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Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier Expired

$199
$299.00
+ Free Shipping
+43 Deal Score
44,713 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)

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
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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 Dec 2019
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> bubble2 2,665 Posts
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User18383921
09-19-2021 at 03:52 AM.
09-19-2021 at 03:52 AM.
Quote from poopymcpoopyface :

At the same time, i bet 99.9% of people wouldn't know the difference.

this.
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Last edited by RunningOnEmpty September 19, 2021 at 03:54 PM.
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> bubble2 1,260 Posts
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atx11
09-19-2021 at 04:59 AM.
09-19-2021 at 04:59 AM.
Quote from arunix :
I want this but I already have the JDS Atom.

I have both. The Atom looks good on paper but the AAA is far superior. That is, assuming you have a superior dac and headphone to match.
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Joined Jul 2015
Noobster
> bubble2 908 Posts
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arooni
09-19-2021 at 05:03 AM.
09-19-2021 at 05:03 AM.
I have an atom myself. Would I notice a difference between this and the atom on my hd 6xx?

if so what kinda difference? how much percent better is it ?
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Joined Nov 2016
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> bubble2 495 Posts
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kmogilinedi
09-19-2021 at 05:09 AM.
09-19-2021 at 05:09 AM.
Quote from PoopyMcPoopyFace :
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.

Thanks Bud. I've got your point. I will buy this for my own experience. Can I pair this with Hugo as a DAC?
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> bubble2 563 Posts
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fieldcar
09-19-2021 at 05:32 AM.
09-19-2021 at 05:32 AM.
Quote from arooni :
I have an atom myself. Would I notice a difference between this and the atom on my hd 6xx?

if so what kinda difference? how much percent better is it ?
Luckily, I have experience with both.

Get the THX if:
  • You can't get enough volume out of the atom. The THX is necessary to get more volume (gain, not power) out of some inefficient planar headphones.
  • You have interference issues. I had (mostly insignificant) interference from my monitor that was solved by running a balanced topping D10-balanced. When I ran the atom, I had to be careful about placement near my computer monitor and its wires.
  • You want to run the 4-pin balanced headphone output for more volume.
  • You want a really solid feeling amp. The all metal build just looks and feels great.
DONT get it for sound quality. I couldn't tell the difference between the THX and the Atom when volume matched with a multimeter and the measurements on audio science review support this. Basically anything above 90dB dynamic range/SINAD will sound identical, so this is why most people say put your money into good headphones as a priority.

Benchmark your ears here: http://www.klippel.de/listeningtest
The best I can distinguish is about -39dB using sensitive IEMS and my thx 789, and I usually get around -33dB. After 39dB, I just don't care anymore. Compare that to a dynamic range of 110dB or higher for these amps and DAC's. We are living in the golden age of audio thats for sure. I hope this helps.
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> bubble2 2,378 Posts
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mrgreed18
09-19-2021 at 06:10 AM.
09-19-2021 at 06:10 AM.
Quote from paruchuribros :
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
I own the Astell & Kern PEE51 and love it.

Like the other USB-C DAC/AMP combos listed from Andy - nothing beats the portability and small convenience of these smaller USB-C devices.

They may have a premium cost but it sure beats being forced to listen to your headphones near an outlet where the amp is plugged into.

USB-C devices are able to be plugged into phones/laptops allowing the user to listen to their music/videos anywhere
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> bubble2 1,331 Posts
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IDAnonymous
09-19-2021 at 08:58 AM.
09-19-2021 at 08:58 AM.
Quote from arooni :
I have an atom myself. Would I notice a difference between this and the atom on my hd 6xx?

if so what kinda difference? how much percent better is it ?

Fieldcar gave nice detail response.
I just want to add, I believe atom has more power single ended than 789 (I looked it up when I was buying the atom)
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Joined Sep 2012
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> bubble2 1,644 Posts
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McWetty
09-19-2021 at 09:07 AM.
09-19-2021 at 09:07 AM.
Can this be used to drive speakers? I have an iMac and PC on my desk and want to use one set of speakers for both without having a massive AVR on my desk. Just need a small basic 2 channel amp.
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> bubble2 839 Posts
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tryzub
09-19-2021 at 09:08 AM.
09-19-2021 at 09:08 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.

The best starter option is to not buy a starter. You will just be in upgrade hell for the next several years.

