🥇 TOP AMP UNDER $500 - THX DAC AMP REVIEW
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- Опубликовано: 24 сен 2024
- THIS IS IT. The new BEST amplifier/dac combo!
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Other Amps Mentioned
🥈-THX 789 amzn.to/3ezIj63
🥈- THX 887 - www.monoprice....
Headphones Used for Testing
🥇- HE1000SE - amzn.to/3cognzY
🥇- Arya - amzn.to/2Vi8W7G
🥈- HD800S - amzn.to/34MMCpR
🥈 Fir Audio M5 - www.firaudio.c...
🥈 Meze Penta - mezeaudio.com/...
🥈 Dita Dream XLS - sg.e1personala...
OPEN BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Arya - amzn.to/3cDZ0vT
🥈 LCD X - amzn.to/3cB0AyV
🥉 DT1990Pro - amzn.to/38BN3DM
CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Sony Z1R - amzn.to/3cF6EWX
🥈 M1060C - amzn.to/39vDkQU
🥉 1More Triple Driver - amzn.to/2wGC2ni
BUDGET HEADPHONES
🥇 HD58X - massdrop.7eer....
🥈 SHP 9500 - amzn.to/32ZQJ0S
🥉 Porta Pro - amzn.to/2Is8dtu
AMPLIFIERS & DACS
🥇 THX AAA Dual 788 DACAMP - amzn.to/3cHHTJC
🥈 THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/2TwsvZg / massdrop.7eer....
🥉 DX3 Pro - amzn.to/2wJGp0X
IEMS
🥇 A8000 - snext-final.co....
🥈 ZUES - massdrop.7eer....
🥉 Tin T2 - amzn.to/2xeGvxT
SPEAKERS
🥇 SVS ULTRA Towers - amzn.to/2v2Fto1
🥈 Vanatoo T1E - amzn.to/2TKEmSl
🥉 Micca RB42 - amzn.to/2wCCO53
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![SingXer SA-1 vs Jotunheim 2 vs A90 vs THX AAA 789 [ Solid State Showdown Pt.1 ]](/img/1.gif)
Your “things liked/not liked” approach really works for a feature rich product like this. Thanks!
One item of note: It's BOTH dual DAC and dual THX modules. Each chipset pairing handles a single channel and then brings them together. It's in part what makes it unique
For anyone wondering about the songs used (in the order they were played):
1 - LeDorean feat. King Sis - Rendezvous
2 - ???
3 - Mindme feat. Mia Pfirrman - Walking on a Tightrope
4 - Adriel Fair - Oscillation
5 - Do You Really Wanna Be In Love by Frigga
Thanks man. I kept this tab open for 3 days to "shazam" those songs when I get a chance.
2- Blues Manouche by Vendla
@@codykrzyzaniak8164 thanks
Josh, I just wanted to thank you. Not only for your content but for truly leading me down this rabbit hole. After watching almost all of your videos I decided on getting the Monoprice THX AAA Monolith and a pair of DT 1990 Pro. I've honestly never known music like this before, I'm re-listening to my entire collection and find myself literally disappearing for hours into the music. I just wanted to say thank you and keep up the amazing channel and content.
Ayy good choice. Exact same setup I got. First audiophile setup I've purchased. Sounds so clean with this setup.
@@nathanpickering6742 I've recently added a pair of Panda wireless too and love them also. THX is the way to go
@@NeatFreq dude I really wanna try out the pandas but I'm not ready to drop another $600 yet. Just got some hifiman 400i planar headphones and they sound awesome so I'm liking that planar tech. Probably sounds super clean on the Pandas.
Did you add any eq for your 1990s at all? Just curious if you have any tips for setting them up on the amp. I honestly haven't messed with the eq at all, but I bought some dekoni elite hybrid pads for those headphones.
Honestly, DT1990 are pretty boring. and i am typing this while wearing and listening to the sound demo with them... There's better out there, my dude. 1990's are nice, but no soundstage at all. I had Hifiman Deva for 4 days, and i am sad when i had to send them back again.
A comparison with Topping DX7 Pro would be interesting, since both is 2 in 1 dac/amp desktop solution
I second this!
Really having a hard time deciding between those two
The dirac mode uses a widening algorithm, these algorithms usually increase gain on stereo elements. If a bass is mono, wich a lot of basses are, it won't increase the gain. This is why the bass on some songs seems a lot lower.
