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Drop + SMSL HO150X Linear Headphone Amplifier

$169

~~$199~~

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Drop + SMSL HO150X Linear Headphone Amplifier

Name: Drop + SMSL HO150X Linear Headphone Amplifier
Brand: Drop
SKU: drop-smsl-ho150x
Price: 169 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

$169

~~$199~~

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Product Description

It’s been over half a decade since our first linear amplifier, the THX AAA 789, brought exceptionally transparent, balanced amplification to audiophiles around the world. Now, as more and more listeners chase that coveted “wire-with-gain” holy grail of amplification, we thought we’d pick up where we left off—by launching another game-changing linear amp Read More

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Customer Reviews

4.5

(2 reviews)

(1)

(0)

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mefastidias

Mar 25, 2024

Verified Buyer

Amazing power

Amazing power and suberb clean sound. The only amp you may need

Recommends this product? Yes

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peterlask

114

Oct 30, 2023

Verified Buyer

Powerful without distortion

I have recently reviewed the Drop + SMSL HO150X. The full review is available in my website. https://ichos-reviews.com/drop-smsl-ho150x-review/ Here are the sound impressions for the lazy readers!

Sound performance The Drop + SMSL HO150X performs exactly as advertised, it is essentially a “wire-with-gain” which provides plenty of undistorted power and has a sound signature which is impressively transparent, flat and uncolored with class leading fidelity. The SMSL HO150X acts as an intermediate between your source and headphones without subtracting or adding anything that is not already present in the sound making sure that what you actually hear is the combined sound character of your source and headphones. At this point it is essential to focus on the second part of the above sentence where it says that the SMSL HO150X is not adding anything of its own to the sound. Sometimes such linear and transparent amplifiers are accused of sounding sterile and clinical or for adding artificiality and additional brilliance to the sound. Thankfully this is not the case with the Drop + SMSL HO150X and I assure you that it is not going to add any kind of brightness, harshness or anything else negative that is not already there. Of course at the same time this is not the kind of amplifier that you can use to make your music sound warmer, fuller, more visceral, harmonious or anything else similar. This is not the amplifier to buy if you wish to manipulate the sound character of your gear. On a technical level the Drop + SMSL HO150X is pretty impressive with a dynamic and impactful low end, fast transients, excellent clarity, great definition and expansive soundstage. It is really fascinating how successfully this low price amplifier can match with very expensive components without hampering their audio performance. You can use your flagship DAC and headphones with the Drop + SMSL HO150X stuffed right in between them and it will act as a transparent filter but at the same time it is unable to help the chain sound better and reach peak performance. Please follow the link at the beginning to read the detailed review which also includes interesting comparisons.

Recommends this product? Yes

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