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Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier Expired

$199
$299.00
+ Free Shipping
+43 Deal Score
45,742 Views
Drop has Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier on sale for $199. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member dlfdr43 for posting this deal.

Specs:
  • Note: All parameters measured at 0 dB gain, 1 kHz, with balanced inputs and 300-ohm load unless otherwise noted
  • Inputs: Stereo XLR-3 gold-plated Neutrik; Stereo RCA gold-plated
  • Outputs: 1/4 in (6.35 mm) TRS gold-plated Neutrik; 3.5 mm TRS gold-plated; XLR-4 balanced gold-plated
  • Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.03 dB 20 Hz–20 kHz; + 0.05 dB / - 0.15 dB 10 Hz–50 kHz
  • Input impedance: 50 kOhms balanced or unbalanced
  • Chassis: High-grade CNC-milled aluminum with bead-blasted finish
  • Power supply: 24 VDC inline brick, universal input 100–240 VAC
  • Dimensions: 8.3 x 9.1 x 2.2 in (210 x 230 x 57 mm)
  • Weight: 3.4 lbs (1,520 g)
Good Deal?

Original Post

Written by
Edited September 18, 2021 at 01:18 PM by
Through September 20th or while supplies last, save $100 on the Drop + THX AAA™ 789 Linear Amp.

https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa...-amplifier
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$199
$299.00

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Featured Comments

I have this and had a JDS Atom.
Updated to a balanced DAC and cables to match.
Difference was not worth the hundreds of dollars invested.
Money is far better spent on headphones.
This is an amp, not a DAC.
Chord Hugo is a $2500 product 🙄. Cobalt is a portable and you can get better alternatives for this like TempoTec Sonata E44 which is 79 bucks.

I like the 789 for IEMs and full size headphones (not many THX based amplifiers support IEMs like 789) and desktop setup with SU-8s.

The below recommendations from Andy vault.
1 TempoTec Sonata E44
2 Ovidius B1 Apogee Groove
3 Hidizs S9 Pro E1DA 9038SG3
4 Astell & Kern PEE51 Hidizs S9

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Joined Jul 2004
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> bubble2 5,094 Posts
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Parato Optimal
09-18-2021 at 08:13 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:13 PM.
I think the Cobalt and the Hidizs use the same chip.
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Joined Jul 2004
L9: Master
> bubble2 5,094 Posts
327 Reputation
Parato Optimal
09-18-2021 at 08:19 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:19 PM.
Quote from Duplicating :
what are these four pronged inputs and outputs i've been seeing on these amplifiers? i've always been used to just the analog inputs where you could plug banana plugs into
Do you mean the balanced connectors? Balanced tech can have long runs with no loss and no interference. Long cables connected to stage performance gear is often using balanced tech/signal. This has balanced input and balanced output.
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Joined Jul 2004
L9: Master
> bubble2 5,094 Posts
327 Reputation
Parato Optimal
09-18-2021 at 08:21 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:21 PM.
I recall the Grace DAC on top of the item in the pictures on the Drop website being on SD recently at a CRAZY cheap price for a blink of an eye before it went up in price. I recall everyone saying it's a great DAC.
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Joined Oct 2014
L3: Novice
> bubble2 290 Posts
142 Reputation
jimji
09-18-2021 at 08:25 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:25 PM.
Quote from Duplicating :
what are these four pronged inputs and outputs i've been seeing on these amplifiers? i've always been used to just the analog inputs where you could plug banana plugs into

The front one is a 4 pin XLR output that you can connect a balanced headphone cable to. The back dual XLR 3 pins are balanced inputs from another source (a dac)

The 3 pin xlrs each carry a channel, and the 4 pin has separate wiring for each channel (2 per channel)
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Joined Oct 2014
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> bubble2 290 Posts
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jimji
09-18-2021 at 08:27 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:27 PM.
Quote from kmogilinedi :
Can this be comparable to Chord Hugo or Cobalt portable headphone amp/DACs?

If you own a chord hugo there's not really a reason to buy this imo. You could connect the Hugo output to the amp since the Hugo is very transparent, and you can gain the sonic properties of this amp. But most people probably want to keep the transparent output of the Hugo or go into a tube amp.
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Joined Dec 2015
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 920 Posts
311 Reputation
cobelali
09-18-2021 at 08:36 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:36 PM.
This is a fantastic headphone amp. I bought it soon after it came out for $399 and have not had any regrets. I don't have any super hard to drive headphones like HE6, but it handles everything I have from a Focal to Sennheiser HD6xx.
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Joined Dec 2015
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> bubble2 920 Posts
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cobelali
09-18-2021 at 08:37 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:37 PM.
Quote from blueletterd :
No optical input. Big pass.

This is an amp, not a DAC.
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Joined Apr 2012
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 365 Posts
87 Reputation
cwoo
09-18-2021 at 08:43 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:43 PM.
Quote from blueletterd :
No optical input. Big pass.

Yeah… amps don't have any digital inputs like optical, usb, coaxial, AES, or IS2 unless they have a built in DAC. This is a straight up amplifier. Analog connections only.
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Joined Jan 2016
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> bubble2 115 Posts
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ichysiuk
09-18-2021 at 08:44 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:44 PM.
This or Schiit Magnius?
I have HD6XX right now, but may get new cans in future.
But I'm looking for something like Audeze LCD-1 or Hifiman Sundara, so amplifier will bot be that important for the upgrade.
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Joined Jun 2013
L3: Novice
> bubble2 213 Posts
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techwiz1974
09-18-2021 at 08:47 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:47 PM.
Can this be used form speakers?
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Last edited by techwiz1974 September 18, 2021 at 09:08 PM.
Joined Apr 2016
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 89 Posts
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shilderb
09-18-2021 at 08:53 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:53 PM.
would these be good for the Senheiser HD58X?
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Joined Nov 2016
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> bubble2 495 Posts
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kmogilinedi
09-18-2021 at 08:54 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:54 PM.
Quote from jimji :
If you own a chord hugo there's not really a reason to buy this imo. You could connect the Hugo output to the amp since the Hugo is very transparent, and you can gain the sonic properties of this amp. But most people probably want to keep the transparent output of the Hugo or go into a tube amp.

I am actually curious how this sounds and wanted to try this out separately not to use with Hugo. I want to have this for desktop set up.

How does it play hi-res files and can we connect an external DAC to this Amp?
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Joined Jul 2009
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> bubble2 117 Posts
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TheCount666
09-18-2021 at 08:58 PM.
09-18-2021 at 08:58 PM.
Quote from shilderb :
would these be good for the Senheiser HD58X?
Yes, assuming you have a decent source/dac.
If the source is flawed, this will just make it louder.
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