I get that, I’m just saying that you can get similar or slightly better performance for a fair bit less.
Also comparing to a tube isn’t necessarily apples to apples, not really going for a similar goal lol
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I hear you, but my tube is a LOT better. And it is not a thick, syrupy, bassy amp. It is clean, clear and spacious/airy/something. I don’t know the exact word, but a week in, it is blowing me away.
Much like the Elex’s did. Too bad they’re not a great pairing.
It would be great to take awesome, attach another awesome and be at end game! 
Of course it doesn’t work that way.
Of course, you picked up a great amp. I’m just saying thx is going for best measurements, where the MAD amp is aiming for the best actual sound it can lol, not the most fair comparison 
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Fair enough.
Schiit heresy is such an easy recommend… I havent heard a thx but in terms of cleanliness I can’t see myself needing more than this… I also dont feel like its compressed so is that a thing of the past? (A3 same thing)
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Answer is simple. Updated Johtunheim. If the Asgard 3 can have balanced out with Johtunheim power or a little better at the same price point. No contest.
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Yes if they further improved upon the Asgard 3, I think they would have a winner. I don’t think it really needs balanced or more power though
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I get the feeling single ended is as good as balanced as long as it is the objective of the device and it’s really just a path to choose more than a boost in quality?
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I suspect it would be hard to get a $100 THX amp simply due to the licensing that needs to be paid per device using their IP. that said, as mentioned, there have been several inexpensive amps released lately that are so good they’ve been compared to THX…so if you’re okay with simulated or virtual THX, there you go!
i really dont understand why most people are always so focused on these ridiculous power outputs.
Yeah you really only need it for a select few headphones that most people will never own anyway, and also those select few like much more power than thx can offer anyway
Single ended and balanced can be equal in sound quality as long as they are both competent designs, I could really care less if something is balanced or not (for consumer HiFi) as long as it’s done well
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In most cases the power concern is overblown, yes. There is one notable legitimate reason for it in the ~$100 amp category though: T50rp and mods. I don’t know exactly what Fostex was going for - other than a low-cost studio headphone. The T50 and its mods (Argons, Dekoni Blues, various Drop models) are fairly popular in afordable audio. They’re all <$500 and will most often be paired with <$500 amps. Power is a real concern here. As much as I love my Atom, it does not control my Dekoni Blues’s bass nearly as well as my SP200, as one example.
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Yes, they do like power, but imo they sound just as good on a heresy as they do an sp200
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Right. But that only further illustrates the point that where the T50 is concerned, power matters. The Heresy has more than double the power of the Atom.
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Yes some headphones naturally like more power, the he560 is the same way where more power will typically improve the experience, to an extent
150$ Stock T50RPs here and I just cut the foams a bit, + 100$ Atom amp. 
My V-shaped daily drivers.
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The SMSL SP200 is close to 80€ in electronic parts, with assembly that pushes it beyond that mark. No idea what the case is, probably another 25€
Rest of the cost is retailers wanting to live and licensing.
Before you laugh
I went through some of the headphone amps that commonly get recommended on here and elsewhere. The markup on the overwhelming majority is unheared off in other industries!
Even a motherboard with an expensive VRM rarely crack the 250€ mark, and those are jam-packed with cutting edge electronics!
And “my [DAC/AMP/electronic thingy] is different” is not an excuse. “It sounds like 1200€” is not either → Apple also sounds like 1200€, is still ~340€ in parts, or 50€ in extruded aluminium…
Honestly, there’s a fuckton of research and development needed, too. And headphone amps are a niche of a niche. Motherboards? It’s the exact opposite. Shove one billion dollars in R&D, sell one billion motherboards in 12 months (no exaggeration) with a 10$ markup, get 10 billion$, use the billions for R&D for 10 other motherboards, etc etc…
Also, I feel like I already told you this, lol. Maybe. 