Sparkos Labs has already build up quite a good name in the high-end audio community, driven by a simple yet powerful philosophy: ‘exceptional’ sound demands ‘exceptional’ components.

Based in the USA Colorado, Sparkos Labs specializes in creating fully discrete, class-A biased operational amplifiers, headphone amps and power supply solutions tailored specifically for audiophiles seeking uncompromising sound quality.

Sparkos Labs was founded by Andrew Sparks, an engineer with deep expertise and a genuine passion for music and electronics. He has a lot of experience, his parents propably were not very happy about it in his childhood, sabotaging the house, trying to figure out how things work. Sparkos Labs designs each product to bring unprecedented quality. One of those products I will be reviewing, the Sparkos Labs SS3602.

The SS3602 consists of two stacked circuit boards equipped with components on the upper surface and standard DIP-8 connectors on the underside. I have a certain level of understanding how opamps work, but if you want a full technical description, you can find more information on the sparkos labs website here: SS3602

Their commitment to precision engineering and attention to detail has earned them a (deserved) loyal group of followers worldwide.

In this review, I’ll dive into how Sparkos Labs’ discrete opamps perform in practice, exploring whether their bold claims of sonic excellence truly hold up under critical listening conditions.

Before I started testing, Sparkos Labs SS33602 run in for a full of 48 hours.

Test equipment:
– Headphone: The new Hifiman Arya Unveiled
– Amp: Burson Soloist 3XR GT + 5A Supercharger
– Streamer: Eversolo A8 + upgraded LHY LPS
– DAC: Chord TT2 + Mscaler






The Sparkos labs are not much bigger than regular opamps, which makes them perfect in nearly any device that supports opamp swapping.


Why discrete build opamps?
In the fascinating world of audiophile listening, nuance is everything. Music isn’t merely sound, it’s emotion. Where a lot of people just hear music, audiophiles really ‘listen’ to music, yes there is a difference. At the heart of this emotional connection lies the delicate architecture of an operational amplifiers called opamps.

Unlike standard integrated chip-based opamps, which squeeze hundreds or more transistors into a small casing, discrete opamps are handcrafted from individually selected high-quality components. Each transistor, resistor, and capacitor is chosen explicitly for audio quality rather than manufacturing convenience or cost-cutting.

Looking at the SS3602, they actually look real high tech from close up. Some brands lock descrete opamps in a metal casing, for obvious reasons like cooling ofcourse, but Sparkos Labs don’t need them, they look really cool without, if you ask me!

Standard chip opamps, while convenient and efficient, tend to deliver a sound that’s competent but in most cases constrained; music feels subtly flattened; dynamics are compressed, less vibrant. Their compact construction often introduces more noise, distortion. It’s like the same with many DAC chips, compared to their FPGA counterpart.

Discrete opamps, in contrast, reveal music with breathtaking clarity and nuance. Bass notes are tighter, deeper, more controlled. Midrange frequencies bloom naturally, revealing voices and instruments with lifelike presence. High frequencies shine with transparency, yet never feel harsh or overly bright.

Discrete opamps aren’t merely a component, in the case of Sparkos Labs, they are crafted instruments in their own right, ensuring that every nuance and emotion intended in the recording reaches the listener unspoiled.

For audiophiles, the journey from chip-based to discrete opamps isn’t just a technical upgrade, it’s a rediscovery of music itself.

Note:
Before installing the opamp, it’s important to identify the proper orientation. Most circuit boards have a marking to show where Pin 1 should be placed, match this indicator with the gold-colored marking found on one corner of the op-amp.


How do they sound?
One of the first differences I noticed after installing the SS3602 discrete op-amps, how controlled the bass became. The Sparkos units deliver bass with accurate precision and definition without sacrificing depth. Kick drums gained extra punch, and bass guitars showcased rich textures.

Bass
This enhanced bass control positively impacts the midrange, offering greater spaciousness and clarity against a noticeably quieter background. Many times I heared bass bleading into the midrange, not here. Transients appear sharp, quick. Vocals and instruments are forward and engaging and with perfect separation, especially noticeable during complex musical passages.

Treble
Treble performance are smooth yet extends effortlessly. Notes ascend with a refined, almost infinite delicacy, revealing layers of micro-details. This transparency makes the listening experience feel richer and more nuanced.

Soundstage and imaging
Soundstage and imaging represent another area where the Sparkos SS3602 clearly excels. While the overall dimensions of the stage remain similar to other discrete opamps, the SS3602 organizes the soundstage with greater precision. Instruments and vocals are positioned more tangibly, enabling better clarity and easier perception of individual elements within the music. The overall effect is a more natural listening experience.

