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Topping A90 Discrete Review (Headphone Amp & Preamp)

Rate this Headphone Amp/Pre-amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 16 4.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 13 3.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 69 17.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 305 75.7%

  • Total voters
    403

Bow_Wazoo

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Jan 3, 2021
Messages
758
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661
How does the volume button feel?
Like on the predecessor?
Including slip?
 

PointyFox

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Messages
30
Likes
25
you don't have any issue on the single end? for sure?

you go check it, first.

It has nothing to do with the cable

Just checked mine and no issue with the SE out. Took it up to about 85 volume on low.

How does the volume button feel?
Like on the predecessor?
Including slip?
Feels the same as on my A90. My A90 didn't have any slip or squishiness either. The person I sold it to was also surprised with the quality of the volume knob.
 

WhyNotHad

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2022
Messages
31
Likes
24
Just checked mine and no issue with the SE out. Took it up to about 85 volume on low.


Feels the same as on my A90. My A90 didn't have any slip or squishiness either. The person I sold it to was also surprised with the quality of the volume knob.

That's right. The issue of SE OUT does not occur in low gain.

After changing to high gain, try to connect the cable to the SE OUT terminal and disconnect it.
Then you'll know about this problem.

Every single function counts. Using SE out in high gain is no exception.
 
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PointyFox

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Messages
30
Likes
25
That's right. The issue of SE OUT does not occur in low gain.

After changing to high gain, try to connect the cable to the SE OUT terminal and disconnect it.
Then you'll know about this problem.

Every single function counts. Using SE out in high gain is no exception.

Yep, high gain does it. Causes static in the left channel and the amp to change to low gain.
 

Haruko

Active Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2021
Messages
105
Likes
116
Yep, high gain does it. Causes static in the left channel and the amp to change to low gain.
thank god i got golden sample then ... i have problems with D90LE tho... so i really understand your frustration with topping guys

if it's obvious that the unit contains a defect in several cases it should be declared in the measurement imho... so people can reconsider purchase before it's too late
 

PointyFox

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Messages
30
Likes
25
Changing the firmware from 2.3 to 2.4 fixes the gain change, but the static is still there. I unplugged/replugged a few times and one of the unpluggings caused it to throw a "-2" error code until I powered it off/on.

As a side note, I was just insulted for having a small amp on Head-fi. :facepalm:

1660688010467.png
 
Last edited:

kenexcelon

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2021
Messages
5
Likes
8
Location
Gray, TN
How big of an issue(s) are the problems you are running into? I was "THIS" close to purchasing a combo, but I'm now having second thoughts.
 

PointyFox

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Messages
30
Likes
25
It's only a problem if you use the 1/4" jack on high gain and disconnect the headphone cable while the amp is on. Then it produces some noise in the left channel for like 1/4 of a second and occasionally throws a "-2" error, causing you to need to toggle the power off and on.

So it's not an issue unless you do that specific thing.
 

carlcamper

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
126
Likes
163
Location
Cavite, Philippines
Just updated my firmware to V2.4 ( link ). I don't notice any changes, but at least the restarting issue on the 6.35mm unbalanced ports is still fixed, meaning it now shows -5 for a short time, then keeps working.
 

eyecent

Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Messages
55
Likes
73
Just updated my firmware to V2.4 ( link ). I don't notice any changes, but at least the restarting issue on the 6.35mm unbalanced ports is still fixed, meaning it now shows -5 for a short time, then keeps working.
Many users, including myself, have the same problem since the 2.4 firmware was uploaded. In 2.3 it turned into a low gain with pop noise. At 2.4, the power is turned off.

After a long conversation on a Korean website, I am disappointed to hear that the machine should be sent to China, so I write to Asr.
 

eyecent

Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Messages
55
Likes
73
It's only a problem if you use the 1/4" jack on high gain and disconnect the headphone cable while the amp is on. Then it produces some noise in the left channel for like 1/4 of a second and occasionally throws a "-2" error, causing you to need to toggle the power off and on.

So it's not an issue unless you do that specific thing.
l50 or a90 does not turn off when unplugged the high gain. This is an obvious design error.
 

dartinbout

Active Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
271
Likes
276
To all of the A90D owners who are unhappy, I would be happy to trade you my A90. I only use balanced connections (XLR in, out and HP) so these horrible deficiencies wouldn't affect me. I want to use the EXT and run the A90D as an amp and a switching pre. I'm sure we could work out a deal. Send me a DM.
 

Ryche

New Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2022
Messages
3
Likes
6
I'm new to this forum so, Hi everyone!

I have just received my A90D and started to listen to it a couple of hours ago.

And found it to have a very low volume compared to my previous SMSL SH-9.

It is something like, 60% of the volume, to the point I had to enable the High Gain and put it on the MAX setting.

This setup goes like this: DAC is the SMSL DO200, XLRs Balanced connections, Sennheiser HD800 (XLR)

Yes the volume increases when changing from LOW to HIGH gain settings.
No the Volume Limiter isn't turned on.
Voltage Here is around 120V (kinda high at this time of the day (20:00h)

When playing high resolution content (above 44-16) things are considerably "worse", Jazz @176-24 I have to go to a very quiet room to listen.

Comparing the DO200 Paired with the SH-9 I can never go above 80-85 on volume even using LOW Gain.

But changing the SH-9 to the A90D I had to switch to HIGH GAIN and MAX Volume to reach what is something like 60 on the SH-9 with LOW Gain.

