Drop THX AAA ONE Headphone Amplifier

Drop's new ultra-low-distortion amp comes with a simplified feature set and lower price. I go over the tech and compare it with other amps, including the THX AAA 789.
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00:00 Introduction and overview of the amp.
02:24 What is the THX technology?
06:00 General performance overview.
07:45 Listening impressions, including as a pre-amp.
08:38 Impressions with a Schiit Modi 3+ DAC as the source
10:26 Listening direct with a Hugo 2 vs. the THX amps.
10:53 IEM listening and Cavalli Tube Hybrid (CTH) comparison.
12:45 Summary of who I think the amp is good for.
13:46 How to get my buying advice.

[@dasninjastix]

Great video, I always feel like I learn a little something from your showcases but this was extra insightful. Appreciate it!

[@carlsitler9071]

The hunt for exactly what I want is often as satisfying as the acquisition. This is my most respected channel. The only think I like better is an A to B sound demo.

[@JesusGonzalez-ky8im]

Just found your channel yesterday, just outstanding work, fast becoming one of my favorite channels, great work!

[@Currawong]

Awesome, thank you!

[@mtnmankeith9069]

Thank you for leaving comments on. Excellent review.

[@markbeasley1]

Excellent review. Hearing your feedback makes me doubly glad I chose an Asgard 3 recently. For the same price as the One, it would seem from your and other reviewer’s opinions to be a more “musical” amp.

[@MrGrosMamouth]

At this point, I watch theese review just to hear that my Asgard 3 is still a solid unit lol

[@ResilientME]

It really is. I've owned a wide variety of amps at different price points & the A3 is always enough to make me put off upgrading or trying something different for a few months longer. It's also like two amps in one with the gain switch(I'm shocked how different high & low can sound from some sources.)

[@edwarddodge7937]

The AAA stuff competes with the Magnius. I bought a 789 a few years back but ended up listening more to my Asgard. Have a Jot 2 now and the 789 is going to be up for sale.

[@seditious1627]

Not to mention the Asgard 3 looks a million times better on the desk.

[@dae8894]

@@edwarddodge7937 so are you saying that the magnius is good? was thinking of upgrading from my atom

[@530pm]

@@dae8894 did you? If so how are they compared to eachother

[@PeterHas]

I used to own Violectric V200 and SPL Auditor at the same time for maybe 6 months. They had a difference similar to what you describe here with the THX amplifiers vs others. V200 flattened the image, no matter what headphones I used, whether it was HD 800, T1, LCD-X, or whatever, whereas the Auditor always made the stage larger with more clearly separated layers. This difference is what made me buy the Phonitor X many years later, which I'm now using as pre-amp for my speakers and headphone amp. Very happy with it. Measurements give you a slice of an amps performance, but they don't tell you the character of how it presents transient attacks at different frequencies, the perceived size, layering and so on. I think if one did many more measurements it'd be possible to discover the source of many of these audible phenomenon, but it's too time consuming and maybe difficult to visualize in an easily digestible manner. I'm sure a lot of people would love if we could just buy the best measuring amp and be happy forever, but we aren't there yet. Having human being, such as yourself, listen to these things is still very important.

[@yasserouacha6299]

Bought Asgard 3 based of your review and i'm happy with it. I trust you. Thank you.

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. I just ordered one. Have you had a chance to pair the "One" with the SCHIIT Modi Multibit or another SE non Schiit product for comparison ? Thanks

[@woopygoman]

I feel the same way. My trusty Asgard 2 had a phenomenal natural, warm sound with body. Same with the Asgard 3. I prefer amps that have that warmth/body. No matter what amp I listen to I keep going back to the Asgard. It's that good.

[@woopygoman]

I forgot to mention even the preamp in the Asgard adds that character to the pre-outs going to your speakers!

[@JTB--]

I've got the Monoprice Monolith THX AAA 788 Dac/Amp and it's really good

[@Enigmadibs]

Great review as always. Also, the Asgard 3 seems to win again (for my own sound preference)

[@MisterChibs]

Great review!! I can see the Diablo and Signature hanging out together :) Looking forward to that comparison. I've had the original 789 since it came out on drop and agree, it sounds great but dry in comparison to the iFi Signature. I enjoy listening with my Signature much more as a result. Any plans to check out Headamp's GSX Mini?

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Funny u should say that just watched a review that said the linear one unlike the 789 has a similar tonality to the gzx mini, from a reviewer who uses the mini as their daily.

[@bshulke]

I may be incorrect, but I believe the first THX AAA Amps were made by Benchmark, who partnered with THX in some capacity to produce the technology.

[@Currawong]

You may be right. The first one I remember hearing of was from Drop, so my memory could be at fault here.

[@jamesj5469]

I'm surprised cause I love the way the 789 sound but I also have a darkvoice tube amp so I guess that makes up Also, do u think the 789 would be good with a balanced dac?

