Is the Gilmore Lite right for me?

[kschul2]

Well I just got my Grado SR-325i's yesterday and I'm already looking to spend more money (of course). Right now the SR-325i is coming straight out of my Chaintech AV-710 which sounds decent but I know the sound will improve a lot with an amp. The Gilmore amps are said to have good synergy with Grados and with about a $300 (+/-) budget the Lite seems like it would be perfect. For now it'll be hooked up to the AV710 but in the future I'll be getting a laptop and Headroom Micro DAC.

The other part of my question is that I want to audition some other headphones (here's my list, for now lol):

Alessandro MS2
Alessandro MS2i
Beyerdynamic DT880
Grado SR225
Grado SR325
Grado RS-2
Sennheiser HD595
Sennhesier HD600
Sennheiser HD650
Sony MDR-CD3000

Once I get the rest of my setup done I'd like to be able to get some of these whenever I can off the For sale forum and either keep them or sell them again after listening to them. So basically I'd like an amp that's able to adequately drive and show off whatever good qualities these headphones have. I realize that there's no way any amp (especially a "budget" one like the Lite) could show the full potential of this many different headphones. I just want to be able to get a taste of the general sound of all of these so that I can decide if I like them or not. Of course if I decide I like the sound I'd certainly be obligated to pursue a better amp for its individual use

.

So could I do better than the Lite or does it sound like a good choice?

 

[Chefguru]

Yup lite sounds perfect for you. Back when i had a lite I used it with my r10 a few times and it sounded pretty decent with them, so I doubt really going to find to many headphones that will not workout with the lite. Even the hd650 works well with them and they are like the exact ops of the grado's (which also works great with the lite).

Realize that even though there is a difference between amps, the difference is pretty small compared to the difference a headphone and source makes. I think alot of people on head-fi go a bit overboard with how big of a difference the amp makes. The purpose of the amp is to give the headphone adequate amounts of power not entirely change the sound, and from the can's you have listed, the lite will easy power any of them.

 

[gpalmer]

I think the Lite sounds perfect for you. It bundles a lot of performance into a fairly inexpensive package and one that I could live with for a long time. I sometimes find myself listening to my Lite and wondering if life would really be much different if I had stopped there instead of working my way up the food chain...

 

[jpr703]

It's a good match, I think you'll be happy with it.

 

[kschul2]

Alright thanks for the replies, now I just need two more paychecks

. BTW, does anyone know the length of the cord for the power supply?

 

[dano1122]

approx. 5-6 feet on the elpac

 

[kschul2]

Thanks. Is the unit in the middle of the cord or at one of the ends?

 

[unholyB0B]

The bulky power pack is on the wall plug potion of the cord if that’s what you are asking.

 

[kschul2]

Yes it was, thanks. Wasn't really sure how to word that one lol.

 

[Jahn]

I can't believe I still haven't heard this amp. Ah well, maybe at the Fall NYC meet!

 

[Svperstar]

I own the Senn 595s which are the "brightest" of the Senns, though not as much as Grados.

I listened to the 595s directly from my Audigy 2, then from a Pocket Amp V2, then from a EMU0404 with the PAV2.

Finally I got a Gilmore Lite in late April.

I was afraid the GL might make highs shrill and peircing because of its repuation for emphasis on Treble. I used a few test songs with female vocals as well as the electronic track from Plaid, Fer. Fer has really bright notes at the very beginning of the song, and on some systems I have heard in the past they are painful, not so on the 595, I listened to that song with the 595s/GL in and it didn't make it any more shirll or bright than it already is, the sound was just more refined, the GL adds a certain smoothness to the sound without sacrificing any detail at all.

I have tried several of my older cans(Senn 457s, Awias, Sonys, misc earbuds) and none of them sound too bright on the GL light at all, just more refined.

One good rock track is Pearl Jam - Once, I have that song ripped in Lossless .ape, and the track really comes to life with the GL, its like I am standing in the front row listening to the band.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Gilmore Lite. Just pick up a used one