GSX Mini Review - The Pinacle of Solid State?

[@theodorezurla496]

I do have to disagree on the sound description. I don’t know but mine has a beautiful hit of class A warmth to it. Definitely not a black background dry THX sound whatsoever ..Orr maybe you are right and it’s just very good at revealing how good my r2r dac is 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

Cool video! I actually find it to be more on the warm side of things… it was too warm for me. I wouldn’t say “clean, clean, clean,” it sounds smooth and precise but it imposes its warm sound, therefore not that “clean.” But it is certainly enjoyable and very well built that with the right headphone can sound superb.

[@theodorezurla496]

Love my gsx mini !! Paired it with a gustard r26 r2r dac and my he1000 v2 LcdX 2021 and hd 650 with all my iems including the Odin/Mest/Gaea sound incredible highly recommended 👍🏼

[@Thoughtflux]

Wish i had the budget for the r26 & gsx mini :( any cheaper recommendations on Amps?

[@theodorezurla496]

@@Thoughtflux to be honest, jotenhiem 2 is the best balanced amp under 500 imo

[@bitterandjaded_]

I bought a GS-X Mini on the theory that it would be the only SS amp I'd ever need. So far, so good. Most people describe it as being on the warm side of neutral, though I can see how serious tube aficionados might have their thermostats skewed. To go with your wine analogy, it's really only dry compared to dessert wine. As a consumer (with no reviewing aspirations), It's always important to gage how my own preferences line up with that of different reviewers. The hard part is buying and trying enough gear to figure that out.

[@nothingelse1520]

Interesting I have heard it called so harsh its "like sandpaper". I have a Gilmore Lite mk2. Still searching for my end game balanced amp.

[@kajetan9550]

A slight critique, in order for the judgement to be more accurate I’d say it would be reasonable to check in with headphones of similar class that have been on the channel before, that are usually way more source demanding and revealing. The ones mentioned in the video are about half the cost of the gsx alone and are designed to play well on everything, so I’m not surprised the differences are not astounding. Something like an lcd5 wouldn’t sound any good on a Fiio k7, while this is a good match, or abyss stuff. DAC you use with it is also quite important as i hear it sounds harsh with high voltage output DACs

[@Vsread21]

Hi! Subscribed! I wanted to ask - how did you like your JM Audio headphones with the GS-X? And if I'm lucky, is there any chance you also tried your JM Audio headphones with a Burson Soloist 3XGT?

[@mtnmankeith9069]

Great review! Love the wine analogy. I’ve been using a schiit Valhalla 2 with the Amiron Home…Can’t see my self going back to solid state.

[@JTB--]

If you have hard to drive headphones... I'd probably go with a more powerful amp like the Burson Soloist 3XP over GSX

[@Thoughtflux]

Which cheap amp would you recommend for great details, depth and wide Soundstage?

[@MrAyrit]

I think the Fiio K7 is pretty hard to beat right now. I’m also really digging their portable BTR7. Excellent value devices.

[@Thoughtflux]

@@MrAyrit i have a Arya stealth, hd650 and a T60rp Argon. Will the k7 do these any good? I power them with a the Asgard 2 (class A) amp which is 5 years old now. Is there something in $400 - 700 amp which can do better Soundstage width and depth?

[@p0k3rxryzenforthefuture43]

I honestly find a lot of Kevin Gilmore's stuff pretty underwhelming especially considering the cult following that follows the creator. His "wire with gain" approach is extremely lame honestly in my opinion and I rather take something like a burson for dynamic headphones and Monolith Liquid Gold X for planars (specifically Audezes) or an All In One like the Dangerous music source which has a fun sounding dac and can be rack mounted (could be found for much cheaper on the used market for around $600). The GSX mini is a pretty good option for those who want to have like 97% of the sound quality of the Mk2 but in a much smaller box but as you mentioned the sound can be kinda replicated at a much lower price. The Blue Hawaii might be like the only amp I could recommend to people but that is mostly due to a lack of competition in the estat energizer market. I wonder if you will cover one of those TDA dacs like the border patrol se as your dac preferences tend to lean I guess the more mushy side than just more clean (I dont know how to put it at least thats how I felt when I heard the Cayin Ru6 and Airist). There are some cheaper alternatives to it like the Lite Dac-ah and teradak stuff which can be found under $200. At least when I had the Lite Dac-ah and Borderpatrol the sound was basically the same and really did not click with me but I wonder what your impressions would be.

[@MrAyrit]

I’ll never say never, but I’m slowing down on a lot of this stuff. Not sure I’ll seek it out.

[@Thoughtflux]

Which cheap amp would you recommend for great details, depth and wide Soundstage?

[@tysontyson1244]

@@Thoughtflux Depends on the headphones.

[@Thoughtflux]

@@tysontyson1244 I have a hd650 and a T60rp Argons. I'm getting a Arya stealth which is on its way. I have the original Bifrost which i have improved with a DDC feeding into it via coax. Lifted it's ground etc. I have a preamp modded with nos tubes and Burson v6 vivid as opamps. I tinker a lot.

[@tysontyson1244]

​@@Thoughtflux I can't stand my Massdrop HD6XX unless they are on tubes. A good cheap amp for them is the Darkvoice 366SE if you plan to roll the tubes, if not rolling tubes then Little Dot Mk III will do the job with stock tubes. . I don't own any Argon modified Fostex, but I do own T60rp and T50rp. I prefer the T50rp and it performs well with the Rebel Audio RebelAmp and Questyle CMA Twelve. . While I don’t own the Arya, I do own the HE6se V2 and Ananda which each performing well with either the Rebel Audio RebelAmp and Questyle CMA Twelve. . In the used market you might find the RebelAmp for $500 or lower and the Twelve for $750 or little higher.

[@asan1050]

MrAyrit Thanks Much !.......

[@quantumcreator8888]

Have u done videos on linear power supply.. I saw a FiiO PL50 to paired with my FiiO k7

[@MrAyrit]

I haven’t, but that’s probably something I’ll try in the future.

[@mastaboog749]

Not going to lie, ive fallen out of collecting more and more headphone gear and ive been trying to build my music studio more. I have a LCD2, a 6XX, aeon closed x, SA6 ultra, and more. Didnt think id like schiit as much as i did but i cycled thru smsl products and topping xduoo ifi but my modi multibit 2 with my lyr 3 is my daily. Sometimes i use my jotunheim 2 and i do like it but ive always wanted to headamp and gustard pairing

[@Thoughtflux]

Which cheap amp would you recommend for great details, depth and wide Soundstage? I have a hd650, fostex t60rp Argons and getting a Arya stealth delivered soon. I currently have the old Asgard 2 class A which i think sounds great but maybe doesn't have a broad Soundstage.