Choice Opt Topping LA90d

[sthaus]

Dear all,

I’m currently in situation of making decision of 2 opts buying power amp for a FL speakers and a pair bookshelf 86-88db sensitive (8 & 4 ohm respectively)

1/ 2 x Topping LA90d (mono)
2/ 1 x Topping LA90d + Pre90 (stereo)

Which opt might be the best, please kindly recommended me. Your comments are very important to me ! Please help me !

Note: I also like the Schitt Vidar 2 as well for a design over Topping but seems Topping has good specs and insane measurement with flat freq. Some mentioned that Topping is lack of emotion, dry and not touch ?? But I think just because of Flat Freq!?? Perhaps we can EQ?

Regards
Steve

 

[dtaylo1066]

You will not get too many here on ASR to talk about "dry" sound and distinct subjective analysis. What you can see is that all the above Topping products, as well as the Vidar, measured well in Amir's tests, the Toppings more so, and all were recommended.

That said, while I have not heard issues about the Pre90, there is a thread on this forum about quality issues with the LA90D which you may want to read, as it would cause me some concern at that price point: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...reliability-of-the-topping-la90d.45005/page-5

 

[sthaus]

You will not get too many here on ASR to talk about "dry" sound and distinct subjective analysis. What you can see is that all the above Topping products, as well as the Vidar, measured well in Amir's tests, the Toppings more so, and all were recommended.

That said, while I have not heard issues about the Pre90, there is a thread on this forum about quality issues with the LA90D which you may want to read, as it would cause me some concern at that price point: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...reliability-of-the-topping-la90d.45005/page-5

I did read the reviews of both, Vidar is great with warranty up to 5 years and I’m kind of liking their design than Topping. I’m pretty sure they proud of the quality of their products even I found 4x of cheap capacitors 63v 10000uf in their design. I don’t mind Chinese Amp, but buy with luck.. they seems don’t have QC system and far away from us. Shenz offers 2 yrs I think this is all about.

For the power output, do you think the opt 2 can satisfy my speakers above ?!! I usually listen music from 85-95db depends on the genres

Thanks

 

[JSmith]

For the power output, do you think the opt 2 can satisfy my speakers above ?!! I usually listen music from 85-95db depends on the genres

You haven't advised what specific speakers you're referring to.


JSmith

 

[sthaus]

You haven't advised what specific speakers you're referring to.


JSmith

As mentioned from 1st thread, I have 2 pair
of speaker … Floor and Bookshelf. In details, FL is Canton Chrono 509 around 87-88dB sensitive 8ohm and Bookshelf is Musician Knight 4ohm 86dB . Thanks

Note: I got 2xcheap sabaj a20a 2022 setup for mono at 350w(ea) connect direct to DAC ess3039Pro. However, sound is dull .. lack of dynamic, compare to other stereo setup on my 2nd system with yamaha amp

 

[JSmith]

FL is Canton Chrono 509 around 87-88dB sensitive 8ohm and Bookshelf is Musician Knight 4ohm 86dB

Canton;

Power

160 - 320 Watts

These are going to need some decent power... the LA90D doesn't output much power in stereo @8R;

Even bridged @4R below, may be around half that @8R;

Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping LA90 Discrete balanced stereo amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $799. The case is the same as the IC-based Topping LA90 which is fine with me given its high quality look and feel. The power switch doubles as input...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Have you considered a Hypex or Purifi based amp instead? Much more power on tap and generally excellent to superb measurements.


JSmith

 

[sthaus]

Canton;

Power

160 - 320 Watts

These are going to need some decent power... the LA90D doesn't output much power in stereo @8R;

Even bridged @4R below, may be around half that @8R;

Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping LA90 Discrete balanced stereo amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $799. The case is the same as the IC-based Topping LA90 which is fine with me given its high quality look and feel. The power switch doubles as input...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Have you considered a Hypex or Purifi based amp instead? Much more power on tap and generally excellent to superb measurements.


JSmith

No luck with even preamp, you think ? My current Sabaj provides 350w per channel but really suck at clarity and missing sparkle on top end regions even thought my Canton Chrono is a bright speaker.

Which Hypex amp you recommended for under 1.5k (usd) .. I’m from aus ..the local audio retailer is too dear (greedy)

Thanks

 

[JSmith]

Which Hypex amp you recommended for under 1.5k (usd)

There are plenty from OS, maybe check out Buckeye from the US, Audiophonics from France or more premium build Boxem.

I’m from aus ..the local audio retailer is too dear (greedy)

I hear you mate.

All that said, there is probably nothing wrong with the Sabaj (Infineon class D)... unless it has some load dependency. Maybe it rolls off in the higher frequency area.

