If your source is just a MacBook, why did you upgrade from D90 to D90 discrete? You could just use the EQ from the MacBook instead.
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Anyone Review Topping D90III Discrete / D90 III Sabre yet ?
- Thread starter ooauoo2013
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I have been using D90 III Discrete for a week in the configuration:
PC HQplayer with NAA-> Gustard U18 (config Mode 3 F15)-> I2S -> D90 IIID (firmware V0.39) ->XLR > SMSL H300 > HD800 headphones
I use the D90IIID option of the DSD Bypass ON in menu and send DSD Native upsampling from HQplayer .
1.
Music plays OK for all frequencies even DSD512 - 22.57 (44.1 x 512) and 24.57 MHz (48 x 512). It's super
The documentation specifies DSD Bypass support for Dsd Direct 64-256.
Question:
Does this mean that the I2S DSD Direct signal received by the D90IIID is somehow technically "degraded" in D90IIID for DSD Native 512 compared to DSD Native 256?
2.
Moreover, during music playing (DSD Native > I2S >) D90IIID shows on the display for:
- Hqplayer DSD Native 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x 256) > D90IIID shows 11.28 MHZ (OK)
- Hqplayer DSD Native 12.288 MHz (48 x 256) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 22.5792 MHz (44.1 x 512) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (small error - because the source frequency is 22.5792 MHz and not the simplified 11.28 x2 = 22.56), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 24.576 MHz (48 x 512) > D90IIID shows - - - MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
I am waiting for a response from Topping service after February 5.
(Topping: We will be out of the office on Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 4 with no access to emails)
PC HQplayer with NAA-> Gustard U18 (config Mode 3 F15)-> I2S -> D90 IIID (firmware V0.39) ->XLR > SMSL H300 > HD800 headphones
I use the D90IIID option of the DSD Bypass ON in menu and send DSD Native upsampling from HQplayer .
1.
Music plays OK for all frequencies even DSD512 - 22.57 (44.1 x 512) and 24.57 MHz (48 x 512). It's super
The documentation specifies DSD Bypass support for Dsd Direct 64-256.
Question:
Does this mean that the I2S DSD Direct signal received by the D90IIID is somehow technically "degraded" in D90IIID for DSD Native 512 compared to DSD Native 256?
2.
Moreover, during music playing (DSD Native > I2S >) D90IIID shows on the display for:
- Hqplayer DSD Native 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x 256) > D90IIID shows 11.28 MHZ (OK)
- Hqplayer DSD Native 12.288 MHz (48 x 256) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 22.5792 MHz (44.1 x 512) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (small error - because the source frequency is 22.5792 MHz and not the simplified 11.28 x2 = 22.56), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 24.576 MHz (48 x 512) > D90IIID shows - - - MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
I am waiting for a response from Topping service after February 5.
(Topping: We will be out of the office on Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 4 with no access to emails)
Last edited:
ritzyritzrit
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Just gotten my Topping D90III Discrete, and to my misfortune I joined the group of folks that are facing clicking sounds using the DAC.
Clicking sound whenever the DAC isn't getting any audio signal and click whenever receiving signal, this means every 2 clicks every TV toggle sound.
Even during silence when the movie starts and the production house title animations are displayed, the silence between those segments will also cause clicks.
In between every change in music you get 2 clicks, I believe it is a faulty unit. My research across the forums shows a very clear divide of 2 groups of us, one enjoying the sound and the other complain about this problem.
Its really a pity because the soundstage, naturalness of sound, holographic are all real, but the click due to the voltage drops and peaks is driving me crazy.
It is confirmed a voltage issue as the click happens even at -99.0dB when the speaker is totally silent the click still happens whenever you have silence in tracks.
The crazier thing is that this is not my first time facing this problem, clicks are common when DACs change across formats/bitrates or when they are not "Always On" in the .xml configuration in the XMOS driver control panel settings.
This is extra saddening as I went into the script and made "Visible" the option to "Always On" which worked for my SMSL D6-S but nothing is working on the Topping D90III Discrete.
In the other DACs, they are just simply programmed to sleep during idle hence causing the click when the voltage drops, but for the Topping D90III Discrete, it is a worse problem than the above.
I tried RCA, XLR outputs. Bluetooth, Optical, USB inputs across 2 totally separate systems but the click still happens, this is 100% due to the DAC's voltage drops and peak that have gone faulty. And quite a high amount of failures at that according to the posts in the forums across the web.
