Should You Buy The Monolith THX 887?
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- Опубликовано: 24 сен 2024
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This video has inspired me to burn all my equipment and move to Egypt. Ty, you saved my life.
I like your reviews and your voice is so good. Please keep making more stuff
I certainly intend to, thanks
@@NoThemeReviews do you mind also posting quick short hits in addition to these longer vids?
@@Ryezn5057 no please
I was actually able to pick up the 889 used for $125 to upgrade the power from my Atom Amp+ which sells for about same price. I agree with you though at $400 there are cheaper alternatives. But in the used market they 789 & 899 both sell under $150.
For that price i believe there is value.
Fantastic point of view. Not that I was planning to buy 887 or 789 but at least that's makes me happy about my decision of buying HD6xx + SMSL-Sp200 when they were/are 180 and 140$ respectively ..... as my first purchase.
sorry, what amp do you recomend for Ayra V2? im using D50s as Dac.... thx for you help.
Hello, I recently discovered your channel and I'm really enjoying it. I own the gsp500 with the gsx1000 and I think about buying a smsl 200 thx888 + smsl su-8 + akg712pro and also the 6xx, do I go well with this set? because i can always connect the gsx1000 to thx so as not to lose 7.1, not that i use it a lot, it is more for watching movies and some games, in fps i like the most is that i turn off 7.1. or go for jds element II that makes of dac and amp? element II always on the desk looks better, not that it is a priority above the sound quality. since i am from europe the prices for smsl 200 is 300 € - smsl su-8 is 200 € and jds labs is 450 €. Thanks and continue a good work
Hi. I do t think you’re getting a whole lot for the THX/SMSL combo. The SP200 is probably a little more powerful than the Element, but the Element will easily drive the headphones you plan to use. The Element is neutral and silent. Consequently, the SP200 won’t add anything in that regard-that is, the SP200 won’t be audibly more silent. I think you will get very similar sound out either option. So...whichever you choose I think is fine.
No Theme Reviews thank you very much for the answer, I will probably go to element II. as for soundstage, are there any differences? I particularly like that factor both for music and for playing
Soundstage isn’t a factor for dacs and amps. The vast majority of people keep saying the opposite. Soundstage is the combination of how the audio was originally recorded/mixed and the headphone drivers. Amp/dacs don’t change that at all. I think what people are actually hearing is the character of an amp or Dac-some have less or more bass detail or more treble extension, and think this is soundstage being affected.
No Theme Reviews thank you very much, it helped me a lot 👍
No Theme Reviews I was also researching the schiit hell (240 €) or the modi 3 + magni 3plus (240 €) that already saved some money, but I don't know if it reaches the level of the element jds.
Can't you use the balanced outputs from an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett or M-Audio Air instead of buying a separate balanced dac? That's what I was planning on doing since I already own an interface.
Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I don’t think either of these interfaces has a balanced headphone out. Moreover, the real issue with audio interfaces is that they do not have headphone amplification that can drive higher impedance headphones.
@@NoThemeReviews thanks for replying. I meant using the balanced line outputs in the back that are intended for speakers. They're TRS 1/4 balanced. And going from that to the amp's XLR. Some interfaces like the Scarlett 4i4 and Komplete Audio 6 by native instruments have more than 2 of those outputs on the back.
@@NoThemeReviews So it seems like this isn't as straight forward as I thought. My SMSL Sanskrit's micro USB port recently went bad and cuts out with the slightest movement to the USB cable connecting it to my PC. I have a Komplete Audio 6 interface on hand which I use for my microphone input and studio monitors, it has 4 balanced 1/4 in. outputs and I was waiting on TRS to XLR cables to come in the mail. They arrived today, I hooked up a Liquid Platinum amp to the Komplete Audio 6 and it sounds horrible. Running the same 24bit 192000hz sample rate as the Sanskrit. I was hoping to avoid purchasing a balanced DAC, but with the non-existent customer support from SMSL I might have to.
