Torpedo

I've contacted the guy selling it asking whether it's 230V/50Hz or I'd need a transformer, but he didn't reply yet. Maybe Justin can say if the unit can be easily switched to work either voltage. That would make things way easier. I don't think he's interested in trades, he's selling his headphones gear and said he got his speakers system "done". In any case I wouldn't get rid of the Sansui tuner, it's not the same as the TU-X1, but gets so damn close that's an excellent back up unit. Those TU-X1 are really scarce and expensive these days, but very few people can fix and adjust them properly, in my country nontheless, so if mine failed... Rgrds

X2 Looking at the shadows, the colour of the faces and the hands... looks like a real one, or a very very well doctored one. Too small to say though. Rgrds

Thanks for the replies. LOL This World is really small . The guy selling it now isn't Bull-X, but I know Bull-X, we're "almost friends". I've had some of his gear at home and he came over my place, but he lives in another city so we can't join frequently. He probably got the GR after selling his Stax 4040 rig. I had this at my place for almost two months, but I decided not to keep it. Looks like Bull-X sold it to the current seller about two years ago. I'll ask him about it. I think that sound-wise it could be of my liking and is worth a try. It's a pity there's no more technical info and measurements available. Not that I trust graphs more than my own ears or that I base my purchases on measured performance, but I like correlating what I hear with numbers. The current seller has had it up for sale for 10 months already, so if I disliked it and decided to resell it, it wouldn't be easy However I'm more prone to keep things than to sell them, I've only sold the very expensive and bulky stuff. I'm still keeping an old Theta Data II and a Sansui TU-919 I haven't used for years "just in case", so go figure Rgrds

On digital a CEC-TL2 transport to a Museatex Bidat (John Wright modified). For vinyl a NA Hyperspace with Shelter 901 to a EAR 834P (with some "enhancements") thru Music First (S& step up. I also use a Sansui TU-X1 tuner, but to be honest I only listen to it using the speakers, it's too good for phones hahaha. If the Gilmore Reference is really neutral and transparent to the sources, I'll probably like it. I spent too much time and effort finding the right sources to spoil it with colored amps. I haven't found a trully neutral HPs amp yet, so I can live better with one on the warm side of things than with a hyperdetailed-analytical one. The music lover brain wins over the audio-nuts one. Rgrds

LOL well, not really, however what I think sounds musically engaging, purposeful, interesting and coherent under my evaluation standards could well be BS for other people focusing their attention on different results and performance features. As you said, up to the listener's ear Knowing that technically it drives difficult phones well is a good starting point. I have no experience on KG designs. There seems to be quite opposite opinions about them -soundwise, from the design point of view there's some agreement that they're well thought-, so I really don't know what to expect. Unfortunately I've been exposed to some very well thought designs on paper that made really lifeless music for my ears, though many people loved the sound. It's a pity that audio is such a lonely hobby. Rgrds

Very well... power-wise, "sounds"-wise, musically-wise...? I'm not electronically knowledgeable, but for my short understanding, the design features as explained by Kevin at HeadWize introducing the project, it seems interesting. It's a very different matter how it does for music, but that's something I won't know unless I take the plunge... Oh no, I really don't need another amp Rgrds

Thanks for the prompt reply. I've checked the link and it says the output power, depending on the PS VDC and used resistors, can be 1.125w @ 32R and 0.125 @ 300R, but not sure if this is for the bridged version, or the "standard" one. I don't know if the Gilmore Referece uses the bridged circuit or the normal one. I'd like to know, if possible, what's the actual power rating of this unit, and how would it handle hard to drive cans like R10, D5000 or K701. Also seeing some distortion spectrum graphs would be very interesting. Rgrds

Hi Justin, Thanks for the prompt reply. These are pics of the actual unit for sale: Was this a custom order? Is this a fake ? I suppose this was a custom order and probably more expensive than the price you stated. Would you tell me where to find some technical data? Rgrds

Someone in my country is selling one of these for 1000 euros + shipping in a quite good condition. It has separate power supply (as every Gilmore Reference I guess) with oversized trannie, Blackgates internal Vampire wire and is fully balanced with separate RCA and XLR inputs and also SE and balanced outs with a switch in the back to chose either RCA or XLR, and separated stepped attenuators for each channel. I'd be thankful if anyone could tell me what was the original price for this amp, whether in your opinion it's worth trying it at that used price, and some technical specs, which I haven't found at the Headamp page. Considering I already own a RPX-100 and a Headmaster, and that I'm not really looking for "improvements", it would be more one of my "learning" purchases than a definitive one. However knowing if it's worth that money, or if I'd better save my dough for other more interesting devices, like perhaps a β-22, would be very appreciated. Rgrds