I just had a review with the new Burson V7, so I made a comparison too ofcourse.

The Sparkos SS3602 discrete op-amps are more close than they are different from the Burson V7, quality wise, there are both extreme performers! But signature wise they are different. The SS3602 have an impressive tonal accuracy and clarity. Where the Burson V7 presents a somewhat warmer, denser signature, the SS3602 offers superior precision, allowing music to be heard exactly as intended, without coloration.

It is all a matter of taste in this case. But in practice that means the SS3602 are a little less forgiving, but rewards more with good recordings.

Bass
Bass reproduction is one key area where the SS3602 excels. While the V7 certainly delivers controlled bass, the SS3602 manages a little tighter, more articulate low-end performance. Bass notes are very defined and detailed, resulting in clear textures and superior impact.

In the midrange, the Sparkos SS3602 provides a greater openness and separation. Vocals and instruments have more breathing space, and are effortlessly transparent. This additional clarity ensures a lifelike presentation, whereas the V7, though engaging, can sometimes blend layers together during demanding musical segments.

I have compared them both, and honestly, it would be my mood that would have to decide which I like at a specific moment. Because They are both amazing. Isn’t it great, brands like these exist!

Treble
Regarding treble, the SS3602 has a more delicate finesse. The SS3602 retrieves more micro-details without becoming overly bright or harsh. The result is an airy, transparent upper frequency range.

Soundstage and imaging
Lastly, the SS3602 provides a very great soundstage and imaging. Its precise staging is exceptional, instrument placement offer superior realism. Creating a convincing three-dimensional stage, with height and depth.

Although the Burson V7 offers depth and width, the Sparkos SS3602 are a little ahead regarding pinpoint precision.

What also is important to mention though, is their size. The Sparkos Labs SS3602, fits almost anymore, their size is not much bigger than most normal opamps, making them a perfect fit in almost any situation.



Let’s run through a few songs, like I always do, to show what I mean.


Miles Davis – So What
Listening to one of my favourite tracks ‘So What’ by Miles Davis, revealed just how effortlessly these op-amps handle space and detail. Nothing but AMAZING! The upright bass is tight yet full, and Miles’ trumpet floats with natural decay and air. Each instrument occupies its own distinct place, creating a huge soundstage. The SS3602 doesn’t just reproduce the music. It places you right in the room with the musicians.


Norah Jones – Don’t know Why
‘Don’t Know Why’, captured Norah Jones’ voice with intimate realism, soft, breathy with air, emotionally present . The piano is warm almost creamy but still articulate. The background remains whisper-quiet, letting every nuance shine through.

It had been ages since I last heard this song, but the smile that crept across my face said it all, the way those opamps breathed life into this track was pure joy!


Christian McBride Trio – Down by the Riverside Live at the Village Vanguard
Here the Sparkos delivered the energy of the live performance with precision and control. The double bass hits with authority and control, the piano sparkled with clarity. The audience ambiance added realism. The SS3602 kept everything in control, even in the most dynamic moments.

It captured that unmistakable jazzy New York vibe, as if I were right there at the Village Vanguard, soaking in every note from a front-row seat.


Three selections from Harry Potter Hedwig’s theme from the album – Celebrating John Williams Live at Walt Disney Concert Hall (Track 4)
Here the Sparkos SS3602 brought the magic of John Williams’ music to life with breathtaking clarity. The delicate sparkles like stardust, while strings sweep in with a graceful, cinematic warmth.

Every instrument was precisely placed and the dynamic swells felt natural and full of emotion. It is like stepping straight into the enchanted world of Hogwarts. It is an amazing track, especially when it is portrayed so delicate and detailled through the SS3602.


Águas de Março, on the ‘Live in Tokyo’ album from Emilie-Claire Barlow
The SS3602 unveiled every playful nuance of Emilie-Claire Barlow’s performance with crystal clarity. Her voice flowed effortlessly across the stage, light, precise, and full of charm. The band surrounded her with warmth and intimacy. The Ambiance and finesse were perfectly captured, preserving the natural reverb of the room.

It gave you the feeling as though you’re right in the music, basking in the rhythm of brazilian jazz.



Conclusion
To sum things up, the Sparkos SS3602 dual discrete op-amps deliver a truly impactful improvement to the listening experience. Regular opamps don’t stand a chance, The bass becomes noticeably more controlled and articulate, unveiling finer detail and clarity without sacrificing depth or presence. This sense of precision naturally flows into the midrange, offering a cleaner, more open soundstage while preserving the lively character of vocals and instruments. Treble is refined and extended, allowing high frequencies to float effortlessly and uncover subtle nuances that enrich the overall presentation.