Also tried high pass filters to no effects, again as it is due to a voltage issue when at -99.0dB hence this wouldn't fix it.
I've contacted a reseller and they told me that this is not a standard problem. Which further points me to the fact that this is a fault in the DAC.
The only other contrary post I read over here I think by Jeremy was that since this is a 1-bit DAC, the PCM has to be converted to DSD at every instance hence causing the DAC-Format-Switching that causes the click? (Though im not experienced enough to comprehend this).
I guess one of the solutions in a create a "constant sound" on your system when it is connected through USB so the DAC will not sleep. But I use it with its optical input setting from the WiiM so I cant generate a constant noise.
Also can i post a question to the folks enjoying this DAC, if you are actually experience the click, just that it is a full music listening set-up hence it is triggering lesser and you are fine with it? Or simply there isnt such thing as the clicking sound even happening in the first place.
Cant believe that I sank in 999usd to be working on all these debugging, Topping please step up.... the B200 is so awesome, but I guess a DAC has much more software, firmware controls that can go wrong.
It is the Lunar New Year now so I've got to wait till 4th February in order to receive contact from official topping channels.
Update #1: I bought a 2nd hand DDC just to test out all the other inputs/ouputs like COAXIAL, AES, I2S and all of it still persists with the problem. But a silver lining is that I've received information from Topping that they will be working on a firmware update after Lunar New Year.
Clicking sound whenever the DAC isn't getting any audio signal and click whenever receiving signal, this means every 2 clicks every TV toggle sound.
Even during silence when the movie starts and the production house title animations are displayed, the silence between those segments will also cause clicks.
In between every change in music you get 2 clicks, I believe it is a faulty unit. My research across the forums shows a very clear divide of 2 groups of us, one enjoying the sound and the other complain about this problem.
Its really a pity because the soundstage, naturalness of sound, holographic are all real, but the click due to the voltage drops and peaks is driving me crazy.
It is confirmed a voltage issue as the click happens even at -99.0dB when the speaker is totally silent the click still happens whenever you have silence in tracks.
The crazier thing is that this is not my first time facing this problem, clicks are common when DACs change across formats/bitrates or when they are not "Always On" in the .xml configuration in the XMOS driver control panel settings.
This is extra saddening as I went into the script and made "Visible" the option to "Always On" which worked for my SMSL D6-S but nothing is working on the Topping D90III Discrete.
In the other DACs, they are just simply programmed to sleep during idle hence causing the click when the voltage drops, but for the Topping D90III Discrete, it is a worse problem than the above.
I tried RCA, XLR outputs. Bluetooth, Optical, USB inputs across 2 totally separate systems but the click still happens, this is 100% due to the DAC's voltage drops and peak that have gone faulty. And quite a high amount of failures at that according to the posts in the forums across the web.
Also tried high pass filters to no effects, again as it is due to a voltage issue when at -99.0dB hence this wouldn't fix it.
I've contacted a reseller and they told me that this is not a standard problem. Which further points me to the fact that this is a fault in the DAC.
The only other contrary post I read over here I think by Jeremy was that since this is a 1-bit DAC, the PCM has to be converted to DSD at every instance hence causing the DAC-Format-Switching that causes the click? (Though im not experienced enough to comprehend this).
I guess one of the solutions in a create a "constant sound" on your system when it is connected through USB so the DAC will not sleep. But I use it with its optical input setting from the WiiM so I cant generate a constant noise.
Also can i post a question to the folks enjoying this DAC, if you are actually experience the click, just that it is a full music listening set-up hence it is triggering lesser and you are fine with it? Or simply there isnt such thing as the clicking sound even happening in the first place.
Cant believe that I sank in 999usd to be working on all these debugging, Topping please step up.... the B200 is so awesome, but I guess a DAC has much more software, firmware controls that can go wrong.
It is the Lunar New Year now so I've got to wait till 4th February in order to receive contact from official topping channels.
Update #1: I bought a 2nd hand DDC just to test out all the other inputs/ouputs like COAXIAL, AES, I2S and all of it still persists with the problem. But a silver lining is that I've received information from Topping that they will be working on a firmware update after Lunar New Year.
Last edited:
So reading this thread it seems this dac sounds the same as any other dac? This is confusing, is this really true? Not trolling just trying to put my end game headphone system together. I already have the topping A90 discrete, but I will just stick to my old D30 dac if there's no difference, kinda makes me sad.lol
For whatever reason I've experienced difference between my old DAC (Gustard X26Pro) and D50III. In case of D90III Discrete there is 0.5dB treble roll-of at 20kHz according to the measurements on Topping site, like is present on Centaurus too. So maybe you can perceive trebles smoother with D90III Discrete.
