Lornecherry
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2008
- Posts
- 393
- Likes
- 25
A GCHA just showed up via UPS at my door. Bought used on A'gon for $500. Unfortunately, I just sold my Grado G1000s and am awaiting the arrival of Sen 650s, so these initial thoughts are through my iPod's portables stalwarts, the Sen Px 100s. Hence, take my impressions with a grain of rolled-off salt.
Plugged it into the Trends USB UD-10.1 ----> Paradisea ---->Kimber Hero --->GCHA to the el'cheapo Sen px100 portables and I am rather impressed. Definitely solid state in presentation, with a Bryston-like signature (tight, clean, low-end slamm and neutral everywhere else.). The Paradisea DAC is known for its soft tuuuubiness, so I can't assign all the signature to the GCHA, and won't even attempt to do a proper review till the Sens arrive.
So far I like what I hear and it's nice to have a totally different presentation then that of my detailed clinically-correct Stax and SinglePower sound signatures.
First impressions are:
1) This thing is huge. (It's about 16" long) You'll need some serious desk space for the PS Audio monstrosity. (Can't wait to take a photo of the GCHA dwarfing a P-51 (whenever that ships), for a "David vs. Goliath shoot-out that I plan to do)
2) Plug and Play, no tubes to worry about; it's meant to be left on all the time. Even after being manhandled buy the UPS offensive-end package goons, I unpacked it, plugged it in and there was no fuss with drivers or any other unfriendly Windows time-eaters. Just music.
3) Has both analog and USB inputs (I had no idea it had USB before I decided to purchase, and have not tested that functionality and won't till the Sens arrive).
4) Through the portable phones there is absolutely no fatigue at all. To me this is very important, as I'm often on the computer 5 hours at a time and any brightness or harshness is intolerable.
Much, much, much better then the Grado RA-1 that was driving my computer system previously (that amp really only works well with Grados).
So why aren't there more of these on head-fier's desks? I strongly suspect that the $1000 entry fee scares away a lot of potential suitors who are obsessed with review-itess, an incurable manifestation that prevents opening of the wallet without the head-nodding of at least a dozen flowery reviews that use more adjectives then nouns when describing holy words such as soundstage, midrange bloom and separation. (My wife constantly expands her soundstage everytime I buy something; and I like to eat, so midrange bloom is never an issue with me).
As for the $1000, that's Darkvoice 337se territory... but @ $500 used, it's at least a worthy challenger and perhaps the dark horse that shows up in 1st at the finish line.
More to come when Sens arrive and I can put the GCHA through its paces with my high end DAC and sources.
Com'on Paul pick a better name for this amp - if this experience turns out to be anything like that I enjoyed with your indispensable Power Plants, more of the head-fi faithful will surely bite. - Lorne
Plugged it into the Trends USB UD-10.1 ----> Paradisea ---->Kimber Hero --->GCHA to the el'cheapo Sen px100 portables and I am rather impressed. Definitely solid state in presentation, with a Bryston-like signature (tight, clean, low-end slamm and neutral everywhere else.). The Paradisea DAC is known for its soft tuuuubiness, so I can't assign all the signature to the GCHA, and won't even attempt to do a proper review till the Sens arrive.
So far I like what I hear and it's nice to have a totally different presentation then that of my detailed clinically-correct Stax and SinglePower sound signatures.
First impressions are:
1) This thing is huge. (It's about 16" long) You'll need some serious desk space for the PS Audio monstrosity. (Can't wait to take a photo of the GCHA dwarfing a P-51 (whenever that ships), for a "David vs. Goliath shoot-out that I plan to do)
2) Plug and Play, no tubes to worry about; it's meant to be left on all the time. Even after being manhandled buy the UPS offensive-end package goons, I unpacked it, plugged it in and there was no fuss with drivers or any other unfriendly Windows time-eaters. Just music.
3) Has both analog and USB inputs (I had no idea it had USB before I decided to purchase, and have not tested that functionality and won't till the Sens arrive).
4) Through the portable phones there is absolutely no fatigue at all. To me this is very important, as I'm often on the computer 5 hours at a time and any brightness or harshness is intolerable.
Much, much, much better then the Grado RA-1 that was driving my computer system previously (that amp really only works well with Grados).
So why aren't there more of these on head-fier's desks? I strongly suspect that the $1000 entry fee scares away a lot of potential suitors who are obsessed with review-itess, an incurable manifestation that prevents opening of the wallet without the head-nodding of at least a dozen flowery reviews that use more adjectives then nouns when describing holy words such as soundstage, midrange bloom and separation. (My wife constantly expands her soundstage everytime I buy something; and I like to eat, so midrange bloom is never an issue with me).
As for the $1000, that's Darkvoice 337se territory... but @ $500 used, it's at least a worthy challenger and perhaps the dark horse that shows up in 1st at the finish line.
More to come when Sens arrive and I can put the GCHA through its paces with my high end DAC and sources.
Com'on Paul pick a better name for this amp - if this experience turns out to be anything like that I enjoyed with your indispensable Power Plants, more of the head-fi faithful will surely bite. - Lorne