Love my Schiit Jotunheim 2 for its musical warmth, soul, and engagement. I added a THX 789 to my rack because I wanted a clean, detailed, reference amp to complement it. I liked the 789 for orchestral music especially due to its clean detailed presentation, but it sounded harsh in the highs to my ears, even paired with my warm DAC (the original Modi Multibit, using RCA to XLR cable). So I sold the 789 and got this THX 887 amp from Monoprice to replace it. While I did not do a direct A/B comparison, I can tell you this 887 is to my ears a noticeable step up in sound and tonal balance as it does not grate my ears with sharp treble detail like the 789 did. Much smoother up top than the 789. You might even say softer. I don't personally feel I am missing any detail. I am using the same DAC, the OG Modi Multibit. This pairing is surprisingly great. You're getting thick warm signal from the DAC into an excellent measuring, clean/detailed-sounding amp that just gives you the music. Overall, I am pleased with this purchase and can confidently say that all the audio pundits who told you this 887 amp is no different sonically to the 789 were wrong. You get what you pay for and this amp is a great value and an upgrade to the 789, which is also a great value in its own right being at a lower cost than this amp. I would recommend choosing this one over the 789 if your budget can allow.
Maybe someone here can help me. I'm primarily looking into the 887 for the power output. My current Topping A50s doesn't have enough headroom for my HiFiMan HE6SE's (Plus my Sennheiser 660s is also balanced). I was really considering the Schiit Magnius for cheaper. However reviews keep saying they don't deliver as much punch as the 887 (which needing that is where the HE6SE's shine). Everything is leading me to the 887 fitting my needs.
You spent so many video on 887. They must have been really of an impact for you whether is good or not, well i think on the negative side. Starting from the warranty period which you don't agree on "3 Years" or can't accept it it. Yes you are trying to let ppl know there are other alternative which is good. Still trying too hard is not so good. Actually when the 887 launch, 789 was still having problem with their supply. Thats when most ppl went for the 887, the 789 stock available coz noone buying it. Hope you realized this. That is 1 of the issue ppl not buying the 789 and "3 years warranty" yes or not at least 1 year. Anyway glad you spend so much time on it reviewing to us. Definitely comparing to those much higher price Amp only, is still better value. You should also comparing to more expensive Amp only unit. That is actually the creation of this THX, powerful yet noiseless. Let us know more. Thank you so much anyway.
Other reviewers do a quick review of a product; I don't. I uploaded multiple videos on products because I want to document the experience. Some or all of the things I mention may not apply to others; but it is important to have the information nonetheless. As I said in the video, the 887 is a fine amplifier. It just isn't compelling in light of all the alternatives. As for the 789 supply issue, in the United States the 789 was available when the 887 became available to purchase. As for the warranty--I've argued about this many times. Monolith does NOT have a real warranty. A vague statement that their products have a "3 year warranty" doesn't say what's covered. And it doesn't say HOW it's covered. For example, if your Monolith product breaks, Monolith can choose to give you some, all, or no money back and still claim it is following the "3 year warranty".
@omegaorgun I'm glad they took care of you.
nice review. Thinking about upgrading my current setup, but not sure at all. currently I'm using Fostex T60rp + Liquid Spark + Fiio K3s. LS runs the Fostexes pretty wel even on default gain (1pm is enough loudness for me). but thinking to upgrade to 887(with the current discount of 200 euros). don't sure will I see any improvents in sounstage, details, etc comparing with LS. from other side I can purchase a Aune X7s, which tends to bee a little bit more warm amp and it's class A amp. but it's only 1.7W on 32Ohm with balanced output (887 6W on 32Ohm)
Excellent video! A lot of audio objectivists deride subjectivists at the same time as chasing improvements in measured performance which are way beyond audibility. To me that is just another form of subjectivism. I think certain websites obsessing over measurements and SINAD are now not much better than the golden ear sites they hate.
huh?
Will you do a review for JDS Lab Element 2? Maybe compare Monoprice THX desktop Dac/Amp with it? I wonder if balanced output do affect much. Note: I am using Sundara and HD660s and planning to get one of them,I am not on the THX hype train but curious about Dirac, but the Elements looks so cool.
Probably not. I can’t justify getting version 2 when the upgrades don’t affect my setup and listening preferences.
@@NoThemeReviews what about upgrading from single to balanced, is it worth it?
@@sicebae4988 No, rarely. Balanced used to be meaningful when the single ended was too noisy. But modern amps have dead silent single ended output. The only benefit to balanced is the higher power output. But, you'll have to invest in balanced cables, and if your headphones aren't ready for balanced input to begin with...that conversion can be costly.
