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Anyone Review Topping D90III Discrete / D90 III Sabre yet ?
- Thread starter ooauoo2013
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- dac
I had purchased a refurbished D90 III Discrete straight from Topping via Amazon and it worked fine and sounded beautiful for a few days but then suddenly it started making a noise/hiss with 44.1KHz PCM content. I tried fully disconnecting the power and reconnecting it after several minutes (along with the streamer) and it did not resolve it. I tried changing a few settings and it didn't help. I ended up returning it. I've ordered an open-box D90 III Sabre (from Apos) so hopefully that one is not susceptible to this strange problem. Even if it is, I know Apos has got my back, their service is absolutely amazing.
Am curious: has anyone else experienced a similar issue with the D90 III Discrete? It just out of nowhere (no change in any setting at the source or in the DAC) started producing a hiss/low level noise in all 44.1KHz content that is clearly audible during silent/quiet passages at the start of, middle, or end of songs. It went away at any other sample rate including 48KHz as well as any multiple of 44.1KHz or 48KHz, or when playing native DSD. The problem, of course, is that the vast majority of content is 44.1KHz/Redbook.
Am curious: has anyone else experienced a similar issue with the D90 III Discrete? It just out of nowhere (no change in any setting at the source or in the DAC) started producing a hiss/low level noise in all 44.1KHz content that is clearly audible during silent/quiet passages at the start of, middle, or end of songs. It went away at any other sample rate including 48KHz as well as any multiple of 44.1KHz or 48KHz, or when playing native DSD. The problem, of course, is that the vast majority of content is 44.1KHz/Redbook.
RetroStereo
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I'm perfectly willing to agree (and firmly believe) that within the digital domain, properly designed DACs do NOT alter anything associated with the digital signals they are decoding. However, once that signal has been returned to the analog domain, differences in circuitry could (but shouldn't) make subtle (or not so subtle) changes that might be distinguishable. Given the level of expert engineering that goes into high-end DACs, I suspect that 99 and 44/100ths percent (a la Ivory soap) of the differences perceived are due to tiny differences in signal level. Match the levels and the differences tend to disappear.
IF (and ONLY if) someone can distinguish between two DACs once levels have been properly matched AND in a supervised, double-blind listening test with statistically relevant results, then we should be able to design a testing methodology to identify those differences. And it's probably somewhere in the post DAC analog circuitry. (And Amir can probably ferret it out.)
When CDs first hit the market, as a geek, I embraced them; however, I hated the way they sounded. I was young enough that my hearing was exceptional and I could hear some of the aliasing byproducts and the mush of poorly reconstructed high frequency overtones. Digital sampling has gotten much better. The post digital analog circuits have gotten much better. And my ears are no where near as good at picking out near dog whistle harmonics (probably, a good thing).
In the past few years, I've owned three DACs, I really don't think that the newer ones are actually better than the first one I bought; however, they are certainly more versatile (and, sadly, more expensive). Regardless, I'm not worrying about it. I'm sitting here enveloped in the majestic organ notes of Saint Saens' Symphony No. 3 emanating from my thirty-plus year-old MartinLogan Monolith III speakers.
IF (and ONLY if) someone can distinguish between two DACs once levels have been properly matched AND in a supervised, double-blind listening test with statistically relevant results, then we should be able to design a testing methodology to identify those differences. And it's probably somewhere in the post DAC analog circuitry. (And Amir can probably ferret it out.)
When CDs first hit the market, as a geek, I embraced them; however, I hated the way they sounded. I was young enough that my hearing was exceptional and I could hear some of the aliasing byproducts and the mush of poorly reconstructed high frequency overtones. Digital sampling has gotten much better. The post digital analog circuits have gotten much better. And my ears are no where near as good at picking out near dog whistle harmonics (probably, a good thing).
In the past few years, I've owned three DACs, I really don't think that the newer ones are actually better than the first one I bought; however, they are certainly more versatile (and, sadly, more expensive). Regardless, I'm not worrying about it. I'm sitting here enveloped in the majestic organ notes of Saint Saens' Symphony No. 3 emanating from my thirty-plus year-old MartinLogan Monolith III speakers.
Any and all effects of the post DAC analog circuitry are already captured in Amir’s measurements. If someone could tell two DACs apart in a properly conducted test then there’d be no need to ferret anything out, the cause would be evident in the standard measurements that are already done.
I will be down to a young person selecting the wrong filter when playing content with actual energy at 20kHz, even a properly engineered DAC can have a meny of selectable digital filters and the default settings may not always be what most listeners need.
There can be small deviations in the frequency response due to these filters . Amir is quick to point to such errors in his reviews
There can be small deviations in the frequency response due to these filters . Amir is quick to point to such errors in his reviews
I’ve been using it (D90 Discrete) with Eversolo T8 for 3 days. Hopefully no hiss emerges, I’ll report the otherwise.
deitrick
Member
I do not have that issue with mine and I've owed it for over a year now. Did you try updating the firmware before sending it back? There have been quite a few updates for this DAC since its introduction.
