Razer Made A Fully Balanced Headphone Amp

[Max_Settings]

Ok, this is kind of clickbait, becaue it's a THX Amp, but technically since Razer owns THX, you could say it's a Razer product. THX's supposed first headphone Amp. The Massdrop x THX AAA 789. A fully balanced headphone Amp with a 4pin balanced, 1/4in, and 3.5mm out. 3 way gain swtich, and input select. Pretty good power out of it. Should push anything fine. THD is a little on the high side IMO. What do you think? BS or no? Knowing Razer this might be bad. Or maybe Razer took an entirely hands off approach to this one. But if it is made in Razer's factory that could be a problem. $350

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier

 

 

Quote

Specs

General

• All parameters measured at 0 dB gain, 1 kHz, with balanced inputs and 300-ohm load unless otherwise noted
• Inputs: Stereo XLR-3 gold-plated Neutrik; Stereo RCA gold-plated
• Outputs: 1/4 in (6.35 mm) TRS gold-plated Neutrik; 3.5 mm TRS gold-plated; XLR-4 balanced gold-plated
• Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.01 dB 20 Hz–20 kHz; + 0.05 dB / - 0.10 dB 10 Hz–80 kHz
• Input impedance: 50 kohms balanced or unbalanced
• Chassis: High-grade CNC-milled aluminum with bead-blasted finish
• Power supply: 24 VDC inline brick, universal input 100–240 VAC
• Dimensions: 8.3 x 9.1 x 2.2 in (210 x 230 x 57 mm)
• Weight: 3.4 lbs (1,520 g)

Balanced Output

• Output power: 6000 mW, 16 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 6000 mW, 32 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 800 mW, 300 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 400 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• THD: -143 dB, 300 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -140 dB, 300 ohms, 100 mW
• THD: -125 dB, 32 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -123 dB, 32 ohms, 100 mW
• THD: -120 dB, 16 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -118 dB, 16 ohms, 100 mW
• IMD: -123 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 70 kHz, 300 ohms
• IMD: -124 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 300 ohms
• Crosstalk: -127 dB, 300 ohms
• Noise (A-wt): 2.4 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 136 dB, 300 ohms, <1% THD
• Gain: 2x , 8x,  16x  (+6, +18, +24 dB), selectable via front switch
• Output impedance: < 0.1 ohms

Single-Ended Output

• Output power: 3000 mW, 16 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 1700 mW, 32 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 200 mW, 300 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• Output power: 100 mW, 600 ohms, <1% THD, watts per channel
• THD: -143 dB, 300 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -140 dB, 300 ohms, 100 mW
• THD: -135 dB, 32 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -128dB, 32 ohms, 100 mW
• THD: -125 dB, 16 ohms, 1 mW
• THD: -123 dB, 16 ohms, 100 mW
• IMD: -117 dB, SMPTE 70 Hz + 70 kHz, 300 ohms
• IMD: -125 dB, DFD 18 kHz + 19 kHz, 300 ohms
• Crosstalk: -90 dB, 300 ohms
• Noise (A-wt): 1.2 uV, potentiometer at nil
• SNR: 136 dB, 300 ohms, <1% THD
• Gain: 1x , 4x,  8x  (+0, +12, +18 dB), selectable via front switch
• Output impedance: < 0.05 ohms

 

Edit: I'm calling BS on this statement from THX.

Quote

This is the most transparent and neutral amplifier on the market right now.

 

[aries757]

seems  very sleek and nice, pretty bulky specs (imo) 

 

hopefully under 1,000,000

[Max_Settings]

Just now, aries757 said:

seems  very sleek and nice, pretty bulky specs (imo) 

 

hopefully under 1,000,000

It's in the default box as the other Massdrop colab Amps like the CTH and Liquid Carbon.

[aries757]

Just now, Max_Settings said:

It's in the default box as the other Massdrop colab Amps like the CTH and Liquid Carbon.

oh lol,

 

have never seen any massdrop amps so ....

[Max_Settings]

3 minutes ago, aries757 said:

oh lol,

 

have never seen any massdrop amps so ....

[aries757]

5 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

snip

 they are legit beautiful to me...

[Max_Settings]

1 minute ago, aries757 said:

 they are legit beautiful to me...

I never said I disliked the look, I do like it. It's just not unique to the THX.

[aries757]

Just now, Max_Settings said:

I never said I disliked the look, I do like it. It's just not unique to the THX.

i understand, but i have never seen these, im just taking them in..

[Electronics Wizardy]

17 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

but technically since Razer owns THX, you could say it's a Razer product.

Not really. It seems to be massdrop designed(or designed for massdrop by a oem) THX then just stamps their label of approval on it and they linenced some THX technologies. This is kinda like saying my laptop with a usb logo is a USB designed laptop.

[Max_Settings]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Not really. It seems to be massdrop designed(or designed for massdrop by a oem) THX then just stamps their label of approval on it and they linenced some THX technologies. This is kinda like saying my laptop with a usb logo is a USB designed laptop.

But Razer owns THX, who designed it. Massdrop just works with THX to make it.

[Not_Sean]

9 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

But Razer owns THX, who designed it. Massdrop just works with THX to make it.

Remember just cause a company Owns another doesn't make them the same product. 

Fiat owns Ferrari, they still operate the two as different companies. THX is prob still doing their own thing, and every now and again Razer pulls rank and they send over something for Razer to put in their speakers or something. 

 

That thing looks awesome and some really good specs. Sucks I got no headphones that could justify buying it for myself. 

