Gato Audio

Thanks guys!

Jaws - guys from Gato Audio prefer WireWorld cables. I'm narrowing down the list, started with around hundred brands, now I'm coming to 40. I need to narrow it to less than 20 before starting with specific inquiries. At this stage, German VIABLUE seems very interesting to me. But I must consider WireWorld because they (Gato) prefer it, and it's their amp. Shunyata is on the list too.

Double-D - I have walnut speakers and mahogany floor - so what you think which cover? ;)
 
Hi Mate
I actually asked Frederik Johansen from Gatoaudio excactly the same question about powercords, and he said he had good experiences with the blue and coppercolored cables from Wireworld.
But, i had read so many good reviews about the Shunyata Venom3, that i took the chance, and purchased it without demoing it, and glad i did so. Very nice and a very cheap cable.
Maybe you can try a few at home, before deciding :)

I got it with high gloss walnut also ;)

Bo

Bo
 
Dan...
Very good review you wrote, and one of the reasons i considered the amp in the first place. Luckily i'm almost neighbor to Gatoaudio, so it was easy to loan a demoamp.

The one i bought is the new DIA-250S, and it should be better than the "old" DIA-250. And it has AptX bluetooth now. A nice extra feature.
Maybe you should consider to update your review ;)

OR, perhaps try out the new preamp PRD3-S and mono poweramps PWR-222. I have a feeling they will be seriosly good! (Sorry, i can't post links or pics yet...)

Bo
 
Jaws said:
Dan...
Very good review you wrote, and one of the reasons i considered the amp in the first place. Luckily i'm almost neighbor to Gatoaudio, so it was easy to loan a demoamp.

The one i bought is the new DIA-250S, and it should be better than the "old" DIA-250. And it has AptX bluetooth now. A nice extra feature.
Maybe you should consider to update your review ;)

OR, perhaps try out the new preamp PRD3-S and mono poweramps PWR-222. I have a feeling they will be seriosly good! (Sorry, i can't post links or pics yet...)

Bo
Click to expand...

Bo.......Thank you for your compliment. It is appreciated.

The newest model Gato Audio DIA-250S and DIA-400S integrated amplifiers have been refined and improved over the previous models. Bluetooth compatibility is a nice feature as well. I have little doubt the improved filtering and refinement of the analog output section yields fabulous performance. Both Gato Audio integrated amplifiers are impressive.
 
Frederik told the same to me, "blue" and "copper", but those are just colours, the real names are Electra 7, Aurora 7 and Stratus 7, if he was referring to current models. I have no idea which one I will buy in the end, it will also depend on the availability of different lenghts. For example, if I need 0.5 meter power cord, and brand X offers only 1.5 meter cords, then I will seek another brand which has shorter ones. Shunyata, WireWorld, ViaBlue, AudioQuest, Oyaide, Siltech, Transparent, Voodoo, Furutech... many choices. Plus, I can order custom made ones of top quality, made right here where I live, but I may have to wait long.
So you actually know guys from Gato and their workplace? Nice. :)

I don't need Bluetooth compatibility and I prefer not to have any of that stuff around my gear. I'm old school, not by my age, but that's my style.
 
Mate.......Very sorry to hear about your new Gato Audio DIA-250 arriving with issues. I can tell you unequivocally, the DIA-250 should produce no hiss. The DIA-400 I reviewed was dead silent with my Sonus faber Amati Anniversario speakers (92dB sensitivity), even with the volume at 50 and nothing playing. Something is definitely wrong. Have you tried disconnecting everything from the DIA-250 and connecting your new headphone amp to the Gato's output to listen for noise without the speakers connected. If the noise remains I think I would ask for a replacement component rather than a repair to the one you have.

As for the display, it is supposed to have a single white LED remain lit when the display is turned off. That is the indication that it is powered on. Changing the input or adjusting the volume with activate the display momentarily, then return to a single LED lit. That is spelled out in the owner's manual.
 
Mate said:
Amati Anniversario has the same tweeter as my Toy Tower!!! And you heard no hiss? Wow. That's a really worthy information. Thank you so much. Do you think changing the speakers cables could eliminate the hiss?
Click to expand...