As someone else said, invest in great headphones. Try out good amps or look for amps that bring out the qualities of your headphones that you bought them for, not the other way around.
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Joined Nov 2012
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> bubble2 114 Posts
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623baller
09-19-2021 at 10:21 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:21 AM.
currently have hd6xx as my headphone and schiit modi 3 as the dac(also have heresey for amp). too good of a deal to pass up on this so bought it.

would i benefit by changing my hd6xx to balanced xlr cables?
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Joined Jul 2016
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> bubble2 240 Posts
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gulan
09-19-2021 at 10:25 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:25 AM.
Quote from fieldcar :
Luckily, I have experience with both.

Get the THX if:
  • You can't get enough volume out of the atom. The THX is necessary to get more volume (gain, not power) out of some inefficient planar headphones.
  • You have interference issues. I had (mostly insignificant) interference from my monitor that was solved by running a balanced topping D10-balanced. When I ran the atom, I had to be careful about placement near my computer monitor and its wires.
  • You want to run the 4-pin balanced headphone output for more volume.
  • You want a really solid feeling amp. The all metal build just looks and feels great.
DONT get it for sound quality. I couldn't tell the difference between the THX and the Atom when volume matched with a multimeter and the measurements on audio science review support this. Basically anything above 90dB dynamic range/SINAD will sound identical, so this is why most people say put your money into good headphones as a priority.

Benchmark your ears here: http://www.klippel.de/listeningtest
The best I can distinguish is about -39dB using sensitive IEMS and my thx 789, and I usually get around -33dB. After 39dB, I just don't care anymore. Compare that to a dynamic range of 110dB or higher for these amps and DAC's. We are living in the golden age of audio thats for sure. I hope this helps.
Thank you for this link. I tried using a Khadas toneboard dac/amp and a Future Sonics G10 earphones and got a result of -30 dB.
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brucknerfan
09-19-2021 at 10:26 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:26 AM.
Total waste of money. JDS Labs has an excellent amp for $100 that performs better. I have one and it meshes beautifully with my closed-back Sony Z7 and mainstay of the hobby, the HD650. Listened to three 24bit albums of Shostakovich symphonies this morning and was completely enthralled and I've had other amps including most recently an Asgard 3. The little Atom blew away the Asgard 3, Magni 3, and Matrix M-Stage HPA ($250 cost).

Before pulling the trigger on audio gear check out the measurements at AudioScience.com. For example. the Atom measures better than the 789:

https://www.audiosciencereview.co...ier.24680/
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Last edited by brucknerfan September 19, 2021 at 10:31 AM.
Joined Jul 2016
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gulan
09-19-2021 at 10:31 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:31 AM.
Quote from brucknerfan :
Total waste of money. JDS Labs has an excellent amp for $100 that performs better. I have one and it meshes beautifully with the Z7 and HD650. Listened to three 24bit albums of Shostakovich symphonies this morning and was completely enthralled and I've had other amps including most recently an Asgard 3. The little Atom blew away the Asgard 3, Magni 3, and Matrix M-Stage HPA ($250 cost).

Before pulling the trigger on audio gear check out the measurements at AudioScience.com. For example. the Atom measures better than the 789:

https://www.audiosciencereview.co...ier.24680/ [audiosciencereview.com]
The amp in this post goes up to 6000 mW at lower impedances. So for people who need that kind of power, this is a good deal. Even for higher impedances like 600 ohms, this has more power than JDS Atom.
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brucknerfan
09-19-2021 at 10:34 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:34 AM.
Quote from arunix :
I want this but I already have the JDS Atom.
Why? The Atom measures better than the 789.

https://www.audiosciencereview.co...ier.24680/
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Joined Dec 2014
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brucknerfan
09-19-2021 at 10:39 AM.
09-19-2021 at 10:39 AM.
Quote from gulan :
The amp in this post goes up to 6000 mW at lower impedances. So for people who need that kind of power, this is a good deal. Even for higher impedances like 600 ohms, this has more power than JDS Atom.
Why would anyone need that much power? I think Amir has done tests where he measured mW amp output needed to drive various popular full sized headphones and he could reach ear splitting volumes with less than 100mW.

The output specs manufactures use (i.e. 6000mW) are usually taken right at the clipping x-point. Distortion climbs exponentially just before reaching this threshold.
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