Customer Reviews

Gemini PA7000 Professional Line Preamp and Input Switcher

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased the PA-7000 preamp to expand the number of inputs and outputs on my component HiFi system. I am using the tuner input with a Denon TU1500RD Tuner, the phono input with a circa 1980 Denon Turntable, the tape input with a circa 1970 JVC Cassette Player/Recorder and the AUX input with a Direct-TV DVR. The PA-7000's unbalanced output (ordered balanced cables for future upgrade) drives a PreSonus Central Station Controller which then drives a Furman SP20AB Amp and a set of custom-upgraded, Infinity Speakers. I listened to the PA-7000 with Beyerdynamic DT770 headphones as well as speakers, at maximum volume, and the noise and hum levels are barely audible. The phono preamp sound quality is excellent and my wife could hardly believe it when I played some records, how clean and natural they sounded. The only minor audio performance flaw I noticed is some crosstalk between the adjacent inputs with the volume set to maximum. This is not a major issue for me, as only one of the input devices would typically be turned on at a time. The tone, balance, volume controls and other front panel buttons work as advertised and all the controls are smooth and crackle free. The chassis finish is nicely done but the mid-point detents on the control knobs do not line up with the markings on the chassis. I did not test the microphone input but overall, for the price, the performance of the PA-7000 exceeded my expectations.

this preamp uses standard rca inputs and 2 pairs of rca outputs.(also has a pair of xlr outputs which i did not try.)the headphone output is at least adequate,but this preamp really shines driving my "total airhead" solid state headphone amp and also my new hong-kong 6bq5 tube amp used as headphone amp off 8-ohm terminated speaker leads.the tone controlls cannot be bypassed, but i was surprised at how useful they were.my sony mdr-v600 -phones really can use the bass boost the gemini can provide.preamp has no detectible hum or rfi issues.outstanding value.

I've been very happy with my setup so far:

Sansui g-7500, jvc ql-f4, bose 4.2 II bookshelf's, etc. etc. the point is, I wanted to get a bit more sound from my turn table so, the pa-7000 just happened to be the first item in the list that seemed to meet my minimum requirements.

I finally arrived and I put it into my system, not only am I able to route my cd changer, my tape deck, my digital media unit and my phono unit, but, I found the base/mid/treb controls unexpectedly very nice. I immediately began tuning to taste (Careful not to colour the music of course.)

I am more than pleased with this product. I received far more than I had expected and do believe if I would have made another purchase I would not be so pleased.

the sound quality is uneffected by the addition of the pa-7000, sans of course for the boost in volume and slightly more bass due to the equalizer. I would also point out not a single hiss, hum or whistle.

This unit was the missing link to completing my audio experience.

Let me start by saying that I prefer stereo channel sound(not the HT surround stuff - keep it simple).
My system comprises of NAD CDP, Parasound 1000 Power Amp, and Dynaudio Audience 52 all connected by QED wiring.
The Parasound amp has line level adjustment and I used that for quite sometime, but when I got my PS3 and Upgraded to an HDTV I suddenly had a lot more input sources, and so began my search for a relatively modest Pre-Amp.I scoured the internet but all I could find were Pre-amps costing $400+. I then came across the Gemini PA7000. I always asociated brands like Gemini, Pyle, M-audio and the like to mass produced crap from china.... Boy was I wrong on this one. Firstly the Price caught my attention 90 bucks only....u got to be kidding me.
I downloaded the manual and read all of the specs.... seemed to good on paper, but since I had not heard anything drastically bad about the Gemini I placed an Order (hoping if it were bad I would do a return).
On Arrival, first thing I noticed that 'Hey this thing may look slim, but it definitely has good weight'.... Translation -- Heavy=Good. This pre amp was a 'god sent' in terms of handling the inputs, plus it has 2 line level o/p. So naturally one goes to my amp and the other to a sub-woofer(future upgrade). The second thing I noticed was the Volume control was the notched resistor type. These type of controls are Really good not to mention expensive (usually found in high end equipment). So for the next 1 month began the break in process. Now after 1 month I can truly say that this is an absolute gem (hidden gem in the audio world).
I have friends who have spent $2k on just power cables, (imagine their reaction when they heard the $90 pre-amp.... This cannot thing cannot be costing $90 bucks).
The Imaging is great with Diana Krall's Voice absolutely centered. Soundstage is good not the most expansive (remember mine is a modest system in total). The controls are absolutely great on this preamp. The Bass, treble and Mids are all center notched. But I usually never bother changing these from their default centered setting to keep the music uncolored. Recently while still fine tuning my setup I hit the loudness button(I usually keep away from these kind of DSP settings). But the loudness setting on the Gemini was like lifting a Heavy curtain from the music. My Dynaudios are rated to go down to 52hz, but the Loudness button definitely bought out note notes in the mid 30hz range and the Treble was crisp(little more emphasis),but mids were turned down. So naturally I turned down the Treble and increased the mids ever so slightly to flatten out the response. I now have a grin whenever I am listening to my system. I am hearing more detail on the 2Khz + range not to mention my speakers are now digging deeper into the lower octaves.
For movies this pre-amp works equally well. I just got hold of the Terminator 2 Blu-ray. WAS BLOWN AWAY!!!
Ditto with the LOTR trilogy.
Hey, If you are still reading u know by now that this amp is a keeper, do urself a favor try out this pre-amp... dont like it-->return it, IMHO its the Best $89 I have spent on audio....CHEERS!!!

