kuma
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2003
- Posts
- 1,842
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- 10
It's been a few months since I've received Kuma Gilmore ( essentially a stripped down version of Reference Gilmore ) from Justin.
It was a remarkable improvements in dynamics, resolution and more fluid, natural feel than the Gilmore V2.
In spite, tho, the system sounded still somewhat mechanical and unmistakably 'solid state' ( in a bad sense ) It was good. But it was not the type of system you want to keep listening to the music. It sounded still mechanical and something 'fake' about it in spite all the hi-fi pluses.
After bunch of source and preamp changes ( Kuma Gilmore is a straight power amp. no volume control ), I've recently put newly updated and upgraded Krell kps25s in the studio rig. ( now it uses Burr Brown 24/96 chipset instead of the original UltraAnalogue 20 bit DACs )
It made an amasing transformation either used as a stand-alone CD playback or using its digital input off my laptop.
The whole stage opens up and no more direct sound coming from RS1. Absolutely no dynamic compression even at silly level on all frequencies. The best of all, now the system has a nice balance between transient impact ( aka pace'n'bass ) and the flow of things which is so hard for any solid state systems to deliver.
This got to be one of the kick-ass performance coming out from the RS1 without a help from Jota. My respect to both RS1 and Kevin's wonderful design. ( y'all can hate RS1, but I'm just digging this!!! kps25s/Gilmore combo has the iron-fisted control over RS1 with none of the negatives normall associated with them.
)
I always thought Gilmore amp is reminiscent of Krell's house sound. i.e. bold, dynamic, bigger than life etc..etc...
Indeed, this is an excellelnt synergy between 'em.
note: this is NOT for the timid.
It was a remarkable improvements in dynamics, resolution and more fluid, natural feel than the Gilmore V2.
In spite, tho, the system sounded still somewhat mechanical and unmistakably 'solid state' ( in a bad sense ) It was good. But it was not the type of system you want to keep listening to the music. It sounded still mechanical and something 'fake' about it in spite all the hi-fi pluses.
After bunch of source and preamp changes ( Kuma Gilmore is a straight power amp. no volume control ), I've recently put newly updated and upgraded Krell kps25s in the studio rig. ( now it uses Burr Brown 24/96 chipset instead of the original UltraAnalogue 20 bit DACs )
It made an amasing transformation either used as a stand-alone CD playback or using its digital input off my laptop.
The whole stage opens up and no more direct sound coming from RS1. Absolutely no dynamic compression even at silly level on all frequencies. The best of all, now the system has a nice balance between transient impact ( aka pace'n'bass ) and the flow of things which is so hard for any solid state systems to deliver.
This got to be one of the kick-ass performance coming out from the RS1 without a help from Jota. My respect to both RS1 and Kevin's wonderful design. ( y'all can hate RS1, but I'm just digging this!!! kps25s/Gilmore combo has the iron-fisted control over RS1 with none of the negatives normall associated with them.
I always thought Gilmore amp is reminiscent of Krell's house sound. i.e. bold, dynamic, bigger than life etc..etc...
Indeed, this is an excellelnt synergy between 'em.
note: this is NOT for the timid.
