Right now I use my Susvara with Bakoon Amp-13r which is very good. Will be able to try with Gemini later this week I hope (when it arrives). Excited to hallucinate
We look forward to hearing your impressions. I was struck by the fact that I could move them in a more than decent way. Or a bit more. It certainly does not move them like an ENVY, for example. But maybe I prefer the way they sound with the GEMINI. But not only that: I also prefer the OOR+HYPSOS to the ENVY... maybe because the ENVY, in my opinion, delivers too much power too early. But that would be just talking for the sake of talking.
We look forward to hearing your impressions. I was struck by the fact that I could move them in a more than decent way. Or a bit more. It certainly does not move them like an ENVY, for example. But maybe I prefer the way they sound with the GEMINI. But not only that: I also prefer the OOR+HYPSOS to the ENVY... maybe because the ENVY, in my opinion, delivers too much power too early. But that would be just talking for the sake of talking.
Using it as a follows: Mojo 2 > Sparkos Gemini > Bakoon Amp-13R and A/Bing it with Mojo 2 directly to Bakoon Amp-13R.
It's subtle or just in my head, but with the Gemini, it adds a little kiss of tuby musical goodness that smooths things out and makes the note to note transitions more pleasing to the ear. Just what I was looking for.
Counterintuitive, but to me it sounds more musical in high gain mode. Hard to know without being able to instantaneous level match between high/low gain, but just my initial impression.
Using it as a follows: Mojo 2 > Sparkos Gemini > Bakoon Amp-13R and A/Bing it with Mojo 2 directly to Bakoon Amp-13R.
It's subtle or just in my head, but with the Gemini, it adds a little kiss of tuby musical goodness that smooths things out and makes the note to note transitions more pleasing to the ear. Just what I was looking for.
Counterintuitive, but to me it sounds more musical in high gain mode. Hard to know without being able to instantaneous level match between high/low gain, but just my initial impression.
Quite impressed by the Gemini so far. Sounds great and plenty of power on tap even to drive my Susvaras. Right now running a Khadas Tone 2 Pro > Sparkos Gemini > XLR to Susvara.
Overall sounds great except one thing. I'm finding certain tones are a little harsh. Snaps and clicks tickle the ear drum just a little too much.
Anyone else experience this?
Not sure if this will go away with burn-in.
How many hrs burn-in before the unit is optimal?
Just as a test I swapped in some Genelex Gold Lions 6922s.
Not as resolving as the stock tube, but the piercing clicks are tamed.
Just ordered the Cryotone 12BH7s.
Supposedly mostly only emit 2nd order Harmonics which should be pleasing to the ear.
Quite impressed by the Gemini so far. Sounds great and plenty of power on tap even to drive my Susvaras. Right now running a Khadas Tone 2 Pro > Sparkos Gemini > XLR to Susvara.
Overall sounds great except one thing. I'm finding certain tones are a little harsh. Snaps and clicks tickle the ear drum just a little too much.
Anyone else experience this?
Not sure if this will go away with burn-in.
How many hrs burn-in before the unit is optimal?
Just as a test I swapped in some Genelex Gold Lions 6922s.
Not as resolving as the stock tube, but the piercing clicks are tamed.
Just ordered the Cryotone 12BH7s.
Supposedly mostly only emit 2nd order Harmonics which should be pleasing to the ear.
The GEMINI is an amplifier without complexes. I mean, I understand what you mean. I had the same or at least a similar impression. The GEMINI is incisive, no doubt. Even if it hits with kid gloves. The hours of burning temper it. But they don't take away its character. I also replaced the stock valve with a 12Au7 Gold Lion, which helped sweeten the GEMINI. But the Rottweiller was still there. Finally, I decided to reduce the input voltage with the jumpers provided. That was a very good idea! I connected it to a MATRIX X SABRE 3, which delivers about 2.8V at the RCA output.
In principle, 2-3V should not cause so much noise. But the truth is that from 9-10 the GEMINI starts to hit hard, at least with the most sensitive headphones. Andrew himself must be aware of this when he suggests that if this happens —and it does at 2-3V— we should reduce the input voltage. In any case, the GEMINI is a remarkable amplifier. I mean extraordinary. It moves everything you throw at it —or almost everything— without a hitch. As I said, no complexes. But it's also smooth enough that you don't have to stop. Very, very good.
The GEMINI is an amplifier without complexes. I mean, I understand what you mean. I had the same or at least a similar impression. The GEMINI is incisive, no doubt. Even if it hits with kid gloves. The hours of burning temper it. But they don't take away its character. I also replaced the stock valve with a 12Au7 Gold Lion, which helped sweeten the GEMINI. But the Rottweiller was still there. Finally, I decided to reduce the input voltage with the jumpers provided. That was a very good idea! I connected it to a MATRIX X SABRE 3, which delivers about 2.8V at the RCA output.
In principle, 2-3V should not cause so much noise. But the truth is that from 9-10 the GEMINI starts to hit hard, at least with the most sensitive headphones. Andrew himself must be aware of this when he suggests that if this happens —and it does at 2-3V— we should reduce the input voltage. In any case, the GEMINI is a remarkable amplifier. I mean extraordinary. It moves everything you throw at it —or almost everything— without a hitch. As I said, no complexes. But it's also smooth enough that you don't have to stop. Very, very good.
Thanks for the input. Since my Susvaras demand power, the 15db gain reduction jumpers are a no go. I did find the lower bias jumpers helped dampen the overly harsh frequencies (certain finger snaps and knocks) and I'll give with more burn-in I hope it comes down some more.
I think this amp is an amazing value that punches well above its weight. I might just try to jazz up the aesthetics a bit.
See if there are better options for a gain knob, add a tube riser, graphics skin for the casing and some nice feet.
Just an update. Really enjoying my Gemini! Today I fired up an Aiyima A70 and put in some Supersonic V2 op amps. Super clean, punch, dynamic holographic sound with body. Still a tiny bit of that class-d treble glare that I found these budget chip based Class-d amps had, but since the Aiyima has plenty of power and that new PFFB feature, its improved dramatically over its ancestors.
Well, put the Gemini in between as a pre-amp with low bias, low gain and wow, gave the Aiyima new life. Very musical! Soundstage and imaging was fantastic. Smoothed out class-d amp nicely...definitely punches way above its price.
I also tried to remove the volume pot, by removing the 2 set screws. Removed the screws but it didn't seem like the pot wanted to come off. Was hoping to see how the diameter/shape is underneath so I could replace it with something bigger and sexier.
Just an update. Really enjoying my Gemini! Today I fired up an Aiyima A70 and put in some Supersonic V2 op amps. Super clean, punch, dynamic holographic sound with body. Still a tiny bit of that class-d treble glare that I found these budget chip based Class-d amps had, but since the Aiyima has plenty of power and that new PFFB feature, its improved dramatically over its ancestors.
Well, put the Gemini in between as a pre-amp with low bias, low gain and wow, gave the Aiyima new life. Very musical! Soundstage and imaging was fantastic. Smoothed out class-d amp nicely...definitely punches way above its price.
I also tried to remove the volume pot, by removing the 2 set screws. Removed the screws but it didn't seem like the pot wanted to come off. Was hoping to see how the diameter/shape is underneath so I could replace it with something bigger and sexier.
Did you take off the Gemini cover? I have not tried pot replacement -- but cover removal will be my first step to see what the 'potscape' looks like. Having two set screws for a shallow pot seems unusual ....
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via Audeze LCD-4 (!! .... 200 ohms, 97 dB/mw):
