twsmith
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2007
- Posts
- 422
- Likes
- 56
Quote:
How would you describe the improvement of the GS-X over the D-1's built-in HPA?
One thing I'm noticing in the D-1 (HPA) > HD600, is the Senn tends to choke a little on highly dynamic passages resulting in loss of imaging and smearing.
When I first tried my HD800s with the D1's amp, I thought it actually sounded pretty good, which initially made me think that I had finally found my ideal "one box" solution for my headphone listening. But after a fair amount of careful listening, two things started to bother me -- the midrange seemed a little bit weak compared to the high and low frequencies which seemed a bit exaggerated perhaps, and the dynanic range seemed somwhat constricted with a fair amount of "congestion" when the music became louder or more complex. Switching in the GS-X was almost a stunning revelation -- the overall balance between all frequencies evened out, detail retrieval which was already excellent in the D1' s amp improved even more, and the soundstage opened up to create a much more "holographic" presentation -- actually amazing in some recordings. It sounds to me that what I've described is quite similar to what you've experienced with your HD600s. The D1's amp is reputed to be quite good but perhaps that really applies more to phones with a lower impedence and/or less demanding power-wise? I believe some folks here have experienced a similar preference for using an external amp with similar difficult to drive phones. I have never had a dac match so well and sound so good with my GS-X as the D1 has. As a side comment, I initially thought the lack of a balance output from the D1 would be a detriment but this has not proved to be the case whatsoever.