[andrew3199]

Frank. Did you get your GCHA from Audio Advisor? are they open box, ex demo or new?. It's my birthday in November if I can get this for about half price the wife has given me the nod. I also wonder how the Ety's would perform when paired with the GCHA.........Anyone?
  Looking forward to a review..

 
Quote:

I received the GCHA on Friday and it still burning in and I will do a full review on this in a couple of weeks. Early impressions are very favorable with all three of my reference cans.

 

[Frank I]

REVIEW PS AUDIO GCHA
 
Paul McGowan is considered by many including myself to be a legend in the high end audio industry. Ps audio was founded in 1974 by Paul McGowan and Stan Warren who is no longer affiliated with the company. I have heard many of their 2 channel amplifiers over the years and was always impressed with their products so I decided to order a GCHA to see if would live up to my expectations for a reasonable 500.00 solid state amplifier for my LCD2 and Denon D7000. I was also confused as to why it has not been a best seller and is being discontinued.
 
Originally when this amp was released it was being sold for $1000.00 and that could have been some of the reasons why it did not fare well for PS Audio. I took delivery last week of the amplifier land used it without changing back to my reference Decware CSP-2 until the last couple of days to see how it compared. I had been using the Matrix M Stage as my only solid state amp and that was only being used to drive the Denon D7000 as my CSP-2 was used for my other cans. The GCHA was left on for the whole audition period and had close to 100 hours when I felt I was finished with my audition.
 
The GCHA is different than most solid state headphone amps as it has no gain adjustment switches but a new technology to adjust gain for each individual headphone called Gain Cell technology. The volume knob in itself serves as a gain adjustment and adjusts the gain so the amplifier is able to deliver the necessary power to properly drive the headphone it is playing. I noticed that most of the cans including the T1, LCD2 and the Denon were most comfortable between 12-1 o’clock.   The amp is said to put out 2W into the load and I found it very powerful and unstressed with all the headphones I used. It certainly had the power and finesse to drive all headphones whether it was the high impedance T1 or the more difficult to drive LCD2. The amplifier never clipped no matter how high the volume was on any of my headphones.
 
The shipping weight on the GCHA is 15 pounds and the build quality is the best I have seen  in any solid state amp I have heard to date. It certainly is built well beyond the bargain basement price it is currently selling for and in my opinion is as super buy for anyone who is the market for a powerful well built amp. The warranty if you register within 90 days is 5 years. The power cord itself supplied with the amp is very thick and solid and not a cheap cord thrown in. The amplifier runs warm to the touch and never was as hot as the Asgard. The bottom of the chassis was also warm as well. The front volume knob can be turned off and it allows for safe input and output of the headphones and the blue led turns off when the switch is turned down but the amp is still on.
 
The sound   I am about to describe would make most tube lovers enjoy this solid state design. It is slightly warm in signature with a very wide sound stage and also has great depth. The bass is present but not as tight as the Matrix. It is very refined and had a much better sound than both the Matrix and Asgard in my system. It s treble was rolled off. It was not as extended as I would have liked but never hard nor harsh. The amplifier always played jazz, pop and classical and did all in a very balanced and neutral presentation. The GCHA also had detail but not as good as my tube amp but on par with the Matrix and better than the Asgard. The sound stage was not as upfront as the Matrix. Sound stage was really very good as it presented the performers in their proper location and also was more laid back than upfront and in your face. The amp was better than the Matrix and Asgard by a wide margin in both refinement and sound stage presentation.
In the time I spent with the PS Audio GCHA I found very little not to like. It had good bass very detailed mid range and slightly rolled off highs. In listening to large scale recordings it opened up the LCD2 with a very wide sound stage and had plenty of power on tap that it never congested. It had good bass but was softer than the Matrix in this regard so I felt in while being dynamic it lacked some of the speed and bass impact which the Matrix delivered in a smaller footprint but also was better with the slam I enjoy in solid state designs. The T1 played very well because the GCHA was able to produce the sound stage so well.  It also made me see where the treble was slightly rolled off. The Denon D7000 had much better synergy with the Matrix perhaps more because of the dynamics and bass slam the Matrix can deliver. Overall all headphones played well and the LCD2 and the T1 is a very good match for this amp.
 