[Ginger_]

Well, it's going to be bloody expensive, but i would guess fairly good quality. Maybe not all but it seems like these massdrop colab products are pretty well built.

 

Is this THX's first hardware though? If so they might be using razers factories which could be a very bad thing... 

[Max_Settings]

1 minute ago, Ginger137 said:

Well, it's going to be bloody expensive, but i would guess fairly good quality. Maybe not all but it seems like these massdrop colab products are pretty well built.

 

Is this THX's first hardware though? If so they might be using razers factories which could be a very bad thing... 

That’s what I’m worried about....

[Electronics Wizardy]

15 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

But Razer owns THX, who designed it. Massdrop just works with THX to make it.

you sure its THX designed, not just using linenced THX technolgies and their label along with it. Id be very supried that the board is THX designed.

[Enderman]

36 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

Edit: I'm calling BS on this statement from THX.

 

If the specs are accurate then that statement (as far as I know) is correct...

 

"Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.01 dB 20 Hz–20 kHz; + 0.05 dB / - 0.10 dB 10 Hz–80 kHz"

This is pretty insane compared to everything I've seen so far.

[Max_Settings]

3 minutes ago, Enderman said:

If the specs are accurate then that statement (as far as I know) is correct...

 

"Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.01 dB 20 Hz–20 kHz; + 0.05 dB / - 0.10 dB 10 Hz–80 kHz"

This is pretty insane compared to everything I've seen so far.

We’ll see once it’s really tested. Also going to be interesting to see the price.

[Max_Settings]

1 hour ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

you sure its THX designed, not just using linenced THX technolgies and their label along with it. Id be very supried that the board is THX designed.

 

1 hour ago, Ginger137 said:

Well, it's going to be bloody expensive, but i would guess fairly good quality. Maybe not all but it seems like these massdrop colab products are pretty well built.

 

Is this THX's first hardware though? If so they might be using razers factories which could be a very bad thing... 

Someone on Massdrop asked if it was a Razer product. THX claims that it was in development before the acquisition. Razer is allowing THX to operate alone. Although they said that Razer is extendeding their friends and families to them, which probably means factories....

 

 

 

 

[sazrocks]

1 hour ago, Max_Settings said:

Also going to be interesting to see the price.

$349.99 as stated in your link.

Quote

Note: The Massdrop x THX AAA™ 789 Linear Amplifier will launch March 1 at 6 a.m. PT for $349.99 with free US shipping and subsidized international shipping. Each amplifier is serialized and the first 490 purchasers are guaranteed a serial number under 500.

 

[Max_Settings]

1 minute ago, sazrocks said:

$349.99 as stated in your link.

 

Don’t know how I missed that. Thanks!

[sazrocks]

9 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

Don’t know how I missed that. Thanks!

Is that a decent price for these things? Out of my budget but I'm trying to get oriented in the audio world.

[Max_Settings]

15 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

Is that a decent price for these things? Out of my budget but I'm trying to get oriented in the audio world.

If all the things it claims are true, then yes this is a very good deal.

[Spuriae]

There have been others. Monoprice already has one based on "THX AAA-788". Benchmark has been using the THX-AAA design since 2015, well before Razer acquired THX.

 

1 hour ago, Enderman said:

If the specs are accurate then that statement (as far as I know) is correct...

 

"Frequency response: + 0.01 dB / - 0.01 dB 20 Hz–20 kHz; + 0.05 dB / - 0.10 dB 10 Hz–80 kHz"

This is pretty insane compared to everything I've seen so far.

Meh. The -3db spec for the Magni is 900kHz, which is roughly double the HF bandwidth of the THX. Not that it matters; those numbers are almost meaningless in this context anyhow.

 

I'm just as excited about them being able to measure distortion at -143db as there being an amplifier out there that can do it (the best signal analyzer in the world, the APx555, is conservatively specced at -117db residual THD). Hopefully we get to see real FFT's in addition to the basic measurement info.

 

 

[Dackzy]

I have many doubts about this amp, like I had to go to the comments to see how they measured some of the things. I hope that it is a good amp, but just from looking at what they gave and other amps using a THX design, then I have a hard time saying it will be anything else than okay.

 

The SNR seems to be too high, I think we might be seeing a mix up between DNR and SNR, if this is really what is happening, then you can most likely remove 30dB

[Enderman]

14 minutes ago, Nimrodor said:

There have been others. Monoprice already has one based on "THX AAA-788". Benchmark has been using the THX-AAA design since 2015, well before Razer acquired THX.

 

Meh. The -3db spec for the Magni is 900kHz, which is roughly double the HF bandwidth of the THX. Not that it matters; those numbers are almost meaningless in this context anyhow.

Well, I'm sure you understand why it's more important to have .01 from 20-20k rather than 3 from 0-bajillion hz

[Spuriae]

1 hour ago, Enderman said:

Well, I'm sure you understand why it's more important to have .01 from 20-20k rather than 3 from 0-bajillion hz

It's one big continuous rolloff curve, and you can extrapolate values along the curve given different points. They round to -0.1db 20-20k regardless of by how much it exceeds that. Schiit specs its products very conservatively; real performance is quite a bit better than the numbers on their website.

 

Even so, that spec is useless. Objectively, you can't hear the difference between 0.1 and 0.01db in raw FR. While there are some arguments to be made for ultrasonic information, all the low pass filters upstream in the signal chain virtually guarantee that anything above 22.5kHz is going to be noise or artifacts anyways. On top of that, the transducer FR is nowhere near flat; if -0.1 and -0.01 are indistinguishable, so too will be -30.1 and -30.01.