SMSL SP200 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amp
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SMSL SP200 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amp
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Product Description
SMSL has joined forces with THX to create a high-performing balanced headphone amp with next to no distortion. True to its name, the SMSL SP200 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amp features ground-breaking THX AAA-888 technology to deliver detailed audio with extreme output power and impressively low crosstalk Read More
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adi518
109
Jun 29, 2020
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So having this amp about a month now, I think I get it. You can turn up the volume, but instead of messing up the sound, you actually get a higher resolution of it, where you can hear much more details. It's seriously cool.
(Edited)
NoMuffinForYou
106
Jun 22, 2020
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This is a great amp. This is not a great place to buy this amp.
Try https://apos.audio/ instead. Got this as a combo with the M200, saved a decent bit and they upgraded my shipping for free due to a certain global issue (ymmv on that last part though) and I had both in under a week. They also offer 30 day returns and a 2nd year of warranty. If you can wait an extra day or two they're like headphone Amazon except you don't make Jeff Bezos rich buying from them.
Rotary_Transformer
7
Jun 19, 2020
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Can anyone bought it tell me if the XLR and 6.35 ports are connected? I saw ASR's review said the XLR headphone ports is fake-balanced, it only gives ground in negative pins.
ElectronicVices
2318
Jul 13, 2020
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Well no 4 pin XLR is going to be "truly" balanced but that is a different conversation. This uses the 888 which can handle mono duties per module, so two are needed to perform stereo duties, 4 would be needed to run balanced. The 788 module that Drop incorporated is a stereo module so differential operation is possible there with only two modules. In SE you aren't using all the modules on the THX but you are in XLR output. On the SP200 both 888 modules are active regardless of SE vs. XLR so there is no difference in power delivery, just connection type. The CTH from Drop also provides XLR for convenience, no difference in TRS vs XLR output.
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Rotary_Transformer
7
Jul 13, 2020
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We didn't discuss about "true" balance. The XLR4 output in SMSL SP200 is naively shorted on the cold end (negative poles), which is a fake balanced output port.
Additionally, you may check the datasheet, THX789 gives double power in balanced output than signal end, and it's around 2x than SMSL SP200. SP200 is slight higher on SE of THX789 due to it uses a +-18V power supply and THX789 uses a +-14V.
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mattris
994
Jun 19, 2020
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Pay now. Wait a month. Or, ya know, you could just pay $24 more (on Amazon) and have it in a few days.
Considering the new price of the 789, the previous 'value' of this inferior-sounding unit is not what it once was.
redrich2000
15
Jul 15, 2020
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That's really unhelpful. It gives the impression you know what you're talking about when you don't really. There's no info on what reviews or opinions you're basing it on. You'd be better to share links to the actual reviews so people can make up their own minds.
mattris
994
Jul 15, 2020
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That's good advice. But the only way for people to properly 'make up their own minds' would be to directly compare the amps themselves. But that's not really helpful either, as most people are likely not going to have the means, patience, or funds to do so.
My advice was to skip both these hyped THX amps... and instead get a less-expensive amp that measures well.
But really, why even concern oneself with measurements or cost? Ultimately, the goal should be to get an amp that sounds good with your DAC, your headphones, and your ears -- and not to worry about what's on sale at the moment or 'the flavor of the month'.
adi518
109
Jun 5, 2020
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So it finally arrived (not from Drop). It looks much, much better in person. In fact, it looks badass. I read some comments about the volume knob, but nothing to really worry about. I coupled it to the DX7s with both RCA and XLR to do some A/B testing, and I immediately noticed the gain is slightly higher with XLR, so I think it makes more sense to use its XLR inputs. I got some cheap XLR cables from Aliexpress, which I kinda regret now, since it's completely generic and I have no idea what wire, etc' (it should have had Neutrik connectors, but the description was false and it's just some generic ones instead).
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adi518
109
May 7, 2020
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Mine should be here soon as well. It will be laced to a DX7s though.
Dmac6419
125
May 7, 2020
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guess how much I got the M200 for? sheesh $239.99 don't tell anybody,APOS giving $40 off the bundle
Dmac6419
125
May 5, 2020
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This is a very good Amp had a debate with someone earlier about this amp not being balanced buy it you wont regret it.
this link should educate folk https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better
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tvr2500m
92
May 5, 2020
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I have one of these and a Drop x THX AAA-789. ...and other amps. I really dig the SMSL. I also like the 789. What I like about the SP200 is it's smaller footprint (I dig the rhomboidness in a Geary kind of way), built-in power supply, and that you have full power from either the XLR or 6.35 mm phone jacks.
And I see there's a "matching" DAC. Nifty.
I've had nothing but a positive experience from Drop. Most of my headfi world is Massdrop/Drop. Apos Audio has also been outstanding.
(Edited)
tvr2500m
92
May 6, 2020
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The SMSL and Drop THX headphone amps sound the same to me, listening with all the different pieces of gear I have.
Sonically, a blindfolded coin-toss choice between them and you can't go wrong.
This is another one that might come down to form factor and features. I mentioned why I like the SMSL. For the Drop THX amp, it's larger, perhaps feeling like a more "substantive" desktop piece. It has a pass-through, three gain settings.
At the current $300 price, the Drop 789 is a great buy. You can't go wrong with either of them.
(Edited)
adi518
109
May 4, 2020
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I ordered the SP200 like a month ago (from another site) should be delivered this week. Its corresponding DAC was just released: https://hifigo.com/blogs/news/smsl-m200-dac-released-latest-dac-solution. Tilt doesn't look so bad now.
The pic is misleading, it says "M400", but it's actually the M200.
(Edited)
Kulpa
15
May 4, 2020
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Hello,
have Drop change anything on this amp?For example his bad Knop or is just the Smsl Sp 200 who you can buy by Amazon?
NeoKronos
18
Jun 19, 2020
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It sounds perfectly fine audio quality-wise, but my sp200's volume knob also has this imprecise/uneven feel to it. It's no better than a toy knob. Not a dealbreaker cause the amp still sounds like heaven.
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