by If you’re looking for a way to further elevate your PC gaming setup, a high-end audio system is a great way to do it. Take this DAC/amp from Drop and Xduoo. Not only does it deliver detailed and vibrant sound to your ears, it also scratches the aesthetic itch thanks to four glorious glowing tubes.
The Drop + Xduoo TA-84 OTL Tube Amp/DAC is a bit of a mouthful, so let’s break down what the $349 device actually does.
First, it is a digital to analog converter (DAC). That means you can connect this device to your computer and completely bypass your internal DAC, which will be located on your motherboard and subject to electrical interference from it. To be honest, motherboards are much better for sound quality these days, but by taking the DAC out and into its own metal box on the TA-84, you don’t have to worry about interference a bit. As for the exact DAC chip used on this device, it is the ES9018K2M, which offers abundant bit depth / sampling rate up to 32-bit / 384 kHz. For daily desktop use, that’s overkill.
On the more exciting bit: the amp and pre-amp. These take your weak heart’s analog audio signal and give it a much-needed boost up to acceptable levels. In the TA-84, the job of doing this falls on two sets of two tubes. The first row, the smaller ones, are the ECC-82 pre-amp stage tubes. Then you have the EL-84 power amplifier stage tubes.
TA-84 specifications
Inputs: RCA, USB Type-C
Outputs: 6.35mm (1/4-inch) jack, RCA (preamp)
tubes: 2x EL-84 (power), 2x ECC-82 (pre)
Output power: 44 mW (at 100 ohms), 83 mW (at 300 ohms), 93 mW (at 600 ohms)
DAC: ES9018K2M
Sampling rate: PCM 16-bit – 32-bit / 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz
Price: $349 ($399 full price, although the sale price appears to be ongoing)
So why tubes? The tube has given way to the transistor for most audio applications these days. That has been true since the introduction of the transistor radio. Going back to the tubes could seem like a big leap backwards. But there’s something about a tube profile that I just can’t get enough of.
Cue the vague terms used to try to describe the sound: there’s softness throughout the range when listening to a FLAC file over the TA-84. It’s a little lighter than the solid Schiit Magni/Modi combo I’m used to. Less punchy, warmer. Through the classical and heavier, more distorted albums I’ve listened to, it’s a gorgeously consistent tone.
The changes are subtle, however. And I mean you Seriously You have to listen for small changes or differences. If it wasn’t for a similarly priced solid state amp/DAC and being able to playback the same tracks on either, I’d be hard pressed to find much difference between the TA-84 and the Schiit. That said, I’m leaning towards the TA-84 every day, as there’s something about the warmer character that plays nicely with my pair of Sennheiser HD 650.
Buy if…
✅ You have a pair of Sennheiser headphones: If you have a pair of HD 650, HD 6XX, or similar headset design, this amp/DAC combo is the sweet spot for audio bliss.
Do not buy if…
❌ You already have a great solid state amp: If you’re already banging out a sensible amplifier and DAC for your headphone setup, you probably won’t get enough out of swapping to tubes like this to make spending the extra money worthwhile.
This is the case with gaming as much as music. Both systems I’m using are great in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora or Baldur’s Gate 3. Even more competitive titles have something to gain; The definition and clarity that this type of setup can deliver, especially in the high end (depending on your headphones), helps distinguish audio cues. That said, you have to be into high-end audio to listen to music above all else. You can get much cheaper headphones that are great for gaming, and on top of the cost of the headphones/DAC/amp, you’ll have to sort out your own mic with these kind of high-end setups.
This is an OTL amp, which means it lacks transformers on the output (OTL stands for OutputTransformerless). Drop claims it helps reduce distortion which can be a factor with tubes, although I feel you could easily get into the weeds with the terminology here or when trying to compare this to other designs who could behave as well, if a little differently. The important thing is that when used with a pair of solid high-impedance headphones, such as the Sennheiser I’m using, distortion is not a big factor.
You can turn up the volume with the HD 650s with this amp and there is a Hi/Lo gain switch on the back to stop another +16 dB if needed. There’s a USB Type-C connection for your computer, RCA for the Aux In and Pre Out (if you use it as a pre-amp), and the all-important voltage switch. This allows you to switch between 110V and 220V, depending on your region, so make sure to set this correctly before Otherwise, you just need to hook it up to your computer via USB and plug in your headphones when you’re away.
With playback quality to match my high-resolution audio setups, you can call me vain, but the TA-84 looks like a big sell. You have to be empty enough to want four hot tubes dripping out of a box on top of your desk at all times. And trust me, these emit some heat. Although I do, and the TA-84 is much more exciting to me than another metal box plonked on my desk.
