lows with soft bass and ok Mids
2xLT1489+LME49990  Tight Bass, Ver small sound stage. Flat Dull, Poor sound image
2xLT1469+AD797BRZ Too Much Mids bass , Tight Accurate bass,Deep bass, Dark
2xLT1469+2x LT1357  Controlled punchy bass,Mid-Bass,Big Sound stage.2
xlt1358+ada797brz = Dark Punch Mid bass and subwoofer bass with dark sounding

There are a lot of op-amp information in this thread if you go back around page 198. I use Burson which give so spacious sound-stage but it make bass less perceive, my system are burning in so let see if bass is getting better. 

 

[MLegend]

Thank you I appreciate it. Would you or anyone else be able to describe the stock op amp sound like all the others are in that post just to get an understanding of what the stock sound would be compared to the others.

 

[genclaymore]

I don't recall what the stock sound was but i knew i didn't like way it sounded so it changed it as fast as I could.
 
I did some more testing some of them was with the same op-amps i used before but this time the Gustard X12 as the dac also as before I wording it the best way i can what it sound like to me. I not that good at wording, I am using the Gustard U12 running I2S to the Gustard X12 into the H10, Prior it was a bifrost uber as the source between the two. I tried op-amps that I did earlier with the gustard X12 and gotten different results so they maybe listed again but with different results then what I had on the bifrost uber. 4x means I using Two pair of single channel op-amps on two Dual to single Adapters.
 
 
2x LT1489 + 2x AD797BRZ= Detailed airly Highs Which are  Bright,Accurate clear Detailed Mids ,Wide and Big 3Dish Sound stage with Tight Lows
4xLT1357+2xAD797BRZ=Smooth Clean highs,Clear forward mids with impact bass, Tight Lows, narrow Sound stage that is 3Dish
2x1213+2x AD797BRZ=too Bright and boomy,Sharp Highs. Too much Details
2xLT1469+2xAD797BRZ= mids,boomy bass Sharp and airly highs ,Uber amount of Detail
2xLT1361+2xAD797BRZ=Netural, but Volume changes in the highs with ramdom songs which can cause harsh
4xLT1363+AD797BRZ=Highs are smooth and clean but Tinny and too much Brightness, Mids are recess with Vocals hiding, Lows is tight and accurate, Sound stage is narrow
2xLT1489+2xLME49990=Clear and clean Highs tad Detailed,Neutral and Accurate mids, Tight Lows with Neutral Sound
4xLT1122ACN+2xAD797BRZ=Highs Detailed clean but can be bit bright, Mids forward clear, Mid bass Tight, Low bass is deep, SS is good
4x1357+2xLT1122ACN=Highs are tad bright, very detailed, Mids are clean and crips tight mid bass, Tight Low bass that goes deep, good SS
4xLT1357+2xLME49990=Smooth and tad Detailed highs,Neutral accurate Mids but a tad recess,Tight lows with wide airily sound stage.
4xLT1357+2xLT1122=Highs  or cleaned but Very Detailed a tad bright and tinny, Tight Mids Clean with accurate bass,Lows are tight, Good SS
2xLT1057+2xLT1122=Mids clear n tight,Lows Deep and tight,Small SS
2xLT1057+2xAD797BRZ=Highs is smoothed while still clean, Mids are tad forward with tight bass with good Vocal, Lows are impact and a bit boomy and  Distorted. Sound Stage is a good but the bass is in your face
2xLT1469 +2xLT1357=Highs clear Very Detailed , Mids was clean and a tad forward with mid bass impact, Lows are Tight and accurate, Sound Stage is good
2xLT1355+AD797BRZ=Smooth Detailed Highs,Neutral Mids with Tad bass impact,Tight Lows 3Dish medium Sound stage
2xLT1489+2xLT1357=Clean and clear highs that are airily, Clean mids with great voical, Tight Lows with a wide and big sound stage
2xLT1469+2xLME49990=Highs was too bright
4xLT1122+2xLME49990=Airly Detailed Highs that are a tad bright,Mids are a tad forward and clear, Lows are Tight Sound stage is huge
2xLT1057+2xLME49990=Smooth clean highs, Mids Neutral, Tad Boomy lows. Small Sound Stage not good depth 2D'sh
2xLT1355+2xLT1122=Smooth Clean Airly Highs, Mids are a tad Forward with Medium Bass impact and Very Good Vocal,Tight Lows with Big Sound Stage
2xLT1355+2xLME49990=Smooth Clean Highs, Mids are neutral with slight bass impact, Tight Lows with Neutral sound stage
2xLT1489+2xLT1122=Smooth Airly Highs with Good Details,Clean  Mids with Great Vocial and Controlled impact-ful bass, Tight Lows with 3Dish Sound Stage and Wide

 

[MLegend]

Jesus that's a lot of information. Thank you I appreciate it very much.

 

[Lohb]

  I don't recall what the stock sound was but i knew i didn't like way it sounded so it changed it as fast as I could.
 
