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HeadAmp GS-X mk2 Balanced Headphone Amplifier / Pre-Amplifier
Factory B-Stock items undergo the same rigorous testing as all our premium HeadAmp amplifiers. B-Stock items may feature discontinued colors or minor cosmetic blemishes that do not compromise the exceptional quality and performance of the amps!
The GS-X Mk2 is HeadAmp's flagship amplifier for dynamic and planar magnetic headphones. Used by numerous high-end headphone manufacturers in their development labs, this headphone amplifier that gets the clearest sound possible from your cans.
Our Take
The GS-X Mk2 delivers the quickest, cleanest, most transparent sound you will find in a headphone amplifier, and does so regardless of the headphones you pair with it. You'll simply hear the character of the headphones themselves, and the connected source, as the GS-X does its' part to supply all the power your headphones need, without coloring the sound.
Across the Board Performance
The GS-X is carefully designed to provide the same level of experience whether listening with high sensitivity, multi-driver in-ear monitors, low-impedance current-hungry planar magnetic headphones, or low-efficiency, high-impedance headphones. The combination of extra low-noise transistors, careful part matching, and an adaptable gain setting work together to give your entire collection of headphones just what they demand.
With a circuit that has evolved and matured over a 15-year period, the GS-X Mk2 is the most powerful, linear, and transparent amplifier that we have ever produced. Pushing up to 6W of class-A power into balanced headphones, the GS-X Mk2 can tame the toughest headphone loads on the market, while its low-noise circuitry delivers an equally brilliant performance with sensitive in-ear monitors.
Only the Highest Quality
The GS-X Mk2 is a carefully handcrafted piece of audio equipment, with painstakingly matched components, and the highest standards for build quality in the business. Every GS-X Mk2 is tested extensively throughout the build process, as well as before, and after an extensive burn-in process to ensure the best possible performance.
More Than a Headphone Amp
In addition, the GS-X Mk2 makes a fine preamp for your stereo speaker system. With its high input impedance, low output impedance, multiple I/O options, 3-way gain control, and precise volume control, the GS-X Mk2 can fit into almost any stereo rig, and provide the same wonderfully transparent sound output that it does with headphones.
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HeadAmp GS-X mk2 Balanced Headphone Amplifier / Pre-Amplifier
The GS-X mk2 is HeadAmp's hand-built flagship: a Class-A solid-state design that pairs remarkable transparency with muscular output. With up to 6W balanced output, the unit drives demanding planars and still yields a whisper-quiet background for sensitive IEMs. Robert H. Levi of Positive Feedback highlights its neutral, musical presentation, striking dynamics and refined treble linearity. Build quality is described as obsessive and Mercedes-like, and the two-box architecture doubles as a high-performance preamplifier with multiple I/O and a precise volume attenuator. Ideal for audiophiles with power-hungry headphones who also want a low-noise preamp, the GS-X mk2 offers premium sound, flexibility and craftmanship that reviewers judged to justify its flagship pricing.
Pros
- Exceptionally neutral and transparent sound with very low distortion, delivering nuanced detail and engaging dynamics.
- High class-A power (up to 6W balanced) and low output impedance that can drive demanding planar and dynamic headphones.
- Top-tier build quality and fit-and-finish, hand-built in the U.S., giving confidence in long-term reliability.
- Versatile preamplifier functionality with ultra-low noise and multiple I/O options, making it useful beyond headphone duty.
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Cons
- Recessed three-way toggle switches are awkwardly ordered and can be fiddly to operate.
- Rear single-ended outputs sit close together, which can make using large connectors awkward.
- Sensitive to power-cord choice and does not ship with a cord, so users may need to audition cables to optimize sound.
Sound Quality
92/100
The review highlights startling nuance and strong crescendos: "The nuances are as startling as the crescendos," and notes the amp's "power and punch" that energize bass and dynamics. These observations point to excellent transient response and engaging musicality.
Noise Floor
92/100
Reviewer explicitly calls out "low-noise circuitry" and that the amp delivers "no noise of any kind," and that it provides "equally brilliant performance with sensitive in-ear monitors." That language supports a near-black background suitable for sensitive IEMs and full-size cans.
Headphone Compatibility
92/100
Specs and review both indicate substantial power (up to several watts balanced) and the reviewer states it is the flagship for dynamic and planar headphones and can "tame the toughest headphone loads," plus mentions low output impedance and 3-way gain control. This combination makes it suitable across IEMs to demanding planars.
Build Quality
94/100
Reviewer praises "fanatical attention to build quality," a "Mercedes-like fit and finish," and US manufacture; the heavy external PSU and confident fit/finish justify a top-tier build-quality score.
Features Connectivity
88/100
The unit is described as having "multiple I/O options," a "top-notch and flexible preamp," precise volume control and a 3-way gain control. No DAC/streaming is mentioned; features such as balanced outputs, preamp functionality and multi-gain place it well above baseline but short of full-featured streaming DAC units.
Value for Money
89/100
Reviewer calls $3,000 "a fair sum for such flexibility, sophistication, and elegant industrial design," implying a justified premium for its class. Given the positive language about capability and build, the amp represents a competitive, if premium-priced, choice.
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