dragonspit4
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- Dec 7, 2018
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I finally got my THX AAA 789 from massdrop. I decided to record my experience down before I forget. The THX amp came in a hard cardboard box, with very well packaged hard foam inside to hold the amp. After setting the amp up, the first thing I noticed is that the DC power plug (the connector that connects to the amp) has some downwards play. The plug itself is not loose at all, but you can press it down and it will move. I wonder if every THX amp is like this, or this is a defected unit?
The THX amp came with a very detailed startup guide that explains everything you need to know about the amp (one of the best write guide I ever seen).
The design of THX is quite nice, and I really appreciate the knob that let you switch between three gain level. (usually amps only have 2 gain level)
For the sound of THX amp, I decided to compare it to my Schiit Audio Lyr 3 amp. Keep in mind that Lyr 3 is a hybrid tube amp.
Sound:
Compared to Lyr 3, the sound of THX is very forward and pronounced. Lyr 3 seems to blend everything together. All the individual instruments are blended together to form a smooth sounding music (buttery smooth!). The THX amp is sharper than Lyr 3. It feels like Lyr 3 rounded the corners of every note, where as THX forces you to recognize every note. For THX, every instrument is more easily identifiable, you can effortlessly hear every note. It just feels like the resolution is higher for THX compared to Lyr 3. You can effortlessly hear more stuff (detail) because everything is not blended together like the Lyr 3. The bass of THX is tighter, where as Lyr 3 is looser. It feels like the sound of THX is more defined where as Lyr 3 is more fuzzy comparatively. Lyr 3 feels more grander, with more space in the room, where as THX is closer and the individual notes of the music stand out more. For THX, I can tell the direction of the sound more easily compared to Lyr 3, probably do to the fact that Lyr 3 blends everything together. It feels like THX is more technical and pitch perfect, where as Lyr 3 sacrifice some of this for smoothness. THX is definitely brighter amp comparatively.
The words that I would associate with THX AAA 789's sound would be: high detail, high resolution, pitch-perfect notes that are very well defined.
Honestly, I wonder how much of the sound difference is attributed to the inherent difference between a hybrid tube amp and a solid state amp?
I feel that THX does live up it's name, and is definitely better than my Objective 2 amp in terms of sound. No wonder THX is quickly becoming the best selling amp unit on massdrop.
This once again reinforced the fact that the amp unit in a given audio system does make a noticeable difference in sound. Where as I doubt anyone will hear a difference between two well designed (measured) dac unit.
(Please remember that generally speaking, people like distortion, that's why tube amp exist.)
The above is subjective overview, for objective Review and Measurements of Massdrop THX AAA 789 Amp:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...easurements-of-massdrop-thx-aaa-789-amp.5001/
The THX amp came with a very detailed startup guide that explains everything you need to know about the amp (one of the best write guide I ever seen).
The design of THX is quite nice, and I really appreciate the knob that let you switch between three gain level. (usually amps only have 2 gain level)
For the sound of THX amp, I decided to compare it to my Schiit Audio Lyr 3 amp. Keep in mind that Lyr 3 is a hybrid tube amp.
Sound:
Compared to Lyr 3, the sound of THX is very forward and pronounced. Lyr 3 seems to blend everything together. All the individual instruments are blended together to form a smooth sounding music (buttery smooth!). The THX amp is sharper than Lyr 3. It feels like Lyr 3 rounded the corners of every note, where as THX forces you to recognize every note. For THX, every instrument is more easily identifiable, you can effortlessly hear every note. It just feels like the resolution is higher for THX compared to Lyr 3. You can effortlessly hear more stuff (detail) because everything is not blended together like the Lyr 3. The bass of THX is tighter, where as Lyr 3 is looser. It feels like the sound of THX is more defined where as Lyr 3 is more fuzzy comparatively. Lyr 3 feels more grander, with more space in the room, where as THX is closer and the individual notes of the music stand out more. For THX, I can tell the direction of the sound more easily compared to Lyr 3, probably do to the fact that Lyr 3 blends everything together. It feels like THX is more technical and pitch perfect, where as Lyr 3 sacrifice some of this for smoothness. THX is definitely brighter amp comparatively.
The words that I would associate with THX AAA 789's sound would be: high detail, high resolution, pitch-perfect notes that are very well defined.
Honestly, I wonder how much of the sound difference is attributed to the inherent difference between a hybrid tube amp and a solid state amp?
I feel that THX does live up it's name, and is definitely better than my Objective 2 amp in terms of sound. No wonder THX is quickly becoming the best selling amp unit on massdrop.
This once again reinforced the fact that the amp unit in a given audio system does make a noticeable difference in sound. Where as I doubt anyone will hear a difference between two well designed (measured) dac unit.
(Please remember that generally speaking, people like distortion, that's why tube amp exist.)
The above is subjective overview, for objective Review and Measurements of Massdrop THX AAA 789 Amp:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...easurements-of-massdrop-thx-aaa-789-amp.5001/
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