@@NoThemeReviews Thank you for replying me, it helps a lot. I got Sundara and HD660S right now, I think I am going to get some periapt cable anyway to replace the stock crappy cable of Sundara. I was worried because I saw many reviews on the Sundara and they all use custom balanced cable to test it, that why I wonder would there be a different.
Well...the Sundara standard cable is pretty cheap. A lot of people upgrade cables for aesthetics and if they have a balanced amp, it makes sense to get balanced cables. But buying a balanced amp to buy balanced cables is a little shaky.
I enjoy my THX DAC/AMP :) thanks for the video though.
Having a k5 pro honestly the only reason im interested in the thx amps is to check out how "balanced" supposedly affects the detail.
Having demoed a few high power 3+w amps im honestly disillusioned with infinite scaling memes.
That being said how do the thx amps fair with harder to drive planars?
I can't speak for the Sp200, but the Massdrop and Monolith products all drive planars easily--but planars tend to be easy to drive (except for a few Hifiman and Fostex).
I currently have the K5 pro aswell, did you have a chance to A/B test these and any THX amp, I am considering upgrading my k5 pro to a Monoprice THX DAC/AMP (the one with the screen) but I am terrified of pulling the trigger because I'm scared I won't hear any difference...
Monolith/Monoprice 887 has been $250 for a while now. 3 year Warranty is the real appeal when comparing them
I let a buddy of mine get me into this hobby but was disappointed with my new gear. I have a Schiit Valhalla/Bifrost 2 stack (using SE) but to get to the head room I prefer, find way to much distortion for my liking so looking to go solid state for a cleaner/different sound signature. Of course money is somewhat of an option but like everyone else, would like to find my end game. Here looking to purchase an 887 to go with the bifrost. I have the 1990 pros and Sennheiser 58X. Would the 887 be a step up or would you move along? Topping A90 or way on up to a class A amp perhaps? Not looking for more disappointment so just throwing it out there. Any recommendations appreciated.
Yeah, the tubes on the Valhalla will add distortion. I think the 887 is a fine amp, but so are many others. Neither the 1990 nor the 58x require the amount of power the 887, 789, and SMSL SP200 provide. I think that's just overkill for the vast majority of headphones. In my experience, the Magni 3 Heresy, Monolith Liquid Spark, Schiit Jotunheim, JDS Labs Element, and Monolith THX Portable all provide plenty of power and amplification for those two headphones.
IMO, the biggest craze about the 789, 887, and SP200 is the THX integration and noise floor. But those are pointless specs since you'll be hard-pressed to find a modern solid state amp with audible distortion or noise. It does happen from time to time, but not often.
You may want to think about plans for more power hungry headphones. For example, if you intend to buy something like the Argon, then you really should match an amp that has at least 1w into 50 ohms. But headphones like the Argon are rare.
@@NoThemeReviews Understood. My plan will be to upgrade cans later so needing something that will handle planers also. Overkill is where I would prefer to be. Leaning towards the 887 or Liquid Platinum. I'm not a bass head but find both dynamics I have to be a little bass light. Any overkill recommendations? LOL
Lol. The 887 is pretty killer in that case. Or you could head over to the Flux Audio website and check out their outrageous power headphone amps. I’ve never heard them.
I highly recommend checking SMSL SP200 + M300 combo for "balanced/symmetrical" audio!
YFRYT The SMSL SP200 has a pure single ended circuit.
@@カカロット-y6r as an amplifier - yes, it transforms BA to SE and it can be used with XLR cables but DAC is balanced so you have a choice if needed. It is budget solution but works for many types of headphones.
YFRYT yes correct. 👋🏻
@@カカロット-y6r The SP200 has some clear problems with channel imbalance at lower levels. Look that up mostly for IEMs
Balanced is design to lower the noise but with THX tech. you don't need balanced amp. And drop 789 is not true balance the volume contact is stereo not four contacts XLR input advantage over RCA is only Voltage.
I have the zen dac and the thx desktop. I like both equally. To my ears zen dac is very warm but no distortion. On some of my head phones i perfur the zen dac over thx
Me too. The Zen Dac is very easy to listen to.
Thanks for a very informative video! I'm planning of getting into headphones and I'm considering either hifiman sundara + monolith 788 dac/amp or hifiman ananda / audeze lcd2c + the zen dac. Where do you think my money is better spent?
