The HeadAmp GS-X and GS-X MK2 Thread

[T Bone]

I am using the Aqua HiFi La Voce S2. Wonderful sound, smooth and detailed. Darko reviewed it very favourably

I've been keeping an eye out for an Aqua to show up on the used market. Everything I've read on it says that it's a fantastic DAC.
....now if I can just get deal!

 

[MacedonianHero]

Not with the ES9028Pro and ES9038Pro and properly implemented and executed in a good design. My LKS004 has no glare or glaze or glass or whatever you want to call it (dual ES9038Pro). I do feed it toward my SR009, and also using all Silver wires. Nope!

Anyways, I will be getting audioGd R2R-7 and see what is all this crave about

Actually the ES9028/38 are much more immune to this irregardless of the design of the DAC. When reviewing the Benchmark DAC3 HGC, the designer mentioned that the new generation of the chipsets automatically takes care of the overs whereas the 9018 didn't and required the DAC's circuit to take care of this. This would in turn cause what I called the "Sabre shout" with poorly implemented 9018 DACs.

 

[biosailor]

Not with the ES9028Pro and ES9038Pro and properly implemented and executed in a good design. My LKS004 has no glare or glaze or glass or whatever you want to call it (dual ES9038Pro). I do feed it toward my SR009, and also using all Silver wires. Nope!

Anyways, I will be getting audioGd R2R-7 and see what is all this crave about

I didn‘t want to imply that the ESS DAC chips have a treble glare, I just read this in reviews. Being totally new to digital audio at that time, I took those reviews for granted and wanted to go the safe route. That’s how I ended up with R2R DACS. I am sure that any well-implemented Sigma-Delta DAC is just as good!

 

[Whazzzup]

La Scala optilogic formula looks very interesting, albeit at Dave pp, It may just be me but finding the idea of musicality interesting as opposed to just striving for potentially inaudible acuity but shamefuly if and when I ever pursue that level of dac, I doubt I could pre screen both... however no worries, first world in all.

 

[T Bone]

Greetings from CanJam SoCal!
If you ever needed your decision to invest in a GS-X affirmed, have a look at the number of vendors at CanJam use the GS-X to demo their gear!

 

[biosailor]

Sorry for being persistent about the hum problem in my GS-X Mk2. I noticed something odd: I disconnected the cable of the right pre-amp out, but left the left pre-amp out connected and I expected hearing the hum on the left side. But NOTHING, gone altogether! The same with the other channel: disconnecting the left pre-amp out and leaving the right pre-amp out connected, the hum is gone altogether. Again, leaving only the power amp on, no hum at all! Does anyone have an explanation for this?

 

[Whitigir]

Sorry for being persistent about the hum problem in my GS-X Mk2. I noticed something odd: I disconnected the cable of the right pre-amp out, but left the left pre-amp out connected and I expected hearing the hum on the left side. But NOTHING, gone altogether! The same with the other channel: disconnecting the left pre-amp out and leaving the right pre-amp out connected, the hum is gone altogether. Again, leaving only the power amp on, no hum at all! Does anyone have an explanation for this?

Ground loops ?

 

[biosailor]

Ground loops ?

But with a ground loop, wouldn't you expect the hum to remain when you unplug one pre-amp out? Also, I tried to do everything avoiding ground loops, for example connecting all components to the same power outlet via a connector strip.

 

[Justin_Time]

Sorry for being persistent about the hum problem in my GS-X Mk2. I noticed something odd: I disconnected the cable of the right pre-amp out, but left the left pre-amp out connected and I expected hearing the hum on the left side. But NOTHING, gone altogether! The same with the other channel: disconnecting the left pre-amp out and leaving the right pre-amp out connected, the hum is gone altogether. Again, leaving only the power amp on, no hum at all! Does anyone have an explanation for this?

The hum (55-60 Hz?) could have many causes. It sounds like—no pun intended—you have a ground loop problem, which is always tough to chase down as it depends on so mNy details in your particular system.

My recommendation is to disconnect everything and start from scratch. Make sure the one unit that everything else is connectected to—in a stereo system, that would be the preamp—is the only unit that is connected to ground. Nothing else should be grounded separately, like having different unit plugged to different power outlets with their own separate ground. Often, this is not necessary, but you may have some weird grounding problems at you place so that requires special attention.

If you still have a tiny bit of noise, you may have to make sure that you do not invert the polarity with your plugs.

Ground loops are a bitch to resolve and only by starting from scratch and paying attention to each subsequent connection can you eliminate the most persistent hum.

