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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
29,584 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. 😀
·
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 Apr 2006
L3: Novice
> bubble2 101 Posts
18 Reputation
Brian Kronberg
08-13-2021 at 03:09 PM.
08-13-2021 at 03:09 PM.
If you don't understand why you need this, run now with all your money. This component needs lots of other expensive things (headphones, cables, etc.) to complete an "audiophile" setup. Smilie
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Joined Nov 2007
L3: Novice
> bubble2 257 Posts
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boxster233
08-13-2021 at 05:58 PM.
08-13-2021 at 05:58 PM.
I had the 789 AMP a few years ago that is similar to this. Very sterile and boring. Good power, but just dry sounding. Couldn't get rid of it soon enough.
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Joined Jul 2003
So Be It
> bubble2 3,927 Posts
1,438 Reputation
Mike C
08-13-2021 at 06:20 PM.
08-13-2021 at 06:20 PM.
Quote from boxster233 :
I had the 789 AMP a few years ago that is similar to this. Very sterile and boring. Good power, but just dry sounding. Couldn't get rid of it soon enough.
Hmm, sounds like someone accidentally left the germs and fun pieces of your 789 when they were building it, shoulda exchanged it.
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Joined Apr 2011
L3: Novice
> bubble2 162 Posts
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Nihlus
08-13-2021 at 08:19 PM.
08-13-2021 at 08:19 PM.
Quote from boxster233 :
I had the 789 AMP a few years ago that is similar to this. Very sterile and boring. Good power, but just dry sounding. Couldn't get rid of it soon enough.

So, what amp did you end up replacing it with? Just curious about what other amps are out there that are non-sterile and non-boring. Trying to find an amp to replace my HDVA 600 with.
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Joined Jul 2003
So Be It
> bubble2 3,927 Posts
1,438 Reputation
Mike C
08-13-2021 at 08:45 PM.
08-13-2021 at 08:45 PM.
Quote from Nihlus :
So, what amp did you end up replacing it with? Just curious about what other amps are out there that are non-sterile and non-boring. Trying to find an amp to replace my HDVA 600 with.
People who are looking for something a bit different than a wire with gain seem to enjoy Schitt, and there are choices for every budget, and within those choices different DACs too (eg 4490 vs. multibit in the Jotunheim for example). Asgard is the best you can do in this $250 price range tho I think. If you want to get into really fun distorting amps (where high impedance cans are actually an advantage) check out OTL tube amps like a little dot or even better a dark voice OTL. I just picked up a dark voice 336SE for $125, and spent another $100 on some nice NOS tubes (picked up a couple of power tubes and a couple of driver tubes to play with). These amps make the HD650s and HD800s a lot of fun and power them very well.

My headfi inventory: https://www.head-fi.org/members/c...160/#about
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Joined Nov 2007
L3: Novice
> bubble2 257 Posts
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boxster233
08-13-2021 at 08:53 PM.
08-13-2021 at 08:53 PM.
Quote from Nihlus :
So, what amp did you end up replacing it with? Just curious about what other amps are out there that are non-sterile and non-boring. Trying to find an amp to replace my HDVA 600 with.
I went a completely different price bracket, so not sure my path is relevant here.
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Joined Jun 2016
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,578 Posts
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phrodini
08-14-2021 at 07:48 AM.
08-14-2021 at 07:48 AM.
Quote from Mike C :
People who are looking for something a bit different than a wire with gain seem to enjoy Schitt, and there are choices for every budget, and within those choices different DACs too (eg 4490 vs. multibit in the Jotunheim for example). Asgard is the best you can do in this $250 price range tho I think. If you want to get into really fun distorting amps (where high impedance cans are actually an advantage) check out OTL tube amps like a little dot or even better a dark voice OTL. I just picked up a dark voice 336SE for $125, and spent another $100 on some nice NOS tubes (picked up a couple of power tubes and a couple of driver tubes to play with). These amps make the HD650s and HD800s a lot of fun and power them very well.

