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Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Achromatic Audio Amplifier Expired
$199
$299.00
+ Free Shipping
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:
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
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
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa...-amplifier
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Featured Comments
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.
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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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?
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?
Also, you guys should not be saying chi-fi. First, it's derogatory. Second, it's not even a clear concept since so much familiar-branded gear is made in China.
This is an overall great deal. I remember people bidding up to like $800 or something on ebay with the first run of these.
Bloggers with audio engineering backgrounds have made compelling posts explaining that BO audio does not discernably sound better than SE. So I think that BO is just another example of feature creep in this hobby that some companies resort to in order to demand a higher product price under the false veneer of "higher quality". BO's primary benefit is to provide more power output more efficiently but SE circuits are plenty strong and in the case of wall-powered amps the additional power efficiency of BO is not pertinent.
As for end-to-end balanced topologies I haven't seen any compelling measurement data to support the added cost for these designs. The inexpensive Atom Amp in fact measures better than many pricier balanced amps.
That's the problem with this "hobby". Mystic beliefs and snakeoil permeate throughout it. Many of these companies, including Audioquest and component makers like THX, exploit the naivete of consumers. Forums like Head-fi are sponsored by boutique audio companies and propagate myths that encourage overspending on products that fail to deliver objective tangible benefits.
That's not necessarily true. Topping had a major defect with one of their popular headphone amps in 2019 that resulted in headphones becoming damaged from DC being directly dumped into the output. An embarrassing public relations faux pas unfolded when the company's representative on the AudioScience forums initially denied the defect and rejected warranty coverage as well as compensation for damaged headphones. Eventually, after much consternation and delay Topping finally made good on warranty replacements of the amplifier and did compensate some of the more higher profile ASR members. But the entire ordeal tarnished the company's reputation and validated the suspicion that Chi-fi equipment is inferior in build quality.
Personally, I'll continue to steer clear of gear designed AND made in China. Setting aside the poor build quality in various product categories should we even be sending our money to a country that unleashed this pita pandemic/lockdowns/masks/vaccine nightmare on the world?
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Personally, I'll continue to steer clear of gear designed AND made in China. Setting aside the poor build quality in various product categories should we even be sending our money to a country that unleashed this pita pandemic/lockdowns/masks/vaccine nightmare on the world?
If you want to stick with a US made amplifier then Schiit audio , mayflower electronics , jds labs are well known and sell very capable gear.
All of these companies fark up at some point or another, the real test is how they deal with it.
Don't let the whole made in china stereotypical bullshit steer you away from other well made comparable products
If you want to stick with a US made amplifier then Schiit audio , mayflower electronics , jds labs are well known and sell very capable gear.
All of these companies fark up at some point or another, the real test is how they deal with it.
Don't let the whole made in china stereotypical bullshit steer you away from other well made comparable products
Well, in the context of headphone amplifiers I don't see the point in going with a Drop branded Chi-fi product when there's better options for US made gear at the same or lower price point.
I think the fundamental takeaway here is that all these $200 ish amps are capable, more than capable and usually punch above their price point. You wont be disappointed with a schiit Asgard 3, or this drop thx, or a topping d50, or jds EL amp , or the SMSL whatever its called... etc etc etc...and it will all come down to 1) price, 2) features, and 3) aesthetics, looks, design.
This thx amp is rather old but its a good one, the asgard 3 is super powerful but lacks features, topping d50 is feature packed and compact but not as powerful , cant say much about jds labs element but usually their gear is top notch from my experience with the cheaper options. So you see where this is going
I think the fundamental takeaway here is that all these $200 ish amps are capable, more than capable and usually punch above their price point. You wont be disappointed with a schiit Asgard 3, or this drop thx, or a topping d50, or jds EL amp , or the SMSL whatever its called... etc etc etc...and it will all come down to 1) price, 2) features, and 3) aesthetics, looks, design.
This thx amp is rather old but its a good one, the asgard 3 is super powerful but lacks features, topping d50 is feature packed and compact but not as powerful , cant say much about jds labs element but usually their gear is top notch from my experience with the cheaper options. So you see where this is going
Yes, it's a great time to be headphone enthusiast.
The Asgard 3 was a disappointment for me. I bought one this past year.
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?
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For $300, it was always a compromise between a $100-$200 vs $300. Now, its brain dead simple if you want an entry level headphone amp.
Still has drawbacks:
- volume pot gets scratchy - Fiio has a knob that digitally controls and is nicer to use and no scraches. But, that unit doesn't sound as good.
- external power even though its not wall wart but still external power supply.
I think the next generation is coming out - esp integrated with DAC and a screen. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24459