Mate.......I doubt it unless the speaker cables are somehow picking up some type of interference between the DIA-250 and the speakers. When that happens it is usually 60 cycle hum, not a hiss sound. It is suspicious that the hiss changes when the display is on or off.

I would try connecting the headphone amplifier to the amp with nothing else connected to the amp, no source or speakers. Then try listening with your headphones to see if you can detect the hiss you hear when the speakers are connected. Since the DIA-250 variable output is before the amplification stage it will at least tell you if the noise is in the line stage or the output section.

You can always give another pair of speaker wires a try is you have some handy. The process of elimination may deliver positive results.

Something else comes to mind. Is the amplifier on a dedicated circuit or does it share the circuit with lighting and other electrical loads? Are there any lighting dimmers in your room that may be on the same circuit?
 
Mate.......Instead of powering the amp from your power conditioner, try powering the DIA-250 directly from the wall to see if that makes a difference.
 
I would personally say that you should not hear a hiss. I know on my system if there is no signal going (in between songs, etc.) it is dead silent no matter where I have the volume set. I do not remember ever detecting any kind of extraneous noise. I have been amazed at how quite the equipment is because I recall having small amounts of noise back in my old days.

I just ran a test on my system... I started playing a DSD download (Alan Parson which is completely irrelevant :) ). I paused the playback as a test and turned the volume up, way up.... I never ever listen above about 30 on the dial... anyway, at all the way up to the maximum which is 80 there is not a bit of noise. Hiss, hum, etc.; I put my ear directly at the speaker and it is dead silent.

If you are hearing a hiss I would personally say that is not normal and if the manufacture is saying this is I would be looking for a new manufacture. Just my opinion for what it is worth.
 
Hi Mate
Congrats on your amp.
I'm pretty sure there must be something else making the hiss than the amp. I live in a very old building with old powerwiring and cables, and i have had problems with hums before. Both a 300B tube amp i owned had a slight hum, and a pre/power combo from Naim i had on demo before buying the Gato hummed like crazy. But no problems with the Gato. Its deadsilent.

Try what Randy and Double-D says, and perhaps try the amp in a friends stereo if you can.

Btw, i love the volumeknob, and they way the numbers goes up and down :)

Bo
 
Mate,

Is it possible that with the "lightly used demo" model of amplifier that you bought that it was damaged by the previous owner in some way?
 
Mate

If the shippers in your part of the world are anything like our UPS, there is no telling what that amp has endured from the company to you. May have worked perfectly before some "shipping adjustments." I had them "flat drop" a preamp so hard several months ago that they broke the transformer loose and knocked the faceplate logo out. Box looked new.
 
Mate said:
Everything is possible.
However, it's not very likely that Danish manufacturer of high-end audio would lie about amp being a "lightly used ex-demo". Their manager said they used it for few presentations. He also said that the unit is probably faulty, somehow slipping undetected their testings, and that it has to go back on their expense for repair - or refund.
Yesterday I tried out two other speaker cables, and the hiss from tweeters is exactly the same with all 3 cables.
Click to expand...

You will get a properly working unit if you're returning it to the manufacturer.
 
Mate, the Job INTegrated also has a little bit of hiss. I hear a different hiss from tweeter and woofer. But only with my ear to a speaker. At 10cm distance the hiss drops below audible level suddenly. Changing the volume does not change the hiss level. I've tested all this. So for the Job it's no problem at all. My previous amp had a 50Hz humm I could here from my listening position when no music was playing.
 
Mate

I find it hard to believe that a manufacturer would send you their personal demo unit not operating properly. If they had heard what you hear they could have diagnosed and fixed it in minutes in house before shipping. If it was "flat dropped" by shipper it is very possible that something got knocked loose that you may or may not see if you "popped the hood." Many times board connectors can come loose from rough handling. I am sure they will take care of you as I'm sure they don't want this sort of notoriety on a forum to come up in a google search of their gear. You need to give then the benefit of the doubt as Dan and others have found them different than what you describe. And no the Class D aspect has nothing to do with the noise. Also as an owner I can assure you that Job gear is not perfect either.
 
Mate.......Somewhere in this barrage of boxes your Gato DIA-250 probably passed. It's a miracle it arrived at all. . :S


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