Topping D90SE Review (Balanced DAC)

[abdo123]

~$200 can get you “good enough” headphones nowadays, even cheaper for IEMs.

~$200 will not get you “good enough” speakers if we are talking without a subwoofer.
Obviously speakers will always cost more, but it is possible by using good practices rooted in science to maximize audio quality so that in the future it becomes even cheaper to get good sound.

this is a 900$ DAC though, why would you use 200$ as some sort of reference?

 

[zepplock]

24 bit is 144 dB SINAD and I think is physically impossible to reach outside Academia.

Holo May DAC claims 145db noise floor

 

[JohnYang1997]

@JohnYang1997 what oscillator have you used? Accusilicon AS318-B ?

Not AS318B. But why does that matter you get the best jitter performance measured here.

 

[MZKM]

this is a 900$ DAC though, why would you use 200$ as some sort of reference?

Because the original comment was talking about bringing affordable, excellent products to the masses. Not everyone is buying $900 headphones.

 

[JohnYang1997]

Holo May DAC claims 145db noise floor

May:

D90se:

 

[Labjr]

Can't read the SINAD chart anymore. Maybe time to divide into separate colors?

 

[Thomas_A]

No DAC version from Topping with a polarity switch built in?

 

[mycose]

Excellent, now give us the Non-MQA one at a reduced price please, I am not paying for that royalty on top @JohnYang1997

Yeah, I'd probably buy this if it weren't for the fact that I have to pay a few extra dollars for an useless royalty that I won't ever use. I seriously hope Topping releases a non-MQA version of this DAC

 

[Nango]

Thanks Amir, and great work Topping!

Now that Topping has surpassed all other DACs tested at any price, is it time for a speaker amp that does the same?

Stop, this is true just in terms of measurements, as @amirm says, not in terms of reliability or functionalities and features. To me these measurements are another reason to consider RME's ADI-2 DAC which includes a sota headphone amp including premium EQ features. Edit: Does not include CE certification.

 

[Nango]

Thanks Amir, and great work Topping!

This is really impressive performance, and of course it comes with a nice case, and selection of inputs and outputs.

Three labels for controls on the front in three different font sources, I wouldn't call this nice.

 

[Eetu]

Nice to see Topping pushing forward but.. the market is already flooded with good, transparent stereo DACs. I would rather see for example a 6 or 8 channel 'E30' or a product challenging MiniDSP.

 

[PatentLawyer]

I was in the market for a DAC and I was waiting on an Okto to become available, but who knows when that will be. I really liked the idea of a built in streamer....but this is a few hundred bucks less, and I think I can pick up a streamer on the cheap when I ultimately decide to detach this system from my PC. So I just ordered one. Will I hear a difference between it and the Hidizs S9 I'm currently using? Eh, maybe not...but it will allow me to use my S9 with my iPad on the go, as it's intended, so a win in that sense.

Who knows, maybe I'll even try swapping the D90SE into my main rig....

 

[aandres_gm]

Three labels for controls on the front in three different font sources, I wouldn't call this nice.

Your hate boner for Topping is so laughable.

 

[DeepSpace57]

Not AS318B. But why does that matter you get the best jitter performance measured here.

You should use something else. What is it? Have you used the same exact design topology as D30Pro?

 

[Noob]

Thanks Amir, and great work Topping!

This is really impressive performance, and of course it comes with a nice case, and selection of inputs and outputs.

Now that Topping has surpassed all other DACs tested at any price, is it time for a speaker amp that does the same?

It's going to be quite the challenge to beat the Benchmark THX poweramp. So far nothing has really come close to it.

 

[JohnYang1997]

You should use something else. What is it? Have you used the same exact design topology as D30Pro?

Not exactly. Just some good performing 100MHz oscillator.

 

[tomita]

@JohnYang1997 Is there a DSD Direct option? Can users enable the OSF Bypass function?

 

[sq225917]

If the jitter is well below audibility, and it is, why does the device matter?

Unless you think phase noise is important, yawn.

 

[DeepSpace57]

Not exactly. Just some good performing 100MHz oscillator.

Great work mate! When I saw the results by Wolf, I thought AS338 was used.

As the designer, what input is superior for listening? What is your preference?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Great work mate! When I saw the results by Wolf, I thought AS338 was used.

As the designer, what input is superior for listening? What is your preference?

I use USB. And they are all the same.