In concluding I decided as much as I liked the GCHA it would not be a keeper for me. I am a hopeless tube addict and I prefer the sound of organic tube amps. The Decware outclassed the GCHA in pretty much dynamics, bass and treble extension. When I switched back to the CSP-2 I completely forgot about the gear and just enjoyed the music. So where does this put the GCHA? It is a very good amp for the money and it will drive every can I tried and do it well. If you are in the market for a 500.00 well built amp that has a non aggressive and musical tone this amp will please you. If you want more bass and more dynamic slam it will not be the answer. Overall for the current price it will provide years of enjoyment and also for many the satisfaction desired. For solid state lovers who want that less aggressive sound this amp is recommended. It also may be the last amp PS Audio develops for the head market so I recommend you take a listen if you’re in the market for an amp that is both musical and enjoyable.

 

[Frank I]

 
Quote:

Frank. Did you get your GCHA from Audio Advisor? are they open box, ex demo or new?. It's my birthday in November if I can get this for about half price the wife has given me the nod. I also wonder how the Ety's would perform when paired with the GCHA.........Anyone?
  Looking forward to a review..

 

 

It was new and since I am returning it they will have open box.

 

[andrew3199]

Thanks Frank. You mention in your review that the GCHA had a warm signature with slightly rolled off highs, sounds like a perfect match for the Etymotic ER4s, I am also thinking that the GCHA may have too much power for the Ety's. I guess the only way to really know would be to give it a try.

 

[Frank I]

Quote:

Thanks Frank. You mention in your review that the GCHA had a warm signature with slightly rolled off highs, sounds like a perfect match for the Etymotic ER4s, I am also thinking that the GCHA may have too much power for the Ety's. I guess the only way to really know would be to give it a try.

that is always the best way. Try it if you do not like it can always send it back. There is also a used one in the FS for 339.00 with warranty still left

 

[taam]

Quote:

Has anyone tried the GCHA with the Beyerdynamic DT 990?  I wonder if it will be better than the built-in headphone amp of the Peachtree Nova.  There are so many good reviews of the GCHA, and now that it's half-price, it makes me want to try it. 

I used my GCHA with DT 990 250 ohm headphones.  Sounded great, sold the 990s to have more to put toward my Decware CSP2+ tube amp, waiting on that unit still.  ATM i use Grado 325i with the GCHA.
 
taam

 

[lmf22]

I'm now deciding on whether to get the GCHA or the Wooaudio WA3.  They are same price.  On one hand, PS Audio is a reputable company that builds excellent quality products (I used to own their DLIII DAC), and as "Frank I" said, Paul McGowan is a legend in the industry.  So I just wanted to try an amp that he designed.  On the other hand, I've never tried tube amps, except on my Nova, which is supposed to have a "Class A" headphone amp.  But, I doubt that it is the same quality as the WA3.  
 
Maybe I should get the GCHA first, and the WA3 later when I have more money, because PS Audio is not making the GCHA anymore.  What do you guys think? 

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

I'm now deciding on whether to get the GCHA or the Wooaudio WA3.  They are same price.  On one hand, PS Audio is a reputable company that builds excellent quality products (I used to own their DLIII DAC), and as "Frank I" said, Paul McGowan is a legend in the industry.  So I just wanted to try an amp that he designed.  On the other hand, I've never tried tube amps, except on my Nova, which is supposed to have a "Class A" headphone amp.  But, I doubt that it is the same quality as the WA3.  
 
Maybe I should get the GCHA first, and the WA3 later when I have more money, because PS Audio is not making the GCHA anymore.  What do you guys think? 

For your DT990/600s, I would go with tubes.

