Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Gilmore Audio Raptor 500D Amplifier (SS) by MaestroK1

Model:	Raptor 500D
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2500
Description:	Class D Monoblocks 250w 8ohms, 500w 4ohms
Manufacturer URL:	Gilmore Audio

Review by MaestroK1 on October 21, 2012 at 22:26:45
IP Address: 75.159.71.211 Add Your Review
for the Raptor 500D

I just wanted to share my opinion on the Gilmore Audio Raptor. I have been a vacuum tube guy for awhile now because I haven't found a solid state amplifier I like. I have owned in the past some heavily modified Golden tube audio se-40se monoblocks. I used those for many years before I became unhappy with them, found them to tubey sounding but still the best amplifier I had heard. After these amps I owned both a 300b and 2a3 monoblocks Wright sound company amps that were also modified extensively. These did some things better then the golden tubes but also a few worse. I still found them a little to tubey and soft. I decided to try some otl amplifiers by Transcendent Sound. Now that was more like what I was looking for, nice tube qualities but not syrupy and soft like the previous amplifiers. After reading some glowing reviews on the Gilmore Raptors I decided to try them. I'm glad I decided to try them. To this point the Gilmores and the Transcendent Sound otl amplifiers are by far the best amplifiers I've heard. Now for the comparison between the TS otl and Gilmore. Otl has a bit more bloom through the midbass which makes it sound a little more like a tube, also is a smidgeon softer in the top end again like a tube. Gilmore is better dynamically and is clearer and more transparent and retains all the texture and subtleties that the otl had. I feel the Gilmore is the more honest amplifier and sounds more like live music, where as the otl is a smidgeon more romantic sounding. Now I want to make clear these differences are not massive but subtle and I love both amplifiers equally. For me the benefit of the Gilmore Raptors are that I never have to bias a tube or replace them when they burn out. I finally found a amplifier I find equal to the best tube amplifiers. I feel this is a major accomplishment on Mark Gilmores part.

Product Weakness:	Doesn't have all the bloom that tube amplifiers have which some people love about tubes.
Product Strengths:	Organic, transparent and honest to the source. This amplifier will show you all the flaws in your system.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Gilmore Audio Raptor, Transcendent Sound Mini Beast OTL, George Wright Au300b.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid with heavily modified parts.
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Modwright OPPO 95 with tube output stage, Oracle Mark 5 turntable with graham arm and Van Den Hul Frog cartridge
Speakers: Bohlender Graebener RD75 dipoles, Beyma TPL-150H with AE speaker mids. Stereo 18
Cables/Interconnects: Monster Cable Sigma Retro, Analysis plus Oval 8, Geortz MI3, Cerious Technologies, Van Den Hul Mainsstream powercords.
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All genres
Room Size (LxWxH): 22 x 10 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Transcendent Sound Balanced power conditioner.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Gilmore Audio Raptor, Transcendent Sound Mini Beast OTL, George Wright Au300b.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid with heavily modified parts.
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Modwright OPPO 95 with tube output stage, Oracle Mark 5 turntable with graham arm and Van Den Hul Frog cartridge
Speakers:	Bohlender Graebener RD75 dipoles, Beyma TPL-150H with AE speaker mids. Stereo 18
Cables/Interconnects:	Monster Cable Sigma Retro, Analysis plus Oval 8, Geortz MI3, Cerious Technologies, Van Den Hul Mainsstream powercords.
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All genres
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 10 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Transcendent Sound Balanced power conditioner.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner