nwavesailor
Headphoneus Supremus
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I'm glad I pre-ordered the GS-X mini back in May!
New Amp from HeadAmp - GS-X Mini
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protoss
Headphoneus Supremus
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Can you please do a full impression/review with HD800! Need to know if this is a perfect amp combo match?
Also, which volume knob you got? RK27 or Dac-T?
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purk
Headphoneus Supremus
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Good for you Matt! Hope you enjoy this amp as much as I did when I had it in the house. The GSX is quite a stellar performer.
MattTCG
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I have the Alps pot. Regarding the hd800 combo with the mini, I'm not sure how useful my impressions would be. I always EQ the hd800 with Sonarworks. That plugin is essentially trans-formative to the signature of that headphone.
I have extended family in town for a few more days, so I won't be able to really dig in for a comprehensive review until next week. I will say this though. The Mini has lived to up to my high expectations and in some ways exceeded them. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. I've always told others that the hd650 scaled exceptionally well with better upstream gear, but I honestly didn't know how good it could really sound until I plugged it into the Mini.
protoss
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Yea, i said the same thing
The HD600/650 scale well with powerful/clean gear. And I can just tell now that the HD800 will be awesome with the mini. Also, I notice that the Alps pot is all anyone really needs.
I have the Alps pot. Regarding the hd800 combo with the mini, I'm not sure how useful my impressions would be. I always EQ the hd800 with Sonarworks. That plugin is essentially trans-formative to the signature of that headphone.
I have extended family in town for a few more days, so I won't be able to really dig in for a comprehensive review until next week. I will say this though. The Mini has lived to up to my high expectations and in some ways exceeded them. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. I've always told others that the hd650 scaled exceptionally well with better upstream gear, but I honestly didn't know how good it could really sound until I plugged it into the Mini.
HD650 really does scale very well ...I have then hooked up to the Mjolnir 2, balanced. I find myself torn between them and the MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Open and listen to both regularly. Each have their strengths. I would be interested in knowing how this new HeadAmp amplifier compares to MJ2, notwithstanding the price difference and the fact it's tubes vs SS. I would consider a quality SS amp as an upgrade in the not too distant future, although I suspect it will be difficult to tear myself away from the MJ2.
Years ago, before the HD800, there were many people using the HD600/HD650 with $10k+custom amplifiers
Here they are with the original GS-X
Here they are with the original GS-X
Did it come after GS-1?
What was the consideration of using 2x 3 pin XLR against the more common 4 pin XLR back then?
Oh, and great product photography you have there. The current website pictures could benefit from one too.
What was the consideration of using 2x 3 pin XLR against the more common 4 pin XLR back then?
Oh, and great product photography you have there. The current website pictures could benefit from one too.
And you should keep the copy on the power supply unit too. I really dig it.
Dual Ultra-Quiet Regulated DC Power Supply
Maybe there should be a section for the discontinued products in the website. Gives a brand an aura of legacy. Like it has been around the block for some time.
Do you still keep a copy of old models and prototypes around?
Dual Ultra-Quiet Regulated DC Power Supply
Maybe there should be a section for the discontinued products in the website. Gives a brand an aura of legacy. Like it has been around the block for some time.
Do you still keep a copy of old models and prototypes around?
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Yes the GS-X was after the GS-1. 4-pin XLR was not common back then. The AKG K1000 used it but that's about it. 2x 3-pin XLR for balanced headphones was the standard at the time, created by HeadRoom for use with their Blockhead amp -- likely because it was physically necessary as the left/right channels were in separate enclosures.
I agree about adding older products to the site, we'll try to do that sometime. That particular photo was not taken by us. I have a Gilmore Lite w/ DPS and a GS-1 but no other examples of older stuff.
I agree about adding older products to the site, we'll try to do that sometime. That particular photo was not taken by us. I have a Gilmore Lite w/ DPS and a GS-1 but no other examples of older stuff.
You can browse our website from this era here: https://web.archive.org/web/20071016062542/http://headamp.com/home_amps/index.htm
It was also way before we sold headphones, sources, or cables too
It was also way before we sold headphones, sources, or cables too
Whoa, beautiful board layout.
Are those mundorf caps?
Are those mundorf caps?
MattTCG
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Amp comparisons:
Oddly, I haven't owned many high end solid state amps. Mostly I've had a fancy for tube amps for the past several years. I never owned the Rag, but I did own the Questyle cma800r. I liked that amp quite a bit. It was a SS amp that had many of the qualities of a good tube amp. It featured very good build quality and parts. The only small thing that bugged me about it was that it didn't offer a fully balanced circuit. But it did offer the option to add a second unit for dual mono. My curiosity got the best of me so I added the second amp to go to a fully balanced dual mono setup.
I was surprised at the improvement. It was better than I'd even hoped for. I spent a year with that setup and know the signature quite well. After just a few days with the Mini, I can say that I prefer the performance of the mini over the dual mono Questyle setup. The mini has better staging, low level detail retrieval, bass extension/slam and there is something special about the overall picture of the music. Maybe you'd call it coherency of sound. Nothing is forced across the spectrum. Vocals and instruments are able to maintain their position on stage with air space between. Nothing is congested.
So far, I really do enjoy the Mini. It would be hard to overlook if you are looking for an end game solid state amp.
Oddly, I haven't owned many high end solid state amps. Mostly I've had a fancy for tube amps for the past several years. I never owned the Rag, but I did own the Questyle cma800r. I liked that amp quite a bit. It was a SS amp that had many of the qualities of a good tube amp. It featured very good build quality and parts. The only small thing that bugged me about it was that it didn't offer a fully balanced circuit. But it did offer the option to add a second unit for dual mono. My curiosity got the best of me so I added the second amp to go to a fully balanced dual mono setup.
I was surprised at the improvement. It was better than I'd even hoped for. I spent a year with that setup and know the signature quite well. After just a few days with the Mini, I can say that I prefer the performance of the mini over the dual mono Questyle setup. The mini has better staging, low level detail retrieval, bass extension/slam and there is something special about the overall picture of the music. Maybe you'd call it coherency of sound. Nothing is forced across the spectrum. Vocals and instruments are able to maintain their position on stage with air space between. Nothing is congested.
So far, I really do enjoy the Mini. It would be hard to overlook if you are looking for an end game solid state amp.
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DaYooper
Headphoneus Supremus
Pre-ordered mine on 5/24 so I'm waiting for the "It's ready" email.
Jamie Raybould
New Head-Fier
Got my GSX mini this week and also the ZMF verite headphones and the sound is great coming out of the combo (using hugo 2 as dac), the only issue I have and I'm hoping Justin might be able to help with one is the gsx feet are not all flat on the surface (I have tried on several surfaces just in case) and I can "wobble" the unit on my desk (about 2mm) from the front right foot to the back left one.
I have made sure all of the feet are screwed into the case properly so its not that its almost like the unit's case isn't straight or warped in some way?.
I have made sure all of the feet are screwed into the case properly so its not that its almost like the unit's case isn't straight or warped in some way?.
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