Good to know. I will do some more research into it and possibly make a video about it.
@@JoshuaValour We, gamers, want to know more about it, as we seek staging for our headphones, remember 😂
Listening to the demo it definitely is pulling up the side channels a bit as you describe.
theres a paid DTS and Dolby app in Microsoft store isn't it?
plus this is activated on FPGA, so its execution is more better than software based system
I have been using this bad boy since it came out. Absolutely fantastic regardless of price. This dac/amp is a beast
How do you like it now? I'm thinking of pairing this with the Monoprice M1060 cans. My use case is music listening, PC and records, and PC gaming.
@@gingerman5123 I still use it all the time. It isn't the most powerful amp but it gets the job done for most of my headphones
I have had my joutenheim for 3 years now and I love it. I pair it with Genelec speakers and DT1990 headphones and have never been left wanting for anything more.
Do you have with DAC ? But it’s sad it doesn’t have optical input
finally!!!! Thank you for making me feel less guilty on my first ever amp/dac purchase. I got this a couple of months ago, and have been in love with this ever since :)
Random question: Can plug an XLR mic into one of the rear balanced XLR analog inputs?
DIRAC on the 788 is meant to emulate an ideal listening room and emulate a speaker system. It can blend left and right channels in a way that emulates speakers in a room. This makes it ideal for some tracks mastered using speakers. If you listen to any music where there are instruments that predominantly play out of one channel it makes listening to music through headphones much more enjoyable. A great example is the 2015 remaster of Space Oddity by David Bowie. DIRAC does wonderful things to songs like this.
This review was literally everything I needed to hear to pull the trigger.
Please do more reviews like this, I thoroughly enjoyed the sound test portion and that had the biggest influence.
Any idea why it's discontinued? It's such a good DACAMP for its price. Any news they'll be releasing a new version of it?
AKM factory burned down.
To my ears dirac increases depth. The center image is pushed foward. Left and right are pushed back, but at the cost of width. It's like a cone pointing forward
or an accountant taking the piss. it's a joke don't you get it? it's not supposed to sound good,it makes stupid people buy it since it has a unique feature.
I actually have this amp and I also bought the THX 789 and I returned the THX789. I found this one really awesome for gaming and music and the THX789 sounded too boring and felt like less features. So yes this amp is awesome :)! Finishing Final Fantasy 7 Remake with this amp + arya = godlike audio.
How does the thx work for gaming
@@josephm3615 feels like you are at an actual stadium surrounded be loudspeakers and depth depending on which game you play.
SMSL SU-8v2 ($250) + THX AAA 789 ($300) = $550 budget endgame combo. The DAC on the SMSL measures extremely well and has a lot of cool features too.
Topping d50s paired with smsl sp200 costs the same, measures just as good, but is much smaller and has a bluetooth receiver
I would get the sdac instead and save some money
@@Florianski Issue there is that Toppings have a rep for crapping out or having annoying issues pop up within a year or two. They're sort of the Hifiman of the dac/amp world.
This product that was reviewed is not as good as the thx aaa 789 or the other stand alone monoprice thx amp. You're better off getting separates than getting this combo unit.
The THX Amp just dropped to $299 maybe this will drop to $399 now. At least that is what I am hoping for.
Drue would be so awesome!
But that Drop THX 789 is ugly !
@@nicktan4530 in fairness tons of audio stuff is ugly.
@@nicktan4530 That's an opinion
@@ron2291 No not really. The older massdrop THX 789 is beautiful plain jam.
Sample Tracks (Song - Artist)
9:15 Rendezvous - LeDorean ft King Sis
10:00 Blues Manouche - Vendla
10:29 Walking on a Tightrope - Mindme ft Mia Pfirrman
10:53 Oscillation - Adriel Fair
11:24 Do You Really Wanna Be In Love - Frigga
thank you kind sir
Just got one second hand today in the mail after i saw your review. Awesome dac/amp, very excited to own one! Great reviews, keep up the good work!
ordered mine yesterday because of his review as well!! Enjoy!!!!
@@VOByRobbins Totally worth it. Enjoy as well.
Iv'e had this DAC/AMP for about a year now, and had a chance to use most of its features, but I have never had a reason to use the DRC compression feature on it... until now
Iv'e been watching a series and the volume varies WILDLY between dialogues and sound effects and music
, to the point that I found myself adjusting the volume every 30 seconds.
