I bought one because of this review and am not disappointed. I think you nailed it on the head in your a90 review; I bought the a90 looking for the qualities the g111 had.
Looks like a neat amplifier. I've never heard one but did own a Violectric HPA V200, and that was a terrific Single Ended amp as well. I'd say those Lake People got it going on! Arthur of Power Holdings Inc. is a great guy, responsive to email and answering questions. I have done business with him on several occasions, highly recommend.
I have this one and it is excellent. Powerful, clear, spacious and articulate in sound. Drives the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 (250 ohm) and DT 880 (600 ohm) easily from the standard gain. I don't use iem's. Excellent for music and strong for tv/movie viewing. (I had no ground loop issues.)
Never heard of the manufacturer or the seller - so good to know. You also didn't discuss what class amplifier type this is? I love the sound of Class A but not the heat!
I don't know for sure. Lake People is somewhat cagey about that, tbh. I just did a search for the word "class" in the pdf of their owner's manual and turned out 0 hits. It runs warm but not especially hot, fwiw.
@@wavetheorysound Nah, class A amps (like Pass) run very hot. The Niimbus just gets comfortably warm. (It has a wonderful sound, not sterile but full of resolution. No tube amp needed now. It is not a "wire with gain" sounding amp, which to my ears can sound glare-y and fatiguing.
Great review. Just discovered you and really been enjoying your channel. Quick question, you mentioned that for the two outputs a difference in headphone impedance does not matter. How is this the case when there is not separate volume knobs? How can you volume match?
I only meant you can safely plug in headphones of different impedance at the same time. There is no independent volume control. They are parallel outputs.
Hi. Just listening some of your reviews. I have a He1000SE which is great (with a bit of EQ on songs because globally bright for them). I use a M15S which is quite powerful for a DAP. Do you think a good DAC/amp would sound better (on a budget) ? I mean a nice stage up, something I can clearly here. Or do you think it is good enough already? Thanks
I'm kind of bummed that it doesn't have a balanced XLR input for cans at that price. But I'm Happy to hear that everything else about the amp is stellar!
Thank you for the review, I had been waiting for your youtube review of this amp, you mentioned that you tested the HE6SE V2 with it, was that using a particular gain setting or default gain settings?
No balanced headphone out, no. It is safe to use a balanced-to-SE adapter to plug into an SE amp, though. Just DO NOT GO THE OTHER WAY! (all caps to stress to all readers and not yell at you) I've not heard the V280 although I suspect it's noticeably superior to G111. The V280 is the slightly less full-featured variant of the V281, IIRC.
hello, great review, I got a used one! I use the LCD x and hd800 the alternative was an asgard 3 amplifier only, maybe whit lcd x would have had more impact i saw that there is now the mk2 version, have you got to try it or understand any differences from this? ("mk1" cost me a lot less and I got that)
@@wavetheorysound yes it's amazing amp! thanks for you reply!!! I look forward to seeing your review of the mk2☺️ (small question just out of curiosity, I saw the video where you compared g111 with schitt etc etc, do you think that jouthenim had a much more evident impact?)
@@andreapieropan2166 I reviewed Jot 2 next to G111 and Liquid Platinum. To me it never stood out that Jot 2 punched any harder or software. They were all 3 right there together.
@@wavetheorysound again thank you very much! I will continue to follow your videos, I like how you present and explain the various things without too many incomprehensible technicalities! I really like my lcd x 2021, although sometimes I would like to try something even more impactful, but without losing everything else that I really like (detail but without too annoying treble and warmth but without being too confused, obviously in my ear)
If they're the same price the G111 is the better deal by a significant margin. They don't sound exactly the same but the G111 is higher performing and will allow you to explore headphones upward a bit better than the Asgard, if that's something you're interested in.
@@wavetheorysound Thanks for the response! The Asgard will end up costing almost $400 after import and the G111 (used) around $350. Though I’m a bit worried after reading through SBAF where pretty much everyone is bashing the G111 for having mushy and lacking bass.