I can’t tell you where to spend your money-though I can say whether something is overpriced for performance and the company’s claims. You may like either of your setups or neither. If you want my general impressions, then it would help to know what type of sound signature you prefer, why these components and their setups are your choices, if you plan to upgrade in the near future and what your budget is.
@@NoThemeReviews Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm looking to spend no more than the 1200 usd that the lcd2c and ifi dac combo would cost me. Ideally I don't plan on upgrading any time soon. Since I'm just getting in to the headphone game I'm not sure on what sound signature I'm going for but I listen to rock, vocals and classical music.
Hmm. Well, what’s your experience with headphones and can you tell me which headphones you didn’t like? Also, is there a reason why you’re leaning towards the LCd2?
@@NoThemeReviews I've listened mainly to Sennheisers in the past. 555, 650 and drop 6xx. Liked the clarity and detail. Also tried the focal elear which I found a bit harsh.
@@dagu2105 You might prefer slightly U-shaped or warm sounding headphones. The LCD2 certainly fits that general impression. One major issue with all Audeze headphones is their mids-forward presentation which can sometimes be harsh with female vocalists. But, the Zen Dac might be able to tame that just enough.
I think the Zen Dac is a fantastic bargain. It does everything anyone would want a desktop amp to do within reason, and is powerful enough to drive 300 ohm headphones. Its sound is a little U-shaped, wherein sub-bass and mid-bass meld to create a thicker bass response, and there is a slight bump in treble. I don't think that bump is harsh, but you might disagree.
The Sundara is more neutral than the LCD2, but is a bit bass lean. You don't really get the impression it is a warm sounding headphone, and frankly, Hifiman is not known for that type of signature anyway.
If you get a chance, take a look at the Audioquest Nighthawk. It's discontinued, but hands down is one of the smoothest, warmest, most analog sounding headphones I've heard. Or, try the Meze 99 Classic.
I think when someone thinks of buying an Audeze headphone they should seriously consider cheaper alternatives. Audeze stuff isn't worth its price tag. You might be very happy with the LCD2 when you hear it, but there is no denying the fact that Audeze's gear is not better than cheaper options.
For what it is worth I have tried a few of the amps mentioned including the q5s with the am3d thx module and it really doesn't make a ton of difference to me. I don't have IEM's (yet) so no comment there but as far as headphones are concerned I heard nothing compared to my atom on my dynamic headphones from 32-300 ohms so I would say if you like the sound go for it, if not there are tons of options out there.
Since we're on the subject and I was absolutely planning on getting a 887 or 789, what would your suggestion be if......
I wanted a balanced amp that had a 4.4mm connection as well as having zero noise and the imperceptible distortion you discussed.
That’s easy. iFi Zen Dac. Neither the 789 nor 887 nor 888 have 4.4mm jacks. But if you’re only interested in the 789 and 887, then I suggest the 789. Monolith’s warranty is speculative and the 789 is slightly smaller and has an easier to decipher volume dial
@@NoThemeReviews i wasn't firm on the thx amps, they were just high on the list of what i wanted vs what I could afford. I'm definitely open to other options. Hell, I would get the Magni Heresy if it had a 4.4mm connection.
In that case, the Zen Dac is definitely worth looking at.
What about the Topping DX7 PRO? is rocking in all reviews
@No Theme Reviews is the Monolith THX AAA a real balanced Amp? Are the rear XLR inputs real balanced input or just there for convenience?
As far as I know, it is fully balanced.
@@NoThemeReviews in Germany, they cost 279€ right now and I need an inexpensive headphone Amp with balanced input. Should I get this? Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
The 887 is a fine amp. I know the SP200 has gotten a lot of hype as well, though I haven’t used it. The iFi Zen Can is also a very good option. I think the Topping L50 is balanced, but I’m not sure.
@@NoThemeReviews thanks. I have checked the topping l50 and It's not balanced. The zen can is a good option with caveats, namely, it needs cable(4.4mm to XLR) and power supply which brings it to the same price of Monolith THX AAA. I hate smsl brand. I should say that I don't care about the hype around THX Aaa. I just need balanced input and good sound for the money. I have watched your review of topping A30. It costs 350€ here and it's expensive, not worth ii. 280€ for Monolith is not inexpensive but doable. Now I should decide between zen can and Monolith THX AAA. Which one would you prefer?
I prefer the Zen Can. It’s smaller and I am not a fan of bulky XLR connections.
