HeadAmp GS-X: Balanced and single-ended questions,etc.:

[daltonlanny]

Hello,
I just purchased a used HeadAmp GS-X from a Headfi member, and should be getting it at the end of the week.

In the meantime, I have a few questions about its operations when using either the single-ended RCA inputs, or when using the balanced inputs on the back of the unit:
1. When using the BALANCED outputs from a CD player into the BALANCED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the single-ended headphone jacks on the front of the GS-X work at all?
2. When using the SINGLE-ENDED outputs from a CD player into the SINGLE-ENDED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the XLR output jacks for the headphone connection, on front of the GS-X, work at all?
3. When using a balanced source, the balanced outputs on the GS-X, and balanced headphones, how much more power output is acheived at the headphone as opposed to using the single-ended outputs on the same cd player, the single-ended inputs on the back of the GS-X, and the normal headphone jack at the same level on the volume control knob?
4.To those who own or have owned the HeadAmp GS-X, does it sound better with its stock power cord, or an upgrade one?
Does it sound better overall with copper or silver interconnects, and/or copper or silver headphone upgrade cables?
5. Are the steps on the DACT stepped attenuator volume control pretty small, or kind of big and annoying when trying to get the exact level you want?
Is the DACT sonically superior to the Blue Velvet ALPS used on the GS-1?
Thanks so much for your help!

 

[vcoheda]

congrats on the purchase. i suppose for most - if not all - of these questions, you will be able to answer them yourself in short time.

enjoy balanced bliss

 

[SR-71Panorama]

I just put in an order for a silver GS-1 with the stepped attenuator, based on reading the comments from reviews, etc, that seem to think it provides a slightly 'sweeter' sound, with better channel balance and clarity. I think in general it is accepted that S.A. are simply better than continuous volume knobs, technically speaking. ( I am also planning on getting an Apache, but will be using this until I have more money available, and have balanced headphone cables) .

So I would have to assume based on comments and general consensus that the DACT is an improvement for all applicable amps it may be installed in.

I will be pairing my GS1 with a Bel Canto Dac3 I just ordered, which has both XLR and RCA, but you could use XLR-to-RCA interconnects too, as far as I know.

Thats all I can comment on, having never heard the GSX, or any balanced source.

**edit** oh and congrats!

 

[daltonlanny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif congrats on the purchase. i suppose for most - if not all - of these questions, you will be able to answer them yourself in short time. enjoy balanced bliss

Thanks vcoheda and SR-71 Panorama!
Looking forward to trying balanced on the 650's!
I also have a used pair of Signal Cable Silver Resolution Reference balanced XLR interconnects, and a used SAA Equinox balanced Sennheiser cable on the way as well. I guess I will get to find out just how far the Cambridge Azur 840c can go sonically.

 

[daltonlanny]

Hey ASR,
Since you owned the GS-X for a while, can you add some comments on my questions above?
Thanks!

 

[Deiz]

There is an input switch - All headphone outputs work all the time with the inputs that are selected, meaning you could have 2 single-ended and one balanced pair of headphones playing at the same time, regardless of whether you were using RCA or XLR inputs.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

1. When using the BALANCED outputs from a CD player into the BALANCED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the single-ended headphone jacks on the front of the GS-X work at all?

Indeed they do, so you can actually drive three headphones at the same time if you wanted to - as long as they all have a similar impedance rating of course.

Quote:

2. When using the SINGLE-ENDED outputs from a CD player into the SINGLE-ENDED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the XLR output jacks for the headphone connection, on front of the GS-X, work at all?

It doesn't work this way though, at least I don't think it did.

Quote:

3. When using a balanced source, the balanced outputs on the GS-X, and balanced headphones, how much more power output is acheived at the headphone as opposed to using the single-ended outputs on the same cd player, the single-ended inputs on the back of the GS-X, and the normal headphone jack at the same level on the volume control knob?

This depends on how much voltage the CD player is supplying on RCA vs XLR. Most CDPs double the voltage on XLR, so you'd get twice the volume when switching between RCA and XLR. Some CDPs keep the RCA and XLR voltage the same, in that case the volume between the two would be constant. CA doesn't publish this spec on their spec sheet for the 840C, but I'd guess they double the voltage on XLR.

Quote:

4.To those who own or have owned the HeadAmp GS-X, does it sound better with its stock power cord, or an upgrade one? Does it sound better overall with copper or silver interconnects, and/or copper or silver headphone upgrade cables?

Never tried an aftermarket power cord with the GS-X while I owned it so I don't know. As far as the subject of copper vs silver, that's entirely a preference thing, and also dependent on which specific interconnects you use since not all copper and silver ICs are designed equally. I prefer silver for an even-order frequency balance. In your case I'd probably recommend copper to go with your 840C, if it's anything like the 640C V2 which I found to have a painfully harsh treble with the Signal Cable Silver Res Analog - it fared much better with the copper-based Audioquest Python.

Quote:

5. Are the steps on the DACT stepped attenuator volume control pretty small, or kind of big and annoying when trying to get the exact level you want? Is the DACT sonically superior to the Blue Velvet ALPS used on the GS-1? Thanks so much for your help!

The steps on the DACT adjust the volume noticeably, but the three-way gain switch allows you to fine-tune things for precise control.

kontai69 wrote a review here sonically comparing the Blue Velvet ALPS against the DACT on the GS-1, search around for it.

 

[daltonlanny]

Thanks guys for the very informative and helpful replies so far!
I appreciate them very much.

 

[humanflyz]

2. When using the SINGLE-ENDED outputs from a CD player into the SINGLE-ENDED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the XLR output jacks for the headphone connection, on front of the GS-X, work at all?

Actually it does work, the signal going to the headphone just isn't balanced.

As for power, the power increase is actually four-fold, since balanced theoretically delivers twice the voltage and twice the current, so it's 2x2 =4. But this is all theoretical.

 

[daltonlanny]

Hey ASR,
Just out of curiousity, what did you not like about the sound of the GS-X?
What were its sonic weaknesses, in your opinion, that made you decide that you wanted to sell it?
Thanks.

 

[ken36]

Be patient for the amp to arrive. the amp itself will answer all of you're questions. It's a great amp. I sold mine because of space constraints. I only used balanced headphone outputs.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltonlanny /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey ASR, Just out of curiousity, what did you not like about the sound of the GS-X? What were its sonic weaknesses, in your opinion, that made you decide that you wanted to sell it? Thanks.

I sold the GS-X for reasons I'd prefer to not disclose, sorry.

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif I sold the GS-X for reasons I'd prefer to not disclose, sorry.

???!?!?

 

[feifan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanflyz /img/forum/go_quote.gif 2. When using the SINGLE-ENDED outputs from a CD player into the SINGLE-ENDED inputs on the back of the GS-X, do the XLR output jacks for the headphone connection, on front of the GS-X, work at all? Actually it does work, the signal going to the headphone just isn't balanced.

Hmmm. I've never experienced the GS-X so I may be totally wrong, but if the headphones are balanced, wouldn't the signal, too, be balanced -- regardless of whether the source is SE or balanced?

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by feifan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmmm. I've never experienced the GS-X so I may be totally wrong, but if the headphones are balanced, wouldn't the signal, too, be balanced -- regardless of whether the source is SE or balanced?

no. the GSX doesn't have a phase splitter like the HR or Rudistor amps. those amps can work balanced from a SE or Bal source. the GSX only works balanced from a balanced source.