Their compact design makes them an excellent fit for a variety of setups, especially in devices with limited space. Installation is straightforward, thanks to their sturdy construction and thoughtful engineering. Altogether, the SS3602s stand out as a smart and rewarding upgrade for anyone looking to elevate their system’s performance or fine-tune its sonic character.

In the vast landscape of audio components, the Sparkos Labs SS3602 stands out like a finely cut gemstone, craftmanship, rich in character, and undeniably precious. Its sonic signature is one of clarity, control and refinement, revealing the hidden facets of music much like a diamond reveals light from every angle. With each note it renders, the SS3602 peels back layers, exposing detail and dimensions.

It doesn’t shout for attention with exaggerated warmth or overly romantic coloration. Instead, it presents the music as it truly is, pure, balanced and breathtakingly natural.

For the listener who values fidelity over flair, depth over drama, the SS3602 isn’t just an upgrade, It’s a sonic jewel that elevates any system, a testament to what truly high-end audio should sound like!

I highly recommend the Sparkos Labs SS3602

Want to read more of my reviews, have a look at my website at JJAZZIFI

Sparkos labs discrete opamps product page​

Background
I do own/have owned discrete(ish) devices (R2R dacs, Sapphire discrete amp etc) and loved the analog sound out. I primarily use iems and headphones and have done a fair share of opamp and tube rolling on dacs and amps.

I had read up a lot of blogs about discrete opamps, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I had also read a lot of reviews calling out that the discrete opamps have more noise due to the design than tightly packed single die IC opamps. In order to satisfy this itch, I ordered the Sparkos dual discrete opamps from the manufacurer site directly. A couple of weeks later, I received it in a simple but well protected packaging.

Disclaimer: All devices mentioned in the review were purchased by me, and dont have any influence or compensation of any kind from anyone else.



Platform
I am partial towards my old Xduoo XD05 (original version), as it provides me an excellent platform to test out different opamps, while supporting high bitrates, while also providing a powerful amp section.
The XD05 with the LM 6172 was my preferred dacamp of choice, with the Hifiman Arya being the transducer to validate the chain.

I had to use another dip switch to provide some height to the opamp DIP on the board, (hack, yes, but easier than having to move the capacitors out to make space. This worked well, btw). Once the second dip adapter was added, I was able to install the Sparkos with no further issues.

What did the Sparkos do?
I had to put the amp on high gain, keep the bass on low (to prevent a Protect being triggered).

The LM6172 made the soundstage spacious with good sparkle on the treble. It made an otherwise ordinary dacamp to a fantastic dacamp. This is easily my favorite recommendation over bursons (v5i or v6).

In comes the sparkos. In terms of drivability, the sparkos offered the same output levels as the LM6172. However, what it added was magical. There was a very analogy sound from the amp. The lows were nicely rendered with a little bit of smoothness over the clinical sound from the LM6172.
The mids got a lot of support and male and female vocals sounded full and rich.
String instruments were more lifelike (slightly less treble than the 6172, but more real). The plucks felt real, the violin felt emotional in a way that the LM6172 hasnt.

The soundstage was very similar to the LM 6172. Wide open with a lot of air. This is incredibly close to the R2R sound. All the talk about noise being added to the stage goes through the window. Noise is still sound, and some of it added to the "Patina". The music became more lifelike. What is not to like about this..

And then the realization sunk in. I cant close the case of the xduoo as the opamp projects out from the dimensions of the case. Well.. I guess you cant have em all.

Comparisons with Orange Dual Discrete Opamps
I had ordered the Orange dual discrete opamps and coincidentally, received the Orange on the same day as the Sparkos. This made comparisons much more easier! Talk about luck.
(https://orangeamps.com/product/op-amp/)


The Orange layout is more vertical than horizontal. (Pics will be updated later today). This allowed me to plug the Orange straight into the primary DIP socket.

In terms of sound, the Orange has a more active treble (sizzly), and a slightly better soundstage.

Both opamps are brand new and havent been used for more than an hour in total. I will update back once I have used them for sufficient time.

Comparisons with NewClassD Dual Discrete Opamps Ultimate Edition (2021 version)

I had ordered the NewClassD 2021 edition from Lars (https://www.newclassd.com/index.php?page=125&hv=1) and had an excellent turnaround! Thanks Lars!

The NewClassD is the largest among the opamps that I have tested, dwarfing the Orange even. It also has LEDs on to indicate operation. Again, I havent used the opamp for more than 5 hrs (similar to the other opamps).