My headfi inventory: https://www.head-fi.org/members/c...160/#about [head-fi.org]
damn, that's a lot of stuff...but something for every occasion X3
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Joined Jul 2003
So Be It
> bubble2 3,927 Posts
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Mike C
08-14-2021 at 08:28 AM.
08-14-2021 at 08:28 AM.
Quote from phrodini :
damn, that's a lot of stuff...but something for every occasion X3
It's mostly Iconian's fault.
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Joined Jun 2016
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> bubble2 1,578 Posts
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phrodini
08-14-2021 at 08:43 AM.
08-14-2021 at 08:43 AM.
Quote from Mike C :
It's mostly Iconian's fault.
who's that, some audiophile reviewer, deal poster? I was trying to decide on another headphone, between sundara, sennheiser 560s, akg k712...but i would need a listening session first
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Joined Jul 2003
So Be It
> bubble2 3,927 Posts
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Mike C
08-14-2021 at 12:36 PM.
08-14-2021 at 12:36 PM.
Quote from phrodini :
who's that, some audiophile reviewer, deal poster? I was trying to decide on another headphone, between sundara, sennheiser 560s, akg k712...but i would need a listening session first
SD Staff/deal poster.
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Joined Apr 2011
L3: Novice
> bubble2 162 Posts
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Nihlus
08-14-2021 at 04:55 PM.
08-14-2021 at 04:55 PM.
Quote from Mike C :
People who are looking for something a bit different than a wire with gain seem to enjoy Schitt, and there are choices for every budget, and within those choices different DACs too (eg 4490 vs. multibit in the Jotunheim for example). Asgard is the best you can do in this $250 price range tho I think. If you want to get into really fun distorting amps (where high impedance cans are actually an advantage) check out OTL tube amps like a little dot or even better a dark voice OTL. I just picked up a dark voice 336SE for $125, and spent another $100 on some nice NOS tubes (picked up a couple of power tubes and a couple of driver tubes to play with). These amps make the HD650s and HD800s a lot of fun and power them very well.

My headfi inventory: https://www.head-fi.org/members/c...160/#about

Man, that Dark Voice of yours for $125 must've been one heck of a deal! A nice addition to what is an already impressive collection of audio gear. My Sennheiser amp, though competent enough with HD650's, is somewhat dry-sounding, that and I also keep hearing about OTL tube amps being a perfect pairing with my headphones. I'm into DIY, so a Bottlehead amp may be in my future. Other DIY amps I consider building are Pass Labs Whammy (wanna hear what class A sounds like on headphones) a Neurochrome HP-2 , and an O2 for a portable one. Just gotta find a good DAC or two to pare them all with. Denafrips Ares II and RME ADI-2 come to mind. Again, thanks for the advice!
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Joined Jul 2003
So Be It
> bubble2 3,927 Posts
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Mike C
08-14-2021 at 07:11 PM.
08-14-2021 at 07:11 PM.
Quote from Nihlus :
Man, that Dark Voice of yours for $125 must've been one heck of a deal! A nice addition to what is an already impressive collection of audio gear. My Sennheiser amp, though competent enough with HD650's, is somewhat dry-sounding, that and I also keep hearing about OTL tube amps being a perfect pairing with my headphones. I'm into DIY, so a Bottlehead amp may be in my future. Other DIY amps I consider building are Pass Labs Whammy (wanna hear what class A sounds like on headphones) a Neurochrome HP-2 , and an O2 for a portable one. Just gotta find a good DAC or two to pare them all with. Denafrips Ares II and RME ADI-2 come to mind. Again, thanks for the advice!
I just replied with a few things and lost it all when closing the tab, so will come back later maybe to redo Big Grin, but did want to drop a note about this deal since you mention wanting portable DAC. I just saw this on Drop for like half price, and think it is a great deal: https://drop.com/buy/xduoo-xd-05-dac-amp . I have one of these that I use with my portable gaming rig and a set of Audeze EL-8 Titaniums, and it is pretty awesome! I bought it used and it came with a few Op Amps to roll, so it isn't DIY, but you can fiddle with it at least, not a common feature with portables. If I didn't have one, I would have one on the way...
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Joined Dec 2019
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> bubble2 2,683 Posts
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User18383921
08-14-2021 at 09:59 PM.
08-14-2021 at 09:59 PM.
Quote from NGed72 :
Currently using a Mixamp 2017 (Astro) with 599's...but it's starting to die.

This yay or nay?
Nay.

HD 599 doesn't scale with amps. You don't even need one.

If you haven't already, you should replace pads with genuine ones for $28

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19310280...SwyDNd1iua

If you want to upgrade, you should upgrade hp first but not sure if $$$ is worth upgrading from the 599.
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Last edited by RunningOnEmpty August 14, 2021 at 10:03 PM.
Joined Dec 2014
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 49 Posts
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Prince-Charming
08-16-2021 at 09:17 AM.
08-16-2021 at 09:17 AM.
If I wasn't on a budget, I would go with this amp. I bought magni 3+ and modi combo instead for my HifiMan Sundara.
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Joined Jun 2021
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> bubble2 11 Posts
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ThriftyActivity5913
08-18-2021 at 08:25 AM.
08-18-2021 at 08:25 AM.
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.
I own the 789, love it. Yes single ended is notably weaker than balanced but balanced really is the intended use case. I'll use se occasionally for iems or portable headphones otherwise balanced 90% of the time. Drop does sell an SE only version for $200 that'd be better if you don't plan on using balanced.

Also in terms of them being sterile sounding, it's in the name - achromatic amplifier ie "without color". They're pure wire with gain with almost no measurable distortion whatsoever. I like that because it makes the headphones the star without changing the sound and also makes eq'ing very "what you see is what you get". Makes it extremely versatile.

End while I've only owned the drop not the monolith thx from what I've seen there will be no noticable difference between the two in day to day use.
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