Has anyone compared GC amps(LM3875/3886/4780) with other DIY SS amps(Leach,ESP) ?

[percy]

Has anyone listened to a GC as well as other reputed SolidState amps like the Leach Amp and ESP(Rod Elliott) P3A and P101 ?
What were your impressions ?
I am not asking about numbers(specs) or which is better. I'd just like to know what your listening experiences were.
Thanks!

[Nuuk]

I would guess that many of us have built GC's after having owned discrete SS amps.

In my case, I ahd a pair of highly modified Arcam A60's that I spent three years improving. But the GC was clearly an improvement over what were very good discrete SS amplifiers.

I have not heard of many people building a GC and then going back to their previous amplification.

[Greg Erskine]

Originally posted by percy
Has anyone listened to a GC as well as other reputed SolidState amps like the Leach Amp and ESP(Rod Elliott) P3A and P101 ?
What were your impressions ?
I am not asking about numbers(specs) or which is better. I'd just like to know what your listening experiences were.
Thanks!

Hi percy,

This is a really loaded question because there are just so many different implementations of a Gainclone. I don't believe anyone can give you the definitive answer.

For example, I've heard Joe Rasmussen's JTLi and in his system it sounds very very good , one of the best systems I have ever heard. On the other hand, my humble GCs, although well built, in my system don't come near that of Joe's JTLi but they do hold their heads up well compared to my P3A, SC480 and DIGI125 (in my system.) My reference amp is a standard AKSA 55 and it is still my favourite.

If you haven't built a GC yet, I would highly recommend you do. Why not 3, once you start you just can't stop. I think you have to experience a GC in your own system, don't rely to heavily on others opinions.

BTW: I haven't tried buffered, filtered or regulated GCs so can't comment on them. From what I read they may? sound better and the JTLi is buffered and filtered.

[Cobra2]

Nothing compares to Dynamic Precision, Adyton or my home-built N-channel.

Arne

[Upupa Epops]

To Nuuk : It's of no account, it only signify, that this Arcam is not probably quite OK . GC's are amps for begginers, easy to build, with solid parametres and cheap. Or do you realy mean, that they are state of art and that not exist something better ?

[JoeBob]

Well, "GCs" are state of the art, a SET may not be "state of the art" and still sound better though, it's all up to preferance.

As for comparing them, well, the GC is better than some and worse than others. It all boils down to PREFERANCE. A gainclone is a good amp, it is. Some people love it, to others it's not their cup of tea. A gainclone is cheap, pick up some of BrianGT's boards and it'll be quick and easy to build as well, then YOU'LL know if you like it or not and how it compares to other amps you've heard.

I personally like gainclones, I listen to some, but I also listen to my single-ended Class-A MOSFET amps alot as well I like them both. I hope you do go ahead and try it for yourself, it's the only way you'll know.

[Lazyworm]

Jeff Rowland and the model 12 Amplifier for +13000US have got really good reviews even compared to very expensive discrete amps like Krell and ML.

I have never heard theese amps so I cant say anything about it, but I would think that they are darn good.
They use LM3886T(12/channel) in those amps.

[percy]

Thanks for all your responses.
It seems that GC would stand up really well atleast to what I am comparing with. i.e the SS amps I mentioned above.
For the price, I don't expect GC to be anyway near the other $$$ amps that were mentioned above, although Lazyworm's post is quite positive about it.

[Lazyworm]

Actually!
I have got close taken picture from inside the Model12 amp and know what components that are connected to each one of the
12LM3886.

I did start (with help from another friend on this forum) to do a schedule on it a few days ago and I think it will be ready to do a PCB from in another few days. I have changed a few components and redid the unbalanced/balanced step on it.

I think it will be a really nice sounding amp in around 200W 8ohm and 370W 4ohm, and it will be safe to drive down below 2ohm.

Including a 2*1000VA from germany and 20*15000uF caps
And the 24 pieces of LM3886 it will cost around 650US + alot of time to build.

[Peter Daniel]

Why don't you read some of the reviews of GainCard:

http://www.sakurasystems.com/reviews/reviews1.html
http://www.sakurasystems.com/reviews/reviews3.html
http://www.sakurasystems.com/reviews/reviews6.html
http://www.dagogo.com/47LabGaincardS.html

A well implemented Gain Clone can sound even better. Modesty prevents posting reviews of my amps