$120 Class A, Balanced, Tube Amplifier... The Gremlin 😈

[@sauhamm3821]

we were making these kits in the early 2000s off parts from ebay. we had headphone amps in mint tins... love seeing the new generation discover and delve into this hobby.

[@a_tad_rad]

In a cave with a box of scraps!

[@JMLRecording]

I still have an altoids amp I made 20 years ago

[@crate718]

this amp is solid state with a tube pre amp

[@jaredhouseman2094]

This has a solid state amplifier. From a technical perspective there is no reason this wouldn't work with planars just as well as any other solid state amp It also looks like the tubes are running on 80v (under powered) so the tubes aren't doing much amplification This (like every other affordable hybrid amp) is a solid state amp with a "tube distortion filter" in front of it. It might still sound good but it's not really a tube amp

[@ResilientME]

I think the technical reason is exactly what you said, the added distortion takes away from planars' typically undistorted bass making them sound less different to dynamics. I suspect that's why most seem to want all SS for planar. Course I can't stand planars WITHOUT something that strips them of their fatigue like a colored DAC or hybrid amp..

[@jaredhouseman2094]

@@ResilientME the "don't pair planars with tubes" rule comes from the fact that tube amplifiers don't do a great job driving current into planar drivers. In this case the amplifier is solid state so it should drive planar drivers just fine. OTL tube amps also like to see a large load which is why they pair well with things like hd600s (300ohm) That 'rule' gets thrown out any time something has tubes in it, even if it doesn't actually apply Distortion is just a matter of taste, you can have really clean tube amps or really colored solid state amps

[@dgevert]

​@@jaredhouseman2094"really colored solid state amps" - oh, you mean like a defective one?

[@jaredhouseman2094]

@@dgevert if it works as designed, then it's not defective. Everything is going to have distortion, that doesn't mean it's a defect though. In that case every tube amp would be defective

[@kirkhamilton775]

sooooooo this genuinely looks like an xduuo MT-602 with the enclosure swapped out and a balanced connection - like someones pet project

[@Otawakun]

I was supposed to sleep but this video dropped.

[@jonpatmore3181]

I would by this just to test all my 6922/6DJ8's. Might have to mod it to accept lower impedance, but having a preamp inline with my KEFs to listen in, would be useful.

[@io_metre]

6:35 - looks pretty much as a Dracula's set up 🔥👌🏻

[@joshe2420]

recommend this for the hd560s?

[@cshawnb]

Ordered one a few days ago. Says they’ll ship in early December. Looking forward to getting it. So cheap it’s an interesting proposition for modifying. I’m gonna build a new wooden enclosure for it.

[@MatthewDiFazio]

Love the production on this video. Great job as always, Josh. I listened to my Nio on this amp and thought the noise floor was really impressive. Would be interested in trying other IEMs on it.

[@wtfgebeurdmij2991]

Thank you for the good videos as always. Is there anywhere i can find your favorite iems/headphones? We seem to have rhe exact same taste.

[@kazumasatou6124]

Referencing your old video where you used a tube preamp and a thx amp, would you still say that is better than this?

[@arimanwd]

Could you explain more (either here or in a separate video) how hybrid tube amps interact with planar headphones? As far as i understand, they need current more than voltage due to their lower impedance, and hybrids get around by supplying the needed current. So is it that the tube sound characteristics would be present but not as noticeable on planar headphones, or that the tubes make no difference at all and a solid state amp at the same price is just better for planars? I'm wondering if tube rolling with something like this can still be fun if all you have/prefer are planar headphones, but want to try different sound signatures.

[@ResilientME]

It's a subjective 'why.' Hybrids have SS output stages so they'll electrically interact with planars same as a full SS amp. I prefer planars with hybrid but you do give up some of the planar tightness/speed just having tubes in the system, most people seem to find that counterproductive.

[@arimanwd]

@@ResilientME Ok. But given you already have a solid state amp, and are looking for a different sound, the characteristics of tubes (warmer presentation with smoother highs) can still be experienced right? For example, if you already have a SS streaming setup and want to try vinyl, could something like this be a good compliment to that system?

[@ResilientME]

@@arimanwd Yes of course. Worth noting that warm/smooth is doable with any tech amp and there are brighter neutral tube amps too. Tube amps are typically warm(this one seems to fit that expectations) but the thing that's distinct to tubes is in the staging characteristic, their 3D holography. Vinyl works with anything & can sound all different ways itself(there's even more variables that effect sound.)

[@arimanwd]

@@ResilientME interesting. I didn't know about tubes being more holographic. That seems like it would pair nicely with really good planars then, even if some of the tightness goes.

