Node X THX headphone amp version?

tuomas kallio

Trying to find more detailed specs from Node X headphone amp (as already asked here before), but only information still seems to be just "THX AAA". According THX website, there seems to be several versions of it, for different purposes. What version might be in Node X? Picture taken from THX website.

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Comments

24 comments

Date Votes
  • LD Williams
    • Edited

    I'd also like to know the actual specs of the amp, output resistance etc.

     

    "THX AAA™ Headphone Amplifier technology" doesn't exactly say a thing

    -1
  • Bluey

    I already have another thread about this and Bluesound added the specs.

    I am the one that asked for specs but there were none till recently.

    You can pretty much guess it is the lower power mobile range - 100% not the desktop range

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  • LD Williams

    Hi Bluey,

    Can you tag me in to the post, or repost what was said please?

    -1
  • Bluey

    You were already participating in that thread. I was replying to you there before

    Just need to read the full thread and you will see it

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  • Tuomas Kallio

    According Johnny Darko’s youtube review of Node X, headphone amp is THX AAA78. More details from link.
    https://www.thx.com/aaa/

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  • Bluey

    Yes mobile range. It is easy to guess that from the mW power specs Bluesound replied to me , in my other thread.

    Definitely not the powerful desktop range , which is disappointing by Bluesound, given Node X is an AC powered non-mobile product.

     

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  • LD Williams

    Not that much power then sadly
    Seems like they took the cheap way out then

    -1
  • LD Williams

    Yeah I wouldn't want to cary around the battery that could power it that's for sure

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  • Tuomas Kallio

    I must say, that despite of amp version being what it is, I’m really pleased to use my Hifiman Sundara with X. I own also Node 130, and X is much better in headphone usage. Also I have iFi audio idsd Diablo dac/amp, which is real powerhouse. Now it’s easy to compare Diablo and X. All I can say is that Diablo is only bit louder (with balanced headphone cable). But that difference in volume level is in painfull area.

    Also if X would have higher version of thx amp, then devices form factor possibly would be different. Circuit itself is almost double of size of this AAA78 circuit. I’m quite sure, that X pcb is pretty full already.

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  • Bluey

    Yes its low noise and distortion and Sundara is easy to drive

    I mentioned in other thread, it is fine for easy to drive (high sensitivity) headphones and probably IEMs too

     

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  • LD Williams
    • Edited

    I tried a cheap pair of audio technica mx50 or m50x?

    38 ohms and it's loud enough 

    -1
  • Paul
    • Edited

    I cannot get my nodex headphone jack to play sound at a decent level; Ive plugged in my beats headphones and the music is barely audible… all volume controls in the track, app and player are at max yet music can hardly be heard yet it plays loud through speakers when i unplug the headphones.

    Can someone please tell me how i fix this problem 😢

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  • Bluey

    LD - as I mentioned to you in other thread, if you get enough volume, this will be good enough.

     

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  • Bluey

    Paul - sounds like you need to raise a support ticket.

    I'm not aware of any really hard to drive Beats headphones. So Node X should be able to get decent volume out of them.

    Maybe something is wrong with your unit

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  • Paul

    Thanks for helping i have a ticket raised.
    Have to say I also really struggling my way around the blueos app… i expected good integration from the Qobuz but seems i have to input everything over again and create new favourites etc. if Im going to stream directly through the unit…. Hardly the best experience

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  • Paul

    Forgive me…. Schoolboy error….

    Wifes headphones, no batteries fitted 😳🙄

    All working fine now! 👍🤣

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  • Bluey
    • Edited

    Interesting so the analogue input of the headphones (from Node X output )needs battery power to work ?

    Which exact model Beats is it?

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  • Paul
    • Edited

    Yes, sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear enough…
    I decided to try to use my wife’s headphones on the NodeX and couldn’t get them to work, turned out it was because these noise cancelling wired headphones needed batteries. It’s not the Bluesound unit that needed them, they were wired into the unit for sound but needed batteries in the cans… not sure of which model they are but maybe because of the noise cancelling function they work differently 🙄

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  • Bluey

    No worries. It wasn't the Node that I was thinking needed batteries.

    Typically when headphones are in 'analogue input' mode, they can work passively.

    Even ANC headphones.

    My Bose ANC cans still work when they are powered off, with headphone cable to an amp.

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  • Paul
    • Edited

    Yea that’s what I was expecting, yet on changing the batteries they sprung to life…. Sounds pretty rubbish though. Any suggestions for a great replacement pair with separation and soundstage at hifi level, sub $700?  Open to all ideas 👍

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  • Brad ODonnell

    I also have Sundaras, but on the Node X it needs to almost be maxed out on volume, is this bad for the amp or headphones?

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  • Bluey
    • Edited

    If you are running out of volume, Node X is not suitable

    You need a higher gain amp

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  • Brad ODonnell

    I’m not running out of volume I just want to know if 95-100% volume will damage amp or headphones. I’ve very pleased at 95%

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  • Bluey

    If you hear something going wrong, like hearing distortion (eg clipping), then that is sign of potential damage.

    If sounds fine, then no worries, I would say.

    But you can ask Bluesound engineers via a ticket.

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