[morphsci]

Well currently this is a placeholder for my impressions/review of the Headamp GS-X. For a previous excellent review of this amp please see Asr's Head-Fi Review. This is the exact same amp I will be reviewing here so I will try to make my review complementary to Asr's masterpiece.

The system consists of:
Source: Modded Eastsound E5 (See Here For Mod Details)
Power Conditioning: PS Audio P500 into PS Audio UPC-200
IC: Grover S Balanced
PC: GS-X - PS Audio Mini-Lab, E5 - Cardas TwinLink, UPC-200 & P500 - PS Audio xStream Statement

There are other components to this system (See my profile and second image below) but they are not connected in a way that should make any sonic contributions

Headphones - SE (Single-Ended)
AKG K340 - Headphile modded, BlackMax Cabling
Grado HP-1 w Signature Laboratory Standard Cable
Senn HD650 standard cable

Headphones - Balanced
AKG K340 - Headphile modded, BlackGold Cabling & XLR-RCA BlackGold Adapter
Senn HD650 standard cable XLR & XLR-RCA Standard Cable Adapter

I will start with the unbalanced phones since I am currently waiting on the balanced K340 and then proceed with some comparisons of the balanced and SE phones.

I am currently deciding upon the review CDs (sorry I'm old school, I listen to "albums" not tracks) using primarily the SE K340. As an initial impression let me use a phrase I used quite a bit growing up in Chicago, "Dis amp has Bawlsss!" (Think George Wendt and Chris Farley discussing "Da Bearsss" on Saturday Night Live). The K340 is a power hog and many good amps do not drive it very well. Not so the GS-X. If you look at Asr's review you will see why. A great big he-man power supply. I like great big power supplies (and no I do not think I am compensating

) as they provide that extra headroom that is necessary to get that last little bit of high-end sound out of audio electronics.

Anyway the review CD's so far:
1. Love Over Gold, Dire Straits, Warner W2-23728
2. L.A. Woman, The Doors, DCC GZS-1034
3. Hell Freezes Over, The Eagles, Geffen GEFD-24725
4. Together at the Bluebird Cafe, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, American Originals AMO-4006-2
5. Exodus, Bob Marley and The Wailers, MFSL UDCD-628
6. Days of Future Passed, The Moody Blues, MFSL UDCD-512
7. Aja, Steely Dan, MFSL UDCD-515
8. The 1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky (Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra), Telarc SACD-60541
9. The Trinity Session, The Cowboy Junkies, BMG 8568-2-R
10. All the Roadrunning, Mark Knopfler and EmmyLou Harris, Warner 44154-2

And now a few teaser photos (Apologies, taken at night with built-in flash after a vodka martini):

GS-X in the Rack

The total System (Top to Bottom): Singlepower ES-1 Headphone Amp, Headamp GS-X Headphone Amp, Headamp GS-X Power Supply, Eastsound CD-5 CDP, Singlepower ES-1 Power Supply, Tact s2150, PS Audio P-500

Anyway, feel free to comment on anything (not that most would need any encouragement) you deem important.

 

[philodox]

Wow, what a nice system.

I look forward to hearing your impressions once your balanced K340's arrive.

 

[Asr]

Looking forward to your review. I was considering the E5 as a source at one point in time. And I'd like to know if you find the GS-X responsive to an aftermarket power cord. I used mine with an Iron Lung Jellyfish but never did a comparison against a generic 18 AWG.

 

[MaloS]

This thing stays perfectly cool, right? (At least I hope...)

 

[tbonner1]

Looking forward to this.

Where did you get the E5?

 

[morphsci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by philodox /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow, what a nice system. I look forward to hearing your impressions once your balanced K340's arrive.

That's high praise coming from the owner of the one-and-only thundercougarfalconbird

. Seriously your system looks superb and I can only imagine how the K340 sounds from the McAlister monster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Looking forward to your review. I was considering the E5 as a source at one point in time. And I'd like to know if you find the GS-X responsive to an aftermarket power cord. I used mine with an Iron Lung Jellyfish but never did a comparison against a generic 18 AWG.