The effect is very noticeable when you adjust the variables, but at the same time its subtle, it doesnt constantly reminds me that it's active. You set it up and then its just doing its thing.
It sounds contradictory but that's the best way i can describe how it sounds to my ears.
I actually thought I would never use it, but yeah, its actually so useful right now.
I dont think anyone would buy this amp based on this feature, so I guess this is mostly for the people that already bought it and are looking at videos after the fact.
Its a niche feature that almost nobody ever uses, but yeah, it exists, its good, and who knows, maybe you will some day run into some poorly mixed movie or series and remember this post
Random question: Can plug an XLR mic into one of the rear balanced XLR analog inputs?
I use DRC a lot - it is invaluable for taking off the compressed edge in RUclips videos, and some poorly recorded songs and movies. A worthwhile addition IMO. Btw: I have the HD800S and this setup is not cold at all, in fact I'd say there's just a bit of warmth to the sound. *The wheel's been fixed in the latest update; and contrary to the manual, you can have two headphones active when attached to the 1/4" and XLR outputs.
I've gotta admit, your description of the DIRAC, and then being able to hear exactly that first hand in the review itself as you switched it on and off was a very nice and useful addition. Great review.
Great review. I do have a few if you can help out. 1) what would be good closed headphones to pair with this? 2)what software are you running on your computer? 3)What equalizer software would your recommend? 4)what songs were you playing? Love your upgrade path for the product.
Thanks Sebastian
Did you ever find out what song it was?
The 788 is the total package. I got mine and don't see anything need to get anything else. I use the EQ and really like it, it doesn't overwhelm me with a million way to adjust like a lot of programs do, it just lets me pick a few ranges to fine-tune, which I think is perfect.
I own this Monoprice THX DAC AMP. Also own the RME ADI2 FSR.
The RME has a far more complex range of options and a confusing UI to go with it.
The Monolith is a lot more easier to use.
If the Monolith had Bluetooth and a remote, I think I would rather have - for the money- 2 monolith instead of 1 RME.
But it doesn't. So for me and my uses and locations, having 1 of each makes sense.
Headphones used are Sennheiser HD6XX & 800S. Also Audeze LCD-2, XC, MX4, 4.
They all sound great on both units.
by 'Monolith' you mean 'Monoprice', which is the short for the amp/dac this video review is about, right?
I took your advice and went with the Monoprice 887! I was trying to decide between the THX 789 amp and the Monolith. Just arrived today and I'm blown away. It was an addition to my Modi 3 + Magni Heresy. Wanted to see if there was a significant difference between the 2 and the difference is massive! Absolutely loving how we can get 2 different completely different listening experience with the DIRAC feature. Going through my music library trying out all of my headphones with this new AMP/DAC and could not be any happier! Thanks for your reviews!
nice! which headphones are u usin it with? currently stuck between many options of DAC/AMP combos xd
i bought this amp last year !, I love it , a bit pricey , for a beginner but, still worth the purchase
'
Been using this for over a year now and it's been flawless and a truly outstanding piece of kit. Awesome DACs and super hp/pre amp; I run the entire living room hifi on it. Lots of inputs and can switch line or hp out. Awesome set of shelf and PEQs + Dirac and DRC is handy for movies late at night on speakers. Also the digital inputs are very forgiving- the AES inputs will also accept PCM (and vice-versa) so you can load it up with digital sources.
Get the topping DX7 Pro and you get this + more power + bluetooth + less background noise + a remote control + a 4.4 balanced output. On many sites and tests had become near the king. I will have it with me soon. :)
I liked the coming soon segment at the end. :) It builds up excitement.
Your mileage may vary with the DIRAQ feature depending on the song. This first time I really heard it making a major impact was on the Song "Walk this Way" by Aerosmith. The opening classic guitar riff with Dirac off sounds like it's playing on the left side of the ear cup... but when you turn on DIRAQ that guitar Riff sounds like it's on the top left side of your head. It's really cool if you switch back and forth as you can really hear what DIRAQ is doing. I've had the Monolith for like 2 years now... and still haven't figured out and tried the EQ function. I'm not sure it's worth the effort
Really awesome sound demo to give a hard, demonstrable description of the Dirac Sensaround feature! Such a considerate inclusion for a review!