It may be an idea to get a Umik-1 and take some measurements... see what you can do with EQ, or look at some different speakers. Here are some measurements, although not at Klippel level, but some indication;

Canton Chrono Series Speaker System HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures: Canton Chrono Series L/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Center Sensitivity: 91 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Surround Sensitivity: 89.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the 507 DC L/R...

www.soundandvision.com

Canton Chrono 509.2 DC álló hangfal teszt | av-online.hu

Németország legnagyobb hangfalgyártója, a Canton egyik impozáns álló hangdoboza, a Chrono 509.2 DC t

www.av-online.hu

JSmith

 

[sthaus]

There are plenty from OS, maybe check out Buckeye from the US, Audiophonics from France or more premium build Boxem.

I hear you mate.

All that said, there is probably nothing wrong with the Sabaj (Infineon class D)... unless it has some load dependency. Maybe it rolls off in the higher frequency area.

It may be an idea to get a Umik-1 and take some measurements... see what you can do with EQ, or look at some different speakers. Here are some measurements, although not at Klippel level, but some indication;

Canton Chrono Series Speaker System HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures: Canton Chrono Series L/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Center Sensitivity: 91 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Surround Sensitivity: 89.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the 507 DC L/R...

www.soundandvision.com

Canton Chrono 509.2 DC álló hangfal teszt | av-online.hu

Németország legnagyobb hangfalgyártója, a Canton egyik impozáns álló hangdoboza, a Chrono 509.2 DC t

www.av-online.hu

JSmith

Oi oi !!! I can hear your call JSmith ! I will check the website. Thanks

I usually do EQ via Roon or a Tube pre-amp for long listening session.

I might try Umik-1 measurement on the weekends ... I haven't been touched it for a long since my last OB built in 2021 during covid year. Canton Chrono is my old mate for a very long time 15 years or more maybe and it's still my old virgin friend for Rock (I haven't opened it yet; XO cap might need to check).

 

[dtaylo1066]

Another amp to consider would be:

SONCOZ SGP1 High-Power Reference Class AB Reference-Grade Stereo Audio Power Amplifier

Foundation for the Future Product Direction of SONCOZ SGP1 is a Class AB Reference Stereo Audio Power Amplifier Designed for High Resolution Audio(HRA)Recording and Playback Systems, which has been Developed by SONCOZ for 3 Years. The SNR and THD Extraordinary Performance of the SGP1 Pushes the...

www.linsoul.com

SONCOZ SGP1 Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SONCOZ stereo class AB power amplifier. It was sent to me by the company about 5 or 6 months ago and costs US $1099. As you see, the unit comes in gorgeous packaging with custom and VU meters befitting of some of the highest end audio products...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or one of the many Hypex-based amps out there.

 

[sthaus]

Another amp to consider would be:

SONCOZ SGP1 High-Power Reference Class AB Reference-Grade Stereo Audio Power Amplifier

Foundation for the Future Product Direction of SONCOZ SGP1 is a Class AB Reference Stereo Audio Power Amplifier Designed for High Resolution Audio(HRA)Recording and Playback Systems, which has been Developed by SONCOZ for 3 Years. The SNR and THD Extraordinary Performance of the SGP1 Pushes the...

www.linsoul.com

SONCOZ SGP1 Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SONCOZ stereo class AB power amplifier. It was sent to me by the company about 5 or 6 months ago and costs US $1099. As you see, the unit comes in gorgeous packaging with custom and VU meters befitting of some of the highest end audio products...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or one of the many Hypex-based amps out there.

They look nice Zz many thanks .. I will read check it out

 

[b7676]

Try an AK4499 first

 

[sthaus]

Try an AK4499 first

I got Loxjie D50, Su-1 which is AK4499, 4493 .. thanks

 

[sthaus]

Another amp to consider would be:

SONCOZ SGP1 High-Power Reference Class AB Reference-Grade Stereo Audio Power Amplifier

Foundation for the Future Product Direction of SONCOZ SGP1 is a Class AB Reference Stereo Audio Power Amplifier Designed for High Resolution Audio(HRA)Recording and Playback Systems, which has been Developed by SONCOZ for 3 Years. The SNR and THD Extraordinary Performance of the SGP1 Pushes the...

www.linsoul.com

SONCOZ SGP1 Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SONCOZ stereo class AB power amplifier. It was sent to me by the company about 5 or 6 months ago and costs US $1099. As you see, the unit comes in gorgeous packaging with custom and VU meters befitting of some of the highest end audio products...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or one of the many Hypex-based amps out there.

The design looks nice and clean, the only thing I don't like it that lack of connectivity ports (only 1 XLR). There are 2 Mono blocks in 1 unit and provide only 120W per/8R, even less than 2 mono Topping LA90d (220Wper /8R). According to JSmith, it may not shine my Canton (160W-180W). Furthermore, Chinese amp compares to Chinese amps, does it provide better sound than Topping or Sabaj, this is my main concerns?