Monday, March 17, 2025
BassBass Amps

Apos x Community Gremlin – Best Value Balanced Tube Amp? Only $120! – Honest Audiophile Impressions


A BIG thanks to Apos Audio for providing the Gremlin for review, much appreciated.

The Apos Audio Gremlin is outfitted with a pair of Ray Tubes 12AU7 Core for $120, is if the best value balanced tube amp?

Purchase/More Info:
Apos x Community Gremlin Tube Amp

Chapters:
00:00 Intro/Purchase Options/Specs
02:30 Build/Design/LED Lights
05:00 Tube Rolling
05:38 Source Pairing
06:35 Power Output
07:53 Sonic Impressions
10:44 Conclusion
11:44 Exit

I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.

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Amazon playlist: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/afb5506483ba4ae3be17c2184797ebb6sune?ref=dm_sh_ycUHvBw1lOkeqCrwPFcc45NAl
Tidal Playlists:
Jazz: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ea7f58ba-f05d-466f-9714-936d0ab7fa0f

Soundtracks: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bd11187e-1811-43a7-a065-26e806f60efd
Bass: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0ba4d6a8-9d95-4f16-b79e-ef084a091d73
Mids & Treble: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c5bc66bd-a907-4a0e-a976-9f02e75c126f
Tone & Timbre: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0915f654-6962-4ff5-ae6a-ee8287b6a81b
Favorites: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4e9fdf64-df26-4d06-ae4d-273ed04e4550

Recommended Gear:
Audeze LCD-5: https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-5
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD600: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/best-audio-headphones-high-end-stereo-hifi-hd-600
Sennheiser HD660s2: https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-US/p/hd-660s2/clcrij55r0b570bw9bubufphu/
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: https://austrian.audio/headphones/hi-x60/
Audeze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
ADV. M5-12D: https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/pro-audio/products/m5-12d-universal
CTM Da Vinci X: https://cleartunemonitors.com/products/da-vinci-x-universal
Westone Mach 60: https://westoneaudio.com/product/mach-60/
Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811
Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b
Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: https://mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-287#attr=
Mytek Liberty THX HPA: https://mytek.audio/shop/liberty-thx-285#attr=
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Audio BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S

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Apos Audio: https://apos.audio?sca_ref=45218.8XN5h6dArS
ADV-Sound: https://adv-sound.com/?mct=8ENJK5lB promo code: DavidS10
HifiGo: https://hifigo.com/?rfsn=5772588.cbfbb66
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com?sca_ref=910677.dpweP21PzL
BASN: https://www.basnaudio.com/?ref=dnkigaut

#Apos #Community #Gremlin #Balanced #Tube #Amp #Honest #Audiophile #Impressions

Originally posted by UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZVlCnmj8bU

4 thoughts on “Apos x Community Gremlin – Best Value Balanced Tube Amp? Only $120! – Honest Audiophile Impressions

  • I've used this with Amperex Bugle Boy 7316 and Phillips Miniwatt 7dj8. It sounds good and is lots of fun. Schiit midguard sounds as good, but different. I like this price point. I have little to compare, though. Recession coming.

    Reply
  • I bought the gremlin in its cheapest variant as I have plenty of 6922 tubes to try with it. I found it very, very transparent to different tubes. It's almost like a tube tester device. I prefer it with BTB performance tubes (about 100USD a pair). NOS Telefunken 6922 which are usually my preferred tubes in my preamp were slightly too polite in my opinion. The original, cheap Ray tubes are also quite good, I have to say. Not the last word in detail and transparency but for the price absolutely fine. It will be hard to find a better headphone amplifier for 120USD.

    Reply
  • Nice one Dave. I read somewhere that Geshelli has teamed with Apos to make a DAC to stack with the Gremlin. Pretty Cool

    Reply
  • Great Review Dave, i wanted to try balance conections for a long time, but I'm.on a budget, how would u compare it to the douk u5? soundquality wise,

    Reply

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