@joshua valour I totally agree with your review, great job. I love this amp, I use it as my benchmark dac/amp for my review channel.
I wish you all the luck with your channel David!
if other's are reading this, go subscribe to David!
@@JoshuaValour Thank you very much. I truly appreciate you saying that. I love your channel by the way, excellent material and video production.
Something important to note.
The AD10 DAC and the THX788 have the same metal finish. So that look really good together if you want a driverless DAC and optical out into the THX 788.
Josh, you should note that the RCA output isn't line out, it's pre out. I myself use a Jotunheim as an all-in-one solution for both desktop monitors and headphones and this thing has tempted me for a long time, but the Jotunheim is still the only DAC/amp that features balanced pre outs. Whether that matters is a different story, but it's worth pointing out.
Got mine for 350 used not a scratch. I love it. Even with my iems I trade the hiss for the the extra power, since I mostly listen to electronic music it doesn't bother me.
Going to collect some headphones and iems, and maybe a pair of speakers. Dac and amp are in check for now 👍
Listening to this review through a THX dac amp and nodding at every single point made by Josh.
Random question: Can plug an XLR mic into one of the rear balanced XLR analog inputs?
@@CrisMertens lol no. not unless the mic has its own power. the inputs on a headphone dac amp do not send out electricity which is required to run the microphone's transducer.
@@jillianangell2570 no clue. try it and let us know
How do the HD660s sound paired with this DAC/AMP??
I like the sound-demo that you did, great review once more, KEEP EM COMING JOSH!
Excellent video and seriously, props to you on your b roll and presentation as usual.
I’ve had mine for about 6 months and the DIRAC is cool but it’s more of a toy than a tool. As for the volume knob once you get into the speed at which you turn it as compared to how it react on the unit you can turn it up and down fairly quickly. If you have your headphones at -35 dB and need to go to the line out at zero dB it’s a pain in the butt to do. Then you need to hit menu, scroll to settings, hit enter twice, scroll left or right for output mode, then hit menu twice to go back to volume. Yes it’s that many steps.
I've had this THX amp for quite some time...connecting a Berydynamic DT 1990 Pro & T5 3rd gen. Also, imo the AKM DAC is a big improvement compared to ESS Sabre....the combo of THX/AKM really provides a great hp experience.
The amp is so good, I connect the RCA output jacks into my Parasound P7 pre-amp @ 0.00 dB. The THX improves the entire system, especially the sub frequenies...tighter bass.
Just a question. Sorry if it sounds dumb, I am pretty new in all this. If I buy this, even though it is a DAC/amp, can I use it as just an amp and then buy another DAC that is better
As long as it has analog input, you can use another dac
I don't know if it's been fixed, but I heard from others that there were issues when using this unit with a separate dac. Apparently, this dac/amp doesn't properly amplify the signal when fed through its analog input. I might need some additional confirmation from people who own this model though. Edit : Oh yeah, there's also people in this comment section who are claiming the same thing. Seems like the signal input from a separate dac is not able to bypass the 788's own dac.
Given that the prices are so similar, what are your thoughts of this versus the Schiit Modius/Magnius stack?
Item has been discontinued :( Any other comparative DACAMP at this price? Preferably with EQ?
Great balanced (haha) review. Love this review format, it covers all the bases perfectly. Instant subscribe for me.
I scored this Monolith at an unbeatable price on Amazon Canada after exhausting all the other options. Despite a few shaky reviews the overall consensus is that this packs a killer punch for the price. I definitely concur. It's clean as hell, powerful as all get-out and just pure and unadulterated (unless you want it to be). The lack of remote is the only real issue I think, but many HP amps don't have them anyway it seems. Most solid state amp lovers will really enjoy this.
On a side note - considering the lack of options in Canada without breaking the bank (importing Schiit or JDS is just too pricey, JDS Canadian dealer is still getting set up and wont ship for at least a month), there are somewhat competitive Topping and SMSL etc. offerings but nothing quite combines all into one package at this price point. IFi has a couple too but most are a couple hundred more dollars in Canada. Secondary market is another option but no warranty that way. The Drop THX 789 amp itself is also currently available around $500 on Amazon, but still needs a DAC to match it.
maybe I have been unlucky but I have almost always have some kind of issue with Monoprice products. The Monolith 788 quit for no reason, a glass shelf showed up with no legs, the second shelf had extra legs, and the m300 planars buzzed in the right channel immediately, I opened them up and the entire driver had let go and shifted. The only product I had work well was the Liquid Spark... everything else has been an issue.
