Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expired Posted by dlfdr43 • Sep 18, 2021
expired Posted by dlfdr43 • Sep 18, 2021

Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier

+ Free Shipping

$199

$299

33% off
Drop
114 Comments 47,860 Views
Visit Drop
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
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)

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • This price is $100 Lower (33.4% Savings) than the list price of $299.
    • Highly rated with 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 850 reviews.
  • About this Store:

Original Post

Written by dlfdr43
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
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)

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • This price is $100 Lower (33.4% Savings) than the list price of $299.
    • Highly rated with 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 850 reviews.
  • About this Store:

Original Post

Written by dlfdr43

Community Voting

Deal Score
+43
Good Deal
Visit Drop

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Top Comments

dweekie
617 Posts
114 Reputation
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.
cobelali
969 Posts
311 Reputation
This is an amp, not a DAC.
paruchuribros
874 Posts
77 Reputation
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

113 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Sep 19, 2021
2,395 Posts
Joined Jul 2017
Sep 19, 2021
fintlewoodlewix
Sep 19, 2021
2,395 Posts
Quote from PurpleBorder765 :
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.
That's a great setup!
Sep 19, 2021
2,395 Posts
Joined Jul 2017
Sep 19, 2021
fintlewoodlewix
Sep 19, 2021
2,395 Posts
Quote from brucknerfan :
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.
There are some power hungry headphones that demand a lot of power, and some of them are even excellent headphones. I think since the power levels are pretty cheap to achieve with decent engineering, the manufacturers just go for it.
Sep 19, 2021
428 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
Sep 19, 2021
B1G_Mac
Sep 19, 2021
428 Posts
Quote from B1G_Mac :
Ugh, literally just had this delivered this week for $278. Anyone know if Drop offers price adjustments?
Got a price adjustment for $79 back to my credit card quickly after contacting support this morning. Really glad to see Drop offer that policy! And THANK YOU OP for bringing the sale price to my attention
Sep 20, 2021
922 Posts
Joined Oct 2016
Sep 20, 2021
KRT09
Sep 20, 2021
922 Posts
Seems like a good pairing for the HE6SE v2 if using the balanced out.

Quote from brucknerfan :
Why? The Atom measures better than the 789.
This is for people who need more power and/or want multiple outputs. Measurements don't really mean much with these chip based amps that all measure exceptionally well. The amp and DAC tech has gotten so good It's basically a pissing contest between which companies can get some slightly better measurements on ASR. There's next to no audible difference (likely none).
Sep 20, 2021
3,603 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Sep 20, 2021
wighty
Sep 20, 2021
3,603 Posts
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 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/
Saying it is a total waste of money when it offers different features than the JDS atom? Balanced cables being the big one (granted, I admit a good majority of people don't need balanced inputs/outputs (and IIRC there's an argument about the 789 being truly balanced).

This is an overall great deal. I remember people bidding up to like $800 or something on ebay with the first run of these.
Sep 20, 2021
2,395 Posts
Joined Jul 2017
Sep 20, 2021
fintlewoodlewix
Sep 20, 2021
2,395 Posts
Quote from B1G_Mac :
Got a price adjustment for $79 back to my credit card quickly after contacting support this morning. Really glad to see Drop offer that policy! And THANK YOU OP for bringing the sale price to my attention
Drop is a pretty good company. I wish they went back to selling more stuff. I've bought keyboards, sure, but also a chair, some audio, and other bits from them.
Sep 20, 2021
2,395 Posts
Joined Jul 2017
Sep 20, 2021
fintlewoodlewix
Sep 20, 2021
2,395 Posts
Quote from KRT09 :
Seems like a good pairing for the HE6SE v2 if using the balanced out.



This is for people who need more power and/or want multiple outputs. Measurements don't really mean much with these chip based amps that all measure exceptionally well. The amp and DAC tech has gotten so good It's basically a pissing contest between which companies can get some slightly better measurements on ASR. There's next to no audible difference (likely none).
Quote from wighty :
Saying it is a total waste of money when it offers different features than the JDS atom? Balanced cables being the big one (granted, I admit a good majority of people don't need balanced inputs/outputs (and IIRC there's an argument about the 789 being truly balanced).

This is an overall great deal. I remember people bidding up to like $800 or something on ebay with the first run of these.
The theoretical audible limit is, I believe, -120db for noise and distortion. I know there is an audible difference between 16/44 and 24/92 as I have read research that shows it. Can I tell the difference? I haven't even tried. This is why I set my limit at 105db.

But having ample power does matter, especially in bass. My Apple dongles don't do much in the power realm, other than giving audio out to my android phones.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Sep 20, 2021
372 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
Sep 20, 2021
sabrosolopez
Sep 20, 2021
372 Posts
Quote from 623baller :
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?
I also have the hd6xx. Does your amp and dac really make a difference in sound quality? I don't listen to music super loud
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Joined Jan 2009
Sep 20, 2021
make_moneys
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Quote from wighty :
Saying it is a total waste of money when it offers different features than the JDS atom? Balanced cables being the big one (granted, I admit a good majority of people don't need balanced inputs/outputs (and IIRC there's an argument about the 789 being truly balanced).

