Усилители мощности стерео — Musician Audio GEMINI

The GEMINI is a stereo power amplifier from Musician, a maker better known for DACs such as the Pegasus and Aquarius, preamplifiers like the Monoceros and headphone amplifiers like the Andromeda. The company presents it as its first power amplifier and as the companion to the Aquarius DAC. List price is USD 2,399, and the amplifier comes in silver or black with versions for 100 V or 220 V mains.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 120 W RMS per channel into 8 ohms and 220 W RMS per channel into 4 ohms from a Class AB design. Frequency response runs from 10 Hz to 80 kHz within 2 dB, and the manufacturer quotes THD+N of 0.002%, a signal-to-noise ratio of 118 dB, dynamic range above 121 dB and channel separation of -110 dB. Input sensitivity is 1.8 V RMS with an input impedance of 22 kOhm. Power draw is 0.5 W in standby, 35 W at idle and up to 365 W at full output. The chassis measures 375 x 334 x 124 mm and weighs 16.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

Discrete parts are used throughout a fully balanced, dual mono layout, in which the positive and negative phases of each channel are handled by independent circuits. Musician gives the aim of that split as lower noise, lower distortion and a more stable output. Energy comes from a shielded 600 VA toroidal transformer, fast Schottky rectifier diodes and a bank of 36 storage capacitors. Musician states that it publishes conservative specifications and measurements rather than inflated figures. The case is aluminium, and large integrated heatsinks dissipate the heat of the Class AB output stage during long sessions. Loudspeakers connect through screw-type terminals.

Pairing

Placed after the Aquarius DAC, the GEMINI completes a chain that the brand describes as fully balanced from the digital source to the binding posts, with no unnecessary conversion between balanced and single-ended signals along the way. Musician intends the GEMINI to be driven by a preamplifier or by a DAC with variable output, and the maker names its PEGASUS and AQUARIUS converters as examples. XLR balanced inputs are standard and are intended for long cable runs without picking up noise, and the four pairs of output transistors per channel are there so the amplifier can drive lower impedance loudspeakers as well.

Alternatives

Musician offers no other stereo power amplifier besides the GEMINI, which the brand introduced as its first power amplifier.