[escalibur]

Drop + THX AAA ONE Linear Amplifier

• Ultra-low distortion AAA™ circuit with high-voltage swing
• Ultra-low noise THX architecture (less than 1 uV of output noise)
• Power to drive demanding headphones with ease (Up to 2000 mW at 32 Ohms, 1000 mW at 16 Ohms, and 275 mW at 300 Ohms)
• 3-position gain switch (allows for fine-tuning of signal-to-noise with any headphone or IEM)
• Ultra-low noise pre-amplifier output (Use the ONE to drive active desktop speakers or a dedicated power amplifier in a home stereo setup, and easily switch between headphone-out and pre-out with a dedicated button)
• High-quality aluminium chassis (which also works to shield the electronics from RF and other external noise)

https://drop.com/talk/35725/introducing-drop--thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier



An interesting model which might be the reason for 789's recent price drop. Based on the features and photo it shouldn't be very expensive.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Will be interesting to see where they price it.

 

[escalibur]

Will be interesting to see where they price it.

Indeed. I think it's gonna be priced to compete with JDS Atom, Schiit Magni 3+ & Heresy, Topping A50 (and soon-to-be released A50s) and other $99 - $199 amps.

 

[Eddie C]

I was just about to pick up a liquid spark or magni, definitely excited for this drop!!

 

[Guidostrunk]

Hopefully people won't have to wait 6+months to get it. Lol

 

[stimuz]

dunno why they didn't make it a budget dac amp

 

[escalibur]

Target price seems to be $199.

 

[escalibur]

The pre-orders have started at $149. Estimated ship date is Mar 5, 2021 PT.

Also Drop has updated the full specs:

SPECS
General

• All parameters measured at 0 dB gain, 1 kHz, with unbalanced inputs and 300-ohm load unless otherwise noted
• Inputs: Stereo RCA gold-plated
• Outputs: 1/4 in (6.35 mm), TRS gold-plated Neutrik, Stereo RCA preamp gold-plated
• Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.03 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Input impedance: 1 kOhms
• Crosstalk: -93 dB, 300 ohms: 0.002240%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 300 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch
• Chassis: High-grade CNC-milled aluminum with bead-blasted finish
• Power supply: 30 VDC inline brick, universal input 100 – 240 VAC
• Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.2 in (20.7 x 20.6 x 30 cm)
• Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.3 kg)

Single-Ended Output

• Output power: 1500 mW, 16 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 2700 mW, 32 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 280 mW, 300 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output power: 140 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• THD: -142 dB, 300 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000008%
• THD: -118 dB, 300 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000126%
• THD: -120 dB, 32 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000100%
• THD: -130 dB, 32 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000032%
• THD: -117 dB, 16 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000140%
• THD: -132 dB, 16 ohms, 100 mW: 0.000025%
• IMD: -114 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 7 kHz, 300 ohms, 1 V: 0.000398%
• IMD: -131 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 300 ohms, 1V: 0.000028%
• Crosstalk: -93 dB, 300 ohms: 0.002240%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 300 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch
• Output impedance: < 0.1 ohms

Preamp Output

• Output voltage: 9.0 V / +21 dBu, <1% THD, 600 ohms load
• Output power: 140 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD (watts per channel)
• Output impedance: < 0.1 ohms
• THD: -142 dB, 600 ohms, 1 mW: 0.000008%
• THD: -118 dB, 600 ohms, 50 mW: 0.000126%
• IMD: -114 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 7 kHz, 600 ohms, 1 V: 0.000398%
• IMD: -131 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 600 ohms, 1V: 0.000028%
• Crosstalk: -110 dB, 600 ohms: 0.000300%
• Noise (A-wt): 0.95 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 140.2 dB, 600 ohms, <10% THD
• Gain: 0.25x , 1.0x, 4.0x (-12, 0, +12 dB), selectable via front switch

 

[Blizniak]

Looks good for 150 but the wait time kills it for now, at 200 I'd probably look for a used Asgard 3 or something.

 

[leeperry]

ship date is ludicrous and pulling the trigger will encourage them on this path

 

[Lambeek]

Mar 5, 2021?? Forget about it..

 

[gooeyrich]

Would this be an upgrade to the Atom/Magni/Liquid Spark?

 

[gooeyrich]

Does anyone know if Drop plans on releasing a stackable DAC?

 

[ruinedx]

Would this be an upgrade to the Atom/Magni/Liquid Spark?

Probably not. Out of the group the liquid spark will likely still sound the best based on previous thx aaa product sound profile

The next clear step up from spark would be something like project sunrise/horizon, liquid platinum, or bottlehead crack w/speedball

 

[gooeyrich]

Probably not. Out of the group the liquid spark will likely still sound the best based on previous thx aaa product sound profile

The next clear step up from spark would be something like project sunrise/horizon, liquid platinum, or bottlehead crack w/speedball

The spark does seem the least powerful of these, this seems to have at least the same level of technology and substantially more power based on what I can see.