 

[gzone3lement]

 
Quote:

In the time I spent with the PS Audio GCHA I found very little not to like. It had good bass very detailed mid range and slightly rolled off highs.
 
In concluding I decided as much as I liked the GCHA it would not be a keeper for me. I am a hopeless tube addict and I prefer the sound of organic tube amps.

Thanks for your impressions. There is a chance that burning-in the amp for another 100 hours will help improve the rolled off highs. After 250+ hours, I hadn't heard the highs being rolled off, but that is only because the GCHA headphone amp is my first headphone amplifier. I had heard amplifiers like the Luxman, Beta22, and Woo Audio WES in a meet, and have always wanted to look for a fully balanced SS amp with an affordable price. Additionally, being able to compete with the top-class amps listed above would be great. Yes, you are hopeless for being a tube addict, haha. Even though the GCHA is indeed an SS amp, it sounds tube-like possibly because of the gain cell technology. It is unfortunate that you will return the GCHA, but I am glad you appreciate its awesomeness. I do agree that those who want non-aggressive amps this is the amp to look for. I still have some days left before returning the amp, but most likely I want to keep it. What I'm currently interested in is the GCHA mods.
 
http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSGCHA&Category_Code=MODS&Product_Count=37
http://www.cullencircuits.com/webapps/site/67005/78076/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=300510&b_id=&find_groupid=9539
 
Since you pointed out that the highs tend to roll off slightly, I'm wondering if modding it will fix this flaw and have the potential to compete with many >$1700 amps.

 

[Frank I]

 
Quote:

 

Thanks for your impressions. There is a chance that burning-in the amp for another 100 hours will help improve the rolled off highs. After 250+ hours, I hadn't heard the highs being rolled off, but that is only because the GCHA headphone amp is my first headphone amplifier. I had heard amplifiers like the Luxman, Beta22, and Woo Audio WES in a meet, and have always wanted to look for a fully balanced SS amp with an affordable price. Additionally, being able to compete with the top-class amps listed above would be great. Yes, you are hopeless for being a tube addict, haha. Even though the GCHA is indeed an SS amp, it sounds tube-like possibly because of the gain cell technology. It is unfortunate that you will return the GCHA, but I am glad you appreciate its awesomeness. I do agree that those who want non-aggressive amps this is the amp to look for. I still have some days left before returning the amp, but most likely I want to keep it. What I'm currently interested in is the GCHA mods.
 
http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSGCHA&Category_Code=MODS&Product_Count=37
http://www.cullencircuits.com/webapps/site/67005/78076/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=300510&b_id=&find_groupid=9539
 
Since you pointed out that the highs tend to roll off slightly, I'm wondering if modding it will fix this flaw and have the potential to compete with many >$1700 amps.

 
that makes the amp a different amp. But keep in mind spending 700 plus the amp cost now puts you some reference  amp categories. May want to look at  the new Audio GD ^W amp coming out next week.

 

[DeeMento]

I got the GCHA about 6 weeks ago. Then I picked up a PS Audio DLIII a couple weeks later. Using an old Harman Kardon cd player and HD600's.
 
It really takes a good 300 or so hours for the GCHA to fully burn in. Treble really improves with some hours. I'll upgrade the cd player soon, but I am totally in love with this system. A long term keeper for sure.
 
 The GHCA was $425, and the DLIII $550, both new in box with warranty, on AudiogoN. I've seen others at or near those prices since. A super bargain, IMO.

 

[gzone3lement]

Quote:

 

 
that makes the amp a different amp. But keep in mind spending 700 plus the amp cost now puts you some reference  amp categories. May want to look at  the new Audio GD ^W amp coming out next week.

I have been looking for reviews for GCHA mods, but so far no luck. I highly doubt the amp will become too different, but I can expect the improved GCHA to be in its top-notch performance possible. Audio GD ^W? How did you find out about it? I have heard great reviews about the C-2, the Roc, and ultimately the Phoenix (was considering saving and buying last year). However, I'm concerned that the Phoenix gets hot, so hot I accidentally might put my hand on the case even after turning the power off. It is a great amplifier, I believe that for sure. The price is affordable, Kingwa is a very nice guy, and the Phoenix can support XLR outputs. Paul McGowan's products also have reasonable prices, the CEO himself is very generous and open, and the GCHA is claimed to be a fully balanced amplifier.
 
