SparkoS Aries headphone amp

[project86]

Yeah just wildly inconsistent, dark-but-sometimes-bright, unpredictable responses from one headphone to the next.

 

[duranxv]

So I got myself a Ferrum OOR + Hypsos stack, and it was just slightly better than the Aries. Ever so slightly, which is a real testament to how good the Aries is. I really hope Andrew comes out with his tube amp, and maybe an Aries v2 or something. He's incredibly talented and the fact a single-man shop produced an amplifier that rivals well established companies is a damned good accomplishment in my opinion.

 

[Nostoi]

So I got myself a Ferrum OOR + Hypsos stack, and it was just slightly better than the Aries. Ever so slightly, which is a real testament to how good the Aries is. I really hope Andrew comes out with his tube amp, and maybe an Aries v2 or something. He's incredibly talented and the fact a single-man shop produced an amplifier that rivals well established companies is a damned good accomplishment in my opinion.

I can believe it. It's curious how some amps seem to come from nowhere and generate a hype train while others like the Aries seem to go under the radar somewhat, despite being as good if not better than the hyped product.

Maybe it comes down to aesthetics.

 

[Nostoi]

Yeah just wildly inconsistent, dark-but-sometimes-bright, unpredictable responses from one headphone to the next.

Slightly off topic again, I received the Bakoon HPA-21. Your comments now make sense. The HPA-21 only works on planar magnetic headphones and in current mode. With this pairing, it's one of the best SS amps I've heard - with amazingly precise imaging and layering, and an expansive soundstage.

With dynamic headphones, indeed one needs something like the Aries. But the planar pairing on the Bakoon is good that it's now my main desktop amp.

 

[Palyodgree]

Slightly off topic again, I received the Bakoon HPA-21. Your comments now make sense. The HPA-21 only works on planar magnetic headphones and in current mode. With this pairing, it's one of the best SS amps I've heard - with amazingly precise imaging and layering, and an expansive soundstage.

With dynamic headphones, indeed one needs something like the Aries. But the planar pairing on the Bakoon is good that it's now my main desktop amp.

I purchased the Sparkos Lab preamplifier to use in a speaker system and occasional headphone listening, the Aries is terrific for the money no question. Last year a dealer lent me a Bakoon 13R to try at home it was very good sounding driving the HiFiman . Though I no longer have the Aries preamplifier most definitely Andrew of Sparkos Labs is someone to keep an eye on .

 

[Sam Spade]

I can believe it. It's curious how some amps seem to come from nowhere and generate a hype train while others like the Aries seem to go under the radar somewhat, despite being as good if not better than the hyped product.

Maybe it comes down to aesthetics.

The Aries is insanely good, mine is fed by a Chord Qutest running LCD4 and LCDXC.

 

[duranxv]

In case anyone is looking to score the Aries full model at a great price, I just put it on the classifieds.

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/sparkos-aries-amplifier-and-pre-amplifier-full-model.22857/

 

[sparko311]

Hi Guys. Its Andrew of Sparkos Labs here. I just found this thread and wanted to thank everyone for giving the Aries a shot, and for everyone's kind words and honest opinions about the unit. Not to get all mushy on everyone, but man...... Some of these posts brings a tear to my eye. Its so good to get feedback like this that reassures me that myself, my o' lady and our little dog are putting out quality gear and devices that are well received by the audiophile community.

So.... Thank you.

I just wanted to make ourselves available to the community here and answer any questions that anyone may have about the Aries unit and/or any of our other products and devices. Ive been toying with the idea of becoming a Head-Fi sponsor and putting the Aries on tour in the USA to start. Depending on how that goes, we may do the same in other countries too. Would yall like that?

Thanks again guys! Let me know if anyone has any questions.

 

[duranxv]

Hi Guys. Its Andrew of Sparkos Labs here. I just found this thread and wanted to thank everyone for giving the Aries a shot, and for everyone's kind words and honest opinions about the unit. Not to get all mushy on everyone, but man...... Some of these posts brings a tear to my eye. Its so good to get feedback like this that reassures me that myself, my o' lady and our little dog are putting out quality gear and devices that are well received by the audiophile community.

So.... Thank you.

I just wanted to make ourselves available to the community here and answer any questions that anyone may have about the Aries unit and/or any of our other products and devices. Ive been toying with the idea of becoming a Head-Fi sponsor and putting the Aries on tour in the USA to start. Depending on how that goes, we may do the same in other countries too. Would yall like that?

Thanks again guys! Let me know if anyone has any questions.

Keep up the great work Andrew! You should definitely put your stuff on tour!

How's it coming along with the tube amp? And any plans for an Aries v2 by chance?

 

[sparko311]

Keep up the great work Andrew! You should definitely put your stuff on tour!

How's it coming along with the tube amp? And any plans for an Aries v2 by chance?

