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Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier Expired

$199
$299.00
+ Free Shipping
+43 Deal Score
45,461 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)
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Original Post

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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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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 2009
L3: Novice
> bubble2 117 Posts
30 Reputation
TheCount666
09-18-2021 at 09:00 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:00 PM.
Quote from ichysiuk :
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.
I haven't listened to the Magnius, but have other Schiit products.

I don't think you'd be uphappy with either, but a year or two ago, people were swooning over the THX - and this price is $200 cheaper than it was then.

That said, in my system, I'd really appreciate the balanced out of the Magnius.
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Joined Nov 2013
L3: Novice
> bubble2 253 Posts
211 Reputation
Pro
arunix
09-18-2021 at 09:02 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:02 PM.
I want this but I already have the JDS Atom.
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Joined Dec 2015
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 918 Posts
311 Reputation
cobelali
09-18-2021 at 09:10 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:10 PM.
Quote from shilderb :
would these be good for the Senheiser HD58X?

Yes, I use it to power both hd6xx and 58 jubilee
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Joined Nov 2009
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 613 Posts
114 Reputation
dweekie
09-18-2021 at 09:16 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:16 PM.
Quote from ichysiuk :
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.
Flip a coin. My Modius dac doesn't stack with the 789 (I got the amp back before the rebadge to Drop), so that's somewhat annoying. The Maginus supposedly has worse single ended inputs, and THX has issues with high gain on inputs and supposedly develops volume scratching with poor support from DROP. Either way, performance differences are overly exaggerated among these chip amps in general and other factors should be considered. If you already have a decent opamp based amp already, save up for the extra headphones instead unless you're really craving a balanced chain.
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Joined Nov 2009
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 613 Posts
114 Reputation
dweekie
09-18-2021 at 09:21 PM.

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank dweekie

09-18-2021 at 09:21 PM.
Quote from arunix :
I want this but I already have the JDS Atom.
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.
18
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Joined Nov 2009
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 393 Posts
502 Reputation
Pro
B1G_Mac
09-18-2021 at 09:26 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:26 PM.
Ugh, literally just had this delivered this week for $278. Anyone know if Drop offers price adjustments?
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Joined Jun 2010
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,334 Posts
53 Reputation
IDAnonymous
09-18-2021 at 09:32 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:32 PM.
Quote from arunix :
I want this but I already have the JDS Atom.
Quote from dweekie :
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.
me too. I just can't justify buying it for more when I got the jds atom for $65 second hand. My use case doesn't include balanced or sensitive iem. I can't justify the much higher price tag for aesthetics/metal casing since sound quality is the same. I had a drop CTH with the same casing before. I actually prefer the smaller footprint of the atom on the desk with a KTB dac. And it's SE drives high end headphones well. Tempting but that is my reasoning behind it. When there are too many hobbies, got to learn how to maximize money. SD causes impulse buys because of the fear of missing the one time low price. But 789 has enough competition now that we will see this price again.
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Last edited by IDAnonymous September 18, 2021 at 09:34 PM.

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Joined Oct 2014
L3: Novice
> bubble2 290 Posts
142 Reputation
jimji
09-18-2021 at 09:34 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:34 PM.
Quote from kmogilinedi :
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?

You will need to connect a dac to this since it's amp only. Again, if you have a Hugo I wouldn't bother with this amp. Get a tube amp instead
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Joined Nov 2016
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 495 Posts
30 Reputation
kmogilinedi
09-18-2021 at 09:51 PM.
09-18-2021 at 09:51 PM.
Quote from jimji :
You will need to connect a dac to this since it's amp only. Again, if you have a Hugo I wouldn't bother with this amp. Get a tube amp instead

Thanks a lot. I've got my answer. I will look for tube Amp.
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Joined Jun 2018
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 441 Posts
86 Reputation
JohnS2672
09-18-2021 at 10:16 PM.
09-18-2021 at 10:16 PM.
This or a Schiit Magni Heresy which can be had for $99? I'm new to the audiophile scene and am trying to gauge my best starter options.
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Joined Apr 2009
Ehl.Nein: master
> bubble2 7,442 Posts
969 Reputation
ursus
09-18-2021 at 11:35 PM.
09-18-2021 at 11:35 PM.
I thought Drop posts were not allowed on SD. A year or so ago I got a warning for that.
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Joined Jul 2017
Guzzardo
> bubble2 1,762 Posts
226 Reputation
fintlewoodlewix
09-19-2021 at 12:03 AM.
09-19-2021 at 12:03 AM.
Quote from kmogilinedi :
Can this be comparable to Chord Hugo or Cobalt portable headphone amp/DACs?
Chord Hugo has a very good but not state of the art DAC. The THX aaa 789 doesn't have a DAC. The Chord Hugo has a good headphone amp. The THX has a great and far more powerful headphone amp with cleaner sound.

Chord is great stuff, and is likely not worth replacing, but the THX headphone amps are better.

At the same time, I bet 99.9% of people wouldn't know the difference.
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Joined Jul 2017
Guzzardo
> bubble2 1,762 Posts
226 Reputation
fintlewoodlewix
09-19-2021 at 12:11 AM.
09-19-2021 at 12:11 AM.
Quote from JohnS2672 :
This or a Schiit Magni Heresy which can be had for $99? I'm new to the audiophile scene and am trying to gauge my best starter options.
Either one is going to be so good that you'll likely never need to replace it. And the Heresy costs half as much while having slightly cleaner signals. But the THX has balanced output. Long term, both are great, but I'd take the THX because you'll be able to go with balanced headphones if you so choose. Then you'll literally never need to upgrade.

Then get a nice, clean DAC to team them up. Lots available 100-200 bucks. Then you can save up for a really good pair of headphones.
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Joined Jun 2019
New User
> bubble2 3 Posts
10 Reputation
PurpleBorder765
09-19-2021 at 12:12 AM.
09-19-2021 at 12:12 AM.
This is a great price. I bought mine at 250. It sounds amazing. I have it hooked up to a Aune Magic DAC using a Burson Audio Vivid Op Amp and the headphones are HD 58X Jubilee. I'm new to all this and put this together a few months ago and can't belive how good music can sound. The sound stage is amazing and clear. I'm hearing things in tracks that I've never heard before. I'm looking to upgrade my headphones next, possible some planar headphones.
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Joined Sep 2013
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 498 Posts
24 Reputation
ghostthizz
09-19-2021 at 02:03 AM.
09-19-2021 at 02:03 AM.
Quote from JohnS2672 :
This or a Schiit Magni Heresy which can be had for $99? I'm new to the audiophile scene and am trying to gauge my best starter options.

Ifi dac V2 save up for it! Awesome sound.
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