PS: If you turn the Vol know beyond the 2o'clock position there is a slight hum.... I tested this by keeping the CDP on mute.... Else for normal playback/movies I never have to go beyond the 11o'clock position, so this is a non-issue for me.

Unit arrived with a missing/broken ground lift switch, DOA tape monitor loop, and AUX input highly subject to RFI interference. I could clearly hear a strong local AM radio station even with the volume at minimum. Unit may have been damaged in shipment as packaging is minimal/inadequate. I had to return it.

That said, enough was working to get a good idea of the preamp's capability. Overall signal to noise ratio is not good. There is significant power supply hum and high frequency hiss about 60db down. Both increase with higher volumes. Tone seems a little thin and lacking warmth, but that is a subjective evaluation. A working ground lift switch probably would have reduced the 60 cycle hum and RF interference but not improved the background hiss or tone. That is why the unit has a resistive ground -- it needs it. I would not recommend this preamp for any relatively good home audio system. Background noise should be completely inaudible even at high volume levels. I did not open the case but I suspect it relies on 1970s integrated circuit technology that is not up to modern standards.

However, for its intended purpose as a PA preamp, it represents a very good value at its price point. It has a wide range of inputs and excellent tone controls. Loudness and Mute switches are a very big plus. In combination with an inexpensive PA amplifier, PA speakers, a mike, CD-Player, etc., you could have a useful system for around $500. No mixer effects but perfect for school parties, church events, family reunions ...

Just remember what this unit is designed for. Don't expect too much of it. And inspect carefully on arrival.

The Gemini PA-7000 was a great addition to my Harmon Kardon Reciever! I love listening to LP's but unfortunately my HK did not have the ability to power my record player so I bought a cheap $30 pre-amp that was less than adequate. After a couple months of not being satisfied with the sound and performance I broke down and bought the Gemini. I can honestly say it was worth every penny and then some. it makes my LP's sound fantastic and looks great while doing it, I definitely recommend this product. 5 STARS!

-David
Ramstein, Germany

I'm highly impressed by the performance levels of this Gemini preamplifier, despite of its pocket-change price tag. I took delivery of my PA-7000 late last night, August 19, and hooked it up for a test run. It has features and specs that would rival those over-priced high-end preamps you might find at retailers such as Audio Advisor.com - where your average audio component can cost upwards of $1,000 or more! So, don't be fooled by the low price tag of the Gemini PA-7000 preamp. This one is well worth the money, as long as it is well taken care of and not abused or mishandled in any way.

The Gemini PA-7000 is known as a semi-professional preamplifier, meaning it can be used either in a home environment or a production studio - depending on the application(s) required of it. I am especially pleased that this audio 'bad-boy' comes with a pair of balanced XLR main outputs, in addition to dual-pair RCA jacks, making signal routing options almost endless. My plan is to use the XLRs to feed either my main crossover or the Mackie MS1202-VLZ mixing console I have owned and used on and off for the last 15 years or so, and the RCAs will be used for driving a rack-mountable VU meter and monitoring amplifier. My Mackie has four XLR mic jacks, each with a very high dynamic range and plenty of headroom to spare before clipping ever occurs. Mackie analog consoles, now matter how old or new, are known for having such a wonderful feature. They also offer some of the cleanest S/N ratios on the market, and they are built like a tank!! I could go on and on about my Mackie console, but that would defeat the purpose here.

Although I do not plan to make use of the singular 1/4-inch mic input on my PA-7000, I have read it has a somewhat clean S/N ratio as well - more than -70dB. Same goes for the turntable input as well, which has a -90dB S/N ratio. The tape, aux, tuner, and CD inputs all have an S/N ratio of -100dB, which rivals that of my Mackie's TRS inputs. That's not quite as clean as the inputs on my Mackie, but I'm definitely glad these inputs are available if I ever need to use them later on. However, I've also got a professional USB audio interface that has dual-XLR/TRS inputs that can be run at either mic or line level, and that's also where I currently route the signals from my HDTV. But as soon as I get the PA-7000 up and running full-time, the TV will then be run thru my Mackie at microphone level. I will then use my interface's mic jacks with my main mic for recording vocal tracks.

One thing else I like about the PA-7000 is the wide-range frequency response - 5-30,000Hz, which rivals my Technics DJ headphones. There's also an array of switches to customize the sound - mono, mute (-20dB), low cut, and loudness - as well as a 3-band rotary EQ built in. There is even a tape monitor loop feature - for hooking up outboard gear, such as an external EQ, compressor/limiter, or processor/interface like the one I have. This feature will come in handy as well, because that's where I plan to run my interface.

