Thread: HeadAmp Headphone Amplifier

I have always had speakers in my system however I also enjoy listening to headphones. Over the years I have had some very fine cans and usually a nice amplifier to power them. Here are some of the headphone amplifiers I have owned. The highly rated inexpensive Drop 789 and SPL Phonitor SE, and the basic Woo WA6 tube amp. My first higher end amp was the McIntosh MXA70, and then the fine tube amp from Dennis Had called the Dragon IHA1. I have also owned some nice step-up amplifiers such as the Bryston BHA1, the fantastic SimAudio NEO 430 HA, and most recently the Woo WA22 2nd Gen.

What makes me remanence about headphone amplifiers I have had in my audio setup? I just received an amplifier that I have been interested in and wanting to try. HeadAmp builds the renowned Blue Hawaii electrostatic amp and the GS-X mk2 two box conventional design. Their latest offering is the GS-X Mini which is a single box amplifier that is using their newest technology. Many have stated (including the guys at Abyss) that the Mini may well be a better choice than the mk 2.

The HeadAmp GS-X Mini is a pure class A, fully balanced headphone amplifier that uses an internal linear power supply. The unit can also substitute as a pre-amp (should make for an excellent back up unit). With their latest technology both single ended and balance input signals are balanced internally and therefore it does not make any difference if your source is SE or XLR, the amplifier will sound the same! The inputs are selected from a toggle switch on the front.

The unit has both a 4-pin XLR and a ¼” SE output, however the company highly recommend using the balanced output for best performance. There is also a High and Low Gain switch on the front. It is recommended to start trying the high-level position first.

The pre-amplifier section is selectable from a switch on the front panel. There are both SE RCA and Balance XLR outputs. Either can be used or at the same time, which will work well for a setup using both a speaker amp and powered subwoofers.

As I listed above, I have owned quite a few headphone amplifiers. All have their strong points and some of them are SOTA in my view. With only a short time listening to the GS-X Mini my first reaction is WOW! It is simply a fantastic amplifier. Quality of construction is second to none. Having all controls on the front is a very nice improvement over some of the others. The toggle switches are excellent quality, and I really like the feel of these little stick type that are used. Being able to use it as a pre-amp with two outputs is a nice bonus.

Performance is over the top. Detail is as good as any other amplifier that I have listened to. Instrument separation is in a class of its own which is not a surprise being that HeadAmp is building a pure class A amplifier. One surprise is how full and detailed the bass notes come through on my Abyss Diana Phi headphones. Better than any amplifier I have previously used. This is truly a musical amplifier in every way, picking out and listening to individual instruments is very easy to do. My Abyss have never shined more than they do with this new HeadAmp amplifier.

This write up is from only a few hours listening. I fully expect the amplifier to improve with break-in, especially considering that in my experience class A amplifiers usually improve during their first 50 – 100 hours of use. I highly recommend giving this amplifier a try if you are looking for a compact high-performance headphone amplifier to get the best out of your high-end cans!

I've enjoyed HeadAmp amps since their early 2000s days of the Gilmore V1 and Gilmore V2. I've owned a BHSE, and heavily regret selling it. I still hold onto a circa 2003 Gilmore Balanced Reference, which is still a wonderful sounding amplifier - much in common sonically with the GS-X mini, in fact. A few years ago I got to borrow a GS-X mini w/ DACT along with Stellia, Empyrean, and Susvara Headphones. Stunning little amp - a real benchmark of what a clean, neutral, detailed amp should be. It's musical as hell too! The combo of GS-X mini with Susvara was particularly stunning, and I feel that's the only headphone setup I've heard which has matched my Stax 009 & T2 combo as an equal (the Stax combo cost 2x as much, btw). The Empyrean combo was great but those headphones are a bit too dark and thick for my tastes. The Stellia was also great but those are a bit too bright for my taste (even more so than Utopia). The Susvara was "just right".

Enjoy!

Enjoy !

Nice post Randy!
Another HP Amp to consider.
If the sound quality is the same for balanced and single ended inputs, there may no advantage to playing it through ones' pre-amp via balanced opposed to connecting the DAC directly to HPA via single ended (other than loosing sources not going through the DAC). (?)

Look forward to your continuing impressions.

JohnJ

It depends on your setup. I run it through the pre-amp so that I can listen to any of my sources through either my speakers or headphones. I prefer using balanced cables where ever I can. I have a fairly long run going to the headphone amp therefore I use XLR cables.

Either way, if at all possible use the 4-pin balanced output to your headphones. Just like the Bryston, the HeadAmp does not use the entire amplifier for the 1/4" SE output, only the 4-pin outputs. In pre-amp mode both the RCA and XLR outputs do get the same signal (pass through mode versus amplifier mode ).

Thanks for this feedback Randy!

John

You are welcome, John. I really liked the Woo but I felt that it was a little lacking in power for my Abyss. I also decided that having all the tubes exposed with a very very active kitten, that likes hanging with me in my music room, was not the best thing.

I also would have loved to try the McIntosh, but very difficult to find (no one seems to have them) and having to go to one of their dealers is a pain when none are near me. I have also drooled over the Blue Hawaii for some time now (Mike now has them available). The GS-X Mini is their latest, and arguably best ever balance headphone amplifier for conventional cans. So far it has not disappointed!

Yes the GS-X mini is more advanced than its bigger brother - it can take a SE or balanced input equally and produce a fully balanced output. The GS-X II can't do that - but then its dedicated PSU box is an advantage. My friend had a GS-X II and, from memory, the sound is quite close between that and the mini. Given the price & compact package, I think the mini is the clear winner there.

I love the BHSE and am also a huge Stax fan, but IMO a Susvara w/ GS-X mini will beat out a BHSE with Stax 009, 009S or 007 Mk I.

Nice. I have never had the opportunity to listen to any of the other HeadAmp amplifiers but have done quite a bit of research. I also trust Abyss and they have a video comparing many of the better amplifiers. They rate the Mini above the mkII because of the newer tech being used. The mini also has a very good linear power supply which has negated much of the advantages that a two-box solution would give.

Listening to MoFi One-Step of BS&Ts.... the HeadAmp GS-X Mini is fantastic... definitely the best headphone amplifier I have ever heard.