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HELM Audio DB12 AAAMP THX Amp

HELM Audio DB12 AAAMP THX Amp

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Frequently bought together:
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Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones
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Massdrop x Koss Porta Pro X Headphones
Product Description
THX’s AAA™ amplification has earned an esteemed reputation among audiophiles for its ultra-low distortion and linear sound. Now, that amplification technology is available in a portable, palm-sized amp Read More

Customer Reviews

3.9
(33 reviews)
5star
(18)
4star
(5)
3star
(3)
2star
(2)
1star
(5)
78% would recommend to a friend
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MT56
26
Aug 1, 2020
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I bought this to use with my LG V35 phone and it's 'QuadDAC'. It seemed to me that they'd be a perfect match and they are. I'm getting serious bass out of that tiny box and I'm not using the bass boost. My above quick review doesn't do this amp justice. It's a wonderful sounding amp that belies it's size. Sure there is bass, but it's tight and constrained in a good way. It works with the V35 amazingly well. It not only allows for volume up n down, but push the pause twice and you skip forward, three times to go backwards. Phones don't make the best DAP's but with this amp it's now a worthy competitor to some of the best out there, sound wise.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
kim87
8
Dec 17, 2020
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Good
Im using this with my xbox series x controller. Now i can use my lcd-x when im gaming with my friends on xbox. You can use your mic with this amp, thats a big +
bloodfart
16
Nov 16, 2021
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Love the bass boost, large buttons, convenience of plugging into headphone jack as opposed to USB. Just don't expect it to work with all headphones, and especially not all IEMs. More sensitive cans will give you problems like background noise and something akin to clipping. Works well with Sennheisers, but since this is meant for portability, I wanted it to work with my closed-back Focal Elegia. It didn't... at first. Miraculously, something has changed, and I use this with the Focals all the time without issue. Still picks up some weird electronic background noise, like when I'm just scrolling through UAPP or Qobuz... but that doesn't bother me and I don't hear any issues once the music starts. So it does what I want, which is provide much more power than my phone's amp.
(Edited)
DodgingBullets
0
Nov 8, 2022
bloodfartI'm totally amazed that a company can make a product that is highly rated but doesn't function or meet anybody's expectations but still buy it and afterward make excuses to buy it even though it doesn't meet the basic definition of quality and Audiophile.
bloodfart
16
Nov 9, 2022
DodgingBulletsIt functions and, again, does what I want. I wrote the review so prospective buyers like you could know what you're getting into. It's obviously not for you. I'm not begging you to buy it, and I was never so attached to it that I wouldn't return it if it didn't work for me. Then again, I'm still trying to figure out the basic definition of audiophile...
Papptona
37
May 2, 2021
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My favorite setting for this is "Off"
Whatever THX magic goes on inside the Linear 789 does not translate to this portable device. Update: … I love these for higher impedance cans. These are perfect for any pair of headphones over 80ohms and I fully retract my initial review
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
eddiezr
106
Oct 12, 2022
PapptonaIt is a rare and noble thing to re-evaluate our prior convictions. Bravo! : )
Hillcountryav
19
May 2, 2021
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Product was DOA.
I ordered this as a gift for my daughter. For Christmas I bought her some nice headphones from drop and she has been wanting to get more out of them and the DB12 seamed like a good solution. I wanted a month after ordering to receive them and when they arrived they were defective out of the box. I immediately contacted Drop and when they replied I was told I would need to contact Helm directly for warranty. This is already turning into a bad experience. Drop said they would give me the contact info, but never did. Since I’ve emailed Helm twice and called and left voicemails twice and had zero replies. I can’t believe this is the type of treatment someone who’s purchased many items and spent hundreds of dollars should receive. Be aware. If you have any issues, you are on your own. I’m done with Drop and Helm… well good luck.
Recommends this product? No
AngryPersian
113
Feb 25, 2021
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this doesn’t deliver any ‘cleaner’ power than an IPhone X - very much lacks that THX ‘wow’ factor I associate with something like Monoprice’s Monolith DAC/Amp or Drop’s own 300$ Amp. there’s nothing PARTICULARLY clean about this amp vs. the basic Apple Dongle or the cheapest DAP you could find - it’s just got a higher volume possibility.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? No
Schroder
2
Nov 22, 2022
AngryPersianAgree. I found it muddy, $99 is more than enough for this. Can't imagine paying $180.
(Edited)
Tappaz
41
Feb 1, 2021
