Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier evaluation report "Soomal"

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution is priced at about 13,500 yuan, which is a flagship product for the Gordon audio brand. We have not experienced the traditional desktop amp for a long time, especially such a big one. Recall that the headphone amplifier with such a big head might still be a HIFIMAN EF6. Unfortunately, one of our EF6 stepping potentiometers has bad contact with one channel and basically cannot be used. Gordon Audio has once launched the GA-X headphone amplifier, which is already a million-dollar flagship. Judging from the naming of evolution, it should be a selection of flagships.

• prototype source : netizens sent test
  prototype type : commercial production version
  is commercial relationship : no

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

GA-X evolution headphone amplifier, three-dimensional size 330mmXGA-X 260mm, plus 70mmX260mm With a weight of 7kg and a thick-looking chassis, it is a heavyweight guy on today's desktop or next to audio equipment. It seems that Gordon Audio officials rarely introduce the technical highlights of the product in detail. When the GA-X amp was used, a photo of the amp chassis was released as shown in the figure below. It uses a whole aluminum ingot and is directly CNC processed according to the internal PCB and other device requirements. Out of the internal space, the cost of doing so is really not low. However, the surface of this fast aluminum ingot has not been subjected to advanced oxidation treatment. It can be seen from the picture that its surface does not have a particularly high sense of quality, and the overall feeling is still more retro and stocky.

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

GA-X evolution headphone amplifier The three buttons on the left side of the front panel correspond to two states respectively. The input selects RCA or XLR, the gain selects high or low, and the front mute is on or off. In the middle is the volume adjustment knob, specifically the potentiometer? Encoder? I can’t feel it. If it’s a traditional potentiometer, it feels very delicate and the damping is quite uniform. There are three XLR ports on the right side, two 3pin+6.3mm TRS ports have two functions. The 3pin of XLR corresponds to the left and right channel balanced output, which is suitable for headphones with this kind of cable. The 6.3mm TRS in the center of the interface is not the balanced output of the left and right channel output 6.3mm interface [this type of professional audio interface is a connection method with the same balanced input and output function], but another set of output, that is, two stereo non Balanced output. On the far right is the more common 4pin XLR headphone balanced output.

​​GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

GA-X evolution headphone amplifier on the back, in addition to the power interface, there is a set of left and right sound Channel XLR 3pin balanced input and RCA unbalanced input, the front-end function provides a set of left and right channel XLR 3pin balanced outputs.

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X headphone amplifier case official photo

Regarding the internal structure of the GA-X evolution amp, there is not much reference material, and we cannot disassemble it. But from the official description, the amplifier part of the rear-stage amp must be pure Class A balanced output. But is there no preamp for volume adjustment? From a Taobao store, we saw the disassembly, and the front-end part was still completed by the op amp. As for the specific model, it is not clear. In addition, how is the volume adjustment part implemented? We are actually more concerned, because we will encounter a small problem in the objective test below.

objective test

Next we directly enter the objective test link. In the test, we did objective tests under no load, 300 ohm load [HD580] and 35 ohm impedance [HE1000] under real load, as well as pre-level functional tests. The test is done with the balanced output of the mini-i Pro2 using MatrixAudio matrix sound. 6.3mm unbalanced output interface connected to the headphone test part. In fact, when auditioning, we mainly use R2R2000 Red Prince to balance output and enjoy sound A280III, why use mini-i Pro2? Because I want to find a front-end audio source with relatively better objective indicators, in addition, the balanced switch output of R2R2000 does not truly ground the left and right channels separately, and the objective test cannot be completed under the GA-X evolution amp [ground loop interference] , But the actual use of headphones is no problem.

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-signal overflow BUG

test encountered a strange problem: the acceptable input voltage of GA-X evolution amp cannot be higher than -3dB, that is, the actual voltage is about 1.4Vrms [balanced input positive Negative are all], if it exceeds the threshold, the internal signal directly overflows. As shown in the figure: the total output voltage is only below -10dB, but the signal has overflowed. This situation is often seen in digital signal systems, but it is really rare in analog circuits. Moreover, the voltage value is so low and it is so sensitive to the value, it is unknown what the specific problem is. The above problem of

appears in both the headphone output and the front-end output. It is suspected that the GA-X evolution headphone amplifier volume adjustment and the front-end op-amp design problem. Fortunately, this is an amplifier at the end of the audio system. Even if it overflows, it will not have a significant impact on the sound quality of the entire system. If it appears in a sound source such as a decoder, it will be troublesome.

