Note: December 24, 2024 - All pre-orders have shipped and we have the Gremlin in stock. Future in-stock availability will depend on the upcoming production runs. We'll keep this note up to date regarding the ship times of the Gremlin. Orders of Gremlin with 12AU7 SELECT Tubes will ship by January 8, 2025.
Class A and fully-balanced at an unheard of price
The Gremlin tube headphone amp is a little monster with a ferocious bite. With 1250mW of output power, it has the muscle to drive most headphones that cross its path. It may be ugly, naked, and small, but don't judge a beast by its cover. For just $120, you're getting a Class A, fully-balanced tube amp with matched tubes—something unheard of at this price. It delivers sound that’s sumptuous and lush, with musical tonality and heart-melting mids. Once it gets its claws in you, you won't want it to let go.
Feeding the beast: Tubes + transistors
The Gremlin is a hybrid headphone amp that combines the precision of transistors with the warmth of vacuum tubes. While solid-state amps (which rely solely on transistors) deliver accuracy, they lack the soul of tubes. In the Gremlin, the vacuum tubes in the pre-amp stage flood your music with rich harmonics and a warmth that solid-state amps can’t touch.
Always hungry: the Gremlin's Class A appetite
The Gremlin is a predator that never rests. With a Class A design, it's always on the hunt, keeping the current flowing without pause. Other amps flip their transistors on and off to save energy and keep cool—efficient, sure, but prone to distortion that muddles the sound. Not this beast. Its relentless operation means every note is delivered with the raw purity and ferocious detail that only Class A amplification can provide.
A poised predator: a fully-balanced amplifier
With a fully-balanced design from input to output, the Gremlin cancels out the kind of hums, buzzes, and interference that can creep in with unbalanced systems. This means you get a cleaner sound—especially important if you're using sensitive headphones or high-end equipment that picks up every little detail. The Gremlin gives you the best of both worlds: the warm, rich tones of tube amplification with the minimal interference of balanced design.
Matched Ray Tubes: the Gremlin’s natural weapon
The Gremlin comes armed with a matched pair of CORE 12AU7 from Ray Tubes to give you that signature tube warmth right out of the box. When tubes are matched, it means they’ve been carefully tested to ensure they work together as a pair, delivering the same output and frequency response. This results in better soundstage, clarity, and stereo imaging—key elements for an hi-fi listening experience. And if you're looking for even more depth and detail, we recommend upgrading to a pair of matched Ray Tubes SELECT 12AU7 tubes. Choose the 12AU7 SELECT and you'll get both sets—letting you tube roll and discover the extent of the Gremlin’s power.
Embark on the quest for your perfect sound
The Gremlin Amp is made for audio lovers who want to explore the world of sound. It works with any 12AU7 or 6922 tubes, new or old, allowing you to easily swap and try new types. Whether you prefer a lush or linear sound, the Gremlin lets you customize your audio setup whenever you want a change.
Product Highlights
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Class A headphone amp with 1250mW of output power at 32Ω
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Fully-balanced architecture with 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm inputs and outputs
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Low noise floor: 100dB SN
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Excellent channel separation: 104dB at 1kHz
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Wide headphone compatibility: suitable for headphones with an impedance range of 8-600Ω.
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Comes with matched pair of Ray Tubes CORE 12AU7
Specs
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Uses 12AU7 or 6922 tubes
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Three-level tube with Class A buffer output
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Inputs: XLR, 4.4mm
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Outputs: 4-pin XLR balanced headphone jack, 4.4mm balanced headphone jack
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Uses a DC 18-24V power supply
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Output power: 1250mW @ 32Ω
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Frequency response: 20Hz-50KHz (+/-0.5dB)
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Signal to noise ratio: 110dB
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Minimum distortion: 0.01% (1KHz)
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Separation degree: 104dB (1KHz)
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Suitable headphones: 8-600Ω
- Dimensions: 5" W, 3 1/4" D, 2 1/2" H
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Community Participants
These affiliates, influencers, and audiophiles gave us early feedback that helped refine the final version of the product. If you’d like to participate in future launches, fill out our form.
Alex Peterkin
Andy Cook
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Apos Team