Mine was already on the latest firmware
I have no issues with D90 III discrete (Wiim Pro Plus via Coxial - D90 - Pre90 - 2x La90D + Kef R3 + Sub SVS Pb1000 + Tidal max) with newest firmware.
With simple Rew to cut all peaks from 20 to 300hz. Crossover at 80hz, the sound is beautiful for me. Better than the same combo with Minidsp Flex + Dirac Live which gives me the liveless sound.
With simple Rew to cut all peaks from 20 to 300hz. Crossover at 80hz, the sound is beautiful for me. Better than the same combo with Minidsp Flex + Dirac Live which gives me the liveless sound.
deitrick
Member
Then you may have had a unit with some hardware defect/damage. Sorry to hear of the bad experience. On a better note, you should be more than happy with the D90 III Sabre. The review here on ASR has it as one of the best in SINAD.
Also, I've bought a couple of open box Topping items from Apos in the past year or two and they've all presented as new when I received them. I've been happy with them and their prices.
Agreed on Apos’ service quality; they really are amazing and I’ve never gotten better service from anyone else (Bloom comes close though).Then you may have had a unit with some hardware defect/damage. Sorry to hear of the bad experience. On a better note, you should be more than happy with the D90 III Sabre. The review here on ASR has it as one of the best in SINAD.
Also, I've bought a couple of open box Topping items from Apos in the past year or two and they've all presented as new when I received them. I've been happy with them and their prices.
RetroStereo
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I've had my D90 III discrete for about 16 months. Keeping its firmware up to date resolved a few minor issues noted elsewhere. Otherwise, it does its job. I can't imagine wanting something else.
I'm using it with a the A90D + Ext90 and an Apt model 1 preamp (I have lots of analog sources).
I'm using it with a the A90D + Ext90 and an Apt model 1 preamp (I have lots of analog sources).
features and price. There will be no audible difference between them
Hi everyone, I'm experiencing a serious issue with my Topping D90 III Discrete and would really appreciate any advice from those with experience.
How it started: Yesterday I updated the firmware to v0.57 via Topping Tune — everything seemed fine. I then measured with the mic and imported PEQ settings successfully. After that, I turned the unit off and held the power knob to access the menu — and the device has never turned on since.
Initial troubleshooting attempts:
Topping support advised me to enter DFU mode (toggle the rear power switch while holding the front knob) and reflash the firmware. I attempted this on both a Windows laptop and a MacBook M2, with firmware versions v0.39, v0.51, and v0.57 — the result was identical every time:
What I'm asking:
How it started: Yesterday I updated the firmware to v0.57 via Topping Tune — everything seemed fine. I then measured with the mic and imported PEQ settings successfully. After that, I turned the unit off and held the power knob to access the menu — and the device has never turned on since.
Initial troubleshooting attempts:
- Tried different power cables and wall sockets
- Tried various button combinations
- Connected via USB to a computer
- Waited 20+ minutes and retried → None of these worked.
Topping support advised me to enter DFU mode (toggle the rear power switch while holding the front knob) and reflash the firmware. I attempted this on both a Windows laptop and a MacBook M2, with firmware versions v0.39, v0.51, and v0.57 — the result was identical every time:
- The app detects the device and reports a successful flash
- After toggling the rear power switch, the screen briefly shows "MCU no firmware" → "Upgrading…" → then goes completely black
- The device fails to boot, screen remains dark
- Re-entering DFU mode shows the firmware as v1.01 again — inconsistent with the previous flash
- My MacBook still recognizes the device via USB → the hardware is not completely dead
- The Topping USB DFU app still detects the unit and correctly reads the last flashed firmware version
- However, the screen is completely dark and the unit is fully unresponsive
What I'm asking:
- Is there any lower-level recovery procedure beyond DFU (factory reset, JTAG, or anything similar)?
- Has anyone experienced a similar issue with Topping or any other DAC, and how did you resolve it?
- Or is sending it back for warranty service the only option at this point?
I had a problem with a D900 that was recognized by a computer but would not power on properly,
It was replaced by APOS.
Consider contacting Topping.
- Rich
I contacted Topping. It’s out of warranty, so I have to send it to Topping in China to be fixed. I'm staying in Vietnam, so the shipping fee is around $35. But they will charge if there is anything that needs to be replaced.
My baby D90III is back from China. Topping fixed it in minutes. After 2 weeks using SMSL D6s, I came back with a very detailed sound of D90 III.
We cannot say all DACs sound the same.
I measured with Rew and Umik-1 and applied the same PEQ, it is clearly different even though SMSL D6s has crazy SINAD!
We cannot say all DACs sound the same.
I measured with Rew and Umik-1 and applied the same PEQ, it is clearly different even though SMSL D6s has crazy SINAD!
can you share the measurements?
