Yes, as I indicated earlier, I brought the GK-1 to the meeting yesterday.
As Malcolm said, everyone in the audience shut up and listened, which was a pleasant surprising response that did not happen before GK-1's debut. Just after one or two tracks, several up-pointing thumbs were shown to me (now I pass them all on to Hugh and will not keep any.
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I couldn't get Justin after the session before he disappeared while I was busy answering people's questions. However, quite a few people came forward to tell me some good words: sweet; good detail; low bass extension; surprise (how good it sounded) etc.
One interesting comment was that GK-1 sounded better than the Audio Research Reference 1 MKI preamp used in the earlier session. Though I understood that it was not a conclusive comment as the session was neither an AB test nor a critical listening and the source and power amp had been swapped at the time when the GK-1 was swapped in, I respect his first impression on GK-1 considering his experience in audio being one of the founding members of the society. I was invited to his place for a further listening and comparison to his Reference 1 MKI as the room of the meeting was obviously boomy that is not suitable for serious listening. (Yes, that is the permanent meeting venue of the society. The good news is that people have said they would try some room treatments in following meetings.)
Generally, the response was possitive and very possitive. It's safe to say that most of the audience were surprised by the sonic beauty of GK-1. I was told and aware of that some of the people there are not always easily pleased by DIY "cheapies". I know someone there who picks his entry level system only from the Class A listing of Stereophile
The system in the session with GK-1:
1) Shanling CDT-100 CD player, as transport;
2) Heavily modded MSB DAC;
3) GK-1 (Option 1) preamp, upgraded with an attenuator mounted with Dale resistors;
4) DIY tube PP power amp, by Elson Silva;
5) DIY speakers, by Eddie Lee.
Two more things I like to share here.
I was told by someone from another state that his friend made a GK-1 that does not sound as good as the one I'd shown. (I will keep people in private conversations anonymous unless they come forward by themselves.) I guess either something has gone wrong or some differences in construction make obvious differences in sound. To satisfy my curiosity, I do like to do a proper AB test one day on GK-1's built by different people to see how the construction detail (layout/wiring/shielding/isolation/power cabling etc) affects the sonics, which would benifit new builders as well.
I was also told that rolling in 6922/E88CC will make GK-1 sound much better. I'd like to try it myself one day as well.
