It is amazing (or maybe not so amazing) how similar in tonality and other areas the sound signature of the Spark is to that of the Liquid Carbon v1. The Liquid Carbon does have a tad more energy, detail, air, extension at both end, and bass heft, (with volume dial set at the approx. 9 o'clock position on both units)... I do not know how much the differences arise from the balanced circuitry of the carbon (Later, I shall connect to the carbon in SE mode and see what does to thos difference)... While the differences should ultimately not be that surprising, given the price points, it is the similarities that I am finding most striking,
For a <$100 little amp, the Spark really delivers in Spades, and that is impressive. It has tripled my curiosity about the Liquid Platinum, and what differences it, too, is going to bring to the table, relative to both the Spark and Carbon).
FWIW, the spark sounds pretty clean (as does the Carbon), and I do not detect any noise, in the form of a hiss, hum or static... It is as clean as a whistle. So far I have been doing all listening and comparisons with the Hifiman He-1000.