It's hard to explain, but the DIRAC demo seemed to me to take anything channeled (where one channel is more prominent than the other) and exaggerate it, giving it a bit of a v-shaped sound, while mono stuff is more centered and given almost the opposite sound curve, if that makes sense, it's like highs and lows are separated, and mids are trended towards the stereo middle more, gives a nice soundstage boost, but I can't fathom how that's working at all - since it seems to put the vocals right in the middle, and everything else is shifted left or right a bit to give a wider soundstage. Thanks for the review Joshua. Really informative.
Now you covered Monoprice THX 788.
The only thing left is JDS Lab Element II.
Maybe a comparison between them.
Funny i listened to you're sound demo of this device on that device! LOL
Random question: Can plug an XLR mic into one of the rear balanced XLR analog inputs?
Hey Josh. Just wanted to know when we can see the full review of the HE1000SE. Thanks.
Coming soonish!
I dislike that it forces everything through a a/d converter prior to amplification which means its a 'dead end purchase' in that even if the amplification is still excellent, you cannot upgrade the dac itself as it will always be used. Trying to decide between jott/d70 stack and this and the performance/price makes this monoprice a winner but the upgradability makes me still continue to give the jott/topping stack a look. What say you guys?
You are right in this regard but how often are you upgrading your dac when the built in dac is good enough
@@nickpelayo3172 I guess the point is that "good enough" will change as new dacs are released and allow for better conversion (or perhaps I would want to experiment with an r2r dac down the line) It certainly does shut down that path of exploration which is a huge part of audio for some (myself included) I guess the question boils down to is the money saved by going with an all in one now worth the potential waste down the line of having no reasonable way to use the device. This requires taking into account the used market and also the idea of using a balanced dac/headphone amp as nothing more than an rca out dac down the line when better dac only devices undoubtedly exist at the price. All that said I do keep coming back to wanting an all in one solution and perhaps future me can deal with the downsides. :)
@@dmtphone I do agree with you on the upgrade path. It is a smarter idea to buy separate components that each can be replaced but if you want something small with fewer cables and only one power outlet thia monoprice dac/amp is a fantastic purchase. I also have an audiogd nfb11 and a small su8 paired to two different tube amps so I do like to play around but I am a budget shopper and believe in the factor of diminishing returns when it comes to audio gear.
Great review! I own it and can tell the Dirac is turned on half the time. Most of the time I start a new album, I test if Dirac turned on is better or not. And it really depends. What I feel is that Dirac gives a "coherence" in the imaging. Everything is more centered, so there is a lost of wideness, but it feels right at the same time. Besides, Diracs seems to add a reverb, and sometimes it feels metallic and artificial.
It feels like you have to choose between resolution (accuracy, hifiness) or coherence.
In short it really depends. I can say that most of the time, my Electro is "Dirac on" and my Jazz is "Dirac off". But still, there are exceptions.
the went for ifi "3d" effect but didn't have the engineering chops to pull it off properly.
Really didn't like the Dirac, it feels way more compressed and the added "soundstage" isn't enough to justify to loose the punch and the "realness" of the music. But glad it's an option tho !
I can understand that. It really seemed to be hit or miss. HE1000 it was awesome with from time to time. Arya and Fir M5 almost never.
@@JoshuaValour its benefits are a lot more consistent with movies and games. Sometimes older recordings and soundtracks.
It was nice to hear you mention the Heresy. I just bought the Heresy/Modi stack and i do love it, but really wanted the 789, I went with Schiit for 3 reasons..1. Price 2. Made in America 3. Rep.
I have been into home theater and higher end audio (Marantz...Rotel...Bowers and Wilkins) for almost 30 years but i am new to higher end headphone audio so did not want to spend $320 on the 789. That being said i still watch these reviews and really want a AAA THX amp so it was nice you mentioned Heresy as one of a few setting the bar. I am sure i will get one some day.
Oh my headphones are SHP 9500...HD 58X...Porta Pro's...KPH30iRB's...KSC75 (The Koss Holy Trinity lol)...Sony WH1000XM3's...And my old Sony 7506's
Frankly I can not think about any other device regardless of price range that I would use instead of this for HD800S.