This is an overall great deal. I remember people bidding up to like $800 or something on ebay with the first run of these.
I remember when u couldnt get a good amp for less than a couple hundred dollars. Tech gets better and chi-fi changed this market dramatically in my opinion in the last few years, now you can get a perfectly capable dac amp combo with all the features u need for like 150 (ifi zen dac) or a great balanced amp at a regular price of 200 or less (topping a50) , dont need to wait for Drop to have a sale. My point is I think this is a decent deal but its nothing like OMG great deal buy it now while supplies last. I think this puts this amp in line with other similar ones, and yes im sure people paid 800 for this once upon a time but we have come along way from then
Last edited by Hxx September 19, 2021 at 08:34 PM.
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Joined Jan 2009
Sep 20, 2021
make_moneys
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Quote from PoopyMcPoopyFace :

But having ample power does matter, especially in bass. My Apple dongles don't do much in the power realm, other than giving audio out to my android phones.
whether u need to turn the volume pot to 1oclock or 9 oclock is not gonna matter. The apple usb c dongle is a fantastic dac and for like 10 bux however its not a powerful amp. i think it measures like what 30 some mw in 33 ohms lol its not competing with something like this. But u can get this Drop amp or even a cheaper $100 amp and pair it with that tiny apple dongle for an excellent dac/amp audio setup on the cheap which may be end game for many.
1
Sep 20, 2021
874 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Sep 20, 2021
paruchuribros
Sep 20, 2021
874 Posts
Quote from maheeinfy :
Is this the lowest ever for this amp?
This is the lowest price I have ever seen for this amplifier.
Sep 20, 2021
874 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Sep 20, 2021
paruchuribros
Sep 20, 2021
874 Posts
Quote from Hxx :
I remember when u couldnt get a good amp for less than a couple hundred dollars. Tech gets better and chi-fi changed this market dramatically in my opinion in the last few years, now you can get a perfectly capable dac amp combo with all the features u need for like 150 (ifi zen dac) or a great balanced amp at a regular price of 200 or less (topping a50) , dont need to wait for Drop to have a sale. My point is I think this is a decent deal but its nothing like OMG great deal buy it now while supplies last. I think this puts this amp in line with other similar ones, and yes im sure people paid 800 for this once upon a time but we have come along way from then
Chifi quality is still questionable and I don't want to ship the product back to China for any insurance reasons.

This is best for me for using with full size headphones and IEMs (best support for IEMs compare to other similar THX amps), lowest price and auto off feature where you don't need to turn-off multiple devices.
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Joined Jan 2009
Sep 20, 2021
make_moneys
Sep 20, 2021
7,659 Posts
Quote from paruchuribros :
Chifi quality is still questionable and I don't want to ship the product back to China for any insurance reasons.

This is best for me for using with full size headphones and IEMs (best support for IEMs compare to other similar THX amps), lowest price and auto off feature where you don't need to turn-off multiple devices.
If you stick with major chi fi brands you will be fine : topping smsl etc.
Sep 20, 2021
4 Posts
Joined Sep 2021
Sep 20, 2021
gimmekith
Sep 20, 2021
4 Posts
Hi guys, saw this one on the market when I was looking to get my first dac/amp a while back. Ended up getting the Schiit Magni/Modi (3+) and got a couple headphones I've been rotating between (Senn 58x, Audio Technica 900x, Koss KPH30iRB) for uses.. would you guys recommend this amp over my Schmitt Magni 3+?

Thank you to anyone who can chime in. Have a great day!

edit: been reading through all the comments and I see lots of people recommending the JDS atom. Are those better substantially than my current setup?
Last edited by gimmekith September 19, 2021 at 11:12 PM.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Sep 20, 2021
922 Posts
Joined Oct 2016
Sep 20, 2021
KRT09
Sep 20, 2021
922 Posts
Quote from gimmekith :
Hi guys, saw this one on the market when I was looking to get my first dac/amp a while back. Ended up getting the Schiit Magni/Modi (3+) and got a couple headphones I've been rotating between (Senn 58x, Audio Technica 900x, Koss KPH30iRB) for uses.. would you guys recommend this amp over my Schmitt Magni 3+?

Thank you to anyone who can chime in. Have a great day!

edit: been reading through all the comments and I see lots of people recommending the JDS atom. Are those better substantially than my current setup?
Nothing you have is hard to drive so this wouldn't make a difference unless you plan to run a difficult to drive headphone in balanced output (possibly a future headphone?). In single ended output the 789 is actually less powerful than a Magni. As far as Magni vs Atom they're both chip based budget amps with similar measurements and a neutral/clean output. If you already have a Magni it's just a sidegrade and the Magni has a bit more power.

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All