HeadAmp Gilmore Lite mk2 Headphone Amp (on Massdrop)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Peter78, Oct 8, 2017.

  1. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Estonia
    By going back in time on Feynman diagram?
     
  2. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,276
    Trophy Points:
    113
    This is why us Latvians will always trail behind supreme Estonian physics.
     
  3. svperstar

    svperstar Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2016
    Likes Received:
    49
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Canada
  4. JimL

    JimL Tongues KG's hairy starfish for fun

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    191
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM
    Either you are confused, or I am. The dynaHI has +/-30V rails, the dynaLO has +/-15V rails. Both use bipolar power supplies. A power supply that uses LM7815 and LM7915 regulators will have +/-15V outputs.
     
  5. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,838
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    You are correct. The schematic I saw for the Dynahi was confusing and the inputs and outputs were not labeled. The LM7815/7915 take up to a 30V input and output 15V. Here is what I was looking at:

    [​IMG]

    The Dynahi is 30V rail, but regulating down to 15V is exactly what it is doing according to the AMB schematic:

    [​IMG]

    Going up in voltage kind of did not make sense to me at first, but what do I know.

    So it seems any of the Dyana type designs use 15 to 16 volts no matter how you swing it. My apologies for causing any confusion. The top schematic I was looking at is in fact wrong.
     
  6. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,276
    Trophy Points:
    113
    [​IMG]

    No part of the Dynahi circuit ever sees 15V power. Do read the scripture, but use your head. Also why would you drop 15v on a linear reg? The reg will cook itself in no time.

    Edit: It seems like the regs are actually on the pcb but they’re used to power the DC servo, which draws miniscule current.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2018
  7. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Estonia
    In many cases this is used to power dc-servo opamp.
    Very little current, doesn't matter that the voltage drop is huge.
    I have seen even TO-92 regs do that.
     
  8. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,838
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    Ok, ok, I'm wrong. Wrong again. Sorry.

    All I can say as I was not lookibg at the right schematics. Finding info on these amps is difficult. 10 year old forums is not a good place for info since a) the main forum the info was on is down, b) the site the original schematics is down, c) hard to find info from old board suppliers since boards are now scarce to find, d) there are many revisions and changes and options by the original designer and others due to improvements or changes due to parts becoming obsolete.

    I really only brought it up 30V in the first place because I find it interesting to study why things sound the way they do based upon their innerworking design.

    As to the point as to if the Gilmore Lite has 30V or 15V rails, I guess it's 15V based solely on the specifications on the external cave wart power supply.

    I know my Dynalo is running on 16.4V rails with a regulated power supply and powers the DC servo as well.

    So can we put this to bed? I'm now kind of embarrassed I even brought it up. Thanks for clearing up the confusion.
     
  9. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    110
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Has anyone here put any real time into a GSX mkII or tried to find some synergistic components to go with it? It seems that many (myself included) did not enjoy the original GSX and wrote off the newer model quite quickly, however with all the rave reviews of this little unit I'm wondering how big brother actually sounds.

    Is it simply a case of the Gilmore Lite being great for $500 and the GSX2 being underwhelming at $3k?

    The upcoming GS-1 mkII has my interest piqued as it looks like a Gilmore Lite with balanced output, linear power supply and a super clean preamp for my monitors. Not to mention the low gain setting on the GSX is apparently black with iems.
     
  10. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,838
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    What didn't you like about the original GSX?

    I have the Dynalo (auto bias option, DC servo), and sounded really really close to the GS Lite MK2. MK 2 was ever so slightly better on depth and bass tightness. I mean it is mostly the same design, just newer SMD parts.

    IMO I think the Gilmore design SMPS go well with cans that need more body and drive and can benefit from the low end punch, e.g. HD800/700/650/600.
     