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Not sure why this is being reviewed so highly.... I guess it's just me. This is my opinions & experience, your mileage may vary. My daily driver in portable amps is the Oppo HA-2 SE. Now I'm not comparing the HELM to the Oppo in terms of sound, but more so performance & portability. Which was the main reason I decided to pick this up.
  • Small and portable - tick
  • In line pass though - tick
  • Bass boost - tick
  • THX - ooooooh please be good!
Based on those points alone it had me at sold, if only it lived up to the same in terms of performance. I knew going in this wasn't going to be like my Oppo, but in saying that it was functioning poorly would be an understatement. I didn't even make it out the door with the HELM. Not even 20min with this AMP and I knew something was off and it sounded awful. My main gripe with this amp is the horrendous levels of feedback / white noise. This could be down to the source I'm using (Nokia 7 plus) or the impedance of my IEM's / headphones. But having bought this primarily to pair with some IEM's and that I get no white noise in the Oppo, I'm disappointed to say the least. Yes I know the inputs are different. Digital USB C vs AUX, and if that's the difference a digital connection makes then perhaps HELM need to tweak this, as for me it was it was unusable. The levels of noise in IEM's are so bad to the point where the white noise is drowning out parts of the track and very distracting. The IEMs I use are nothing fantastic by any means but I have not had the same experience with the Oppo. IEMs tested with:
  • KZ-ZST
  • KZ-ZS10 Pro
  • TFZ Galaxy T2
Similar results with some of my over ears. White noise less present, but I can still hear it.
  • Sivga SV006
  • EMU-Teak
Conclusion: It's hard to say if my IEM's and my source are at fault as I dont have this issue with my Oppo. I wanted to like this but just can't. Off to find another small portable amp. I can not recommend this based on how much white noise I'm getting.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? No
ReaganAWorling
3
May 23, 2021
Do you have the power cable attached is so remove & retest WN is being caused while listening while device is being charged (my experience)
Tappaz
41
May 24, 2021
ReaganAWorlingShort answer..... no. The white noise was noticeable out of the box. As mentioned above though I have since got a refund and passed it off to a mate so he can muck around with it. He has the same experience. Considering there is no DAC in this device, it is highly susceptible to noise interference. I'm probably unlucky or my use case is not the norm. Either way have since moved on but cheers for the advice.
Deltabandit
16
Aug 21, 2020
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Sounded great while it lasted
Arrived fully charged. When the charge died out, it did too. Won't recharge. Contacted Drop but two weeks late no response.
WillysWonka
16
Apr 17, 2021
and has it held up this time?
Deltabandit
16
Apr 17, 2021
WillysWonkaYour timing is on point. I just returned it two weeks ago it for a full refund. Big up to Drop! The replacement developed a short that triggered google assistant, would randomly change tracks, and disable volume control. Still sounded amazing when it worked but it rarely worked. So many quality control issues make it unreliable. I bought two more as gifts for family members before mine shit the bed. It was through Amazon though but I got the extended warranties. We'll see how they hold up.
Adriaan
23
Jun 21, 2021
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good sound but some niggles
If it was cheaper it would get 4 stars. For the price some niggles: cable is plastic and fixed. It can break at some point and is not replaceable. Bass boost is overdone for me, bit less would give a better effect. Volume control is only for cellphone/laptop, like a cable with controls, does not control unit itself. Sound output is very good and clean though, like to use it in combination with dac or on my switch with hd6xx or he4xx, definitely makes a big difference in driving those in mobile situations. Does not work for me in combination with sensitive IEM's (adds noise, no increase in quality), only for headphones.
Recommends this product? Yes
JackG02
49
Jul 25, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Works as advertised
I was worried about getting this since I had tested out the ifi zen dac/amp and I received an option to cancel this order. I didn’t really love the zen so I returned it and decided to not cancel, hopefully receive a good product. I finally received it today and I can tell you for a fact I made the right decision. I’m using it on my tiny desk with my iPad Pro and the Apple USB C dongle. (I prefer to use this rather than a laptop or desktop for daily use unless I need more screen space.) I’m currently testing the 2020 HIFIMAN HE400i and the HE4xx. For the 400i, 70% to max them out. 4xx made it to about 80-85% max with bass boost off, with bass boost on 78%. Mountains by Hans Zimmer made my chest pound on this amp compared to when using the Zen Dac/Amp with the 4xx. The amp feels solid, not cheap. My only complaint would be like eesparza said, the power/bass switch. It’s hard to switch and feels like it can break off if you’re not careful. This also has audio pass through if it’s off. If this product comes back to drop for $150, I recommend it. If you’re buying it from helm for $200, I say it’s really hard to justify paying more than the ifi hip dac.
Recommends this product? Yes
Syxxspeed
5
Apr 10, 2021
JackG02So you like this more than the ifi hip dac? I was looking at that and this and also the fiio q3 thx for use when on the go.
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