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/ps/about/viewthread/876/
Paul McGowan:
 
"Because there are two completely different tasks we’re trying to achieve.  On the input side, you want balanced [XLR] in if you can because the balanced input gives you common mode rejection - which means anything in common like noise or harmonics are eliminated when you combine the two out of phase audio signals together in the input stage.
 
In the headphones themselves you can get this because there’s no way to combine the two out of phase signals together that make sense."
 
Additionally, I'm sure the GCHA owners have put their hands on the operating amplifier before; it's simply warm. So, I had a difficult time choosing a suitable amplifier I wouldn't regret purchasing. First I thought about the Phoenix, then I thought about balanced Beta22, then I thought about SE Beta22. Now that GCHA is probably still on sale as we speak, I thought really hard. My thoughts kept screaming at me, "Take a chance, mod it if necessary in the future, Paul is awesome and you know it." So here I am, enjoying my first headphone amplifier, the PS Audio GCHA. The headphone output may not be XLR, but if PS Audio says it's fully balanced, I'm willing to listen. Executing the headphones, the DAC, and the headphone amplifier in XLR is very expensive. I am very sure the GCHA particularly will sound much better with better cables and modding. How much better? Once treated and done right, I am willing to risk saying it has the potential to compete with reference amps including the likes of the Phoenix, Beta22, and Headamp GS-X. As of right now, the stock GCHA can definitely compete with Headamp GS-1 for its soundstage and its sound depth (according to 6moons audio). Therefore, it's no doubt a very good start. SPL Phonitor is one amplifier that can surprisingly compete with the balanced Beta22, so why not give a fully balanced GCHA modification a try and and compete with the rest of the reference amps?
 
For now, I'll continue listening to the GCHA. I recently bought Signal Cable including the XLR Silver Resolution Interconnects and the MagicPower Cord. Frank from Signal Cable recommends 50 hours to burn-in the cables, so I shall do that soon. I have gotten this far, so most likely (again) I will not return the GCHA, but we shall see.

 

[Frank I]

 
Quote:

 

Thanks for your impressions. There is a chance that burning-in the amp for another 100 hours will help improve the rolled off highs. After 250+ hours, I hadn't heard the highs being rolled off, but that is only because the GCHA headphone amp is my first headphone amplifier. I had heard amplifiers like the Luxman, Beta22, and Woo Audio WES in a meet, and have always wanted to look for a fully balanced SS amp with an affordable price. Additionally, being able to compete with the top-class amps listed above would be great. Yes, you are hopeless for being a tube addict, haha. Even though the GCHA is indeed an SS amp, it sounds tube-like possibly because of the gain cell technology. It is unfortunate that you will return the GCHA, but I am glad you appreciate its awesomeness. I do agree that those who want non-aggressive amps this is the amp to look for. I still have some days left before returning the amp, but most likely I want to keep it. What I'm currently interested in is the GCHA mods.
 
http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSGCHA&Category_Code=MODS&Product_Count=37
http://www.cullencircuits.com/webapps/site/67005/78076/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=300510&b_id=&find_groupid=9539
 
Since you pointed out that the highs tend to roll off slightly, I'm wondering if modding it will fix this flaw and have the potential to compete with many >$1700 amps.

I have been listening again today and the issue I brought up in the review it lacks bass slam just a tad for me but it drives the LCD2 very well. Not aggitated with the highs and it does have a nice sound stage and does not clip the LCD2 but I think the Concerto may be better suited for me if it has more slam. Going deeper is what I am after in a ss amp.