  11. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    110
    Trophy Points:
    43
    To be honest I only gave it 30 minutes or so but I just found it quite closed in and a touch bright. It was 5-6 years ago though and my tastes & understanding of system synergy have definitely changed. Id just come off a tube amp and missed the spaciousness/holographic nature and touch of warmth. Chain was definitely tilted towards the tube amp though with stock HD800s and a D/S Gungnir Multibit.

    In hindsight I dont think I really gave the Headamp a fair run, however between here and Changstar I've read very little positive to say about the amps in general. The Gilmore Lite is the first one I've seen getting any real praise and im wondering if I let internet opinion get the better of me years ago. Confirmation bias is a bitch.

    Also apparently the mkII GSX is a fair bit better than the original.
     
  12. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,838
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    I have not heard a Head Amp GSX, but those are known for harsh grainy highs and mids. I did not experience this with the Gilmore Lite MK2 or my Dynalo build. Much more "tube" like. Liquid mids, warm inviting lows, silky highs.

    The soundstage is not hyped, but it is wide. Some might say it is closed off if coming from a BT Crack or something more exotic. Even the MCTH has a bit more depth, but it could not keep up with the dynamics and effortless sound as well as the low end presence and definition.

    I haven't heard HD800's on them, but I think they would be well suited. @Ice-man, don't you have this amp and HD800's?
     
  13. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Anyone try this amp with the Clears?
     
  14. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    110
    Trophy Points:
    43
    This is what I mean - my understanding is that the topology is extremely similar just scaled down on the Lite and built to a price point. I was wondering if perhaps users have just gotten far better at matching components these days. I'd love to hear a GSX in a suitable chain but its not going to happen down under anytime soon, they have one at the local audio store (amazingly) and I've seen it out of box but they insist on auditioning amps with line ins / portables they have lying around like AKs.
     
  15. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    After owning most of Justin’s amps over the years I would take Gilmore mk2 over any of them, including GSX mk2.

    The Gilmore is a sleeper.
     
  16. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,455
    Trophy Points:
    113
    ^Yup. I love mine. I had to buy it site unseen and didn't want to pull the trigger. Very glad that I took a leap of faith. It kills with the 650/58x.
     
  17. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,032
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Evanston, IL
    They do the same thing during auditions at my local shop, and it drives me nuts. It's too difficult to tell where harshness is coming from, especially when there's a portable Sabre chip in the mix.
     
  18. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    110
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I find this so interesting. I wonder what changes over the years (it is 6 years on after all) can be attributed to this change. Can anyone with a more thorough understanding of parts and topology than me shed light on the issue?

    If the GS1 mkII is similarly voiced to the Lite but with LPS, preamp functionality and balanced in/out I would be very interested. Perhaps Justins ears and tastes have changed too.
     
  19. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Justin seems to be referring to it as GSX mini rather than GS1 mk2.

    173C77EF-6B40-48AB-A9A5-C97BDF492765.jpeg

    91569285-6963-4DEC-A328-15A87D931B3E.jpeg

    It certainly has me interested, as does his planned DPS for Gilmore mk2.
     
  20. eastboundofnowhere

    eastboundofnowhere Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    202
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Picked this up a couple of weeks ago. Works really well with hd650, Atticus, and Aeon Closed. It has exceeded my expectations. Unlike some, I do like the Asgard specifically when I consider the price point, but this really is much much closer sonically to my decware csp2 without the slight bloom. I mention the Asgard because class A solid state and that is my closest reference for it. However it really does sound more like the csp2 without the slight bloom and of course the fact that it drives the planars as well. At extreme volumes the decware does pull away with the high impedance phones but this is at unreasonable volumes. Tried it for about a half a second and by unreasonable I mean firing a pistol next to your ear.

    Highs are very present but non-fatiguing, mids are very source dependent and lows seem maybe very slightly elevated...or it could just be my source. This is a very transparent amp. My digital front has always lagged behind my vinyl rig, but with this amp I will have to go on a gear purge and update the later. Makes me very reluctant to opt for the Bifrost Multibit over an album even when I do need the convenience of it.
     

Share This Page