With everything else you'd have to tinker with external software or DSP to get HD800 sound universally great for all genres.
I have been part of a FiR Audio m4 and m5 tour in the past, but I'm still looking forward to your impressions and review. To me, it was very underwhelming, but YMMV of course. Good video as always Josh !
I'd still love to see you review the RME ADI-2 dac if you can get your hands on one! Not necessarily to see if it's a better value, but how it compares in terms of features and sound compared to this and other dac/amp combos
Would be interesting. This thing is almost a budget RME ADI-2
On a side note, I have seen measurements of both, and the headphone output seems to be better on this 788. The DAC better on the RME.
Good point, their similarities is why I've been considering both and there's no doubt the monoprice is a better value. It's already got a thx amp that is as you've said probably better than the one on RME. But if one was to get a RME they could always pick up a 789/887 if it was still within budget. Then the 788 would be an even better value though compared to a RME/789 pairing. On the flip side the RME/789 pairing would offer even more features than a 788 (besides the absence of Dirac)
Discontinued unfortunately , no new version being made by Monolith 😞. My one an only dac/amp since Feb 2021, the EQ was a life saver . (HD6xx/HifimanEXS/Tidal)
Yeahhhh! I've been waiting for a review like this!
Dirac sensaround is great for gamin, and increasing soundstage to make whatever your listening to appear more speaker like, ie forward projection of sound etc. It was supposed to make it sound like you were listening to a pair of speakers if I'm not mistaken. I love mine, owned this amp for a year now and no looking back.
Worth upgrading from the magni/modi? Currently only use AD700's and X2's but looking to eventually transition into some HD660's or Sundara's for clean listening/gaming, and maybe something like LCD's ot dt1990's for heavier/warmer music or moods.
Great video as always Josh! This certainly seems like an appealing all in one solution, however I do have one question. You talk a lot about the excellent detail and clarity of the THX AAA amps, but how much do you need to spend on headphones to actually take advantage of them? Do you think it would be better to purchase a cheaper DAC/AMP and put the extra cash into superior drivers if one is budget conscious?
Yes. In terms of how much they effect the sound I think the order is like this. Headphones > Music choice > Amps > Dacs > all the extra bits. \
Headphones over music because I think people should listen to whatever they want. It will almost always sound better on good headphones.
@@JoshuaValour and by far the most important thing in the chain is the quality of the recoding. A good recording on a cheap headphone will always sound better than a bad recording on the best headphones.
@2:30 Wait the Jot has more than just USB. It has balanced XLR in, and RCA in as well as USB.
I agree 100% on the XLRs. I care more about this unit as a DAC than as an AMP. I could justify the $500 to work it both my headphone system and stereo but not having the XLR's as an output turns this into a deal breaker. It would be cool if we could petition Monoprice to make this value adding modification.
Got the monoprice thx aaa887 because I already had a Dac. After watching this I kinda wish I had spent the extra 50 bucks on this for the features. Just ordered the Arya today based largely on your reviews and about six months of reading tons of articles and forums, a-b comparisons, other reviews, blah blah blah.... Anyway; I would like to know if you think getting a balanced cable like the Periapt you mention would make a significant difference in quality over SE with the 887
. Thanks by the way , your reviews have been very helpful...haven’t steered me wrong yet, can’t wait for the Aryas !!! Keep up the great work Josh, much appreciated !
Joshua great review like always! Did you hear any buzzing or humming with any headphones? or was this just with IEM's?
Hi Joshua, you showed this in a stack with another product. Do you use these together or was that another amp?
Great video 👍🏻
The other product looks like a Drop THX 789 amp
Or a Monoprice THX 887 maybe
Josh you nail the background music EVERY TIME. It makes sense though, provide audiophile audio for your primarily audiophile audience? Glad I wrote that down by the way, because I could never say that "a gain".
I’m glad I found this review. I recently became an audiophile due to various 3D sound platforms and I really wanted to find something that can do that to all my music.
I bought the portable version blindly, damn. I sold my 1100€ Audio-GD NFB 28.28 right after. It can drive my HD800 fully and the sound is unbelievable, at 280€ there is nothing in the markets that can touch it that price. Its basically same as that table version but less powerfull.
great review as always. You should really have a look at the project audio S2 line. Pre Box S2 Digital with a Head Box S2 for example. Those tiny boxes are amazing!
