Today was finally time for the Caldera!
My usual setup of preference with them is Cayin DAC11 (Burr Brown PCM1792 with Siemens CCa) → Gustard P26 (Dual Sparkos SS2590) → Cayin HA-3A (with Apos Ray 12AU7).
So double tube power from DAC output stage and the HA-3A now with additonal P26 preamp featuring the Sparkos SS2590 op-amps (same as in the Gemini!) really brings the Caldera to sing!
As counterpart setup I used the Eversolo DMP-A6 ("only" ES9038Q2M) → Sparkos Gemini (Stock) with the Caldera and I have to say I am really impressed by what this simple combination can achieve at a fraction of the cost in its stock form! The Gemini is such a great amplifier!
It would be awesome to hear how the Gemini stacks up against the Aries. I heard the Aries at a local meet and I was super impressed with it. I would totally buy one but it’s in a price range I’m not really willing to jump into.
I really like both, but I have different DACs attached [Qutest to the Aries and Benchmark DAC-3 to the Gemini], and the two devices are significantly different in features. The Aries is a special desktop amp for sure. Just little tweaks like the left knob volume are helpful. The Gemini is a great sounding amp too. The Aries has a lot of neat tweaks at the panel and is a full featured device. If it had a remote I’d test it in my main rig for fun…..
I just recently got the Gemini and I can safelly say I'm seriously impressed with this little industrial looking beast of an amp. The sound is so musical and warm while still retaining all the details. The small footprint is perfect for my limited desk space. My ZMF Auteur Classic never sounded this good. Can't wait to get the NOS tubes I have on order to see if I can further improve the SQ even though it already sounds great with the stock Electro-Harmonix 6992s.
Back to the Marconi-Osram-Valve A2900, a 12AT7-type tube, in Gemini .... The use of the 'Gain' button, pushed in to lower overall gain / to increase the tube sonic contribution, is wonderful with high sensitivity headphones - such as Grados. Pure music !!
The Gemini is such a wonderful hybrid amp and needs to get much more attention. Such sweet sound in stock form and then there's tube & op amp rolling and playing with the internal jumpers to furher tweek the sound to one's preference. I only owned a few hybrid amps and out of them the best I had was the Pathos Aurium. That's until I got the Gemini which IMO smokes the Aurium in all metrics at almost half the cost. I'm seriosuly impressed with this little "beast". More people need to try it. For those searching to add a bit of that tube flavour while still retaining a tight, detailed and controlled sound I don't think you can get any better for the price.
I want to share my enthusiasm for the Gemini. It's surely a great little amp. Especially with the Sennheiser HD800/HD800S and all the HD6**s - HD600, HD650, HD660S HD660S2.
But it sounds great with planars too. I'll have to do more testing. ll do a review of this one for sure
Driven by SparkoS Labs Gemini, ‘tubed’ with a M-O-V (Marconi-Osram Valve) A2900, Focal Clear OG has a startling tactility added to its clarity, depth, heft, impact!
Hello all. I am seriously considering this amp. Did anyone tried this with IEMs? And does this amp in its stock tube configuration work great with all genres, including pop/edm/electronic/rock?
Hello all. I am seriously considering this amp. Did anyone tried this with IEMs? And does this amp in its stock tube configuration work great with all genres, including pop/edm/electronic/rock?
Can't say about IEMs since I don't use them anymore but my guess would be some sensitive models might pick some hum/hiss/background noise due to the amp using tubes in its gain stage.
As far as the amp working for all genres in it's stock config...hell yeah it does I listen to a wide variety of music and the Gemini performes admirably on all genres.
I was looking at your hardware and was wondering if you could answer a question of mine. Audeze has been my benchmark for headphones for the longest time, had all the LCD’s ant one point. Just have the 3/4 now. Recently I got the OG Clear. IMO it is better than anything Audeze offers. Do you have a ZMF headphone that you could recommend based on that information?
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goods home! [Grado RS-1x headphone; Gemini gain button 'in': greater tube contribution in tube / opamp mix]
