PS Audio GCPH comments-opinions

I have a fair amount of experience with the GCPH - I have owned it since they shipped the first batch and am a huge fan of PS Audio gear.

I recently compared the GCPH to a Tron Seven for a few days in my system.

I really had to switch back and forth quite a few few times before I was able to discern what the Tron was doing better than the GCPH. Also keep in perspective that the Tron is 4 times the cost of the GCPH. The Tron, being a tube unit that owners of Steelheads have sold to get a Seven, had a bit more 3d fleshed out , and presented more real sounding instruments. But as I said - I had to keep switching (something I could do in about 20 seconds while an LP was playing) to get a hold of the differences.

The GCPH modded by Underwood is supposedly a nice improvement.
see the review at http://www.10audio.com/psaud_gcph.htm

I had my PS Audio GCC amp modded by Underwood and the mod was a big step up from an already very good product.

I ran the GCPH into the GCC control amp with gain as well as directly into a pair of Atma-sphere MA1's these were both via XLR.

One thing I found is that with a .5mv Celebration cart, the GCPH doesn't quite have enough gain. I ended up running the GCC amp at full gain often to get a decent level. The 60db Tron had much more gain than the "66db" rated GCPH.

So while connecting directly to an amp is a great idea (and what I am doing right now while I await an H-Cat preamp) you need a high output cart or step up to make it practical.

Since the volume has no printed marks, I added my own printed scale made with a P-touch because after a certain point the (maybe 3/4 gain) the sound becomes a bit hard (PS Audio points this out in their manual) and I needed repeatable volume settings for comparisons.

If I added a transformer - the GCPH would have enough gain I'm sure, but I never invested in one since I had decided to go with the Tron.

I really do like the loading and gain options (not to mention balanced and unbalanced out) of the GCPH - the product is a winner, especially in it's price class.

That would all depend on power amp used also.

As Salamon say's it depends on your amp.Underwood wally said optimal would be a MC at .4 Mv or more which leaves a lot of choices out.My buddy uses his with a .23 Dyna and needs to use front volume in addition to max rear gain setting.Seems well built and quiet if you don't have the 47K hum.Overall it seems like a bang up $1K value.

WWW.10Audio.com
might give it too high a rating but

http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=5348

seems to knock it a bit compared to Whest 2.0.Yet this isn't big surprise.Whest is more $$$ and less flexible. amp.Chris Martens of Absolute Sound gave it a big thumbs up.Seem,s like it's quiet but in some system,s can either roll off top end compared to $2K to $5K class or in some systems make a system sound harsh (there's reviewsing for you).But unless you want to go to $150% of cost or maybe even twice or three time it you won't get better sound and certainly flexibility.Wally's PCX mods really seem to kick it up and are worth the $700 mod or $1500 new unit.Get and Aesthetix Rhea,EAR 324 and you get flexibility and have to pay for used USED unit three time price.But both would blow doors on PS.Spend a more on Krell KPE,Linn Linto,ARS mini etc etc and you'll pay twice as much and not get flexibility but a better sounding unit (I wonder how it would versus a stock or modded EAR 834 the previous "real world" champ.Maybe the raved about value Minimax phono but again less bells and whistles with both).Seems like well conceived unit that is a a flexibility and sound champ at $1K to $1.5K.If they can do it don't know why others can't.Rogue had a $1750 mock up unit that never got off boards.But market is ripe for competitor maybe a tubed with cart flexibility,mono,volume and phase.Until then unless your gonna spend way more money you won't get flexibility or sonics.Might trade my KRC2/KPE combo on one myself and lose some KPE resolution for a much more flexible unit.For on budget who want to have ability to go direct to amp or swap cart heads or tubes on fly it seems like no brainer though as long you have enough cart output and/or amplification to carry it through.
Chazzbo