Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: PS Audio GCC-100 Amplifier (SS) by emailists

Model:	GCC-100
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2795
Description:	100 watt control amp
Manufacturer URL:	PS Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by emailists ( A ) on October 02, 2005 at 02:16:16
IP Address: 162.83.194.181

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for the GCC-100

Below are some impressions I wrote shortly after recieving the GCC-100. My notations were mostly related to comparing the GCC-100 (lack of volume control) compared a custom built volume control
After living with the amp for a few months I am enjoying it's transparency, especially at low volume late night listening sessions. I will say that they reveal everything about thier upstream components, so it is possible for digital to sound a bit ratty in the high end, as others have noted. I am replacing all my cables and speakers as well with Cerious Technologies, so I will write another full review at that point, but I believe the very relaxed (meaning real) nature of the Cerious products will syngergize well with the ultra transparent GCC amp. Below are my original impressions.
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I have been listening to my GCC-100 to replace a spectral DMA-50 and modded DMC-10 delta pre amp combo.
Everything was plugged into a P500. The P500 is the best upgrade I have ever made, and I consider it to be the starting point of any high end system.
At first (on CD's) I thought the GCC was a tad untamed in the high end. I liked what it did in general, but CD there was just a whiteness to the highs that didn't sound great.
I decided to hook up my WTT turntable, that had been down for some time after a system move, and see how it fared.
On LP, All traces of hardness were gone, and I realized the GCC was just passing along what was in the signal. I am very susecptible to CD hardness, and had 2 different DA's to test with.
As a test, I decided to see how my Spectral's highly modded volume control compared to the GCC. The volume control is actually a Tech Labs control hand wired by Bob Crump (TG audio labs) It's a ladder type with holco resisters, and bypassed with vishays.
Going to that volume control from the stock Spectral volume control was a huge upgrade in sound, transparency, etc, so I know it is a very good volume pot, and probably worth $800 or more at the time.
So I listened to some vinyl thought the Spectral DC coupled outs into the GCC set to bypass. Then I listened to the same LP cut, this time coming out of the spectrals tape out, and using the GCC's volume control.
This was quite an astonishing revelation. The Spectral's Tech Lab sounded quite good, and really got the body of the instruments just right. It was almost like I could see the outline of the stand up bass.
But when going to the GCC's volume control, it was just a whole different world. Things were no longer dark (which sounded nice) but suddenly just simply open, with much more detail, and with much less of a sonic signature. In fact, it wasn't till after this test that I realized the Spectral ever had a sonic signature (The Spectral, aside from the volume pots has a custom DC umbilical cord and AC cable for TG labs which was a big upgrade at the time- this Preamp sounded nothing like the thin threadbare stock spectral)
I could not hear what the Spectral was doing all these years, and I realized, yes everything I played has this sonic signature (although it was pleasing)
The GCC is just that good.
I can't wait to hear Paul's new DAC - I think that will go along was to making CD more listenable.
I did end up in the end changing my speaker setup after reading that many tweeters are smoother off axis. The speakers were originally toed in quite a bit, and I ended up trying them closer together with no toe in at all. The treble was smoother and now CD's again sound good, though I can still hear many artifacts, and drums that just don't sound like drums on many recordings.
Incidentally, between the P500 and the GCC-100, many tweeks or changes in setup I now do to the systems are clearly audible. Before I often didn't hear any changes, or just slight changes after tweeks, etc. I just belive the system is so much more transparent and relaxed now that any changes are easy to hear.
I always wanted a power plant from the moment I read about them years ago, (and living in a Manhattan high rise apartment, I am a prime candidate for power conditioning) and now that I finally got to listen to one in my system, there is no going back.

The speaker are Source Technologies 610- using the Scanspeak 8545 7" woofer and the Scanspeak 9500 tweeter (part of the Revelator family) Not a well know speaker, but very revealing.

Product Weakness: CD and upsampling highs can sound a bit harsh depending on gear and setup.
Product Strengths: Level of information previosuly unnavailable with traditional amp/pre amps.
Transparency at low listening volumes. Ability to integrate a purist 2 chan setup with a multi channel HT pre/processor, with no comprommises to either

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	GCC-100
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	WTT classic/Sumiko Celebration
Speakers:	Source Technologies 610
Cables/Interconnects:	Bear Labs silver
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Acoustic Rock/Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 11 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments:	roomtunes corner tunes- hardwood floors
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS AUdio P500
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	CD and upsampling highs can sound a bit harsh depending on gear and setup.
Product Strengths:	Level of information previosuly unnavailable with traditional amp/pre amps. Transparency at low listening volumes. Ability to integrate a purist 2 chan setup with a multi channel HT pre/processor, with no comprommises to either