I did some more testing some of them was with the same op-amps i used before but this time the Gustard X12 as the dac also as before I wording it the best way i can what it sound like to me. I not that good at wording, I am using the Gustard U12 running I2S to the Gustard X12 into the H10, Prior it was a bifrost uber as the source between the two. I tried op-amps that I did earlier with the gustard X12 and gotten different results so they maybe listed again but with different results then what I had on the bifrost uber. 4x means I using Two pair of single channel op-amps on two Dual to single Adapters.
 
 
2x LT1489 + 2x AD797BRZ= Detailed airly Highs Which are  Bright,Accurate clear Detailed Mids ,Wide and Big 3Dish Sound stage with Tight Lows
4xLT1357+2xAD797BRZ=Smooth Clean highs,Clear forward mids with impact bass, Tight Lows, narrow Sound stage that is 3Dish
2x1213+2x AD797BRZ=too Bright and boomy,Sharp Highs. Too much Details
2xLT1469+2xAD797BRZ= mids,boomy bass Sharp and airly highs ,Uber amount of Detail
2xLT1361+2xAD797BRZ=Netural, but Volume changes in the highs with ramdom songs which can cause harsh
4xLT1363+AD797BRZ=Highs are smooth and clean but Tinny and too much Brightness, Mids are recess with Vocals hiding, Lows is tight and accurate, Sound stage is narrow
2xLT1489+2xLME49990=Clear and clean Highs tad Detailed,Neutral and Accurate mids, Tight Lows with Neutral Sound
4xLT1122ACN+2xAD797BRZ=Highs Detailed clean but can be bit bright, Mids forward clear, Mid bass Tight, Low bass is deep, SS is good
4x1357+2xLT1122ACN=Highs are tad bright, very detailed, Mids are clean and crips tight mid bass, Tight Low bass that goes deep, good SS
4xLT1357+2xLME49990=Smooth and tad Detailed highs,Neutral accurate Mids but a tad recess,Tight lows with wide airily sound stage.
4xLT1357+2xLT1122=Highs  or cleaned but Very Detailed a tad bright and tinny, Tight Mids Clean with accurate bass,Lows are tight, Good SS
2xLT1057+2xLT1122=Mids clear n tight,Lows Deep and tight,Small SS
2xLT1057+2xAD797BRZ=Highs is smoothed while still clean, Mids are tad forward with tight bass with good Vocal, Lows are impact and a bit boomy and  Distorted. Sound Stage is a good but the bass is in your face
2xLT1469 +2xLT1357=Highs clear Very Detailed , Mids was clean and a tad forward with mid bass impact, Lows are Tight and accurate, Sound Stage is good
2xLT1355+AD797BRZ=Smooth Detailed Highs,Neutral Mids with Tad bass impact,Tight Lows 3Dish medium Sound stage
2xLT1489+2xLT1357=Clean and clear highs that are airily, Clean mids with great voical, Tight Lows with a wide and big sound stage
2xLT1469+2xLME49990=Highs was too bright
4xLT1122+2xLME49990=Airly Detailed Highs that are a tad bright,Mids are a tad forward and clear, Lows are Tight Sound stage is huge
2xLT1057+2xLME49990=Smooth clean highs, Mids Neutral, Tad Boomy lows. Small Sound Stage not good depth 2D'sh
2xLT1355+2xLT1122=Smooth Clean Airly Highs, Mids are a tad Forward with Medium Bass impact and Very Good Vocal,Tight Lows with Big Sound Stage
2xLT1355+2xLME49990=Smooth Clean Highs, Mids are neutral with slight bass impact, Tight Lows with Neutral sound stage
2xLT1489+2xLT1122=Smooth Airly Highs with Good Details,Clean  Mids with Great Vocial and Controlled impact-ful bass, Tight Lows with 3Dish Sound Stage and Wide

This is a thumbs up x10 post.
 
It really should be added to the first post along with a lot of Stu's experiments...it will get lost in the thread.
When is that H20 coming out ????

 

[Noodlz]

@genclaymore thats awesome info, couple of questions, how'd you mount the LT's and The AD797s? As i understand the BRZs are not snap-ons like the ANZ's right? I'm thinking of trying the following pairing you mentioned. Any recommendations / tips on where to get these and installing them to the H10? Thanks!
 
 
2x LT1489 + 2x AD797BRZ
 
2x LT1355 + 2x LT1122
 
2x LT1489 + 2x LT1122

 

[genclaymore]

I bought my AD797BRZ from Audio_chn but hes located on china i think it took a week to get to me i don't recall. They come already attach to a adapter from him.I got the Linear LT Op-amps from Digikey. The op-amp sockets at the rear where the RCA/XLR dip switches are located is the op-amp socket for dual channel op-amps, such as LT1489 and 1355. The op-amp sockets on the long side of the Gustard H10, is the Single channel op-amp sockets. Also when you do install them make sure the notches or the U on the adapter that the AD797 is on matches the notch that is on the socket. Same with the circle on the op-amps or some times a small 1.