Fungi Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
digger945 Posted August 3, 2009 Report Posted August 3, 2009 You should have no problem unloading the one you didn't like. Amp I mean.
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report 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.
Fungi Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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?
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report 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.
postjack Posted August 3, 2009 Report Posted August 3, 2009 Really what you need to be asking yourself is who is more cuddly: Kevin Gilmore or Tyll Hertsens?
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report Posted August 3, 2009 Really what you need to be asking yourself is who is more cuddly: Kevin Gilmore or Tyll Hertsens? LOL
penger Posted August 3, 2009 Report Posted August 3, 2009 Why doesn't Justin get any lovin'? The BUDA isn't Tyll's design, is it?
Beefy Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
morphsci Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
Dreadhead Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
luvdunhill Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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?
Beefy Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
cclragnarok Posted August 3, 2009 Report 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.
cclragnarok Posted August 3, 2009 Report Posted August 3, 2009 Saying stuff that sounds reasonable is my specialty. Actually designing or building the amps is much harder.
shellylh Posted August 3, 2009 Author Report 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.
pedalhead Posted August 5, 2009 Report 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
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report 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.
Fungi Posted August 5, 2009 Report Posted August 5, 2009 Talking about for sale, how do you feel about Stello HP100 vs GS-1?
atothex Posted August 5, 2009 Report 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?
Hopstretch Posted August 5, 2009 Report Posted August 5, 2009 Didn't he returned the UDAC as well? Not sure what that leaves... Dodson? For now...
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report 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.
shellylh Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report Posted August 5, 2009 Didn't he returned the UDAC as well? Not sure what that leaves... Dodson? I didn't know that.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now