[vonnie123]

10 to 12 with my Auteur and HD800S. 8 to 10 with my Elex. Both on L gain.
One of my only complaints is that I wish there were 3 gain settings like the GS-X mk2, since I would like a bit more knob freedom.
Is the H gain pretty much for Susvara and HE-6?

Definitely high gain for HE6se. I run it behind other volume controlled DACs. I usually run mine on high and at 3pm, and have to kick the other DACs volume up a bit. Most other headphones need only volume set 11am to 12pm, and low gain is my preferred setting. The HE6se certainly suck some juice. Like other posters I would like see GSX-mini specs posted for all major impedance levels. @justin w.

 

[Marutks]

but the tax, VAT and custom fees are horrendous (app. 25%)

25%? I didn't know it is 25%. I had to pay only around 28 gbp tax for Burson C3X. I think it was sent from Hong Kong.

Maybe they will be selling cheaper (no 25%) GS-X Mini amps at CanJam London?
I bought Stellia cans there. They offered good discount and there was no extra tax.

 

[Paul Clark]

I don't post often. Just been lurking and reading over the years. But after hearing my new matte black GS-X mini with Audeze LCD-X cans I have to say I am simply stunned. I can hear John Bonham's squeeky speed king like never before. It's so clear now that it actually distracts me from the music I'm hearing "stuff" from some of my sources that I haven't been able to hear before. It's like listening to all new music. It's hard to stop listening. And I can't take these cans off. (Anyone who says the LCD-X is too heavy and uncomfortable is full of bunk.)

Anyway, thank you Jason for a such a high quality product. I have never seen such craftmanship. Superb! Twoup.

 

[KESM]

I don't post often. Just been lurking and reading over the years. But after hearing my new matte black GS-X mini with Audeze LCD-X cans I have to say I am simply stunned. I can hear John Bonham's squeeky speed king like never before. It's so clear now that it actually distracts me from the music I'm hearing "stuff" from some of my sources that I haven't been able to hear before. It's like listening to all new music. It's hard to stop listening. And I can't take these cans off. (Anyone who says the LCD-X is too heavy and uncomfortable is full of bunk.)

Anyway, thank you Jason for a such a high quality product. I have never seen such craftmanship. Superb! Twoup.

Welcome aboard! I share your kudos for the GS-X mini “black ops edition”. I have the LCD2C with the new headband implementation....the weight concerns are a non issue for me. Best cans outta my stable; paired with the brilliant design of the GS-X mini...good to go. Of course...no one’s heard it all...but I suspect I’m unlikely to hear much better than this dynamic HP duo.

Queue: Listening to Kevin Garrett’s album Hoax.

 

[vonnie123]

I don't post often. Just been lurking and reading over the years. But after hearing my new matte black GS-X mini with Audeze LCD-X cans I have to say I am simply stunned. I can hear John Bonham's squeeky speed king like never before. It's so clear now that it actually distracts me from the music I'm hearing "stuff" from some of my sources that I haven't been able to hear before. It's like listening to all new music. It's hard to stop listening. And I can't take these cans off. (Anyone who says the LCD-X is too heavy and uncomfortable is full of bunk.)

Anyway, thank you Jason for a such a high quality product. I have never seen such craftmanship. Superb! Twoup.

Hi Paul, The LCD-X makes great music, and pairing it with the GSX-mini is a great combo. It works well with DAPs as well since its so easy to drive. The LCD-X is heavy though....not uncomfortable per se, but not good for long listening sessions - I wouldn't choose them for a full evening session. I ended up selling mine recently. Great cans, but just wanted to thin the herd a bit. What other headphones do you have? @Paul Clark

 

[Paul Clark]

Hi Paul, The LCD-X makes great music, and pairing it with the GSX-mini is a great combo. It works well with DAPs as well since its so easy to drive. The LCD-X is heavy though....not uncomfortable per se, but not good for long listening sessions - I wouldn't choose them for a full evening session. I ended up selling mine recently. Great cans, but just wanted to thin the herd a bit. What other headphones do you have? @Paul Clark

Admittedly, the LCD-X is heavy but on my thick skull I can wear them all day. I also wear glasses and don't have any issues. Certainly a pair of cans you would enjoy in a lazyboy and not actively dancing around.

