Apos x Community: Gremlin Tube amp... TLDR: Just buy it!

[@xerosphoenix]

Bought a friend this for Christmas! Hope they like it!

[@TylersEclectic]

You’re a good friend! I hope they like it too!

[@LOLA6ifyable]

Informative video! Do I must have a seperate Dac with it? New to audio stuff :)

[@TylersEclectic]

Yes, you will need a balanced DAC or one with XLR or 4.4mm outputs

[@cheesychester9647]

Sweet little amp. I don't own a quality set of openback yet, but when I do eventually, I'll probably try a little tube setup like this.

[@TylersEclectic]

It's a great place to start!

[@GadZookz]

Thanks Tyler! If I may ask, which amp has the most tuby, euphonic sound you have heard?

[@Hey_Burnsy]

The answer is almost ALWAYS - bottlehead crack.

[@TylersEclectic]

Bottlehead Crack is a beast… and fun to build without the speedball then add the speedball down the road :) definitely one of the most pure tube sounds out there! With tons of modding/upgrade options if you are into that and decent with soldering and playing with electricity ⚡️ But, I’d have to say the ampsandsound Kenzie is also just a beautiful sounding headphone amp! Mogwai also is a beast and sounds amazing. I’m a bit of a ampsandsound fan… but they are very pricey. This little gremlin reminds me of my favorite tube hybrid amp which is the nigh impossible to get ECP T4… probably why I like the gremlin so much.

[@GadZookz]

@@TylersEclectic This is helpful, thanks!👍🏻

[@EricRosenfield]

Curious how it compares to the Vali 3 for $10 more

[@TylersEclectic]

Hmmm 🤔 I don’t know? But, the Bali is generally praised as a great entry point as well…

[@Amariths1]

Recommendation on dac?

[@TylersEclectic]

Any 4.4mm dongle DAC under $100 for budget use case… just get a 4.4mm to 4.4mm Schiit modius balanced for a step up If you like to EQ an RME ADI DAC is a beast For a similar price point and pretty much endgame for most people the Cyan 2 DAC These are just a few recommendations and more of a good jump off for researching more DACs Look for either XLR out or 4.4mm out and get the corresponding cables to hook up the gear :) Now I kinda want to try a full 4.4mm system 🤔 you could do the iFi gryphon with 4.4mm out as well and have a more portable solution… or any of the iFi with with 4.4mm outs … so many options

[@Amariths1]

@@TylersEclectic Im interesting in the more portable option you mention

[@Amariths1]

Was looking at the Muse HiFi M5 ultra but has a built in tube would that interfere with each other.

[@TylersEclectic]

@ look up 4.4mm dongle DACs then set appropriate budget… also you could look at DAPs that have 4.4mm out as an alternative.

[@TylersEclectic]

@@Amariths1 it shouldn’t… I have a tube preamp feeding a tube amp… just adds more flavor… but it potentially could be too much tube sound… but seeing as how most of these are tube hybrids you should be good

[@joewatkins5524]

I just ordered this but I don’t own a balanced DAC. I’ve got the topping DX3pro+ do I still run the risk of it blowing up if I use RCA to XLR in line out dac mode (no gain added)?

[@TylersEclectic]

Just make sure you use quality made cables? I’m not an electrical engineer lol I always have to look up if Single ended to XLR is ok… which generally it is in this case … just do some research on it :) I believe it usually is a problem when going balanced to single ended… and has more to do with how the cables are wired for ground? But don’t quote me as I’m not “positive” (sorry bad electrical joke ha)

[@joewatkins5524]

@ I saw on some forum somewhere that you can add a 20 ohm resistor to your RCA to XLR cords it turns the cables impedance to be balanced on the topping, also I think your right just the volume will be lowered but with this being a tube hybrid amp and me going to be using the Arya Stealth I shouldn’t have any issues just turning the volume up some more

[@TylersEclectic]

@ yeah… I think the issue is usually with grounds in the connection shorting and that causes amps or headphones to pop… or if power passes through too much and melts the driver coils? Once again I have very little appropriate knowledge on that stuff and ask my friends that are much more experienced or trained I those areas for advice :) or I research the hell out of it until I’m confident I’ll only possibly mess up lol

[@joewatkins5524]

@ Just ended up biting the bullet and buying the Hifiman EF400 gonna sell the old DX3

[@nathanberger618]

I should have my Gremlin around December 11th

[@TylersEclectic]

Nice! Let me know what you think

[@nathanberger618]

@ I heard the Gremlin at SoCal and really liked it paired with the Apos x Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Refine Headphone, which I also ordered.

[@TylersEclectic]

@ oh! Let me know what you think of those headphones! I missed them at CanJam

[@nathanberger618]

@ certainly and to add to the fun, I ordered a pair of Bokeh Open from Zach and Bevin

[@Druezy]

Do you think this would pair well on top of my RME? I have a pair of ZMF VCs and Campfire Andromeda Gold Ti. This looks super interesting and I need some tube glow!

[@TylersEclectic]

I can 💯 say it will! I used it with my RME before switching it to my TT2… great combo with the RME!

[@Druezy]

@@TylersEclectic Ordered, appreciate it Tyler!

[@TylersEclectic]

@ 🙌💜 I am going to order one too after I send this back!

[@Druezy]

@@TylersEclectic I'm going to work on making a custom case for it, maybe even selling them in a flat pack envelope. Should be a fun project!

[@TylersEclectic]

@ would love to see what you come up with!