Joshua, you're one of the best tech reviewers for audio-related products. I enjoy your descriptions of stuff from the audiophile world, filtered and packaged into more palatable servings. Keep this up!
Whoa! The “Dirac” makes a difference. Seems to make it more airy and at times more full of a sound. Also seems to clean up the sound and make it more focused. I think this is a feature I will love. After listening to the demo, it seems this feature might not be great for EDM and Hiphop.
I used to own this dac/amp and ended up not sticking with it. The features where cool but I value modularity more and also you can't use it as just an amp. If you use any other dac then when you plug it in the signal goes through the monoprice dac as well meaning if you get a really nice dac it is wasted on that machine. The Dirac only improved maybe 1% of the music I listened to and actually made gaming a little worse imo. Actually I just traded it out for a 789. It is 300 on drop rn and then a su-8 so for a little more and you get a dac with a remote, sound flavors that I personally enjoy ( tube setting for rap/hip-hop and crystal for rock ) and I have the benefit of being able to switch out the dac or amp when or if I ever want to. Also as a person who works in tech I understand the arguement for having one machine to do it all but the problem with one cohesive thing is when and if there is any problems. If your unit went out after three years you would have to replace the whole thing ( unless repair is an option ) and replacing smaller units is cheaper than bigger machines that do everything.
This looks like a direct competitor to the Schiit Jotunheim. With the AK4490 DAC module it is also priced at $500 and brings the same set of (sonic) features. And has a balanced output. It would be interesting to have a head to head and see how they compare.
Are you planning to review and talk about the cambridge audio dacmagic 200m ? Or talk about MQA? Loving your reviews...keep up the great work.
Dirac mode sounds a bit like the Carver Sonic hologram. It's a signal processor that they included in some of their pieces back in the day. They also produced a small stand-alone unit. It worked by sending a little bit of anti-right in the left signal and a bit of anti-left in the right signal thereby supposedly creating clearer stereo image between a pair of loudspeakers. Oddly enough the effect was still apparent even with headphones but to a lesser degree.
Thanks for the review Joshua, I've just ordered one :) , along with some balanced cables. BTW, the monolith is on sale today at monoprice; but to get it to Switzerland, I had to add in hefty shipping charges.
Could you please share your song playlist? Some of those were really good!
it's there posted by someone in the comments now
Bought this one for my work setup a while ago and love it. Clean and full of power. Works great and for a fraction of the cost of many other dac/amps out there. Competes with my Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ at less than a quarter of the price.
SO Dirac.. Paul Dirac was one of the greatest physicists in the 20th century. His last name is pronounced De - rahk, with the "i" pronounced like the "i" in kit, so the first part of his name would almost be pronounced like Dih - rahk. I'm positive that Monoprice named this technology as a tip of the hat to Paul Dirac, so please don't pronounce it Dee - rack if you can help it. Sorry to be a pronunciation snob. Great vid on a great product as always. This new dac/amp will replace my Khadas Tone Board and Liquid Spark stack within a year or two :)
Just bought the mobile one today. 300 is a chunk of change, but it does so much.
The El Stack II is far superior. You should review it and see the difference! Especially with a T1.2!
I'm currently thinking about getting an Element II. Have you done a side-by-side comparison between the EL stack and the Monolith DAC/AMP? I'm very curious to know what the differences are between them.
@@nathan518 if your gonna get an element II, you might as well get an el stack II. spend the extra $200 or so and you'll never need to worry about an amp/dac being the bottleneck
It would be the best Dac/amp ever if I could buy one haha
How does it compare to Topping DX7 Pro ? As far as measurements go according to ASR , DX7 pro is a better DAC/AMp combo . Whats your opinion ?
If you want the software features, go for this combo. If you don't need or want the software features, go for the DX7.
I found that the value in the thx is to be able to adjust the tuning of your headphone to your desire without any distortion. Sometimes eq on computer or external eq doesn't do enough to really transform the sound of hard to drive headphones. THX desktop backs the software with the power for adjustments to really make a difference and do it cleanly. DX7 Pro is a good enough DAC Amp to be the dac and preout in my reference system. on a desk that value doesn't show through. Thx dac was thin sounding in comparison to the DX7pro in my reference setup Again i can't hear that difference on my computer monitors or headphones. long story short i kept the ThX and returned the dx7pro
Don’t listen to everything ASR says...
