Hello All.
A Review.
Gemini PA-7000 Preamp
This is not so much of a review of the PA-7000 Preamp as it is of Gemini the company.
To make a long story short, I got took on ebay.
The Person advertised the PA-7000 as "Used", but never taken out of the box.
"As Is", No Returns He says, well that should have been a clue.
A deal to good to pass up, I should have Passed.
Seems He palmed off his shipping damage to who ever bought it, Me.
Oh Well, live & learn.
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eBay page states that the item will be shipped via "UPS"
It arrived via the US Postal Service, uninsured.
Received 9 days later.
It arrived in it's "Paper Box"
Wrapped in a "Brown Grocery Bag"
The Bag was torn in several places.
The "Paper Box' was "Crushed' and had several "Holes" in it.
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My Day Job: Electronics Technician
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Removed the PA-7000 from the Box.
Removed the PA-7000 from the Plastic Bag.
Inspecting the PA-7000, From Left to Right:
1. The Faceplate:
Has several very slight "Warps" to it, both "In & Out"
It also has a few "Nicks" in it along the top edge.
2. The Power Switch:
Looks Ok, it Toggles.
3. The Phono Jack;
Looks Ok.
4. The Microphone Jack:
Looks Ok.
5. The Mic Level Knob:
Has the paint scuffed off on one edge.
6. The Bass Knob:
Has a deep gouge in it and was pushed all the way down making contact with the Faceplate and would not turn.
7. The Mid Knob:
Has a deep gouge in it and was pushed "Up" the top edge of the knob making contact with the Faceplate and would not turn. The bottom edge of the knob in contact with the Faceplate was Flatted and bent under.
8. The Treble Knob:
Has a scuffed up Face with missing paint, but will turn.
9. The Balance Knob:
Looks Ok, and turns.
10 The Volume Knob:
Has a scuffed up Face with missing paint, but will turn.
11, 12, 13, 14. The Mono, Mute, Low Cut and Loudness Buttons:
All look Ok, all push in & out.
15. The Selector Knob:
Looks Ok, and turns.
16. The Tape Monitor button:
Looks Ok, and pushes in & out.
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Put the PA-7000 on the work bench.
Pulled all of the knobs off.
Removed the nuts holding the potentiometers.
Removed the faceplate, left the power switch in the Faceplate.
Hooked it up to my test equipment.
The PA-7000 Powers Up & Down OK.
Ran a sweeping wave (1KHz to 100KHz) @1Vp-p
Tested all inputs.
Tested all outputs.
Output looks good on the Scope.
I get the "Sweeping Buzz" from the loudspeakers.
--- * --- * ---
The Mid knob:
The collar that the control shaft goes through is bent "UP"
And will only turn to the left (Counter-Clock Wise).
In so much as it does turn, it still has an effect on the audio signal.
But needs to be replaced.
The circuit on the board proper seems to be OK and working.
The "HIT" on the knob does not seem to have made it into the chassis.
And does not seem to have "Damaged" the board itself.
--- * --- * ---
The Rest Of The Controls:
All seem to be working on the bench.
Once I replace the "Mid' potentiometer.
I will have to run a "Real" audio signal through it as a final test.
All Of The Knobs Will Have To Be Replaced.
The "Mid' knob Is ruined (busted).
The rest of the knobs have cosmetic issues.
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Replaced Mid knob.
Hooked up mu MP3 player to the PA-7000 to each input.
All inputs working, all outputs working.
Overall build quality of the circuit board was not all that impressive.
As a preamp the PA-7000 seems to be a somewhat useable piece of equipment.
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And here is the rub !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have emailed Gemini 3 times, Absolutely no response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All I wanted to know was if they would sell me some new knobs.
Or tell me where I could get the knobs.
I emailed Sales.
I emailed Tech support, twice.
Nada, Diddly Squat, Nope, Nothing, A Bunch of Deader's.
Sure does not inspire any warm and fuzzy feelings about Gemini.
I know I will never purchase any Gemini products again.
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