Introducing Drop + THX AAA ONE Linear Amplifier (Pre-orders @ $149)

[escalibur]

The ONE will be the new entry point for ultra-clean, linear sound in a desktop headphone amplifier. Just like the 789, it’s designed to optimize your audio experience. While the 789 provides more power with its balanced design, the ONE will still drive most headphones with ease. It’s also built with an all-metal enclosure to protect the technology inside. Now we’re including a pre-amplifier output that allows you to connect the amp to a powered speaker and switch back and forth between headphones and speakers on the fly. Here are some other highlights:

• Ultra-low distortion AAA™ circuit with high-voltage swing
• Ultra-low noise THX architecture (less than 1 uV of output noise)
• Power to drive demanding headphones with ease (Up to 2000 mW at 32 Ohms, 1000 mW at 16 Ohms, and 275 mW at 300 Ohms)
• 3-position gain switch (allows for fine-tuning of signal-to-noise with any headphone or IEM)
• Ultra-low noise pre-amplifier output (Use the ONE to drive active desktop speakers or a dedicated power amplifier in a home stereo setup, and easily switch between headphone-out and pre-out with a dedicated button)
• High-quality aluminium chassis (which also works to shield the electronics from RF and other external noise)
• $199 MSRP Target

More info to come: https://drop.com/talk/35725/introducing-drop--thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier

 

[Daimiel]

I have some questions.
The new Audio Hype?
Exact amplification at a half of price?
SMSL and Topping have to worry?

 

[flipflop]

Looks pretty bland for a $200 product.

 

[Veri]

Looks pretty bland for a $200 product.

It is utterly uninspiring for just $100 less than their 789 product. There is way too much competition for this to be a major hit ...
Really would have thought they'd have priced it just a bit more competitively.

 

[escalibur]

It is utterly uninspiring for just $100 less than their 789 product. There is way too much competition for this to be a major hit ...
Really would have thought they'd have priced it just a bit more competitively.

Maybe they will. I'm sure they are just testing the situation and taking action upon it's popularity of lack of. 789 is a good example, isn't it?

I wish we had more THX AAA DAC & AMP combos from this decade.

 

[Fluffy]

Sounds interesting, actually. I think this will be the cheapest AAA amp, and if it performs as well as all its older brothers, there is absolutely no reason to buy anything more expansive than this. The balanced connector is unnecessary for 99.99% of headphones. And a reduction in cost from 300$ to 200$ is 33%, so seems like a pretty huge save to me.

If they are smart, they will send Amir one for measurements. I think a lot of their AAA 789 sales are because of this forum, and this could be a new hit.

 

[JohnYang1997]

It's likely the thx 788 which is pretty good but not insane. They reduced the noise so that's good. The chassis looks quite big for single ended only unit may account for the higher price. THX limits the lowest price of the products. I don't think it can go any lower.

 

[Draculr]

I don't need balanced but I do need a preamp so this would be ideal for me. At $200 I'm not sure I'm keen but if it drops at $150 it'll be an instant buy from me.

 

[Jimbob54]

It is utterly uninspiring for just $100 less than their 789 product. There is way too much competition for this to be a major hit ...
Really would have thought they'd have priced it just a bit more competitively.

I'd have clicked the button at 150 or less on a punt. I'll wait until black Friday or never. After import duties this is a dead dog for oversees

 

[Fluffy]

Does anybody know if it will have line XLR outs for the pre amp section?

 

[Jimbob54]

@Fluffy looks single ended back and front from what I've seen and read over there

 

[Yuno]

I might end up getting this unless it gets topped (in function and price) by l30, simply because of preamp function. It's essentially the same as El Amp II in function (and probably better in specs), except actually designed to be used instead of being a prop in battlestation pics on reddit. It's $50 cheaper as well. I do hope they price it lower though.

 

[RickSanchez]

This headphone amp is out for pre-order. Pre-order price is $149 USD until 2020-07-23. (Reg MSRP is $199.)

• https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier
• Estimated ship date is Mar 5, 2021.

 

[RickSanchez]

Specs listed below (from Drop, not measured by ASR) ...


General

• All parameters measured at 0 dB gain, 1 kHz, with unbalanced inputs and 300-ohm load unless otherwise noted
• Inputs: Stereo RCA gold-plated
• Outputs: 1/4 in (6.35 mm), TRS gold-plated Neutrik, Stereo RCA preamp gold-plated
• Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.03 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Input impedance: 1 kOhms
• Crosstalk: -93 dB, 300 ohms: 0.002240%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 300 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch
• Chassis: High-grade CNC-milled aluminum with bead-blasted finish
• Power supply: 30 VDC inline brick, universal input 100 – 240 VAC
• Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.2 in (20.7 x 20.6 x 30 cm)
• Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.3 kg)

Single-Ended Output

• Output power: 1500 mW, 16 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 2700 mW, 32 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 280 mW, 300 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 140 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• THD: -142 dB, 300 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000008%
• THD: -118 dB, 300 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000126%
• THD: -120 dB, 32 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000100%
• THD: -130 dB, 32 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000032%
• THD: -117 dB, 16 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000140%
• THD: -132 dB, 16 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000025%
• IMD: -114 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 7 kHz, 300 ohms, 1 V: 0.000398%
• IMD: -131 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 300 ohms, 1V: 0.000028%
• Crosstalk: -93 dB, 300 ohms: 0.002240%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 300 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch
• Output impedance: < 0.1 ohms

Preamp Output

• Output voltage: 9.0 V / +21 dBu, <1% THD, 600 ohms load
• Output power: 140 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output impedance: < 0.1 ohms
• THD: -142 dB, 600 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000008%
• THD: -118 dB, 600 ohms, 50 mW: 0.000126%
• IMD: -114 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 7 kHz, 600 ohms, 1 V: 0.000398%
• IMD: -131 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 600 ohms, 1V: 0.000028%
• Crosstalk: -110 dB, 600 ohms: 0.000300%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 600 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch

 

[Veri]

Preamp Output

• SNR: 140.2 dB, 600 ohms, <10% THD

140dB SNR, <10% THD... lol, pick one?

 

[Tatteredmidnight]

Oh man, assuming the channel imbalance seen on the L30 pre-production unit is an anomaly, @JohnYang1997 just destroyed the value proposition of this before it even launched. Really disappointed that it doesn’t have balanced in/out (not HP), as that would be he only real differentiator that would possibly make it a compelling choice given the current (pun) landscape. THX no longer has the same shine it used too, and even the Schiit Heresy is potentially more compelling at half the price.

edit: I guess it has a lot of gain, which is... something?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Oh man, assuming the channel imbalance seen on the L30 pre-production unit is an anomaly, @JohnYang1997 just destroyed the value proposition of this before it even launched. Really disappointed that it doesn’t have balanced in/out (not HP), as that would be he only real differentiator that would possibly make it a compelling choice given the current (pun) landscape. THX no longer has the same shine it used too, and even the Schiit Heresy is potentially more compelling at half the price.

edit: I guess it has a lot of gain, which is... something?

If that's what you guys want I can change that in a snap. The gain settings.

 

[JohnYang1997]

Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil

Interesting

 

[Tatteredmidnight]

If that's what you guys want I can change that in a snap. The gain settings.

Not really for me, my Atom gets plenty loud as it is, but maybe someone out there does. Honestly I was just being sarcastic, as it doesn’t seem to be competitive or compelling at the price point.

 

[Vini darko]

1k input impedance is very low. Most of my gear is going have issue with that. The l30 at 2.4k is already a concern but may just be OK.