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Monoprice Monolith THX AAA Balanced Headphone Amplifier w/ 887 Technology Expired

$250
$399.99
w/ SD Cashback + Free Shipping
+34 Deal Score
29,573 Views
Monoprice has Monoprice Monolith THX AAA Balanced Headphone Amplifier w/ 887 Technology for $249.99. To earn Slickdeals Cashback, before purchase, follow the cashback instructions below. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor Discombobulated for finding this deal.

Features:
  • The THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (THX AAA) ensures the ultimate headphone audio experience by delivering fidelity audio with low levels of noise, distortion, and power consumption.
  • The amplifier features three different gain settings for optimal compatibility with all headphones. The lowest gain setting is the most appropriate for sensitive IEMs
  • Balanced and single-ended inputs: The amplifier features an XLR balanced input, plus 1/4in and 3.5mm single ended inputs to eliminate the need for adapters
  • High grade CNC-milled aluminum with black anodized finish chassis material
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Edited August 12, 2021 at 08:27 AM by
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I'm ignorant. Is this just so I can play music in my ears even louder?

Edit: Aaah yes, bring on the "unhelpful" votes. I was seeking help, not looking to help. 😀
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Ha! Well kind of. If you have expensive fancy headphones, they actually require more power to sound good. That's not necessarily louder.

Kind of like v2 on a motorcycle is enough power to make it go fast, but in a truck you need a V8 to get similar performance. Similar idea.

Unless your headphones are upwards of $600 you probably are ok with whatever setup you have. The whole DAC/AMP world is the next level of audiophilia.
·
I disagree. There are headphones that are not electrically efficient starting around 200ish (the Sennheiser hd 600 series for example are about 300ohm and require lots of power to sound good). They kind of suck if you plug them straight into a computer or phone or whatever.
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Joined Feb 2007
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> bubble2 443 Posts
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neomatrixviper
08-12-2021 at 05:47 PM.
08-12-2021 at 05:47 PM.
Any difference between this and the Drop THX AAA 789?
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HIDDENMike C08-12-2021 at 06:39 PM.
Joined Aug 2013
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> bubble2 850 Posts
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LwdshB
08-12-2021 at 06:48 PM.
08-12-2021 at 06:48 PM.
Sort of overpriced for what it is 2021. Lotta Chifi THX AAA amps that beat the performance and IO for the same price. Its still a good amp but monoprice really should have updated their dacs and amps~
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Joined Feb 2007
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> bubble2 443 Posts
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neomatrixviper
08-12-2021 at 07:07 PM.
08-12-2021 at 07:07 PM.
Quote from Mike C :
Yes..
So what exactly is the difference? Which is better ?
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HIDDENMike C08-12-2021 at 07:35 PM.
Joined Nov 2006
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,368 Posts
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dcpoor
08-12-2021 at 07:39 PM.
08-12-2021 at 07:39 PM.
Quote from LwdshB :
Sort of overpriced for what it is 2021. Lotta Chifi THX AAA amps that beat the performance and IO for the same price. Its still a good amp but monoprice really should have updated their dacs and amps~
I've been out of the headphone scene for a while, what chi-fi THX AAA amps are there besides SMSL? And I remember the SMSL not really being superior but a better value?

Thanks
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Last edited by dcpoor August 12, 2021 at 07:44 PM.
Joined Mar 2013
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 27 Posts
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slider2828
08-12-2021 at 07:52 PM.
08-12-2021 at 07:52 PM.
Quote from KRT09 :
Wondering the same if anyone has experience with both. The 887 has more low impedance power but the Magnius has more high impedance power. Both are relatively weak at single ended, even the Magni is as or more powerful than both. A lot of reviewers say the THX 789 and 887 are excellent amps but very "sterile" sounding.



I would highly recommend not taking advice from Zeos. I'm a fan of his but he's largely considered a joke when it comes to reviewing audio because he likes almost everything and is vague as hell most of the time. He's really good at critiquing design however so sometimes that's valuable for equipment like an amp.

If you're running the X2 and SHP9600 upgrade your headphones before buying a $200+ amp unless you have plans to upgrade soon to more demanding headphones.
Yeah single ended you wouldn't get the magnius.... all my headphones from 500 to 2000USD all running xlr balanced. So magnius was no brainer. I wanted the amp to only power the headphones and be transparent as possible to my Chord Qutest.
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Joined Oct 2020
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> bubble2 81 Posts
FrugalPlug
08-12-2021 at 10:57 PM.
08-12-2021 at 10:57 PM.
Quote from bhazard :
If you purchased the HE6se v2 from the Adorama deal, this works very well with it.
I bought it for $350 and thought it was a great purchase. At $250 it's a steal.

Have you tried your he6se with a jds atom or drop thx 789 by any chance?
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Joined Oct 2020
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> bubble2 81 Posts
FrugalPlug
08-12-2021 at 11:17 PM.
08-12-2021 at 11:17 PM.
Does anyone know how long this deal is going to last
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Joined Jan 2015
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> bubble2 71 Posts
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FE4R3D
08-13-2021 at 01:51 AM.
08-13-2021 at 01:51 AM.
Been wanting one for awhile, glad to see this price. Looks like it'll go good with my LCD-Xs!
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Joined Dec 2008
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> bubble2 145 Posts
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linesplice
08-13-2021 at 03:53 AM.
08-13-2021 at 03:53 AM.
Quote from FrugalPlug :
Have you tried your he6se with a jds atom or drop thx 789 by any chance?

Have both. JDS Atom is fine for many headphones. THX amp tech is good and has lots of power but it's diminishing returns. I A/B tested at matched levels and the sound or quality differ NVR's are so small that I had to keep doing the switch to see if I could hear a significant difference.
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> bubble2 1,197 Posts
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bhazard
08-13-2021 at 06:07 AM.
08-13-2021 at 06:07 AM.
Quote from FrugalPlug :
Have you tried your he6se with a jds atom or drop thx 789 by any chance?

No, but the 887 measures slightly better than the Drop.

Someone said that the 887 is "dated" or not as good as other amps at the price. What other Chinese amp at $250 pushes this much power this clean? Similar priced Topping and SMSL models aren't as powerful.
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> bubble2 613 Posts
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dweekie
08-13-2021 at 01:57 PM.
08-13-2021 at 01:57 PM.
Quote from bhazard :
No, but the 887 measures slightly better than the Drop.

Someone said that the 887 is "dated" or not as good as other amps at the price. What other Chinese amp at $250 pushes this much power this clean? Similar priced Topping and SMSL models aren't as powerful.
Isn't this basically a Chi-fi amp? All these op-amp based amps sound so similar nowadays that you just need to pick the inputs, outputs, power level, and history of not breaking down or destroying headphones. This model at $250 beats most other chi-fi amps to me. I already have the OG THX 789 and probably won't be changing it out for many years to come.
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Joined Apr 2006
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> bubble2 101 Posts
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Brian Kronberg
08-13-2021 at 03:06 PM.
08-13-2021 at 03:06 PM.
Quote from camonblaze :
I'm ignorant. Is this just so I can play music in my ears even louder?

Edit: Aaah yes, bring on the "unhelpful" votes. I was seeking help, not looking to help. 😀

Amps are needed for headphones and speakers that are rated higher than 32 Ohms. The resistance of these headphones are higher and need more power than is supplied by most sound cards.
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camonblaze
08-13-2021 at 03:08 PM.
08-13-2021 at 03:08 PM.
Quote from Brian Kronberg :
Amps are needed for headphones and speakers that are rated higher than 32 Ohms. The resistance of these headphones are higher and need more power than is supplied by most sound cards.

Thanks!
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