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Product Description
A sequel to the popular H10, the Gustard H20 is a powerful class-A headphone amplifier with a variety of inputs and outputs. In fact, with an output of 12,000 mW at 32 ohms, it’s one of the most powerful we’ve ever sold Read More
Well, I love it - with the right opamps. It was my second desktop headphone amplifier after the Schiit Jotunheim. I have since also gotten the Massdrop THX AAA 789, the Burson Fun and the Audio-GD HE-9. The H20 remains my favorite headphone amplifier, in conjunction with Sparkos SS3602 opamps. The Burson Fun gets remarkably close when using Sparkos SS3601 opamps, but isn't as clean and tight. With a capable DAC like the Schiit Yggdrasil, the H20's sound stage is noticeable bigger than with the Schiit Jotunheim, but not with the Topping DX7s. The H20's sound is much more dynamic and engaging than the HE-9's, while the latter has the edge in terms of micro detail. The Massdrop THX AAA 789 leaves me cold. At best it sounds alright to, but transients on the H20 are still faster and it's more engaging.
The main headphones I used it with are the MrSpeakers Ether C Flow 1.0 and Ether Flow 1.0, usually balanced. The high impedance single ended output on the H20 sounds very good as well, though I slightly prefer the balanced output. Single ended sources also work very well.
The three gain settings are pretty useless because there is no big difference between them. I wish the H20 had a single ended preout in addition to its balanced preout, and a second single ended input for A/B-ing single ended sources. I am very happy that it has two balanced inputs since that makes comparing balanced sources very easy - something the THX amp and the Jotunheim cannot do.
It gets warm in use, but not nearly as hot as the HE-9, which is firmly in tube amp territory.
I wish the printed text on the silver version had more contrast. Instead I went with the black version. While I love the look of it, it doesn't fit my other equipment super well.
Anyway, if there's ever going to be a Gustard H30, I'll be first in line to get one!
Really loving this amp, it whips serious ass.
My previous amps were a Dark Voice 336SE and the Massdrop x Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp, I really loved the former. The Gustard H20 is a subtle but definite step up over both of them, and that's saying a lot IMO.
Headphones used are a Beyer T1.2 and Senn HD800, and the first thing that really leapt out was how crisp and responsive the bass is. Neither of these phones are particularly bassy, but immediately I noticed a huge step up in the low register. I've been similarly impressed by the detail and crispness of instruments, there's a clarity that is a distinct step up over my previous amps. Plus, as an added bonus, the volume knob makes lil clicking noises. Highly recommended!