So.... The tube amp is really in question right now with the state of the tube world. There are only 2 tube manufacturing plants in the world right now, and one of them is in Russia. So...... Nobody can get any tubes right now. My buddy Warren of VTV amplifiers sells a lot of tubes on ebay, and he said he got cleaned out within a week once the sanctions started hitting Russia. So I think I am going to wait a bit and see how that goes before I get too much more serious about it. There seems to be a massive tube shortage in the world right now unfortunately.

As for Aries V2 - maybe some day. But If I do an Aries V2, I promise I will add a remote control. It seems like guys want that. My personal Aries unit is always within arms reach, and I assumed everyone elses would be too.... But... to quote Joe Dirt.... "it aint about me and what I like... its about the CONSUMER"

Near as I can tell, adding a remote would be about the only thing I would change about it on a version 2.

 

[duranxv]

So.... The tube amp is really in question right now with the state of the tube world. There are only 2 tube manufacturing plants in the world right now, and one of them is in Russia. So...... Nobody can get any tubes right now. My buddy Warren of VTV amplifiers sells a lot of tubes on ebay, and he said he got cleaned out within a week once the sanctions started hitting Russia. So I think I am going to wait a bit and see how that goes before I get too much more serious about it. There seems to be a massive tube shortage in the world right now unfortunately.

As for Aries V2 - maybe some day. But If I do an Aries V2, I promise I will add a remote control. It seems like guys want that. My personal Aries unit is always within arms reach, and I assumed everyone elses would be too.... But... to quote Joe Dirt.... "it aint about me and what I like... its about the CONSUMER"

Near as I can tell, adding a remote would be about the only thing I would change about it on a version 2.

Any thoughts on maybe experimenting with a different amp topology on a possible Aries v2?

 

[Nostoi]

So.... The tube amp is really in question right now with the state of the tube world. There are only 2 tube manufacturing plants in the world right now, and one of them is in Russia. So...... Nobody can get any tubes right now. My buddy Warren of VTV amplifiers sells a lot of tubes on ebay, and he said he got cleaned out within a week once the sanctions started hitting Russia. So I think I am going to wait a bit and see how that goes before I get too much more serious about it. There seems to be a massive tube shortage in the world right now unfortunately.

As for Aries V2 - maybe some day. But If I do an Aries V2, I promise I will add a remote control. It seems like guys want that. My personal Aries unit is always within arms reach, and I assumed everyone elses would be too.... But... to quote Joe Dirt.... "it aint about me and what I like... its about the CONSUMER"

Near as I can tell, adding a remote would be about the only thing I would change about it on a version 2.

How about a mini Aries in trans-portable format....? That would be *amazing*!

 

[xtiva]

So.... The tube amp is really in question right now with the state of the tube world. There are only 2 tube manufacturing plants in the world right now, and one of them is in Russia. So...... Nobody can get any tubes right now. My buddy Warren of VTV amplifiers sells a lot of tubes on ebay, and he said he got cleaned out within a week once the sanctions started hitting Russia. So I think I am going to wait a bit and see how that goes before I get too much more serious about it. There seems to be a massive tube shortage in the world right now unfortunately.

As for Aries V2 - maybe some day. But If I do an Aries V2, I promise I will add a remote control. It seems like guys want that. My personal Aries unit is always within arms reach, and I assumed everyone elses would be too.... But... to quote Joe Dirt.... "it aint about me and what I like... its about the CONSUMER"

Near as I can tell, adding a remote would be about the only thing I would change about it on a version 2.

Yes Yes!!! remote control would be very handy.. also hopefully no more touch screen control.. sorry call me old school but still like physical switches & buttons on Audio gear over the touch screen
Also, one last thing is a selectable pre-out mode, fixed or variable

 

[TonyTripleA]

So.... The tube amp is really in question right now with the state of the tube world. There are only 2 tube manufacturing plants in the world right now, and one of them is in Russia. So...... Nobody can get any tubes right now. My buddy Warren of VTV amplifiers sells a lot of tubes on ebay, and he said he got cleaned out within a week once the sanctions started hitting Russia. So I think I am going to wait a bit and see how that goes before I get too much more serious about it. There seems to be a massive tube shortage in the world right now unfortunately.

As for Aries V2 - maybe some day. But If I do an Aries V2, I promise I will add a remote control. It seems like guys want that. My personal Aries unit is always within arms reach, and I assumed everyone elses would be too.... But... to quote Joe Dirt.... "it aint about me and what I like... its about the CONSUMER"

Near as I can tell, adding a remote would be about the only thing I would change about it on a version 2.

Andrew, I can only say as an owner of the Aries I wouldn't see any need to change... its just fantastic. The sound quality for both my Abyss 1266 and Utopias is sublime.

I have my Aries within arms reach too so V1 of the amp is all I need. A version, V2, might be just the ticket with a remote control for speaker systems though. I'd suggest having the choice would be great. Just keep making great amps please!!!!

Best listening I've ever done!

T

 

[sparko311]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions guys!