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-frequency response curve@pre-level output

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-frequency response curve@headphone output no load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-noise distribution@pre-level Output

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-noise distribution@headphone output no load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-dynamic range@pre-level output

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-dynamic range@headphone output none Load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-total harmonic distortion @pre-output

​​GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-total harmonic distortion @headphone output without load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-intermodulation Distortion @previous output

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-intermodulation distortion@headphone output no load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-separation curve@previous output Separation curve @headphone output no load

GOLDENWAVE GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-frequency sweep @pre-level output

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-frequency sweep @headphone output no load -X evolution-separation test @previous output

​​GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-separation test @headphone output no load

GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-separation frequency analysis @prev output

GOLDENWAVE Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution-frequency analysis @headphone output no load

From the objective test results, in the pre-level mode, from the RMAA spectrum analysis, the signal is still quite clean in the pre-level mode, and the objective indicators are also very good. of. Entering the headphone output mode, the gap between the left and right channels is less than 1dB, which is indeed not a problem with the connector. In conjunction with frequency scanning, the "large harmonic" feature of the Class A output appears. There are two strong harmonics at 2kHz and 3kHz, and there are not too many small and fine noises, so it affects the objective Test index value. Do not just look at the objective index data here, but also look at the distribution of the test spectrum. As a high-power discrete component headphone amplifier, this indicator is also acceptable. With a real load test with a high impedance and a low impedance, the difference between the results and no-load is very small, which is a manifestation of strength. The resolution is also good [unbalanced output resolution will be affected when loaded, and the resolution is still close to -80dB, which is already very high. ]

Subjective listening

In the subjective listening test, we mainly use the HIFIMAN R2R2000 Red Prince, and the auxiliary reference is the Xiangsheng A280III. Why use R2R2000 as a reference? Because its style is too suitable for this GA-X evolution. The output uses R2R2000's 4.4mm to balanced Lineout output. Sennheiser HD800, HIFIMAN HE1000 and Ortiz LCD4 are mainly used for reference headphones, all of which use balanced output.

Gordon Audio GOLDENWAVE GA-X evolution headphone amplifier

Overall impression: Although GA-X evolution is a big man, the first impression of using it for the first time is very different from the fierceness of EF6. GA-X evolution is mature and stable, and unassuming. There is no obvious and heavy taste modification and abruptness, but the mid-frequency and low-frequency performance has reached a very high level. After replacing the two sound sources, it is found that GA-X evolution's own "MSG" is indeed relatively small in all kinds of amps, and it can obviously show the characteristics of the sound source, but we said that it is more suitable with R2R2000, because R2R2000 The bottom of the sound is full, especially the mid-range, but compared with the desktop decoder, the low-frequency resolution and dynamics are still weak. It happens that GA-X evolution makes R2R2000The low frequency quality is greatly improved. And why is it relatively inappropriate to match A280III? The two ends of the A280III are relatively a little warped, and the high frequency is better and smoother on the GA-X evolution amp. However, after the low frequency is given strong support, the mid frequency is less thick. The above mainly refers to HE1000 and LCD4. Since the quality of HD800 is too different, it will only be mentioned briefly later.

treble performance: GA-X evolution is loyal to the style of the sound source in terms of high frequencies. There is no publicity, no silky smooth modification of the tube amplifier, but a gentle stretch of display. This is for the already high-quality LCD4 and The HE1000's treble is a good thing, but it is not a good thing for the HD800, which requires a balance between modification and control. I feel that for the HD800, the high frequency control of this amp has more than enough high-frequency control, but the modification is insufficient. This is reminiscent of the so-called EAR HP4 amp with 40,000 yuan, which is very suitable for HD800. For LCD4, many headphone amplifiers or MR1 players, R2R2000 players are directly pushed, and the high frequency shows a very high level of delicate and clean listening, but it seems that the degree of softness and stretch is lacking. In GA-X evolution Above, the improvement of dynamics and density makes it significantly better in the high-frequency and mid-to-high-frequency connection. In addition to the delicate and clean sound, it also shows the magnificent and smooth sounds of brass instruments, violin, etc., but also ensures the sound The stability and accuracy. It is a very stable and reliable soft and stretched sense of hearing, which is indeed a level that can be demonstrated by more advanced sound sources.