So what do you suggest to get that will be great with a buyer dynamic 990 limited edition headphones
250 ohms
Doesn’t matter. Use whatever amp is in your budget and has the features you want.
Thorough and accurate…I picked up an 887 for $249 and I do really like it.
Also, I hate DROP so there’s that. The 887 also improves the warranty to 3 years so not too bad if you’re in the right place at the right time like I was.
Otherwise yes, THX and it’s 00001% is just to please the whiney Reddit babies. They knew as soon as ASR gave the “go-ahead” they’d sell a lot of 887s.
man, you just save me few hundreds - thank you ;-)
YT is full of hypes... all paid "independent" promotions ;-)
btw ifi ZEN DAC is NOT ENOUGH clean power for Sundara ;-(
Try the Magni.
@@NoThemeReviews Thank you - I ordered ifi ZEN CAN - let me see what it can do ;-)
Yep, I use Magni 3 (not even 3+) and that is good clean power for my Sundara at high gain. Sounds beautiful.
The THX 887 is on sale for just $250 right now!!
I just returned a hip dad because it was to lazy sounding and i cant think the zen dac is that much better?
iFi doesn't say which dacs are in either device--just that both use BB. I've listened to both, and they sound pretty similar to me. If you dislike the Zen Dac, I wouldn't bet you will like the Hip Dac. You might prefer a different sound signature, especially with the headphones you are using.
With the 888 going for $260 (e-bay), and the 789 going for $299 now, its hard to justify the 887 at $400.
I'm/was interested on this THX 887 because other reviews. I want a "not-colored" amplifier. One that sounds "pure". It doesn't need to be balanced if it is better and for now as budget is a problem during a pandemic I will put the amplifier connected to a Focusrite Solo Gen3 with line cables to xlr which I already have. They will drive my upcoming Ollo S4X, Monolith M1060, Sony MDR XB700 and Bose QC25 but for most the first two. Do you guys have any recommendations?
You have a number of excellent options: NX4, 789, 887, JDS Element, Schiit Heresy, Rupert Neve. There are other USB amp/dacs that are also neutral: Ikko Zerda, Monolith USB Dac, Lotoo Paw S1, Cobalt.
@@NoThemeReviews thank you man!
@@NoThemeReviews but the Rupert Neve is priced even higher than this and as per your own review sounds basically the same. With less features, (less, headphone outputs, for one). Why would he go for that one instead of this one then? Is there something I’m missing?
@@kencur9690 He asked for recommendations, which is what I provided. I have no idea what his requirements are or what he will end up liking, so it's always better to give multiple options and let him research and decide.
@@NoThemeReviews you haven’t answered the question: you explicitly described that option as an “excellent” one. Meanwhile, you spent a whole video saying the THX was far from an excellent choice. So, to be clear, my question is what would make a higher priced, less featured, same-sounding amp an “excellent option” when he can have a same-sounding, less costly, more featured THX?
I have the Heresy & the 789 sounds noticeably better. When you live with the Heresy over time you get channel imbalance, noise, static etc. I did. Not in the THX.
a year later the 887 sales for $250 from Monolith
would this sound good with shure srh1540?
Of course
@@NoThemeReviews should i use balanced output or it doesn’t matter?
It doesn’t matter. Balanced output’s only meaningful difference is higher power output. The 1540 won’t need the extra power.
@@NoThemeReviews so in practice if I would use balanced output it would mean that headphones would be louder right? Thanks for answers btw. I’m total newbie in Hi fi 😂
Yes, that’s the general idea.
I thought the sp200 was a good choice, no external transformer, compact.... and by the way... im loving the 880s with my x7s, just bought the 880s, thanks for the reviews!
Oh I’m sure it’s a fine choice. There are some build issues, but nothing major, as far as I know.
Have you heard the thx 888 hpa-4?
No
@@NoThemeReviews people gush over it. I hope you get to hear it. Not THD and noise but sound quality is slightly better according to them
@@nicktan4530 Oh, I'd definitely listen to the Benchmark amps given a chance. But they're so expensive and so niche, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy one.
@@NoThemeReviews Have you heard any amp that cost more than $500 ? Sound any better ?
