Little to any difference with Gilmore Lite???

[Zuerst]

Just got a brand new Gilmore Lite a few hours ago and honestly I really don't think there's much of a difference if any. I'm using my Sony D-EJ925's optical line-out as the source to Zu pivot->Gilmore Lite->HD555. What gives?

EDIT: Typos...

 

[bobeau]

Give it a week or so.

I'm beginning to believe there's a big psychological barrier that keeps someone from noticing the immediate effect a good amp adds. It probably is similar to how when many people do pot for the first time, they don't feel anything. The brain simply isn't wired to process the experience yet. Then maybe the second a little buzz, the third time - bam!

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuerst I'm using my Sony D-EJ925's optical line-out as the source to Zu pivot->Gilmore Lite->HD555.

There you go. An amp of such quality is overkill for almost any portable. Most people using portable sources notice very subtle or no differences at all. (Except for a few lucky people of course) Although, I'd still give it time to get used to the amp. Then go back without it. See if the sound appears lacking in comparison. If not or you don't care for the differences, get rid of it, or get a better source (or use one that you already have). Never heard the 555, so don't that how that scales.

 

[Natsuiro]

I agree with kirosia that it's probably the limitation of the source. Also to consider is that maybe the hd-555s don't need that much power (i'm not really sure) cuz with my line out of my pcdp, the k501s, 650s, and er4s def benefit alot from my corda.

 

[The Quality Guru]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natsuiro I agree with kirosia that it's probably the limitation of the source. Also to consider is that maybe the hd-555s don't need that much power (i'm not really sure) cuz with my line out of my pcdp, the k501s, 650s, and er4s def benefit alot from my corda.

I agree that a source change is in order, but I don't think it's a matter of "power." If you upgrade your source to a vintage PCDP or the modern Sony D-NE1, you will likely notice a bigger improvement in the performance of the Gilmore.

(FWIW, I once owned the D-EJ925, and liked it a great deal - that is, until I compared it to a few other high-end PCDPs, and the Sony D-NE1 came out on top. Safe to say, my home CDP beat both players, but if you want a portable rig then it's either PCDP or DAP).

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Quality Guru (FWIW, I once owned the D-EJ925, and liked it a great deal - that is, until I compared it to a few other high-end PCDPs, and the Sony D-NE1 came out on top. Safe to say, my home CDP beat both players, but if you want a portable rig then it's either PCDP or DAP).

If he is using it as part of his portable rig, he wouldn't be using the gilmore lite, correct?

 

[chillysalsa]

So.. you're using the optical output. Then what are you using as a DAC? I doubt that it will improve the sound of a discman that much, unless you are using an external DAC as you seem to be.

I've found the Gilmore amps simply let you hear more of what your source sounds like. If your source isn't spectacular, then you many not get the best out of the amp. IMO, an amp should be as transparent as possible, and the Gilmore designs deliver that.

 

[Zuerst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia If he is using it as part of his portable rig, he wouldn't be using the gilmore lite, correct?

I'm just temporary using it while searching for a better source... Currently considering the Cambridge Azur 640C or the 540s... maybe some Sony or other SACD capable players...

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillysalsa So.. you're using the optical output. Then what are you using as a DAC? I doubt that it will improve the sound of a discman that much, unless you are using an external DAC as you seem to be

I think the cd player he's referring to has a shared optical/line out jack.

 

[Zuerst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillysalsa So.. you're using the optical output. Then what are you using as a DAC? I doubt that it will improve the sound of a discman that much, unless you are using an external DAC as you seem to be. I've found the Gilmore amps simply let you hear more of what your source sounds like. If your source isn't spectacular, then you many not get the best out of the amp. IMO, an amp should be as transparent as possible, and the Gilmore designs deliver that.

If that's the case what's the point of the amp?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia I think the cd player he's referring to has a shared optical/line out jack.

Yeah it is labeled "Line Out (Optical)"

 

[Imyourzero]

You said you purchased the Gilmore Lite brand new? I remember reading in past threads about the GL that it really benefits from burn in and really starts to shine after several hours of operation. Maybe you should leave it running nonstop for about a week and see if your impressions change.

I just purchased a GL myself, and it does have the transparency and drive that everyone talks about. It is also dead silent with a totally black background compared to my Go-Vibe which has noticeable hiss when music isn't playing. However, the GL is a little light on bass so far. I don't want to spend the extra money for the upgraded PSU, so I'm hoping the bass response will improve with more burn in. I've been working for the past several days and have only gotten to listen to the amp for a couple of hours at most though, so perhaps I just need to grow accustomed to the new sound. At this point, there are some songs that I think sounded better through the Go-Vibe, but I'm sure that's because I had much more time to listen to it and was used to the way it presents the sound. Also, it may be that the GL is exposing all of the flaws in my MP3s...I'm sure the Go-Vibe isn't quite as revealing and transparent. I listened to Siamese Dream (FLAC) through the Go-Vibe yesterday morning after work and it was incredible!

 

[Zuerst]

Hopefully it'll improve with burn in if there is such a thing. The no difference observation was right out of the box and with zero burn in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imyourzero You said you purchased the Gilmore Lite brand new? I remember reading in past threads about the GL that it really benefits from burn in and really starts to shine after several hours of operation. Maybe you should leave it running nonstop for about a week and see if your impressions change. I just purchased a GL myself, and it does have the transparency and drive that everyone talks about. It is also dead silent with a totally black background compared to my Go-Vibe which has noticeable hiss when music isn't playing. However, the GL is a little light on bass so far. I don't want to spend the extra money for the upgraded PSU, so I'm hoping the bass response will improve with more burn in. I've been working for the past several days and have only gotten to listen to the amp for a couple of hours at most though, so perhaps I just need to grow accustomed to the new sound. At this point, there are some songs that I think sounded better through the Go-Vibe, but I'm sure that's because I had much more time to listen to it and was used to the way it presents the sound. Also, it may be that the GL is exposing all of the flaws in my MP3s...I'm sure the Go-Vibe isn't quite as revealing and transparent. I listened to Siamese Dream (FLAC) through the Go-Vibe yesterday morning after work and it was incredible!

 

[pbirkett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuerst If that's the case what's the point of the amp?

Really good question

Actually if you have hard to drive headphones that cannot easily be driven by the headphone socket you are using then the Gilmore Lite will drive them effortlessly.

However, if you have a socket thats capable of driving your chosen headphones perfectly well and retrieving all of the detail on your source without too much coloration, then there is precisely no point in the amp. It becomes an expensive ornament. I have witnessed this for myself several times.

YMMV though and there are many factors, so it should come down to individual circumstances...

 

[wistily]

On the opposite, is it possible that perhaps amp "burn-in" and other "give it a week", could just be described as placebo effect ?

 

[bobeau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuerst Hopefully it'll improve with burn in if there is such a thing. The no difference observation was right out of the box and with zero burn in.

I just went thru the same thing with my new amp, though with a fairly good source. At first difference appeared simply to be an eq adjustment (more bass/midrange), after a week the difference became quite drastic. Whether it was more attributable to burn-in or more psychological I cannot say, all I know is my first impression was quite different from current.