[superjohny]

i've did some research over the net and found out gs-1,gs-x have been analytical , or not very musical.

any other amps in the $1000 to $2000 range being musical and has good punchy base?

BUDA？or WA22?

 

[Ypoknons]

You have to look at the whole system, including the headphones. Especially the headphones.

 

[superjohny]

d7000 either balanced or not

and i am not really sure the dac yet. audio-gd reference 8 is claimed to be musical but seems too expensive in the 2000 range.

 

[Gu Sensei]

I highly recommend the Leben CS300 or CS300X. You would have to order it from Price Japan (here) and use a voltage transformer, but I have tried quite a few amps with the D7000s and the Leben is my favorite. Do some searching on it. I think it might be exactly what you are looking for.

Probably there are other options too but this is the one I feel is the best.

 

[sonq]

Hi Sensei,
 
Is there any sonic advantage jumping from 300 to 300X, and how does it compare to the ZD?

 

[Gu Sensei]

When I moved to the CS300X-Ltd from the CS300, I definitely felt there was a improvement in overall refinement but I never really A/B tested them so it would be hard to separate out my joy of actually securing such a hard-to find amp. I absolutely loved the CS300, so I think you can do no wrong with either. I have read elsewhere some claiming to prefer the CS300.
 
Both the Leben and Zana offer amazing clarity but perhaps the Leben gives just a bit more 'color'... hard to put into words. Again, they are at different locations (home and office) so I have never really given a good A/B comparison. However, without a doubt I would keep the Leben if I could only have one.

 

[superjohny]

i am now switching in between an audio-gd  c-3mk3 and this one...hard to decide....