I'm using the cord I settled on when I was playing PC musical chairs with my RSA Stealth. The only thing I really noticed in that exercise was that some really massive cords actually made the Stealth sound constricted, go figure. I'm not planning to compare power cords as it will probably take me too long to finish this as it is. The modded E5 is a very good source. I had it for several months alongside my Meridian G08, the Eastsound is still here, nuff said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaloS /img/forum/go_quote.gif This thing stays perfectly cool, right? (At least I hope...)

I haven't noticed any obvious heat build-up, but then again I'm mostly listening to it rather than stroking the cabinet

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonner1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Looking forward to this. Where did you get the E5?

I bought the E5 used from a fellow head-fier as an already modded unit. The link above is the actual sale thread.

 

[vcoheda]

what's the purpose of the Tact s2150?

 

[morphsci]

The Tact s2150 is a digital amplifier for my Energy Veritas 2.3i speakers. It has both digital and analog inputs. In this case the digital SPDIF coaxial out of the E5 is fed directly to the amp which has its own DAC and digital volume control. This keeps headphone and speaker systems pretty independent. I had planned on upgrading the 2150 to the new 2150xdm but TACT has stopped their upgrades. Needless to say I was not too happy when I found that out.

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphsci /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's high praise coming from the owner of the one-and-only thundercougarfalconbird.

LOL, well, only having one serious amp and headphone it is pretty easy to get jealous of you guys with your dynamic and electrostatic rigs.

That ES-1 looks fabulous, and the Apache was a very good match with the K340's [in high gain mode] when I heard it at the Toronto meet. I found it preferable to the B52 with both the K340 and the R10 [low gain mode for these if I remember correctly].

EDIT: Man, I need to get to sleep I think. I'm sure the GS-X will do a fine job as well. hehe

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphsci /img/forum/go_quote.gif Seriously your system looks superb and I can only imagine how the K340 sounds from the McAlister monster.

Thanks buddy.

It does sound pretty nice. I think I'm pretty much done, unless I decide to try some sort of fancy DAC or break in to electrostatics.

I have been keeping my eyes open for a good deal on an old RS-1, but need to take it easy for a while after getting the amp, my Wifes iMac and going on a trip. The wallet is sort of empty.

Speaking of Grado's, you'll need to get one of them balanced as well.

 

[Jon L]

You don't mention any electrostat headphones. Is it possible you have an ES-1 without a proper 'stat??

 

[philodox]

They're in his profile.

 

[morphsci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon L /img/forum/go_quote.gif You don't mention any electrostat headphones. Is it possible you have an ES-1 without a proper 'stat??

Hmm ... lets see ... He-60, O-I and O-II .... I think they are quite proper thank you

 

[braillediver]

Balanced HD650's. Are they really all people have said they are?


Mitch

 

[Negatron]

That is an incredibly impressive array. I have to work on that 'not coveting thy neighbors gear' thing.

It has been sufficient time to ask, I had hoped another would, but my curiosity keeps nagging at me. Why the inverted cones in the rear of the ES-1 amp? Anti-phase? reverse thrusters? or just why not, so you did it?
Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[morphsci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braillediver /img/forum/go_quote.gif Balanced HD650's. Are they really all people have said they are? Mitch

Well I will be comparing my HD650 with stock SE cable to the same HD650 with the headroom balanced stock cable. I'll even through in a comparison between the stock SE cable and balanced + adapter (stock cable). I think that levels the playing field so that any differences will be SE vs. Balanced as much as is reasonably possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negatron /img/forum/go_quote.gif That is an incredibly impressive array. I have to work on that 'not coveting thy neighbors gear' thing. It has been sufficient time to ask, I had hoped another would, but my curiosity keeps nagging at me. Why the inverted cones in the rear of the ES-1 amp? Anti-phase? reverse thrusters? or just why not, so you did it? Inquiring minds want to know.

Those are the "stock" footers Mikhail uses for the ES-1 (Not that there really are any stock ES-1's) and a few other of his creations. I will be doing my ES-1 review after I finish the GS-X. I have actually had the ES-1 longer but like most other Singlepower amps, the tubes make a lot of difference. I will be using two sets of tubes, one set for the OI and OII and one set for the HE-60.