Fungi Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Also note the GS-X's wait time and the fact that it is a balanced GS-1 with better PSU (since you already have a GS-1). Of course I have heard that the GS-X sounds better than a GS-1 even single ended, but it shouldn't be drastically different from the GS-1. I'd probably just try out a BUDA, and return it if I didn't like it over the GS-1 and get a GS-X. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger945 Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 You should have no problem unloading the one you didn't like. Amp I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 I was thinking of doing exactly this since I have never owned any Headroom amps (something new is fun!) and there is the 30 day trial period. I waited 6 months for the GS-1 so I am never giving that up! Haha Also note the GS-X's wait time and the fact that it is a balanced GS-1 with better PSU (since you already have a GS-1). Of course I have heard that the GS-X sounds better than a GS-1 even single ended, but it shouldn't be drastically different from the GS-1. I'd probably just try out a BUDA, and return it if I didn't like it over the GS-1 and get a GS-X. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fungi Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 I was thinking of doing exactly this since I have never owned any Headroom amps (something new is fun!) and there is the 30 day trial period. I waited 6 months for the GS-1 so I am never giving that up! Haha 6 months new from Justin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 6 months new from Justin? Well, to be fair, I ordered at pretty much the worst time possible [Dec 2008]. Justin wasn't able to get the enclosures for long period of time for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Really what you need to be asking yourself is who is more cuddly: Kevin Gilmore or Tyll Hertsens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Really what you need to be asking yourself is who is more cuddly: Kevin Gilmore or Tyll Hertsens? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penger Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Why doesn't Justin get any lovin'? The BUDA isn't Tyll's design, is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefy Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 i'm not surprised, i've never been a big believer in balanced (i think that many balanced amps are simply better built than their single ended counterparts, and this makes the real difference). Don't forget that balancing doubles the slew rate and increases power output four-fold...... mediocre amps can become a lot better when you use two of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 On some phones it makes little difference (eg DT880) but on others (K701 and K340) it makes a hell of a difference. I have a hard time listening to the K701 SE on the GSX and I don't even try any more with the K340. The Senn 650 also sound better balanced to me but not as huge a difference as the AKGs. I will be doing some Grado balancing next, so that should be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreadhead Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 ^ good point. My impressions are based on HD650s and Denon D5000s mostly. I also had balanced Qualias and SA5000s but did no real balanced vs unbalanced on those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Don't forget that balancing doubles the slew rate and increases power output four-fold...... heh, unless the gain is halved when doubling the boards. Doesn't the slew rate doubling happen only when you have a true differential input design, not when you glue four single ended amps together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefy Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 heh, unless the gain is halved when doubling the boards. HEH! There is always that. Doesn't the slew rate doubling happen only when you have a true differential input design, not when you glue four single ended amps together? Maybe, I don't know enough to say My only experience with balanced amps is reading about DIY variants. All amps I have read about including the MMM, B22, Dynalo can be built into balanced versions with all the benefits it entails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclragnarok Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 The slew rate doubles whenever you put 2 single ended amps together to make a balanced amp. The output power is 4x only when the amp is voltage-limited, which is usually the case for SS amps driving high impedance headphones like the Senns. When the amp is current-limited, the output power is only 2x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefy Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Sounds reasonable to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclragnarok Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Saying stuff that sounds reasonable is my specialty. Actually designing or building the amps is much harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Ok, in case anyone was dying to hear the end of the story and losing sleep over my decision, I just order a BUDA+DPS. I figure this way I get to hear something new and there is no risk with Headroom's 30 day trial! Should ship in 2-4 weeks (probably closer to 4 weeks according to the salesperson on the phone). Now I just need to get rid of my Stello amp and DAC to make up for some of the loss of green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Thankssszzz...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedalhead Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Ok, in case anyone was dying to hear the end of the story and losing sleep over my decision, I just order a BUDA+DPS. I figure this way I get to hear something new and there is no risk with Headroom's 30 day trial! Should ship in 2-4 weeks (probably closer to 4 weeks according to the salesperson on the phone). Now I just need to get rid of my Stello amp and DAC to make up for some of the loss of green. Grats on the order. I'll probably be following quite soon I think. That combo seems to offer a lot for the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yeah, the UDAC does look very tempting. I am eager to hear The Monkey's impression of the UDAC and ECD-1 especially since I just saw that he put the ECD-1 up for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fungi Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Talking about for sale, how do you feel about Stello HP100 vs GS-1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atothex Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yeah, the UDAC does look very tempting. I am eager to hear The Monkey's impression of the UDAC and ECD-1 especially since I just saw that he put the ECD-1 up for sale. Didn't he returned the UDAC as well? Not sure what that leaves... Dodson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Didn't he returned the UDAC as well? Not sure what that leaves... Dodson? For now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Talking about for sale, how do you feel about Stello HP100 vs GS-1? Well, I feel that the HP100 is very good. The GS-1 in my mind is slightly smoother and more neutral with a slightly better soundstate. They are both very good amps though. I am surprised more people haven't jumped on the HP100 bandwagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Didn't he returned the UDAC as well? Not sure what that leaves... Dodson? I didn't know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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