@@Sledgestone The G111 isn't a perfect amp, so in comparison to LP's Vioelectric line or similar the bass might sound a bit mushy and lean, but at $550 I don't think that's a fair description. It's as in control as any at that price point. My 2 cents. FWIW, both the A3 and G111 are personal favorites of mine and both should really handle your DT1990 well. Please let us know how it goes!
@@wavetheorysound Will do! Any recommendation for dac pairing with the G111? Been eyeing the D10 balanced from Topping because it looks kinda similar to the G111 and have all the usual inputs. Or the ALLO Revolution? Though it’s only usb in..
G111 has significantly better resolution, more accurate spatial reproduction, and exerts more driver control, all to the extent that it's immediately apparently you're listening to a $550 amp instead of a $250. A3 is still comparable in timbre and macrodynamics.
@@wavetheorysound thanks! what amp would you reccommend for ether cx and aeon noire planars, that will produce good realistic macrodynamics/slam in bass, realistic linear fr, and realistic soundstage/imaging, in 200-300$ range and 400-500$ range?
I bought one because of this review and am not disappointed. I think you nailed it on the head in your a90 review; I bought the a90 looking for the qualities the g111 had.
Looks like a neat amplifier. I've never heard one but did own a Violectric HPA V200, and that was a terrific Single Ended amp as well. I'd say those Lake People got it going on! Arthur of Power Holdings Inc. is a great guy, responsive to email and answering questions. I have done business with him on several occasions, highly recommend.
I have this one and it is excellent. Powerful, clear, spacious and articulate in sound. Drives the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 (250 ohm) and DT 880 (600 ohm) easily from the standard gain. I don't use iem's.
Excellent for music and strong for tv/movie viewing.
(I had no ground loop issues.)
try to increase the gain, better bass on my Beyer T1 2nd gen (600 ohm)
I like and I'm subscribed, keep it up bro!!!
There is a new version of the G111 out now 👍
Really happy to see this amp get a new review! How would you compare it to an Asgard 3? If A3 is the $250 benchmark, is this the $500 benchmark?
Excellent Question...........
Never heard of the manufacturer or the seller - so good to know. You also didn't discuss what class amplifier type this is? I love the sound of Class A but not the heat!
Lake People = Violectric = Niimbus. Niimbus sounds great. (0:45).
@@gli7utubeo yeah I heard that - my statement was still the same. I'll have to research them - but still never heard of them.
I don't know for sure. Lake People is somewhat cagey about that, tbh. I just did a search for the word "class" in the pdf of their owner's manual and turned out 0 hits. It runs warm but not especially hot, fwiw.
@@wavetheorysound Nah, class A amps (like Pass) run very hot. The Niimbus just gets comfortably warm. (It has a wonderful sound, not sterile but full of resolution. No tube amp needed now. It is not a "wire with gain" sounding amp, which to my ears can sound glare-y and fatiguing.
simple question: is the v200 or the g111 better?
Great review. Just discovered you and really been enjoying your channel. Quick question, you mentioned that for the two outputs a difference in headphone impedance does not matter. How is this the case when there is not separate volume knobs? How can you volume match?
I only meant you can safely plug in headphones of different impedance at the same time. There is no independent volume control. They are parallel outputs.
Hi. Just listening some of your reviews. I have a He1000SE which is great (with a bit of EQ on songs because globally bright for them). I use a M15S which is quite powerful for a DAP. Do you think a good DAC/amp would sound better (on a budget) ? I mean a nice stage up, something I can clearly here. Or do you think it is good enough already? Thanks
I'm kind of bummed that it doesn't have a balanced XLR input for cans at that price. But I'm Happy to hear that everything else about the amp is stellar!
On to the v550 and us5!
Thank you for the review, I had been waiting for your youtube review of this amp, you mentioned that you tested the HE6SE V2 with it, was that using a particular gain setting or default gain settings?