[@gillmanjr87]

I only paid 75 bucks on Amazon for the xduoo MT-604 which is also a fully balanced tube amp with separate pairs of tubes for each channel. I put matched tubes in it and its fantastic with my HD6xx, I prefer it to my Aune s9c with my HD6xx, but not with my Ananda. The s9c sounds substantially better with my Ananda.

[@drewfelts4788]

I got to this video from guitar amps and don't know what you're saying. Could you help me understand so I know what I'm watching?

[@drewfelts4788]

I just plug my headphones in and play music. Didn't know there were amps for listening to music

[@AliArghavan]

I guess it's a hybrid and not an OTL right?

[@TheWretchedWorld]

Of course it’s a hybrid

[@omarjimenez8895]

Reminds me of my old bravo audio little tube amp

[@graelstream2353]

Recently got the r70x refine. Currently using the apple dongle while waiting for the Schiit hel+ my brother bought for me. What other dac amp would you recommend?i mostly game open world and listen to music sometimes hehe

[@kayomichael]

How safe is a chassis-less tube amp!? Aren't tubes running in the order of ~100's of volts? My tube amps would seriously hurt me if i touched the wrong parts.

[@Finklburg_656]

How does this compare to the schiit vali? Looking at getting my first desk setup (looking at a pairing for the 6XX's)

[@AnticipatedHedgehog]

Pretty neat product, I hope someone posts files for a case/enclosure.

[@victorvaldivia5389]

Damn why is no one talking about this dope Intro 🔥🔥

[@cocobololocoloco]

I like the blue anodised ladder.

[@TouzeenHussain]

Reminds me of a Bravo I had long back when starting out...

[@leonardodelgado7573]

How is it with the Edition XS?

[@jasonfoss2457]

I plan on getting the XS for my next pair of cans. I hope this is a good pairing as well. I am however considering a K11 or K7.

[@arne3274]

you should avoid tubes with planars

[@jaredhouseman2094]

​@@arne3274 This has a solid state amplifier, it should work fine

[@skyeait5939]

that tune in sick lol

[@shrijicomp]

what is the source of that ambient blue light? I am very curious.

[@Amariths1]

I've been looking to do a beginner setup after finding your video years ago. Would this and the aune ar5000 be a good comp?

[@Jamie-666]

Versus the Darkvoice?

[@markoriordan101]

How would I connect this to my pc?

[@FramelViruzia]

Wow, an ultra-budget entry level tube amp, this really is suitable with my prefer range :o

[@thetigers2803]

Reminds me of the Elemental Watson

Something tells me that these would also go great with an AKG K702's if you do the balanced mod. I had a cheap audiobear(?) tube amp for my K702's about a decade ago and they actually slapped. It's all now buried somewhere deep in my mom's attic. I think I need to pull that gear out. 😁😁

[@chrisk3127]

K702 is underrated for how cheap you can find them sometimes (got one new for like $120 a year ago)

[@carminedesanto6746]

I’ve got the Xduoo 604 …and I’m good

[@SammerJammer]

Do I spy a Schiit Gunnr?

[@DanDhaniels]

Can it drive planars like Arya?

[@ems_2810]

Easily, but planars often behave strange when fed power from tubes. Which is why Joshua in the video points out they are better paired with dynamic headphones.

[@jaredhouseman2094]

This has a solid state amplifier, it should work fine

[@JohnClarkW]

End to end balanced for $120 is crazy

[@frankdank7439]

Someone should build aftermarket drop in chassis for pretty easy.

[@FliskerX]

When is the new Euphoria review coming ? :)

[@TheRealPotoroo]

Holloween?

[@aj8ky]

You and passion for sound were only an 1hr30 minutes apart releasing your Halloween themed videos for this, he just beat you to it!

[@WyattOShea]

Voshua Jalour

[@HiFiInsider]

Gizmo!

[@peterowen6563]

So who’s going to be first to recommend a $1500 power supply?!

[@Doggie64]

Thanks for the review and bringing this little amp to my attention. Would love to add this to my xDuoo TA-10R for the balanced tubiness. Woof!😊

[@syanhc]

stranger things

[@masterazlan6999]

Naa i'd preferred old skol mt604 yup those 4 pentodes which only bal in n out..welcome noobs..ha4..Peace!

[@TFWandyzilla]

There is no class D tube amp. they're all class A by design

[@HidroponicCL]

There are class AB tube amps,too.

[@TFWandyzilla]

@@HidroponicCL You're right

[@abhinandande]

First View First Comment!!

[@io_metre]

Damn there's always an idi ot saying he's first without even watching it

[@DeminicusSCA]

Dude, they are called jumpers . Calling them pull tabs makes you sound very inexperienced , and tells me you don't build electrical projects

[@christiantan5341]

da'am this is cool content- I forget that I'm still a noob in the hobby...