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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)
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Original Post
Written by
Edited September 18, 2021
at 02:18 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
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kmogilinedi
asked this question on 09-20-2021 at 11:44 AM
09-20-2021 at 11:44 AM
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 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
09-20-2021 at 11:44 AM
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.
09-20-2021 at 11:44 AM
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.
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.
shilderb
asked this question on 09-20-2021 at 11:43 AM
09-20-2021 at 11:43 AM
Yes, assuming you have a decent source/dac.
If the source is flawed, this will just make it louder.
If the source is flawed, this will just make it louder.
09-20-2021 at 11:43 AM
Yes, I use it to power both hd6xx and 58 jubilee
MellowRain3662
asked this question on 09-20-2021 at 10:55 AM
RunningOnEmpty
asked this question on 09-21-2021 at 01:06 AM
MarvinB
asked this question on 09-21-2021 at 03:56 PM
natecmu
asked this question on 09-22-2021 at 09:24 AM
114 Comments
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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?
I also got the Schiit Modius to go with this to run balanced.
This has a balanced/unbalanced toggle button on the right. I have EQ and tube preamp on the unbalanced loop and I can toggle between them. Conclusion: waste of time to tube and EQ for me.
Only downside is that the footprint is huge on this. It will take twice the space as the schiit stack. But worth it for me since I have a good sized desk. This amp made me just stop looking for better sound since it just has that clarity even at higher volumes. I say go for it.
My headphones are M50x and Sundara.
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?
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.
If you DAC outputs high enough voltage, balanced does not clip whereas unbalanced does (because of the lower output voltages).
Not a big deal. You can just turn the volume down on your computer to 70% for this and it shouldn't matter. Or more probably the your DAC is not going to output high voltage anyways.
If you DAC outputs high enough voltage, balanced does not clip whereas unbalanced does (because of the lower output voltages).
Not a big deal. You can just turn the volume down on your computer to 70% for this and it shouldn't matter. Or more probably the your DAC is not going to output high voltage anyways.
At $200, you're not going to beat this level of performance, based on objective, unbiased, reproducible measurements. I challenge you to give a recommendation if you consider this overpriced.
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At $200, you're not going to beat this level of performance, based on objective, unbiased, reproducible measurements. I challenge you to give a recommendation if you consider this overpriced.
Clearly, you have nothing to add. Sounds to me like you're just a fool who has no money in the first place.
Clearly, you have nothing to add. Sounds to me like you're just a fool who has no money in the first place.
You made a claim. I asked you to give an example. You promptly felt attacked and lost your mind.
To be clear, no one was even arguing with you. I just wanted to know what you think is not overpriced, if you think this is. Just amazing how easily triggered you are by a stranger on the internet.
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.
The THX and similar high end headphone amps are imperfect in the sense that they offer far greater fidelity than is necessary and often more power than can be used, too. But I don't think that's actually snake oil. It's just overengineering. Snake oil is garbage like "tube sound" which is just noise and distortion. Snake oil is, as you said, overpriced cables.
The THX and similar high end headphone amps are imperfect in the sense that they offer far greater fidelity than is necessary and often more power than can be used, too. But I don't think that's actually snake oil. It's just overengineering. Snake oil is garbage like "tube sound" which is just noise and distortion. Snake oil is, as you said, overpriced cables.
For all their purported superiority over traditional IC designs THX module equipped amps continue to be outclassed by more humble and affordable amps.
I also got the Schiit Modius to go with this to run balanced.
This has a balanced/unbalanced toggle button on the right. I have EQ and tube preamp on the unbalanced loop and I can toggle between them. Conclusion: waste of time to tube and EQ for me.
Only downside is that the footprint is huge on this. It will take twice the space as the schiit stack. But worth it for me since I have a good sized desk. This amp made me just stop looking for better sound since it just has that clarity even at higher volumes. I say go for it.
My headphones are M50x and Sundara.
For all their purported superiority over traditional IC designs THX module equipped amps continue to be outclassed by more humble and affordable amps.