@@nicktan4530 Oh sure. I have the Brooklyn Dac+, Feliks Audio Euphoria, Pathos Aurium, Woo Audio WA7 2nd gen, iFi Pro iCan, and several others. Some of these sound different because of tube implementation. But the Brooklyn sounds pretty much like the THX amps. If I pay very close attention there are some differences in clarity and resolution--but that probably has more to do with the dacs than the amplification.
The law of diminishing returns applies with audio gear. A $2000 amp/dac won't sound $1600 better than the 789. It's just minor audible differences; you're paying for the features, build, and brand.
Wow, awesome 25min excursion into THX which I did love and your insights were quite something!. OK now that I have paid homage to you and your channel, can I please pick your brain? From a pro audio perspective (aka home recording studios) I find it incredibly annoying using the headphone jacks of mixers or sound cards which just cannot handle good quality headphones. I know there are pro audio type of headphone amps but these are usually rackable with a pick your flavour of 4,8 or 10 headphone outputs for the performers! Nope, not my cup of tea. My arrival into your circles is bcos I am hunting to get a really good analog headphone amp that can process solid balanced signals into revealing and transparent audio unlike the trash that gets included among the myriad circuits in a typical audio mixer. Coming off those headphones is like such a mismatch with my Beyers and with something that is 250 Ohms just forget it .. there is no such power in those built-in headphone sockets. So, quite simply, is this THX Monolith just the thing for my balanced analog input to drive all sorts of headphones plus IEMs as well? If you have better recommendations in the analog realm please let me know. My digital connections are already made with my 24 bit sound card via USB and that is effectively my DAC which feeds my mixer. Thank a ton and good day to you! PS. Was also considering the SMSL SP200 but as that may not be suitable for IEMs I sorta put it in the back burner.
I am also sorry I deleted my previous post as I thought I might be ranting about the quality of the finish of the Monolith. However to reinerate I am not impressed with its finish and doubtful about the component quality inside now that I know they are sourced from people like ZWEE connector people in china who basically make cheap knockoff connectors and jacks. The industry standard is Neutrik mostly, and why the heck Monolith would not use something like that on a $400 instrument when all others seem to use it in this price range is beyond me! Makes me doubt the overall quality and realiability in the long run. Proabably the THX license is the best thing going in this unit and all else is very breakable inside I would say! Cheers.
Hmmm. I understand your conundrum. I split my mic input and headphone output as well. I think the 887 is a fine amp, but overkill for nearly everyone. There are little issues here and there that become evermore annoying as time passes. For example, the lack of visual feedback on the volume knob is often problematic when I'm switching headphones. Then there's the overall build; it's fine but the workmanship on the knobs and buttons is clearly of lower grade than of the 789. As for the SMSL, I'd probably steer away. Although people do like it, the build quality is hit and miss, and I don't think people should excuse the build when the thing costs $300.
I think if you're looking at the $400 range you have many excellent options for both balanced and unbalanced connection. I'm not a proponent of balanced connection in modern devices. I think it's a waste. Power output on single ended is purposefully hampered so companies can throw in balanced topography to increase the price or pretend their products are "professional grade."
Anyway, you do have a wide swathe of possibilities.
FOR BALANCED:
1. Massdrop 789. It's still the best built THX amp in this price range. It's now cheaper than the 887, and since there are no sonic differences between the two amplifiers, it just comes down to build and power output.
2. Aune X7S. I've had this amp for over 2 years and think it's fantastic. It's a fairly analytical amplifier, but not harsh. The build is excellent. Unfortunately, it's been overshadowed by the THX hype of recent years.
3. Schiit Jotunheim. Good build and plenty powerful. Nearly all Schiit products have a slightly grainy sound, which Schiit prefers, I think. It's not bad, but pairs a lot better with neutral or warmer headphones than with something like the DT990.
4. Rupert Neve Headphone Amplifier. There's two versions of this; the $1200 unit is the same thing, but has wood accents. Ignore that one. The RNHP is one of the best built audio gear I have ever used. RN intelligently uses top-quality components without resorting to THX nonsense. It has balanced input and is fully balanced to the 1/4" out. It's not all that powerful, and really can't drive 600 ohm headphones, but anything up to 300 ohms works perfectly. The sound signature is fairly neutral. It's pretty expensive for what it is, and many times I've thought about selling mine...but it's just unique enough to keep.
5. Monolith 887. I'm putting this on the list merely because it is within the price range, and does what Monolith says. I just don't see the benefit of spending money on the 887 when the 789 is available for cheaper.