 

[gzone3lement]

 
Quote:

 


I have been listening again today and the issue I brought up in the review it lacks bass slam just a tad for me but it drives the LCD2 very well. Not aggitated with the highs and it does have a nice sound stage and does not clip the LCD2 but I think the Concerto may be better suited for me if it has more slam. Going deeper is what I am after in a ss amp.

Last night I finally connected the Signal Cable XLR Silver Resolution interconnects from my DAC to the GCHA. I must say, I now understand what you mean when you said modding the GCHA will make it a different amp. I didn't do anything on the inside; I simply switched from Radioshack RCA's and stock power cables to Signal Cable accessories. While listening, I kept saying, "WOW! Wait, what? WOW, wait, huh?"

With the new reference cables, the GCHA is no longer just a versatile amp that drives anything and drives superior to headphones like the Grados and Sennheiser HD800. For bassheads, the Denon AH-D5000 is surprisingly driven very well; the bass slams very hard and tight. There are some bass muddiness still, but that's why the Denon AH-D7000 is made to fix that. Soundstage is basically PS Audio's sound signature, so I will bet anything that the GCHA can drive any open-back Sennheiser headphones and wow those owners because of the excellent soundstage itself. Frank I, what RCA cables are you using? I am definitely keeping my GCHA and my Signal Cable cables due to such dramatic improvement. This is the sound I have been looking for quite some time; strong bass and distant-sounding soundstage at the same time. Unfortunately, I have neither listened of the Audeze LCD-2 and the Concerto, nor I have looked around in forums for reviews (yet). If you can somehow borrow some reference RCA or XLR cables, the depth and the bass slam will be pushed much harder without breaking a sweat. I plan on checking out my friend's Blue Jeans Cable RCA cables on Thanksgiving (at the latest) and hog-listening to his HD-650 again; I wonder how the GCHA would sound

.
 
But first, onto burning-in my cables for 50 hours

.

 

[Frank I]

 
Quote:

 

Last night I finally connected the Signal Cable XLR Silver Resolution interconnects from my DAC to the GCHA. I must say, I now understand what you mean when you said modding the GCHA will make it a different amp. I didn't do anything on the inside; I simply switched from Radioshack RCA's and stock power cables to Signal Cable accessories. While listening, I kept saying, "WOW! Wait, what? WOW, wait, huh?"

With the new reference cables, the GCHA is no longer just a versatile amp that drives anything and drives superior to headphones like the Grados and Sennheiser HD800. For bassheads, the Denon AH-D5000 is surprisingly driven very well; the bass slams very hard and tight. There are some bass muddiness still, but that's why the Denon AH-D7000 is made to fix that. Soundstage is basically PS Audio's sound signature, so I will bet anything that the GCHA can drive any open-back Sennheiser headphones and wow those owners because of the excellent soundstage itself. Frank I, what RCA cables are you using? I am definitely keeping my GCHA and my Signal Cable cables due to such dramatic improvement. This is the sound I have been looking for quite some time; strong bass and distant-sounding soundstage at the same time. Unfortunately, I have neither listened of the Audeze LCD-2 and the Concerto, nor I have looked around in forums for reviews (yet). If you can somehow borrow some reference RCA or XLR cables, the depth and the bass slam will be pushed much harder without breaking a sweat. I plan on checking out my friend's Blue Jeans Cable RCA cables on Thanksgiving (at the latest) and hog-listening to his HD-650 again; I wonder how the GCHA would sound

.
 
But first, onto burning-in my cables for 50 hours

.

I use Audioquest Black Mamba and Mit output terminator which are 300.00 meter so the issue I have are with both very good interconnects that I swapped in and out. The bass issue for me is that it is soft. My tube Decware has much better bass and better defined. I also had the D7000 which I commented was a better match with the Matrix amp I owned. The amp is nice but its lacks the bass slam and dynamics I have heard in other amps in this price range and even lower. Glad you like yours but this is gonna go back. I have already made arrangements for another SS amp and as for adding another 700 in mods I just dont do modding and IMO for the cost of 1200.00 there are many better solutions out there for me.