Hi there, this is my first post to audiocircle and the reason for the sign up is that I have found someone else that owns the same amp as me!! I am also extremely happy with my G&W, luckily for me though we have a distributor here in New Zealand bringing in very limited numbers, I think only 4 made it in! Now I was lucky enough to borrow the G&W, a Shanling SLM-A40 MKII, a Cambridge Audio 640 v1 and my Marantz 5500 HT amp when I was auditioning for a new amp. My Source for testing - and I bought this in the end - is a Shanling CD-s100 mkII. My speakers are Jamo E850 Floorstanders. It became very obvious that the Cambridge Audio, and my Marantz were being outclassed in every aspect. It basically came down to the Shanling and the G&W, I better note here that the Shanling is $1000NZ (~$600US) more expensive than the G&W. Now the Shanling is a very good amp but it wasnt the difference in $$ that made me choose the G&W. The shanling has a slightly nicer mid range - probably due to the pure Class A output, but there was a lack of bottom end, there was no slam and impact, the G&W reminded me of an Audiolab amp with its authority and impact. Now if I only listened to acoustic music or I listened to classical... I probably would have gone the Shanling, but I listen to a wide range of music and the small difference in Mids, was nothing compared with the difference at the bottom. This is a great amp, highly recommended. Negatives: No Pre-outs, no remote - but this didnt bother me as my Shanling CD-s100 mkII has volume control on the remote... I have also compared it against Denon PMA-535R, Rotel RA-930AX mkII and a Sony FB-940R and I am yet to be disappointed.
See my Gallery for some pictures - Sorry about the quality they were taken using a phone.
