When it comes to desktop headphone amplifiers, the Drop + THX AAA 789 is definitely one of the top choices to go for. It is a linear bipolar amplifier with great sonic performance and at a great price where it can fit into most headphone enthusiasts’ budgets. As amazing as the Drop + THX AAA 789 is, it does lack a built-in DAC though and without a D/A converter, you can’t really enjoy a high-quality music listening experience via your PC/laptops/MAC though.
Usually, the onboard audio cards of your computers are simply not up to par and will require a reputable DAC to improve the overall sound quality. We are fortunate that there are plenty of DACs to choose from but the main question is which one. To find the right DAC, we must first start learning more about the sound characteristics of the Drop + THX AAA 789 and so without further ado, let us start.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics and Merits of Drop + THX AAA 789
The Drop + THX AAA 789 is compact enough to easily find a spot on your table and is light enough to move them around. Still, it is too bulky to be used as a portable headphone amp, not to mention, you will need a power source to drive the THX AAA 789. The engineers at THX have designed this headphone amp to perform like a Class A amplifier but without the heat and weight which is amazing for headphone users in a small listening room. As you wouldn’t want your headphone amplifier to contribute heat into your room which may make it uncomfortable to listen to music.
At this price point, it is considered a powerful headphone amplifier and has the muscles to drive most headphones efficiently, including the ones with 600 Ohms impedance. The balanced output power of the Drop + THX AAA 789 is at 6000mW per channel into 16/32 Ohms, 800mW per channel into 300 Ohms, and 400mW per channel into 600 Ohms. The single-ended output power ratings will be lower though. The frequency response is 10Hz-50kHz (+0.05dB/-0.15dB) which is rather impressive for the price. You can adjust the gain by adjusting the switch located at the front.
More Information at Amazon – Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Headphone Amplifier
If you like very transparent and neutral headphone amplifiers, the Drop + THX AAA 789 is no doubt one of the very best. The level of transparency is superb and we can’t detect any colorations which provided us with a very faithful music presentation of our favorite tunes. It is very informative as well and the THX AAA 789 is more than happy to show us everything including the bad. The way the music is been delivered does make it a bit clinical sounding but the rich and high-resolution music presentations are a splendid delight for analytical audio enthusiasts. The Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amp simply leaves no stones unturned.
It has very clean sound reproduction as well, partly due to the ultra-low noise background which is great as it works hand in hand with its high level of clarity. Musical details are presented to us in crystal clear sound quality and are not because they are over-emphasized. The Drop + THX AAA 789 overall sound reproduction is rather dark-sounding and flat, this applies to most music genres. The overall bass performance is really tight and accurate but can be quite lightweight and bass fanatics probably wouldn’t be satisfied with the low-end impact. If we were to look at the bright side, the amp’s taut bass delivery wouldn’t muddle the rest of the frequencies.
The polished background and honesty of the Drop + THX AAA 789 allow us to hear every music details which also makes it an ideal headphone amplifier for professional use. It does lack enthusiasm and liveliness which can make your music listening experience very entertaining. The lack of warmth may not be a cup of tea for listeners who are used to this sonic characteristic. It doesn’t sound harsh or hard, instead, the sound quality of the THX AAA 789 is easy on the ears. We have enough information to list out the Best DACs which you can go for and match them with your Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amplifier.
Drop + THX AAA 789 Specifications
- Power Outputs:
- Balanced Output per Channel: 6000mW into 16/32 Ohms, 800mW into 300 Ohms, 400mW into 600 Ohms
- Single-Ended Output per Channel: 3000mW into 16 Ohms, 1800mW into 32 Ohms, 200mW into 300 Ohms, 100mW into 600 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Inputs: 1 RCA input, 1 Balanced input
- Outputs: 1/4″ (6.35 mm) TRS gold-plated Neutrik, 3.5mm TRS gold-plated, Balanced output
- Dimensions: 210mm x 230mm x 57mm | 8.3″ x 9.1″ x 2.2″
- Weight: 1.52kg (3.4lbs)
Best DACs to match with Drop + THX AAA 789
The Massdrop X Grace Design Standard DAC is probably the best D/A converter to match with the Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amplifier. They even appear together in the product photo of the THX AAA 789, not to mention, very highly rated by a large pool of satisfied users. The price point of the Massdrop X Grace Design Standard DAC is very affordable as well and will be ideal for listeners who have a tight budget or don’t wish to spend too much on a D/A converter. The sonic characteristics of the Grace Design Standard DAC are very similar to the Drop + THX AAA 789 too.