I think it's on the default setting.
@@wavetheorysound Got it, Thank you!
Hi, You Did a Good job!
Can I ask You Which DAC You'd Add in a Chain consisting of Sennheiser HD600+Lake People G111?
What dac did you go with?
Thanks. No 4 pin balanced front headphone out? *How is this compared to Violectric v280 FE?*
No balanced headphone out, no. It is safe to use a balanced-to-SE adapter to plug into an SE amp, though. Just DO NOT GO THE OTHER WAY! (all caps to stress to all readers and not yell at you) I've not heard the V280 although I suspect it's noticeably superior to G111. The V280 is the slightly less full-featured variant of the V281, IIRC.
@@wavetheorysound 280 FE (final edition) is a warm and very power filled amp I have read.
Those xlr eyes 🤣. Nice review
Took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about. But now I can't unsee it! LOL
I thought of the same thing when I saw the video 😂
hello, great review, I got a used one!
I use the LCD x and hd800
the alternative was an asgard 3 amplifier only, maybe whit lcd x would have had more impact
i saw that there is now the mk2 version, have you got to try it or understand any differences from this?
("mk1" cost me a lot less and I got that)
Have not gotten my hands on a mk2 yet. Added to the list... Also, congrats on the pickup. The G111 will handle the LCD-X and 800 S nicely.
@@wavetheorysound yes it's amazing amp!
thanks for you reply!!!
I look forward to seeing your review of the mk2☺️
(small question just out of curiosity, I saw the video where you compared g111 with schitt etc etc, do you think that jouthenim had a much more evident impact?)
@@andreapieropan2166 I reviewed Jot 2 next to G111 and Liquid Platinum. To me it never stood out that Jot 2 punched any harder or software. They were all 3 right there together.
@@wavetheorysound again thank you very much! I will continue to follow your videos, I like how you present and explain the various things without too many incomprehensible technicalities!
I really like my lcd x 2021, although sometimes I would like to try something even more impactful, but without losing everything else that I really like (detail but without too annoying treble and warmth but without being too confused, obviously in my ear)
How well does budget dacs like zen dac pair with the G111? Any recommended dacs to go with it?
From memory it does well. The G111 is not super DAC picky. It has the power to deliver that iFi bass boost too, which can be lots of fun.
This or Asgard 3 for the DT 1990 Pro? Can get them at roughly the same price here in Europe.
If they're the same price the G111 is the better deal by a significant margin. They don't sound exactly the same but the G111 is higher performing and will allow you to explore headphones upward a bit better than the Asgard, if that's something you're interested in.
@@wavetheorysound Thanks for the response! The Asgard will end up costing almost $400 after import and the G111 (used) around $350. Though I’m a bit worried after reading through SBAF where pretty much everyone is bashing the G111 for having mushy and lacking bass.
@@Sledgestone The G111 isn't a perfect amp, so in comparison to LP's Vioelectric line or similar the bass might sound a bit mushy and lean, but at $550 I don't think that's a fair description. It's as in control as any at that price point. My 2 cents. FWIW, both the A3 and G111 are personal favorites of mine and both should really handle your DT1990 well. Please let us know how it goes!
@@wavetheorysound Will do! Any recommendation for dac pairing with the G111? Been eyeing the D10 balanced from Topping because it looks kinda similar to the G111 and have all the usual inputs. Or the ALLO Revolution? Though it’s only usb in..
hi, how is this amp compared to asgard 3?
G111 has significantly better resolution, more accurate spatial reproduction, and exerts more driver control, all to the extent that it's immediately apparently you're listening to a $550 amp instead of a $250. A3 is still comparable in timbre and macrodynamics.
@@wavetheorysound thanks! what amp would you reccommend for ether cx and aeon noire planars, that will produce good realistic macrodynamics/slam in bass, realistic linear fr, and realistic soundstage/imaging, in 200-300$ range and 400-500$ range?
Looks like a Liquid Spark on steroids.