HeadAmp GS-X mk2 Balanced Headphone Amplifier / Pre-Amplifier
The GS-X mk2 delivers transparent, neutral Class-A authority with an exceptionally silent background, expansive imaging and tight, controlled bass. Part Time Audiophile praised its grain-free poise and separation, while Positive Feedback highlighted its musical power and flexible preamp talents. Balanced drive, three gain settings and refined build make it a formidable reference hub for headphones and speakers.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Usability
90/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, neutral and grain-free sound with wide staging, precise imaging and excellent instrument separation.
Extremely low noise floor; sensitive IEMs were reported free from hiss, with deep silence between notes.
Powerful, dynamic Class-A presentation with strong bass control across a broad range of headphones.
Flexible, high-quality preamp section with multiple connections and selectable gain settings.
Cons
Not an optimal match for the notoriously inefficient HiFiMAN HE-6, which did not reach its full dynamic and soundstage potential.
Recessed toggle switches and tightly spaced rear single-ended outputs can be awkward with large connectors.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers describe an exceptionally transparent, neutral and grain-free amplifier with smooth treble, strong punch and a notably silent background. It is highly capable across sensitive IEMs and demanding full-size headphones, although one reviewer found the HiFiMAN HE-6 short of its full potential.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Part Time Audiophile calls the sound incredibly transparent, neutral and remarkably free of grain, etch or solid-state glare. It reports that the amplifier revealed what each headphone and recording had to offer, with exemplary air, separation, inner detail and image focus.
Tonal Balance Musicality
95/100
The presentation is repeatedly described as neutral and linear without sounding bright or sterile. Reviewers also praise its smoothness, warmth through the preamp section, and musical long-term listenability.
Dynamics
94/100
Robert Levi found both fine nuances and crescendos startling, with power and punch that energize bass and dynamics. The high-headroom dual-mono design gives it convincing authority with difficult loads, though the HE-6 was reported to reach decent volume without fully realizing that headphone's capability.
Noise Floor
95/100
With JH Audio Roxanne and Ultimate Ears UE18 Pro IEMs on low gain, Part Time Audiophile heard no hiss and praised the dead silence between notes and tracks. In its direct comparisons, the reviewer considered it the quietest amplifier present and among the quietest they had reviewed.
Headphone Compatibility
93/100
Three gain settings, low output impedance, precise volume control and very low noise make the GS-X mk2 unusually flexible, from sensitive custom IEMs to many demanding dynamic and planar headphones. It supplies substantial balanced power and was designed with difficult loads such as the HE-6 and AKG K1000 in mind, but the HE-6 pairing was not considered optimal by one reviewer.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Reviewers praise the parts selection, personally matched transistors, improved construction and modular architecture. Robert Levi describes Mercedes-like fit and finish, while Part Time Audiophile says the revised build matches the company's Blue Hawaii SE flagship standard.
Features Usability
90/100
The GS-X mk2 combines balanced and single-ended headphone connections, multiple inputs, selectable gain, precise volume control and a capable preamp section. Its modular boards provide a meaningful upgrade path, and the switchable preamp output makes integration into a speaker system straightforward.
Value for Money
91/100
At roughly $3,000, Robert Levi considers the asking price fair for its flexibility, sophistication and industrial design. Part Time Audiophile calls the upgrade cost reasonable and argues that its performance can compete with amplifiers at any price, positioning it as a credible long-term purchase.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Output Voltage
- +/-20V Dual Mono
- THD
- 0.003% / 1KHz
- Power Output (HP/Balanced)
- 8W/25-ohm, 6W/50-ohm, 3W/100-ohm
- Operating Voltage
- 115/120VAC
- Power Consumption
- 40W
- Dimensions/Weight
- Amp: 14.5x9x2.5, 5lb Power Supply: 14.5x9x2.5, 7lb
Manufacturer's Description — HeadAmp
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.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for HeadAmp GS-X mk2 Balanced Headphone Amplifier / Pre-Amplifier
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- HeadAmp — online and in-store — Charlottesville, Virginia, United States (website)
- Moon Audio — online and in-store — Cary, North Carolina, United States (website)
- Soundlux Audio — in-store — Miami, Florida, United States (website)
- The Source AV Design Group — online and in-store — Torrance, California, United States (website)
- Wilbrand Acoustics — in-store — Nordhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany (website)