FOR UNBALANCED
1. JDS Labs El Amp. JDS Labs makes fantastic gear; it's not the most powerful nor is it made of metal, but they have very high quality parts and excellent customer support.
2. Schiit Magni 3 Heresy. Very powerful, really well built, and has a more neutral sound signature than the rest of Schiit's line. It's one of my favorite amps, and for just over $100, it's a definite bargain.
3. iBasso P5 Falcon. This is a pretty unique amp. It's not the most powerful, but has a trick up its sleeve. You can dock it to its desktop power supply, or take it with you as a portable battery-power amplifier. It's got a slightly warm sound signature--but not by much. Very clean sound without any audible distortion or noise with headphones.
4. Monolith Liquid Spark. Very well built, powerful, and reliable. It has a slightly different sound than the Heresy and El Amp. Those are more neutral than the LS, which has an analytical tilt to it--though still not harsh. Just minor differences among them.
COMBO UNITS
I think combo units might also have some benefit, especially if you can't find an amp that you like.
1. Monolith THX Desktop. It's expensive, but has great build, neutral sound, plenty of amplification, and a feature set that is hard to find in amp/dac combos at any price.
2. JDS Labs Element. One of my favorite combo units; it is made of all metal, has a smooth turning volume knob, is neutral and exhibits no noise at all, and can easily drive 250 ohm headphones.
3. iFi Zen Dac. One of the best bargains you can find. It's got balanced input and output, a superb sound signature that is just a tad bit warm and smooth, and supports MQA. Its specs show laughable amplification numbers, but don't be fooled. This thing can drive high impedance headphones up to 300 ohms.
Hopefully this will give you plenty to think about. Don't buy into the Mojo hype. It's a faulty product that will be a money pit. Don't worry about THX or THD numbers. If the specs show less than 0.1% THD, you'll never hear it.
@@NoThemeReviews You are truly awesome and thanks a ton for your detailed reply with model suggestions. What about the Topping A50 unbalanced or the A90 which is balanced. Seems to be getting a good rap especially with the A90 making THX irrelevant is what I heard someone say! I need something to drive the 600 Ohm category as well for mixing/mastering headphones. I would have plonked for that Rupert Neve RNHP but touching A$1000 is not that fun, although I am sure his circuits are brilliant like his transformers in mic pres and processors Plus you have highlighted how it is not all that powerful. I spotted a Monolith THX 887 balanced until this A90 came up and now I am wondering if A90 is actually the better choice. Cheers mate, I will decide soon and also not everything you mentioned is available here in Australia without having to wait for weeks and weeks as guys down here stock not much of this stuff. Amazon Australia does not have the same as Amazon USA and not everything is available for shipping here from your Amazon. So we end up hunting wherever we can including eBay! Thanks a ton again .. you are great and I have subbed to you and will be dropping in from now on. Have a great day.
Eh, the A50 and A90 aren't that impressive if you take a step back and think it over. The A50 is severely underpowered; for less money you can get the Zen Dac that has a dac built in. The A90's numbers might seem compelling at first, until you think about what you're actually getting. The 7w into 16ohms is a total gimmick. Nobody needs that much power into sensitive IEMs or headphones. The only thing that matters is linearity in power output. For your purposes, the A90 supposedly has 1w for 300ohms, which will be plenty for anyone. But I can't shake the feeling that you're paying $500 for very little.
@@NoThemeReviews Thanks man .. that is sound advice indeed. I dropped the Toppings like a hot potatoe! So finally today after looking around and I couldn't really be bothered waiting around for 2 months to get something from Amazon, so I plonked for the Monolith THX 887 2nd hand from a guy on eBay who upgraded to Chord Hugo II or something he was telling me. He is now trying to sell his home contents .. haha!! The Monolith appears to be in new condition and I paid A$550 for it which equates to around US$380 .. not bad I thought. So here we come THX .. something that is not exactly your understudy?! hahaha. I had to be practical and get things going and I need a bit of power. By the way, can I plug 2 headphones around 80 Ohms into the 1/4" and the 3.5mm and not lose efficiency? Will the output be the same? Cheers and keep up the awesome work .. your channel looks amazing. Goodday!
What is this? What are you trying to communicate with this video??
Just shot the THX 887 for 204€ Tax Included!
Good price!