IMO there's a big difference in the quality of the solderings at the tips of the pins. The Sylvanias look cleaner and smoother. Rgrds

And yet another Happy BDay

LOL Thxs for the reply Spritzer I wish I could try a B22, but unless I get someone to build me one for 230V and pay for it completely blindly, I don't think I ever can. AFAIK there's not a single one in Spain. Rgrds

Hi mate! Glad to see you here too. Congratulations for your HP-4. I'd love reading your opinion about it and how it compares to the ZD. Tim deParavicini makes very good sounding stuff, maybe not very "high-end" for current taste, but absolutely enjoyable. Rgrds

Thxs for the reply. I assume you've seen the insides and also tried it. To drive the Omegas I'd get the 717, it's my first affordable and safe option. I lived for some time with the 404/006t combo, and wasn't very pleased. I didn't like the 3030 system, but for different reasons. I suppose the OII/717 should be a different animal. I've had a look inside my RPX-100. Not a technician myself, so I cannot judge the circuit and its implementation. IMHO build quality ain't that bad, maybe it could use more boutique parts for the price, but there aren't crappy ones either but for the phones outputs. Sound-wise it's quite OK, it can drive any phones I plug in and doesn't exhibit easily noticeable flaws. In fact it has some sort of musical flow preservation that I like. Of course I think it's overpriced, but most hifi stuff with some pretentiousness is. Nontheless I'm glad I got it used, had I paid full price maybe I'd be a bit disappointed. After all building a power amp to deliver 1w, 2w @ 30R keeping the signal path clean and simple shouldn't be that difficult nor that expensive. Rgrds

Hi Spritzer, As I commented on another post elsewhere, I'm considering to set up an electrostatic rig based on Omega II cans (not sure mk1 or mk2 so far). Living in Europe and being already a Rudi user, the Egmont was one of the options I'd be looking at to amplify the Omegas. Would you please elaborate why IYO is the Egmont a rip off and deserving criticism? Is it just for being very expensive using mid-fi parts and not being innovative in its circuit design, or it also has sound issues which don't make it any better than the Stax amps? Rgrds

Oh, I didn't know Tyll was a regular poster over here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Have a nice one

I've managed to remove a fish spine from the larynx of a woman, which had been there burried under the mucosa for nine months I'll probably write a case report of this for an ENT magazine. Other than mild pain at swallowing, she hadn't any serious infection or severe pain. Really astonishing. The spine was more than 1 inch long (about 3cms) and at its thicker extreme was about 3mm wide. Have been watching the Federer-Tursunov olympics tennis match.

I'm sorry, it's probably my less than perfect English. Yes, I was trying to mean that while I find the RS-1 just OK for some music, I didn't like at all their way of reproducing acoustic instruments, especially the horns mostly saxophones. I suppose that the same character that makes electric guitars sound so "crunchy" on them, spoils other instruments for my taste. Rgrds

My probably erroneous inference about the vintage RS-1 sounding closer to the HP-2 was just a wild guess since I've never listened to any vintage RS-1. My comment was referred to the RS-1 with buttons and black headband, the only model I've listened to, not to the HP-2. I'm using these with flats, I didn't like the sound with bowls, kind of a hole in the midrange using them. With flats I find them surprisingly neutral for Grado phones, quite warm, almost relaxed and kind of less resolutive, but still very "pratty" carrying a good deal of the fun factor of other Grado models. I like these cans, they lack the airiness that suits classical music and are too in front sounding, but I could live with them as my only phones without much trouble. Rgrds

LOL I don't know how old RS-1 sound, all I've listened were of the black headband type with buttons and serial number. For your description of the vintage models, I think they could sound closer to the HP-2 than the RS-1 I know, which btw, aren't my cup of tea. Maybe fun with some music for a while, but rather unlistenable for any acoustic music, specially if horns are involved. Rgrds

Could it be possible that the old RS-1 used the same Joe Grado's family of drivers as used in the HP-1000? Rgrds

Glad to be here. For Grawk's post looks like you're the main recruitment officer hehe I hope we have some fun and interesting discussions. Rgrds

Yep, flats and bowls have their role on the PS-1, but I like better the bowls. I find tonality more accurate and bass a bit less prominent with the bowls. Also the stage for my ears is a bit wider than with flats. However metal and any hard rock sounds so much "you're there and we're shaking your guts" that I can understand metal fans prefer them. Rgrds

LOL I'm afraid I never was, but Torpedo was already taken at HF and I made a silly decission Rgrds

Oh yes, I'm sorry HF is quite boring sometimes