More Details at Amazon – DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC
The Mayflower Arc Mk2 DAC is one of the best DACs to pair with your Drop + THX AAA 789 especially if you are a gamer and wants a high-quality microphone output as well. The overall sound reproduction of the Arc Mk2 DAC is clean and has a nice level of clarity. The microphone sound quality is crystal clear too which is important during competitive gameplay as you will need to communicate with your teammates as clearly as possible. For listeners who want higher low-end output, you can always use the Bass Boost feature. It also works well with music playbacks and can project a wide soundstage.
More Details at Amazon – ARC Mk2 Headphone Amplifier and DAC
The Topping E30 DAC will be one of the best DACs to match with the Drop + THX AAA 789 amplifier. The sonic characteristics of the E30 DAC help to add a bit of sweetness to the overall sound reproduction, making it slightly easier for us to listen to bad recordings. It also eases the edges by a little and gives us a smoother music delivery. The Topping E30 DAC sound quality is pleasing and enjoyable, it is still able to bring out energy from the music too. Music delivery is clear and the E30 is a brilliant all-rounder. We would suggest hearing them out first to see if this combination is not too dark-sounding for you.
More Details at Amazon – TOPPING E30 DAC Hi-Res AK4493 (Black)
For listeners who have a higher budget, the Schiit Audio Bifrost 2 will be an excellent DAC choice for your Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amplifier. The bass performance of the Bifrost 2 DAC will help to provide a more engaging and punchier music performance. The low frequencies have ample weight and the delivery can be impactful when the music calls for it. The Schiit Audio Bifrost 2 DAC also adds warmth into the overall sound reproduction which the Drop + THX AAA 789 does kind of lack. This D/A converter is also amazing at digging out music details and producing them out in spades.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Bifrost 2 Multibit Autonomy DAC
The iFi Zen DAC V2 is an award-winning desktop DAC that will be a worthy match to the Drop + THX AAA 789. There is a slight enthusiasm in its music delivery which helps to add a bit more liveliness and will work well with the THX AAA 789. It is a D/A converter that is capable of retrieving plenty of music details, presenting them to us in a pleasant and clear-sounding way. Feed it with a better audio source and the iFi Zen DAC V2 confidently delivers a higher resolution music presentation with exceptional clarity level. This is a well-balanced DAC and will play well with almost all music genres.
More Information at Amazon – iFi Zen DAC V2
SMSL SU-8 is another high-quality DAC and will be an ideal partner for the Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amp. It uses ESS ES9038Q2M which supports up to 32bit/768kHz resolution and also decodes DSD audio files (up to DSD512). This is a terrific D/A converter for listeners who play a lot of high-resolution audio files. The sound quality is equally impressive, it is clear and natural sounding. The music presentation is very detailed, the stereo imaging and separation are superb too. Allowing us to easily hear each musician distinctly and clearly on a focused soundstage with nice spacing.
More Details at Amazon – SMSL SU-8 DSD Balance DAC Decoder
To Sum It Up
The DACs listed here are all highly rated and well-matched with the Drop + THX AAA 789 headphone amplifier. It is recommended to listen to them first before making your final decision. You should pick 1 or more D/A converters from the list and arrange an audition with the shortlisted DACs. If possible, you should do a side-by-side comparison as it will be easier to tell the difference in sound quality, enabling you to find the DAC that you really like to hear.