[@act.13.41]

Excellent work, as usual! I would have to say that once you start doing negative feedback, you are cancelling out noise and also some sound. You can't help but lose some depth and musicality in there. I have been using my Lyr 3 since right after they hit the market. It could be better with an external multi-bit DAC, but with my Sundara, it is still more than good enough for my ears. I ended up giving my Modi/Magni/HD650 setup to a friend in need. We are both happy. I have considered the AAA amps, but I think I will stay with what I have.

[@Yu-ej1cy]

Nice review as always. You mentioned on the 789 review that a LPS may help with the problem of lacking dynamics. Any plan of trying that soon and maybe making a video for that?

[@markusschulzbro]

Thanks for the review! Will there be more detailed comparison review THX One vs. Asgard 3?

[@Currawong]

Have you seen my Asgard 3 review? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIDaZIqraZqMZpI

[@markusschulzbro]

@@Currawong yes

[@charlesnr]

The first amp advertised in the states was not a headphone amp, the Benchmark (THX) AHB2 Power amp.

[@xzackly7131]

Wouldn't mind seeing a Rebel Amp/Flux Labs FA-12s review. (they're the same amp apparently). Seems like the logical step up from an Asgard 3

[@schlooonginator1227]

Bought the 789 after reading how great it is and very happy with it but have come to better understand that some objective measurements can be a bit misleading. For example, this may have much lower noise objectively but often the noise levels discussed are so far below what is possibly perceptible its really only "better" on paper. Still, considering the price its very impressive and its great to see components costing a fraction of what a similar piece would cost a decade ago. Regular people can now enjoy high end sound. I also bought the ChiFi LaFigaro tube amp outof curiousity.Wow, now I get why the tube sound is sought after, its more immersive, pulling you into the music, more enjoyable frankly.

[@harithg79]

@currawong whats the upgraded tube your using on the cavalli hybrid? Thanks

[@Currawong]

I have a few tubes. Basically, any of the good NOS ones will be an improvement. The basic GE tube Schiit uses in the Vali 2+ can be had for $25 from one or another of the tube stores.

[@stevenjackson8226]

Now having lived for long while with two THX amps; they're both sitting idle. They're fine, they sound "good", but, yes, "flat" and less dimensional, a bit hard and unnatural through the higher frequencies, less dynamic contrast. I picked up the Cavalli LCX - sans tube - during one of the big Drop sales on the piece. This has been my go-to standalone transistor amp (and for the sale price, a very nice buy). I have a fair amount of gear (I've been exploring) to compare/contrast. I'm not looking for sonics seasoned to my taste. I don't "prefer" a "V-curve" frequency response, or more or less bass or treble, more or less detail or soundstage, something that sounds warmer or brighter, more fun, etc. I don't want my gear to assert any alteration to everything played through it. I want the recording sound exactly like it was captured. I'm still holding out for the high fidelity thing, where exactly what's captured is what's delivered. And in so far as a recording has captured it, I want reproduced material to sound "natural", like the stuff I've heard that isn't recorded. As far as we've come in audio, and it's never been better than today, there's still today persists a lot of indeterminacy and complexity to all this, which is why we still have so much different gear and debate. I have no way to reference what that recording really sounds like and I have to determine what "natural" is, but still some gear aligns better to my critical sense of this than other gear. Interesting to me is that the THX amps I've lived with don't seem to quite do this. Could I live with one happily ever after? Sure. No doubt. But pursuing this as a serious hobby both for the musical enjoyment and interest in the kit, the differences , even small'ish, make the differences important.

[@lextr3110]

could be slew induced distortion and or voltage swing. SID check it out

[@m3g4byte]

While this is priced to compete with the Asgard they have different sound profiles and philosophies, I really want to know what does this do better than the Magni Heresey, given the similar specs and design philosophy?

[@Currawong]

I'm thinking of doing a comparison video with the Heresy, as a few people have asked a similar question.

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

What DAC should I pair with mine? I have a Schiit Modi 3 already.

[@Currawong]

The Modi 3 you already have.

[@olimphus26]

Currawong: “These measurements are not music.” Everyone at ASR: *having an aneurism*

[@sigisfoto]

Has it enough power to drive Beyerdynamic dt880 600 ohm?

[@Dunring]

I tried it with the 600 ohm DT990 and it was fine except when doing a big preamp reduction of -7.1db and then volume wheel was running out. Normally it's more than fine though.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Have one in my basket thought it would make a good alternative to the next amp I am looking at the Jotunheim 2 and also for some of the SE only headphones out there. Running my first stack at moment a if zendac signature with a Zencan and xduo xd-05 I use as a preamp

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Esp as at $149 at the moment

[@MWeston2]

Yay, comments are back! ;) ...and this amp is a yah, nah from me :)

[@m.morininvestor9920]

This vs Schiit Heresy?

[@Currawong]

Given it has dropped (ha!) to $159, that's not a bad idea.

[@musicxxa6678]

THX not working well with my Ananda. I need punchy amp. Ananda lacks punch.

[@longplayer8600]

Damning with faint praise.

[@felipemotorhead]

I'm going right now to literally unsub from all my other audio channels, there's simply no comparison on the level of expertise and knowledge sharing here.