Drop + THX AAA™ ONE Linear Amplifier Discussions | Drop

Drop + THX AAA™ ONE Linear Amplifier

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May 7, 2020

How would you compare this to the SMSL SP200? Although this has less power, wonder if the Sp200 is worth $260 vs $199 for this. I do like the pre-amp options on this vs the SP200. I JUST ordered the SP200 with a SMSL M200 dac. This will be my set up for a long time any help won’t be appreciated.

(Edited)

May 8, 2020

Jpanic4SMSL M200+SP200 seems like a superb combo honestly, don't overthink it

May 8, 2020

verifonixThank you for your response! Love how helpful this community is. Here are my thoughts:

The 789 looks so much nicer.
Sp200’s volume pot issues.
Some people saying the sp200 is harsher, even on this thread.
Only 2 gain options on the Sp200 (not that I’m driving super sensitive IEM right now).
preamp options on the 789.
The biggest draw to the sp200 is how much power it pushes out of SE. I won’t ever need to get extra balanced cables for headphones in this case. (Money saved).

I’ve been waiting to get a dac/amp for 6+ years now and spent so much time researching so really don’t want to get something and not think twice again. Trying not to over thing it either :-) There are a bunch of people on this thread that have said they returned the SP200 as well. Are any of the things I’ve said above things to be concerned about if this is the only amp I will ever have? Nothing fancy but I have the following headphones and one that I want to get next for reference. Final Audio E3000 1more Triple Driver ATH-M50x HD650 T51i Koss KPH30i Hifiman Sundra (Next Purchase)

(Edited)

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May 8, 2020

Jpanic4If you have several IEMs then yeah I wouldn't go SP200, gain is too high. Get monoprice 887 or drop 789. OR maybe the THX One will suffice, no one knows yet.

May 8, 2020

verifonixThat’s very helpful. I do have 2 IEMs and I might get more in the future, althought I wouldnt consider then super sensitive. My thought was since there were volume issues on the Sp200, I was just going to use the volume on the M200 dac and that way it would solve for the IEM issue as well. Not sure if that is the right way to do it. If I do get the 789 since it's at $299. What dac would you suggest?

May 8, 2020

Jpanic4The M200 is still a good choice for a DAC! Topping E30 is good value if you want to save money after the 789. SMSL M300 MKii is also cheaper than M200 if you don't need the extra features :)

May 8, 2020

verifonixOkay, I’ll stop bothering you soon! :-) Two more questions. Sorry! Is my thought about using the DAC to control volume to compensate for the gain with IEMs a bad idea? Also, since the 789 doesn’t put out the same power via SE outs, do you think I’d end up spending more in the future to get balanced cables if I end up getting a little more power hungry headphones? Honestly don’t feel like I’ll every get anything more than a used HD800s or T1s which is already way too expensive for me. I don’t have the luxury to get multiple amps so trying to get the best of all worlds :-)

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May 8, 2020

Jpanic4"do you think I’d end up spending more in the future to get balanced cables if I end up getting a little more power hungry headphones" well that's the nice thing! need more power, just get a balanced cable for that headphone. most of the time SE suffices!

May 9, 2020

verifonixOkay, I ordered the THX 789! I think it should be more than enough power for what I'll be using it for even on the SE side. Im going to compare it to my SMSL SP200 once it comes in next week. Im excited! Thank you so much for your help!!

May 9, 2020

Jpanic4Nice =)!

FatDoi

193

May 11, 2020

Jpanic4i'm mostly running the 789 to drive the 300ohm ZMF Auteur to 10ohm MD EE Zeus...... it's doing a superb job so far..... thinking of adding a linear psu to the 789 soon....

(Edited)

May 11, 2020

FatDoiThank you for your response! Are you driving them via the SE ports? Also, do you guys recommend a balanced dac or does it not matter since this isn’t a fully balanced dac anyway?

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May 11, 2020

FatDoiAdding a LPSU to 789 was not recommended to do by Andrew one of the engineers who designed it, the supplied PSU is a well regulated one

(Edited)

FatDoi

193

May 12, 2020

Jpanic4input i use both... my normal pc i use SE, for foobar laptop i use XLR... so i don't see big different in SE and XLR input but output XLR clearly superior to SE

FatDoi

193

May 12, 2020

verifonixmy audiophile friend just added linear psu to his 789..... not night n day but noticeable difference... this how he describes it.... improved soundstage, bass body fuller and more articulated, slightly more midrange detail.... that's good enough for me

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May 12, 2020

FatDoi @FatDoi @verifonix This might a very noob question but does the output voltage of a dac matter? Some of the dacs I’m looking at has a higher output voltage via xlr vs rca. I’m wonder if it makes a difference. SMSL M200: XLR - 4.1Vrms RCA - 2Vrms

(Edited)

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May 12, 2020

Jpanic4Well 2V-4V rca xlr is the 'norm'. Louder DAC will make amp volume go louder more quickly.

May 12, 2020

verifonixOkay perfect! Thank you!! So in that way to get max performance out of both amp and dac its best to use a balanced dac so I can get more volts , therefore being able to drive harder headphones?

May 12, 2020

Jpanic4If you actually have hard to drive headphones then yeah it helps. I personally prefer RCA input with 'normal' headphones though, because then you have more usable volume range.

May 12, 2020

verifonixThank you!!

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May 12, 2020

Could you explain this a little more? Isn’t this amp designed to used with either RCA or XLR?

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May 12, 2020

Jpanic4Absolutely yes no worries. I'll delete the other message I think I replied to the wrong person

(Edited)

Interceptor69

Aug 15, 2020

Jpanic4Good choice!

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Interceptor69

Aug 15, 2020

Jpanic4I would definitely consider a fully balanced DAC. More clean power balanced.

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