Don't have a long list but the cans (were) in my stable are (recently sold) Grado 325i, Grado 80e, AKG K701 (very comfortable) and some very old HD430 Sennheisers I keep around. The LCD-X simply beats them all to a pulp. Speaking of uncomfortable, I could never get used to the Grados. They were never comfortable to me so I couldn't hold long listening sessions with them. I'm very happy with the LCD-X. And this amp...

 

[vonnie123]

I just added some ZMFs to the stable a couple of months ago. For weight and comfort, I think the Ether2 from Dan Clark Audio is hard to beat. Things are super light.

My GSX-mini is in Satin Grey,...really slick looking color

 

[340519]

Admittedly, the LCD-X is heavy but on my thick skull I can wear them all day. I also wear glasses and don't have any issues. Certainly a pair of cans you would enjoy in a lazyboy and not actively dancing around.

Don't have a long list but the cans (were) in my stable are (recently sold) Grado 325i, Grado 80e, AKG K701 (very comfortable) and some very old HD430 Sennheisers I keep around. The LCD-X simply beats them all to a pulp. Speaking of uncomfortable, I could never get used to the Grados. They were never comfortable to me so I couldn't hold long listening sessions with them. I'm very happy with the LCD-X. And this amp...

I agree. I have the X and XC and they are both excellent.

 

[acguitar84]

I don't post often. Just been lurking and reading over the years. But after hearing my new matte black GS-X mini with Audeze LCD-X cans I have to say I am simply stunned. I can hear John Bonham's squeeky speed king like never before. It's so clear now that it actually distracts me from the music I'm hearing "stuff" from some of my sources that I haven't been able to hear before. It's like listening to all new music. It's hard to stop listening. And I can't take these cans off. (Anyone who says the LCD-X is too heavy and uncomfortable is full of bunk.)

Anyway, thank you Jason for a such a high quality product. I have never seen such craftmanship. Superb! Twoup.

Thanks for the impressions! 70 pages so far and hardly any sound impressions, so it's nice to read one finally!

 

[Paul Clark]

What I also like about the GS-X mini, besides that it's sound like a wire, is the balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs. This leaves the choices of DACs to be wide open.

Getting back to the sound, it can be disturbing at times to hear a very familiar recording and for the first time notice all the warts. It's hard to explain my feelings about this. I'm happy to have such a transparent system, OPPO >bal> GS-X mini >bal> LCD-X, to let me explore these old recordings on SACD all over again. But then again those warts, lol.

The GS-X mini drives the LCD-X very easily. In low gain mode I usually dial in the DACT between about 11 and 1 o'clock. I tried streaming an online internet radio station (Linn Jazz) that streams at 320kbps. This amp just gets out of the way and drives the LCD-X with aplomb. Love a bass that you swear you can feel some air moving. With the right source, and a big helping hand by the GS-X, the bass out of the LCD-X is incredible. Both worth the freight IMO.

 

[vonnie123]

Your iphone could run those LCD-X cans. One of the easiest headphones to power.

 

[Paul Clark]

Your iphone could run those LCD-X cans. One of the easiest headphones to power.

Yes you could. LOL But why would you?

 

[johnnypaddock]

I picked up a GSX Mini a few months ago and probably have about 250 hours on it. For reference, my chain is primarily Metrum Ambre > Metrum Adagio > GSX Mini > ZMF Verité Closed but I've also spent some time recently with the HD-800S.

So far, to say I'm impressed with the GSX Mini would be an understatement. I was kind of on the fence about the purchase because I love my other amp (ZMF Pendant) but it has far exceeded my expectations across the board. First, it has a stone cold dead silent background to work with. The dynamics are outstanding and when called for, the amp can startle you. There is a really easy, clean, well defined quality to the sound that appeals to me. I'm hearing a ton of detail but there is a rock solid weight to the sound with a little warmth that keeps it from being fatiguing. I'm finding the Mini to be a perfect match with the VC but I could see it working well with all types of headphones. It's really a great amp.

 

[vonnie123]

The point was a just about anything will run them. I am certainly not suggesting you do that.

 

[Paul Clark]

I got your point. But I think LCD-X benefits tremendously from an amp. Certainly no one would even consider an iphone LOL