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Showing 1 of 1097 reviews about:
Drop + THX AAA™ 789 Linear Amplifier
zenbert
175
Dec 31, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Unpretentious design and competent performer
This was the one product that I had anticipated the most from Drop after reading and watching many reviews. It was a bit of an enigma given the excellent reviews and (relatively) inexpensive price tag. Luck would have it that it arrived a tad late during early December while I was away; upon my return last week I had purposefully taking time to evaluate it.
Setup: Tidal (Hifi/MQA) -> Denafrips Ares II R2R -> Drop THX 789 -> various headphones
The first time I listened to this setup I was impressed by the linear quality of the amp; that is it wasn't particularly forward with any range, yet there's a transparent quality to the sound that's similar/closer to a tube amplifier. It lacks a typical warm sound signature of a tube amp, yet it is also more holographic/3D sounding than tube amps I have experienced.
I had switch back and forth between my reference setup and this config to discern what I was hearing. Indeed the THX amp is very competent that rendering music details while not overplaying its hand in any spectrum. It is a quality that I enjoy very much much while relying on the headphone to play out their qualities, whether better at vocals, bass, soundstage, etc.
The THX is not the best resolving amp that I have heard, but it is well matched with my R2R DAC and for any of the headphones that I put it through; from the forward and dynamic Focal, the silky smooth Mr. Speakers, to the bass heavy Audeze.
Summary: THX has excellent transparency and detail in a linear rendition. It is a competent amp at any price without premium styling or feature. It rewards listener with pleasure and good level of detail and pairs well with pretty much any headphone.
Recommends this product? Yes
Lisasonictower
666
Dec 31, 2019
zenbertI agree with your review but I would go as far to say that everything you’re describing is actually the DAC. The R2R I would have thought was adding that tubeness and holographic but not warmth you describe whilst simultaneously not being as resolving as it could be. So the amp is actually that transparent you can’t hear the amp and only hear the DAC.
zenbert
175
Jan 1, 2020
Lisasonictowerhey Lisa - I know what you're saying. The thing though is I have ran the same DAC with the tube amp and the THX, and I think the THX has a rendering engine(ASIC) that gives it a holographic sound to it; not the same quality I heard on the tube. While I agree the DAC is what plays the music so of speak, the THX amp gives it a touch to the quality I'm describing.
Lisasonictower
666
Jan 1, 2020
zenbertI haven’t heard of any rendering engine, what is that? Is that something from some THX cinema audio? As far as I’m aware it’s do holographic due to super low THD+N so it’s super black background. With the tube amp that THD+N is way higher and as suck not a black background and hence not as holographic.
zenbert
175
Jan 1, 2020
LisasonictowerThanks for the plausible explanation on the holographic sound that I'm registering from the THX Amp; this is the low THD and noise level. The R2R DAC isn't the cleaner than ASIC based DAC such as the ESS or Burr Brown, etc. However, I do prefer the R2R DAC and their qualities, among them the linear quality of the sound.
Lisasonictower
666
Jan 1, 2020
zenbertI agree on R2R. The Ares ii is open in a window on my browser for the last few weeks now. One day
PLSIKNOWNOTHING
36
Jan 1, 2020
zenbertYou mention the 789 isn't the most resolving amp you've heard... what are some good options for more resolving amps?
zenbert
175
Jan 1, 2020
PLSIKNOWNOTHINGHere is my amp for reference: Woo Audio WA22 with the following tubes - TungSol 5998 power tubes, TungSol 6SN7GTB drivers, and Mullard G37 rectifier. The key here is the choice and pairing of the tubes. The 6SN7GTB has fairly low noise and the 5998 has higher output to bring out more definition.
(Edited)
PLSIKNOWNOTHING
36
Jan 2, 2020
zenbertCool, looks very nice.
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