Sparkos Gemini Headphone Amp

Introduction

The Sparkos Labs Gemini is a hybrid tube headphone amplifier and preamplifier. It blends the lush character of a tube input stage with the clean, powerful output of Sparkos’ discrete solid-state op‑amp stage. Priced around $995, the Gemini sits in the “upper‑mid” tier of headphone amps: not entry level, but far from the price extremes of boutique high‑end gear.

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Build & Design

• Chassis & Controls: Solid, well-machined casework with a high-quality Alps “Blue Velvet” volume pot.
• Power Stage: Discrete Sparkos SS2590 op‑amps and discrete voltage regulators.
• Output Impedance: Extremely low (~0.25Ω) for excellent control of headphones.
• Inputs & Outputs:
  • Headphone outputs: 6.3mm (¼″) TRS and 4‑pin XLR.
  • RCA preamp outputs for speaker use.
• Customizability: Tube‑rolling supported (e.g. 6922, ECC88 types), two gain levels, internal jumper‑set bias adjustment.
• Design Highlights: No coupling capacitors in the signal path, no global feedback, and a tube warm‑up delay for protection.

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Features

• Works as both headphone amp and preamp.
• Switchable gain and bias settings.
• Tube-rolling for different sonic flavors.
• Low noise floor, even with sensitive headphones (slightly more noticeable on high gain).

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Pricing

• U.S.: $995 MSRP
• U.K./Europe: Approx. $1,016 (VAT included via dealers like Elise Audio)

This puts it in the “serious enthusiast” category: not entry‑level, but attainable for those investing in high‑quality amplification.

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