midrange performance: before , we have described the difference between R2R2000 and A280III mid-range matching. I believe that the sound source is different, and the difference in the mid-range part is also a relatively sensitive place for this amp. The IF of HE1000 and LCD4 have a certain improvement in thickness and control of GA-X evolution, especially LCD4, which is more difficult to push, performance can burst out under large dynamics, and it can be more controlled. Of course, LCD4 control in the past does not seem to be a problem. , The main reason is that the explosive power requires a strong amp, and after the violent drive through the pre-amp gain enhancement, it will increase the burr feeling [of course, the burr feeling in the best condition relative to the LCD4 itself], and on the GA-X evolution amp This will never happen. Even with a strong explosive power, a lot of sound pressure, and dynamic play, I feel that the reserve power is really sufficient, and the stability is beyond imagination. For the HE1000, the mid-frequency of the earphone itself will not be as strong, but it has also been significantly improved on GA-X evolution. In addition to the dynamic performance, the enhancement of the vocal thickness is more prominent. In terms of vocal performance, the mid-range part of GA-X evolution is not significantly modified. If there are some style changes, the thickness and stability of the mid-frequency and mid-frequency connection have been strengthened, which also makes the HD800 itself relatively loose. It sounds milder and fuller, but I still feel that there is too much control for the HD800, and the loose stretch is not enough. The performance of the combination is not the state that the HD800 is better at. For LCD and HE1000, the human voice performance is satisfactory, especially HE1000, the sound becomes more solid and stable, and the direct push of R2R2000 and MR1 are still much higher.

bass performance: GA-X evolution's low frequency stability is commendable. For the devices that have been tuned to the popular market in recent years, such a reassuring low frequency is really a bit of a long time. It will not be significantly modified, but it has brought a very large improvement to the low frequency of the front-end audio source. Whether it is A280III or R2R2000, A280III's low frequency is relatively pursuing a looser atmosphere and a little modification, which can become stable on GA-X evolution and has better diving. The low frequency of R2R2000 is the typical taste of R2R DAC. The front edge is strong enough, and the rear edge is not very clean. On GA-X evolution, it becomes exceptionally clean and stable. For users who like dynamic headsets, they generally feel that the low frequencies of flat panels such as HE1000 and LCD4 are not strong enough, but from my personal experience, this time with this amp is definitely strong enough. But please note that there is no very obvious modification taste here, the low frequency will not become abrupt, or "violent""Strength", or brute force. It will naturally show that the sense of volume and connection are naturally balanced, allowing the low frequency of the flat earphones to be stretched and powerful to a certain extent.

summary

judging from the several headphones we tested , Gordon Audio’s GA-X evolution amp is completely trustworthy when paired with mid-to-high-end flat earphones. I believe HE1000 and LCD4 should be very representative cases. This amp is more suitable for a balanced and robust style front end For the sound source, it’s best not to have too many traces of beautification at the front end, and the mid-frequency is best to be solid and full. Because GA-X evolution itself is not an amp with heavy flavors and more MSG, but it is a more atmospheric and stable amp. With some strange modifications, it would be a little strange to match its atmosphere and stability. But this kind of combination may have a positive effect when adapting to different styles of dynamic headphones. The combination of moving coils is really impossible to experience for a while. It's complete.

Gordon GA-X evolution shows a headphone amplifier that is very elegant and calm. It does not have to be brute force because it is a Class A high-power or a big guy, but it is not easy to push away for LCD4. The headset is confident again. The sound is stable and solid, and it truly achieves a higher level of "relaxation". Although there are only a few words used to describe the sound, it is indeed a very high level here. For those users who have already purchased amps of more than 10,000 yuan, I believe they should still be willing to spend the corresponding investment to buy a 10,000 yuan flat earphone. GA-X evolution with flat earphones in terms of sound performance should be It is very reassuring and satisfying. After selecting the headset, the next step in optimizing the system may be to consider choosing a more suitable sound source. This level of amp and system is indeed very easy for players to experience the fun and fun of HIFI. The enjoyment of hearing.