Sorry yall might see me commenting a lot on this video. But I don't have much faith in the value of topping products anymore after comparing the d70 dac to the sdac. The $80 sdac has more detail.. So why is the d70 so expensive at $500 if the sound isn't even worth $80? Stick to brands with actual credibility imo.
If you buy either, buy used
Josh, have you reviewed the JDS Labs Element II?
Don’t know what took me so long to subscribe you. Been watching your reviews past couple of months eyeing a good Amp and decided to buy THX 789 last weekend. Keep good stuff going. Cheers!
Yeah I bought it because of his recommendation and it’s the best thing that I’ve bought for my headphones.
Jonny Appleseed what headphones do you use it with? I have 6XX and planning to buy Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro.
The THX hype is really out of control at this point. I personally would listen to an Asgard 3 over any of the THX amps. The Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5 as well. Measurements are only half of the story.
Hazi59 _ let's go! 📈 lol
He should review the RNHP...😎
Thank you for the review. I am pondering adding headphone equipment, and this is probably the best logical choice. But I like Schiit, and especially their team that I have heard in interviews, so it makes a tough decision for me. Money is less of an issue than a self-imposed limit on how stupid I want to be!
for 50$ you can get a used dragonfly that will render mqa, this won't. getting a dac amp combo is not wise since you will probably want to upgrade the dac at some point. no mqa,no free firmware updates like you can get with any audioquest,ps audio or ifi product. as a headphone amp the 789 is sterile and lean make sure you have the warmest sounding headphones and good luck!
Well.... the dirac thing sounds doesn't sound neutral and a bit congested to me
It sounds airless and compressed.
it sounds just like any other soundstage directional DSP to me.
@@gramblor1
but josh said it's an advantage! the next model will have 4 bad sounding presets since it's such a success
@@MuhammadKharismawanyou mean like crap? right?
Josh, would you recommend this DAC/AMP specifically for the Aria? Thanks!
what was the music he used for the sound test?
Also interested..
I have seen this excellent review and it prompted me to buy the Monolith, my first headphone dac/amp ever. Listening through BD DT880 Pro (250ohm) I am really happy - thank you Josh. Question: which powered speakers would you or anyone in the forum recommend as good pairing for the unit. Purpose: all kinds of music. Thanks.
Hey Joshua, I love your review on this DAC/amp
I'm wondering under 300$ which Dac I should invest in, somebody tells me Topping D50s is a good value. From your videos and reviews, I'm trusting you man.
By the way, can you give us songs name that you use to demo out in this video
the drop airist r2r or a used ifi idac2
nothing from topping is good value it's just like all the other chinese brands
you don't plan to review the Topping DX7Pro? it has all that you mentioned, 4.4 bal, Bluetooth, Remote, and measure well. also 200 usd cheaper than what you mentioned you'd pay Monoprice for.
the one crippling limitation of this DAC/AMP as well is IMO its lack of Balanced out. that's kinda no go these days, as really its usually the amp part people would like to upgrade their DAC/AMP from, not the DAC part.
The analog balance inputs are there for Monoprice to be able to fck with the signal with their Dirac and EQ DSP. as it will convert the analog signal to digital then out as analog again.
So really, it's a good amp for an analog source, but IMO with a digital source, it's features are kinda redundant.
I'm looking forward for the JDS Atom DAC.
im using the HD800 and it sounds good on both, dirac puts stuff more to the middle but tbh i think the dirac base was better somehow, with dirac things become more like dolby atmosish. Tbh honest dirac function on a pc would lift PC games alot in somé kind of 3d kind of way more over head. I liked the Dirac, dont forget that they are one of the best auto calibration on AVR:s NAD,Arcam use them
Hey Joshua, have you ever experience connectivity issues with this AMP/DAC unit? I found myself having to shut the unit off and turning it back on when I lose the audio signal. Weird since the PC still sees the AMP/DAC connected.
In my case all good on 2 different PC's with same drivers in Win10/Win11. But for some reason on an Ipad pro the audio is much lower in volume.
With the 789 @ $300 right now it's a hard choice if your buying.
I wish you would list the names of the songs you demo! Nice video, though.
I was planning on picking up a JDS Element II, but if this happens to drop in price, I might pick these up.
Would you say that these are worth the extra over the element ii?