I am always looking for trends with gear. My Gamuts have come alive with a better pre amp and source, but I suppose I am wondering why there are no other Gamut users on here. is that because there are better power amps which i don't know about or because others never discovered Gamut?
Hi Jade - Fellow GamuT owner here!
I have (actually had) the D200 Mk III stereo amplifier. I bought it used as I had a credit note from the dealer I bought a Benchmark AHB2 from. The Benchmark was so bland and dull (one wanted to turn down the volume) that I returned it. The dealer had a good selection of used equipment and I spotted the GamuT. It has excellent reviews so I bought it untested - the dealer is 500 miles away.
Yes, it's a great amp and in particular the bass was astonishingly fulsome and well controlled. However it had a problem - one that may or may not be present in the M250i monos that you have. Turning on the power, there's a thump that is not supressed and causes an understandable protest from my 104dB speakers. They don't like this one bit and make this known to all by very loudly announcing their displeasure in such a way I was concerned for their welfare.
If I look at the User Guide, I see that this is a known and admitted feature on both my Mk III and the latest i version. I've not looked at the M250i manual, so I don't know if this feature affects their entire amplifier range. Most speakers would murmur a recognition that they've been given a short awakening shock, but high efficiency speakers will loudly protest.
This is something that GamuT could so easily correct - as is done with most other good amplifiers. A relay that keeps the binding posts disconnected from the amp's circuit for 3 or 4 seconds is all that's required. So, much as I loved the sound of the GamuT, I recently sold it to a happy buyer in Iceland.
The GamuT has one big advantage over most power amps - an ability to adjust the gain - by up to 14 dB. However I find it annoying that one has to remove 16 screws to remove the top plate to reach the dip switched to change the gain. Why could this not be done with a switch on the front panel (as Accuphase) or back panel (as Benchmark). Rant over - GamuT build great sounding amps.
I see you have Gamut speakers - the lovely RS7i which are far less sensitive at 89dB, so this switch-on thump (if delivered by your amps) may be barely audible. It may be difficult for you to find a better amp. There's always an advantage to having equipment from the same stable as you can be sure that their listening testing tests during prototype evaluation is done on their own family equipment. Good luck in your search - it may be a long and costly one as was mine to find an ideal SS amp to replace the SETs I was previously using. Peter