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Massdrop x THX AAA 789

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by neogeosnk, Feb 26, 2018.

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  1. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    It's achromatic, it has no sound!


    Until you plug it in.
     
    Grahad2, Feb 27, 2018
    #21
  2. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I’d take an updated, better ODAC. Especially if its USB powered like the original. I need to dig mine out but it outresolved everything USB powered until the LH Labs stuff hit. Even then, an ODAC + Leckerton + UERM stack was god tier for years.
     
    zerodeefex, Feb 27, 2018
    #22
  3. Negura

    Negura Friend

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    I have no doubt the technology can be implemented to deliver exceptional results - since that was already done with the AHB2. If it is anywhere closing in to that level performance, it will be well worth it, but that remains to be heard and I have some doubts. Some could be explained by the execution to a different price target.

    I am wary of:
    - the quality of included power supply. Upgrading this could easily be costing more than the amp itself.
    - volume control - what are they using - a pot? Budget one we can assume?
    - it's a balanced amp topology, so how's the single ended output implementation, for those who plan using it. Many/most natively balanced amps, imo sound worse over single ended. Also note crosstalk spec is much lower over single ended: Crosstalk: -90 dB, 300 ohms: 0.003162%. Modern smartphone territory, but to frame this into a bigger picture, still better than the stated spec of a lot of amps out there, including for example Schiit ones.
    - same concerns over single ended inputs.

    These factors could hinder the performance significantly. Like the AHB2 the output impedance is really low, rated < 0.1 ohms. This will obviously play a role to people who prefer a different output impedance.

    Finally because the price is so keen, I am thinking to buy one. I've done worse purchases in the past, at a loss.
     
    Negura, Mar 1, 2018
    #23
  4. Negura

    Negura Friend

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    FYI, in case it was missed:

    ESTIMATED SHIP DATE
    Oct 31, 2018 PT
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2018
    Negura, Mar 1, 2018
    #24
  5. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    "Achromatic" means colourless. Aphonetic is what you're looking for, pal!

    As for the amp - I'm not expecting miracles. Also lol about the ship date, you could get a Headamp unit made faster.
     
    Hrodulf, Mar 1, 2018
    #25
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The other great thing about "designed for objectivists" is that no independent measurements are necessary for validation. "Objectivists" can simply believe.

    Where is Jude when we need him?
     
    purr1n, Mar 1, 2018
    #26
  7. shanchandi

    shanchandi Acquaintance

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    A THX engineer over at the Massdrop thread had this to say about the power supply:

     
    shanchandi, Mar 1, 2018
    #27
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Engineers say a lot of things to sell their philosophy and products.
     
    Hands, Mar 1, 2018
    #28
  9. bozoc

    bozoc New

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    As the majority of people.
    And the statement about the SMPS-s is actually valid. We have come a long way in electronics design since the early SMPS-s. "SMPS-s suck" is an outdated fact.

    Anyways, enough of off topic...

    Posted measurements are cherry picked and quite incomplete as per usual.
     
    bozoc, Mar 1, 2018
    #29
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Well, USB looks good on paper and still sounds like ass. I couldn't care less about what sort of PSU is used, so long as it sounds good. But this is clearly just engineering Sith hand waving to convince the masses that their way is best. It's stupid when anyone does it from any perspective. Blindly quoting it as if affirming that what's used in this product is A-OK is useless and silly, even if the claims end up holding water.
     
    Hands, Mar 1, 2018
    #30
  11. bozoc

    bozoc New

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    That is quite disjointed. And I have not stated those things anywhere.
    As for the SMPS-s, SMPS-s are hard to pull off, if you have little spare time and know basics of electronics you can study their history and how they work and compare them to their linear counterparts that are not bad at all, in fact most of my equipment has linear power supplies.

    As for the sound gain, equipment should sound good by anyways. But SMPS bring other benefits, like cheaper/smaller equipment that allows you to get that sound more easily.
     
    bozoc, Mar 1, 2018
    #31
  12. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    He didn't say you stated anything. He gave you an analogy with usb. Stated claims don't mean shit. Pay attention, you're only 8 posts in.
     
    Mithrandir41, Mar 1, 2018
    #32
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    SMPS sounds like ass. Give me an toroid, or better yet an EI, with a choke somewhere. The BW amp originally had a sophisticated SMPS with a charge pump. Sounded like ass compared to a $18 surplus LPS we found on eBay. Same thing with a few prototype ladder DACs I've heard. SMPS sounded like ass. LPS or battery sounded betterer.
     
    purr1n, Mar 1, 2018
    #33
  14. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I'm picking one up. I can bring it to the next meet, after October of course (wtf).
     
    neogeosnk, Mar 1, 2018
    #34
  15. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    As has been noted, the delivery date is usually a worst case scenario. I got my HD 6xx a month early and my MD Plus 2 weeks early.

    Still, even for Massdrop this is really long.
     
    Cspirou, Mar 1, 2018
    #35
  16. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    That's literally their naming though buddy: http://www.thx.com/aaa

    I thought Google wasn't difficult, but I suppose I should have added a (SIC).
     
    Grahad2, Mar 1, 2018
    #36
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This amp is good. It's definitely captured my attention. Seems to work with a variety of headphones, HD800, LCD2C, HD650K, etc. Feeding the the balanced inputs and using the balanced outs.

    Those who want a bassier or warm sound should look elsewhere. I wouldn't call it lean. It hits all the low notes spectacularly. Treble is accurate yet smooth. Tonal balance and articulation is like the Benchmark AHB2 power amp (although I really hate to make this comparison). However, microdynamics, involvement factor, and openness are far superior (FWIW, I was not a fan of the AHB2) and more along the lines of the Hegel H2, which also uses the feed forward error correction technology. (I'm sure THX patented a specific implementation of it, so Hegel's implementation might be slightly different.)

    The question is how good is it? I will need to line up other amps for direct comparison. TBC.
    [​IMG]
     
    purr1n, Mar 4, 2018
    #37
  18. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Jot seems like its closest Schiit contemporary - is that in the (comparison) lineup?
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2018
    Grahad2, Mar 4, 2018
    #38
  19. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Interesting! I wonder how much input @CEE TEE had.

    Could be a good amp for the HE-6
     
    Cspirou, Mar 4, 2018
    #39
  20. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    I see on the THX website, they also have a bigger brother - the THX-888 IIRC. Looks to have more power and lower distortion. I can't wait to see what MassDrop does for the "matching" DAC for all these square boxes they are putting out.
     
    M3NTAL, Mar 4, 2018
    #40
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