Amp/Preamp Asylum: Re: PS Audio GCC-100 Integrated Amplifier (SS) by Deaf Ear

Hi Budrew,

The GCC-100 is as clean an amplifier as I have heard. It can decipher complicated and dense musical passages with ease. One example: in Dave Hollandâ€™s Big Band recording of â€œWhat Goes Aroundâ€ every instrument is beautifully placed in an arc along the soundstage. If you imagine (bear with me for a moment) you are the conductor and you are facing the ensemble. Dead-centre is the double bassâ€”letâ€™s say heâ€™s at â€˜noonâ€™ of a clock-face youâ€™re standing at the centre of. Slightly in front of him are the vibes, miced chromatically so that the sound source seems to range from 10 oâ€™clock for the lower notes to 2 oâ€™clock for the higher registers. At about 10.30 and 1.30 there are a couple of trombones: darker, growlier and more euphonious than the rest of the 3-trumpets/flugelhorns brass section on the right, between 1.30 and 2.45. On the leftâ€”between 9.15 and 10.30â€”are the reeds, with most of the soloing coming from a tenor at 9.30. This record is particularly enthralling when two or more band members are soloing together (if you see what I mean). All very natural, lively and texturally exciting.

It's very difficult to attribute any sonic character to the GCC-100 at all. It seems to pass the signal untouched. That said, some reviewers have reported that cable changes can make a difference. I canâ€™t comment on that because I havenâ€™t experimented in that direction. Iâ€™ve used PS Audioâ€™s Statement power cables and their xStream Resolution interconnects throughout. I assume Paul McGowan did the same when he voiced the amplifier.

I hope this makes sense!