@@NoThemeReviews is on sale actually 🙃
I couldn't finish watching the video not gonna lie. I'm only trying to get into the hobby right now (I don't even have an amp yet) and it felt like this review was talking down to me.
I’m sorry you felt that way. But my reviews are the among the most down to earth and no-frills as they come. Do you have a specific question that I might be able to answer?
@@NoThemeReviews No need to apologize just trying to be down to earth and no-frillls myself. I really just wanted to see if it came with any cables for a balanced set up or if I would have to get them separately.
Nope. You have to buy connections separately. But that’s true for any of these amps. Friendly advice: if you buy an amp and are looking for cables, just buy something under $50. Pricier cables do absolutely nothing, despite some audiophiles claiming otherwise.
@@NoThemeReviews Yeah I wasn't planning on really looking that hard for them. Do you just look for them on amazon? Under XLR /rca connectors?
Yes
Lmao recommending ifi zen dac it's worse than even gaming dac amps, portables. You can just use your desktop pc, laptop or phone instead of ifi zen crap. You are unnecessarily attacking to this product. THX 789 is not available all time and it's drop only. Monoprice edged it out and offered an alternative which we can buy in europe too. It's a great product overall if you are not hyped and expecting miracles from it. It's a flawless single ended and balanced amp with great modern design, buttons etc... It probably does not sound better than something like Atom (atom has low power let's say Heresy) but it offers different things.
I personally recommend buying cheap dac amps, something like Schiit stack and investing more on headphones but this product is great overall package for people looking for more. Even though it's pointless it's still better than 789 objectively for what it's worth and it's subjectively better for me because of it's design aesthetics.
It’s great you think the Zen Dac doesn’t cut it for you. But I think it’s rather obnoxious you can’t be bothered to explain why. If you’re going to dissuade people from buying a product, do the courtesy of saying in unambiguous terms the reasons for your conclusion. You think people should buy a product that costs nearly 4x because you think the Zen Dac is worse than gaming dacs?? I’d love to know how you got that impression-since your premise is outlandish on its face. Please, if you intend to make such bombastic comments, go a few steps further and demonstrate your rationale-which I expect is based on personal use of the product. As for the 789, it is widely available in the West. It is cheaper than the 887. I wish you’d actually listen to what I say instead of imagining my comments out of thin air. I’m not “attacking to this product”-whatever the hell thats supposed to mean. Simply because YOU like it doesn’t mean others have to. Not does your subjective opinion outshine more objective comparisons. Recommend the 887 all you want. Just explain to people why.
@@NoThemeReviews Just check out ASR review of it. It's incompetent product in every way and power output ridiculously low even compared to small portable amps. You can just use what you have instead of wasting money on this.
Clearly you didn't understand what i said above. I actually agree with you and i recommend cheap dac amps as well but your video review is hysterical and unnecessarily offensive towards this product.
ASR is often wrong about product performance. Concentrating on specs alone is wildly misleading. It should be obvious of ASR’s limitations since it spends at best a few sentences on sound. The887 is fine if you want to overpay. Go ahead. It’s your money. But don’t expect reasonable people to be swayed by ASR’s laughable “reviews”. And since you haven’t actually listened or used the Zen Dac, maybe it would be wiser to limit your opinions to those products which you have used. What gives you any authority to speak on matters for which you have no experience? Im sorry; I’m not trying to be harsh but it’s rather silly to discuss a subject for which you have only second or third hand information.
You totally overlooked the Monolith 788 THX AAA DAC Amp by Monoprice. The DAC has dual AKM 4493 chips, has a 5 band user definable 5 band parametric EQ, Dirac II surround, and dynamic range control. All that for only $500, and occassiinally goes on sale for $450. Its a phenomenal value for all the features and performance it offers.
This was a test between desktop amps. I’ve previously reviewed the 788 vs its desktop counterparts.
@@NoThemeReviews Gotcha...right...your points are true...but I think Monolith nailed it with the THX 788 Dac/amp with its built in DAC that offers so many sound processing features. For what it does, its a steal. As far as I know, the closest competitor for matching features is the RME ADI 2 PRO, that sells 3-4x as much.
Yes, the RME offers a LOT more features than the 788 dac amp, but does anything else compare as closely as those 2 do?
Disabled your like to dislike ratio... lol
Me and a lot of reviewers. I suppose we’re tired of the spam dislikes