If you problem is EM from the GS-X Mk2, then the mu metal or separating the power supply from the preamp-amp should do the trick, but it does not sound like this is the case.

 

[Justin_Time]

But with a ground loop, wouldn't you expect the hum to remain when you unplug one pre-amp out? Also, I tried to do everything avoiding ground loops, for example connecting all components to the same power outlet via a connector strip.

There could be a ground loop problem within the strip itself due to some poor internal connections.

I found that I can waste a lot of time trying different things try it isolate the hum problem. Being systematic and starting from scratch is slow but the surest way to eliminate the hum of to find out that it is not a ground loop problem

But with a ground loop, wouldn't you expect the hum to remain when you unplug one pre-amp out? Also, I tried to do everything avoiding ground loops, for example connecting all components to the same power outlet via a connector strip.

I found out that I can waste a lot of time trying to figure out where the hum is coming from. The strip itself could have a ground loop problem because of poor internal connection. The details of the various connections in your system will make it difficult for someone to help you from a distance.

The slow but sure way is to start from scratch as I suggested.

 

[biosailor]

The hum (55-60 Hz?) could have many causes. It sounds like—no pun intended—you have a ground loop problem, which is always tough to chase down as it depends on so mNy details in your particular system.

My recommendation is to disconnect everything and start from scratch. Make sure the one unit that everything else is connectected to—in a stereo system, that would be the preamp—is the only unit that is connected to ground. Nothing else should be grounded separately, like having different unit plugged to different power outlets with their own separate ground. Often, this is not necessary, but you may have some weird grounding problems at you place so that requires special attention.

If you still have a tiny bit of noise, you may have to make sure that you do not invert the polarity with your plugs.

Ground loops are a bitch to resolve and only by starting from scratch and paying attention to each subsequent connection can you eliminate the most persistent hum.

If you problem is EM from the GS-X Mk2, then the mu metal or separating the power supply from the preamp-amp should do the trick, but it does not sound like this is the case.

Thanks for the suggestions! Will try again.

 

[musicmaker]

Each time I listen to the GS-X mkII and my Holo L3 Spring DAC, it puts a big smile on my face. People who complain the amp is bright are definitely pairing it with a bright dac (and possibly the wrong cables). My setup is butter smooth with a beautifully refined detailed sound. Listening to a Laura Polence 256 DSD and its jaw droppingly transparent. Definitely end game stuff for me.

I did a comparison with a Violectric V281 which is also a fantastic amp. But the GS-X has this amazingly transparent sound that I have not heard in any other amp. To me, the GS-X mkII is the winner. I'm also loving the champagne color and it was the best decision

 

[TonyNewman]

Each time I listen to the GS-X mkII and my Holo L3 Sprint DAC, it puts a big smile on my face. People who complain the amp is bright are definitely pairing it with a bright dac (and possibly the wrong cables). My setup is butter smooth with a beautifully refined detailed sound. Listening to a Laura Polence 256 DSD and its jaw droppingly transparent. Definitely end game stuff for me.

+1.

I get the same effect with my Pavane DAC. Hook this amp up to the right DAC and the result is magical.

 

[elan120]

Each time I listen to the GS-X mkII and my Holo L3 Spring DAC, it puts a big smile on my face. People who complain the amp is bright are definitely pairing it with a bright dac (and possibly the wrong cables). My setup is butter smooth with a beautifully refined detailed sound. Listening to a Laura Polence 256 DSD and its jaw droppingly transparent. Definitely end game stuff for me.

Looks like I will soon be joining the group...just got the tracking number today that my GS-X Mk2 is scheduled to be delivered next Monday. I put quite a bit of effort into improving signal quality going into Holo Spring DAC (L3), including a heavily modded SU-1, so needless to say, I am very much looking forward to see how well this is going pair with GS-X Mk2. One more week and lots of burn-in time I guess.

 

[musicmaker]

Looks like I will soon be joining the group...just got the tracking number today that my GS-X Mk2 is scheduled to be delivered next Monday. I put quite a bit of effort into improving signal quality going into Holo Spring DAC (L3), including a heavily modded SU-1, so needless to say, I am very much looking forward to see how well this is going pair with GS-X Mk2. One more week and lots of burn-in time I guess.

Congrats, that's one heck of a setup. You wont be disappointed. Suggest you get a good USB cable (i have the Oyaide d+ class S and it is VERY good and not ridiculously priced). For the I2S cable, I purchased a blue jeans belden cable from amazon and its better than the kitsune one.