Overall, the NewClassD is a lot more V shaped, with emphasized bass with a lot of detail in the upper mids and treble sections. As a result, the mids are pushed back a bit. The stage is as wide as the other 2 opamps, with lower current draw ( the XD05 did not go into protect mode even on very high volumes with high gain and high bass). This was promised as per the update from Lars, and it does hold out the promise well.

The notes are very rich and organic, with excellent heft. Layering is excellent too, with equal performance from all 3 opamps.

Conclusions

I will recommend the discrete opamps for someone that has a platform that supports opamp rolling and is looking for an analog sound on the cheap (in comparison to a discrete amp or an R2R dac).

My personal preference, and this is quite subjective to the device and music used.
Sparkos > NewClassD > Orange, by very slight margins.

Have you ever felt like the spark that used to be there just vanished? That the world, once bright and colorful became bland and dull over time? That you no longer feel the joy, the excitement and the energy that you used to feel? If you do that means one of two things. Either your marriage is about to fall apart or you’ve caught upgraditis. If it’s the former I strongly advise you to go seek professional help instead of reading this review. If it’s the latter keep reading and I’ll tell you how I dealt with upgraditis after contracting it about two months ago.
After identifying the cause of the symptoms I immediately contacted Andrew Sparks of Sparkos Labs and ordered a pair of SS3602 in order to begin the therapy as soon as possible. I have to give kudos to mr. Sparks here. Not only was he quick to reply to all my emails but also he managed to send the package in less than four hours after I paid the PayPal invoice.  Mr Sparks’ customer service, just like his products, is top-notch.

Packaging​

 
The SS3602 arrived in antistatic bags with pins protected by plastic extenders. We’re far from those cute plastic boxes Burson ships their opamps in but I’m not going to complain since apparently the bags and bubble wrap padded envelope were enough to ensure safe travel across the globe.

Installation​

Just like the last time, align the markings on the PCB with the cut on the DIP-8 slot and firmly push the opamp in. Nothing too complicated. Please remember to double check the orientation before powering on your device. And please, please test the opamps with expendable headphones before plugging expensive stuff in. One can never be too careful.
 

 
 
What you may have noticed in the above photo is that the SS3602 (unlike the SS3601) are too tall to fit under the back cover of the X7. That’s not too big of an issue unless you travel with the X7 a lot. Personally I don’t really care although I would totally understand if you did my dear reader.

Sound​

X7 with Sparkos singles was already a pleasure to listen to but the duals pushed the device to a whole new level.
Soundstage grew so big that it reached lower parts of the stratosphere.
You know that feel when the music starts playing and for a split-second you’re wondering whether You forget to switch between speakers and headphones because the soundstage is so massive? I get that all the time now. And I love it. The soundstage is so ridiculously huge that the quiet clicks audible throughout Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker make me turn my head and check whether someone turned on the light in the hallway (light switches in my house make a very similar click).
 
Instrument separation is also received a tremendous improvement. It’s very noticeable on songs with multiple instruments playing the same, or similar parts. I first noticed it when listening to the Rhythm Future Quartet. In the videos we can clearly see two guitarists, a violinist and a bassist. The violin and the lead guitar are rather easy to pick apart, however on stock opamps the rhythm guitar and double-bass blend together and form an unintelligible mess. Enter SS3602 and this amalgam instantly becomes two separate instruments, clearly distinguishable from each other.
 
Next song, Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I use this song alot to benchmark audio gear due to its complexity and sheer number of instruments present in the mix. I thought I knew this song inside and out, I thought that it will never, ever surprise me. So, imagine the look on my face when I listened to it for the first time after installing SS3602 and I was finally able to hear bass guitar and accordion in the mix. I knew they were supposed to be there, the concert video indicates as much, but I thought the mastering engineer went full And Justice For All… on the final mix. Turns out, it was not the engineer who decided to drop those tracks, it were the stock duals that weren’t able to handle this many instruments at once.
 
In my Sparkos singles review I made fun of the “I can now hear details I couldn’t hear before” audio cliche. The thought that a part of a song could actually be inaudible on lower tier gear seemed rather silly to me back then. And here I am now, nine months later telling You that a pair of opamps made me hear instruments that couldn’t hear before. Either their performance is so great that it caused me to reevaluate my bias or the Stockholm syndrome has finally kicked in. It’s up to You my dear reader to decide which one it is.
 

Final verdict​

So, it’s time for the big question. Are the SS3602 an amazing piece of hardware? Yes, they most definitely are. Are they worth the money? Depends on your definition of "worth". To me they were worth every dollar. Should You buy them? Only if You want to crank the performance up to eleven.