In conclusion, the final feature I admire about the PA-7000 is its continuously detented volume control. This will help my system to maintain an almost constant volume. And this control's volume range is very gradual, making it very easy to control amplifier output in any given situation. I like this, because the level controls on my Rane DJ mixer are quite sensitive - barely turn them up, and you just might overload your house amps!! I learned this the hard way from experience with my Rane console. However, when it comes to DJ mixers, Rane is among those who design and build some of the best DJ mixers on the planet.

Okay, that's all of my review for now. Sorry if I got carried away about my other gear, but I feel that the Gemini PA-7000 will fit into my audio system like a hand fitting into the perfect-sized glove. Like I said at the outset, DO NOT BE FOOLED by this preamp's pocket-change price tag. It is well worth the money!

For those of you wondering if this amplifier is good for home stereo use... YES, but read within.

I have paired this pre-amp with an Integra amplifier and PSB speakers, and as of right now it sounds fantastic. No speaker whine, just nice clear audio.

But it was not always this way...

When I first received the pre-amp it sounded fine if it was turned up, but if there was no sound playing through the speakers there was a piercing whine constantly going through the speakers.

This piercing noise is called a ground loop.

I imagine this isn't a problem if you are using it in a venue for microphone or speaker use, but definitely is a problem for home.

The fix:
Very simple- the cord that plugs into the amplifier is a three prong plug- which is not good for audio equipment. Simply wiggle and bend the round stick at the bottom of the plug (not the "l" shaped fins) until it snaps off. If you are concerned about an electrical shock harming the receiver simply plug the unit into a surge suppressor.

This Gemini unit looks great, and since I am using it for home use, I have cut off the rack mounts, and smoothed the edges to fit.

It really looks like a much more expensive unit than it is. Very good construction, everything feels very solid, nothing feels cheap.

A good buy for anyone who is not going the surround sound route.

Gemini PA-7000 has a good outlook. The price is so good $80.00. I expect the sound quality should be as good as computer sound card. After receiving the pre-amplifier and hook it up to DVD, HDTV using head phone SONY MDR-V150. The sound is very sweet. It is almost flawless. The feeling is so good. The sound effect is even better than that in the theater. Especially connecting to Vizio HDTV audio output, suddenly I can hear a lot of sound details. The bass is so smooth and dynamic. The people voice is unbelievable crystal clear.

After purchasing Audiosource 310 power amplifier, I hook it up with KEF 103.2 and Yamaha NS-A1235 3 way speaker (1, 5, and 12 inches). It is sufficient to drive this power amplifier and speaker. The overall effect is powerful. The bass is so good that subwoofer is unnecessary.

I have seen negative review about this pre-amplifier because the part is less. As I touch the volume knob, I can feel that the material is made of metal wired variable resister. The is the best material for audio component because it has the lowest noise. By theory, the least number of parts has the least chance of distortion and phase shift as long as the parts could produce the required level output. If we check the thousand's dollar cost pre-amplifier schematic diagrams, they are not as complicated as we thought. The high end pre-amplifiers use the best material but not because the quantity of parts or complicated circuitry.

The only drawback for this pre-amplifier is that it has only four input connections, aux, tuner, CD and phono. If you have more audio sources, this could be a problem. However, for general family uses, this could be sufficient. Compare the quality with the cost, this is a super buy.

I bought this to switch several audio sources in a home stereo rack. It was being used in a tri-amped system with a DCX2496 crossover, two RMX850 amps for bass and mid, and an SLA-1 for the highs. Here are the Pros and Cons:

Pros:
1. Nice looking unit that mounts in a 19" rack 1U space. If you really need 1U you'll have to remove the feet.
2. Has plenty of RCA inputs, and RCA or XLR balanced outputs.
3. Has Balance, Volume, and Low, Mid and High tone controls.
4. Has a reasonably good-sounding headphone output.
5. It's lightweight.

Cons:
1. One channel had 2dB less gain than the other when the balance control was centered. This didn't affect the headphone output.
2. The unit introduced some distortion in the highs. If the High tone control was not set a little to the left (Treble cut) the highs were a bit painful at times.
3. The unit introduced a noticeable amount of noise (hiss), although not excessively so.
4. The top center markings on the Balance and Tone controls were not marked very accurately on the front panel.
5. The headphone output level is adjusted by the master Volume control, instead of having its own level adjust.
6. The Volume control has a series of notches, with several dB jump in gain between notches. That made it frustrating at times to get the desired volume.

So for the money it may be OK. Cons 1. and 2. were bad enough that it was eventually replaced by a TOA M-243 mixer, which works flawlessly. Of course, the M-243 costs five times as much, and has no headphone output. A nice, but more budget-conscious choice than the TOA might be the Rane MP 2S, which has a headphone output with its own level control. I have now relegated the PA-7000 to be a headphone amp.