Thing is, I am considering a return of this unit, because it is of no use as is.

Just sharing my XP with it.

regards
 

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carlcamper

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
126
Likes
163
Location
Cavite, Philippines
I'm new to this forum so, Hi everyone!

I have just received my A90D and started to listen to it a couple of hours ago.

And found it to have a very low volume compared to my previous SMSL SH-9.

It is something like, 60% of the volume, to the point I had to enable the High Gain and put it on the MAX setting.

This setup goes like this: DAC is the SMSL DO200, XLRs Balanced connections, Sennheiser HD800 (XLR)

Yes the volume increases when changing from LOW to HIGH gain settings.
No the Volume Limiter isn't turned on.
Voltage Here is around 120V (kinda high at this time of the day (20:00h)

When playing high resolution content (above 44-16) things are considerably "worse", Jazz @176-24 I have to go to a very quiet room to listen.

Comparing the DO200 Paired with the SH-9 I can never go above 80-85 on volume even using LOW Gain.

But changing the SH-9 to the A90D I had to switch to HIGH GAIN and MAX Volume to reach what is something like 60 on the SH-9 with LOW Gain.

Thing is, I am considering a return of this unit, because it is of no use as is.

Just sharing my XP with it.

regards
Check if your SMSL DAC is in fixed volume preamp mode ( for my SMSL D-6, this is Pr1)
 

raif71

Major Contributor
Joined
Sep 7, 2019
Messages
2,333
Likes
2,535
I'm new to this forum so, Hi everyone!

I have just received my A90D and started to listen to it a couple of hours ago.

And found it to have a very low volume compared to my previous SMSL SH-9.

It is something like, 60% of the volume, to the point I had to enable the High Gain and put it on the MAX setting.

This setup goes like this: DAC is the SMSL DO200, XLRs Balanced connections, Sennheiser HD800 (XLR)

Yes the volume increases when changing from LOW to HIGH gain settings.
No the Volume Limiter isn't turned on.
Voltage Here is around 120V (kinda high at this time of the day (20:00h)

When playing high resolution content (above 44-16) things are considerably "worse", Jazz @176-24 I have to go to a very quiet room to listen.

Comparing the DO200 Paired with the SH-9 I can never go above 80-85 on volume even using LOW Gain.

But changing the SH-9 to the A90D I had to switch to HIGH GAIN and MAX Volume to reach what is something like 60 on the SH-9 with LOW Gain.

Thing is, I am considering a return of this unit, because it is of no use as is.

Just sharing my XP with it.

regards
Hmm could this be an impedance mismatch phenomena ie the ratio of output impedance of the DAC to input impedance of the AMP is not >1:8 ? Do you use rca or xlr for the connection of the do200 and a90d ?
 

Ryche

New Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2022
Messages
3
Likes
6
Check if your SMSL DAC is in fixed volume preamp mode ( for my SMSL D-6, this is Pr1)
Thanks, It is in Fixed volume, but I have tried the variable option with no avail.
Hmm could this be an impedance mismatch phenomena ie the ratio of output impedance of the DAC to input impedance of the AMP is not >1:8 ? Do you use rca or xlr for the connection of the do200 and a90d ?
The impedance is a good bet, I can see on the DO200 the output impedance is 100_Ohm and 4V (XLR), and the A90D Input sensitivity is 3Vrms (Gain=High, XLR), the SH-9 don't have the input specifications besides a 47_Ohm impedance.
 

raif71

Major Contributor
Joined
Sep 7, 2019
Messages
2,333
Likes
2,535
Thanks, It is in Fixed volume, but I have tried the variable option with no avail.

The impedance is a good bet, I can see on the DO200 the output impedance is 100_Ohm and 4V (XLR), and the A90D Input sensitivity is 3Vrms (Gain=High, XLR), the SH-9 don't have the input specifications besides a 47_Ohm impedance.
100 ohm is quite low...if A90D input impedance is more than 1K...this should meet the 1:8 ratio so perhaps it is not a mismatch of impedance. Anyway, A90 input impedance is found here, and it is stated for balanced, it is 2K and 10K for unbalanced. If this is the same too for A90d, then there shouldn't be an issue of impedance mismatching.
 

4udio

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Messages
75
Likes
46
Thanks, It is in Fixed volume, but I have tried the variable option with no avail.

The impedance is a good bet, I can see on the DO200 the output impedance is 100_Ohm and 4V (XLR), and the A90D Input sensitivity is 3Vrms (Gain=High, XLR), the SH-9 don't have the input specifications besides a 47_Ohm impedance.
try another DAC in combination with A90D and, if volume problem remains, return it.
 

Ryche

New Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2022
Messages
3
Likes
6
Hi, I have just found out what was happening, in contact with the seller (Shenzenaudio) they've sent me an information on the manual that I have blown past it over completely.

It ended up being a very complex device if I may add.

By pressing "B" on the remote, you can change this curves, and I was finally able to listen without the GAIN and the Volume as "78" in curve "2" and with a volume marking "88" my HD800 is on a danger zone already.

I can't say I was a complete n00b on this, because the user manual provided on the internet don't have this information and states that the "B" button on the remote is an "invalid button"...

In the end the issue is solved, so if you happen to have the same problem, just use the "B" on the remote.

My kind thanks to everyone who took the time to help. :tu:
 

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