Svend P
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Yes
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
www.audiosciencereview.com
I have opposite experience, but I don't know why, the should sound all the same. I'm listening to the music on DAC that measures excellent and sounds to excellent too.Yes
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
Thank you. I'll be increasing my headphone/iem budget.Yes
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
Answer from Topping service:I have been using D90 III Discrete for a week in the configuration:
PC HQplayer with NAA-> Gustard U18 (config Mode 3 F15)-> I2S -> D90 IIID (firmware V0.39) ->XLR > SMSL H300 > HD800 headphones
I use the D90IIID option of the DSD Bypass ON in menu and send DSD Native upsampling from HQplayer .
1.
Music plays OK for all frequencies even DSD512 - 22.57 (44.1 x 512) and 24.57 MHz (48 x 512). It's super
The documentation specifies DSD Bypass support for Dsd Direct 64-256.
Question:
Does this mean that the I2S DSD Direct signal received by the D90IIID is somehow technically "degraded" in D90IIID for DSD Native 512 compared to DSD Native 256?
2.
Moreover, during music playing (DSD Native > I2S >) D90IIID shows on the display for:
- Hqplayer DSD Native 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x 256) > D90IIID shows 11.28 MHZ (OK)
- Hqplayer DSD Native 12.288 MHz (48 x 256) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 22.5792 MHz (44.1 x 512) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (small error - because the source frequency is 22.5792 MHz and not the simplified 11.28 x2 = 22.56), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 24.576 MHz (48 x 512) > D90IIID shows - - - MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
I am waiting for a response from Topping service after February 5.
(Topping: We will be out of the office on Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 4 with no access to emails)
" The D90III D does not support playback at a sampling based on 48KHz. Therefore, it is normal for an error to be displayed. Normally, when you turn on DSD bypass and play DSD512 or other songs with a sampling rate based on 48KHz, the device will display "unsupported". You can try connecting directly to the PC without using the Gustard U18 to see if the display is normal. "
I also have clicking but I'm not all that bothered by it. On my DAC it's very soft just barely audible. While I'd prefer it not be there at all, it doesn't really affect my listening. I grew up with records and learned to ignore the pips, pops, wow and flutter caused by those. The clicking is next to nothing when compared to that
That said, I love the sound of the D90 III Discrete. On my system, it's a step up in every way from my previous D90 and D90LE. It has clarity, liveliness, and soundstage that goes well beyond what those two DACs provided. I've had it a few months and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
FTR, I found the D90 a little tough to listen to for long periods, and the D90LE was a tad 'sleepy' (read that, boring). The Discrete is the opposite in both those categories. The music has energy and life as well as delicacy, and is super engaging and easy to listen to. The soundstage is also quite a bit wider and deeper than the D90LE, and more precise than the D90. The only thing I'd like the Discrete to have is a smidgen more warmth. When I get around to playing with the PEQ that would be my only adjustment. As is though, I'm going to keep it (clicks and all) until I find a DAC that has all its great traits, and then something more.
My system is simple: Topping D90 III Discrete > Hypex NC400 amps > Living Voice OBX-R2 speakers. I use balanced cables from the DAC to the amps.
Gradius
Addicted to Fun and Learning
So... still no new FW?
A few weeks ago newer D903D firmware appeared on the Topping web site, but apparently has been removed. I don't know the reason; perhaps it was buggy. I'm still waiting.
deitrick
Member
Topping released a firmware update for the D90 III Discrete on 4/1:
www.toppingaudio.com
I'll be installing it today.
D90 III Discrete V0.49 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO
www.toppingaudio.com
I'll be installing it today.
I installed 0.49 and everything is working well.
With a Pi2AES, I prefer the following settings:
- DSD Bypass ON. This seems to run cooler and I *think* sounds better, Multiple exchanges with Topping support have not produced a meaningful description of this function.
- Pi2AES - IIS settings (no jumpers), all settings are the default.
- USB, AES, I2S all sound different. I prefer I2S.
I am still working with Topping support to diagnose and, hopefully correct, the following issues.
- Switching the input from I2S to AES produces a large volume drop. At volume -25 the voltage, drops from about 2 volts to 1 volt.
- Switching the input from AES to I2S produces a large volume increase. At volume -25, the voltage increases from 2 volts to 3.8 volts.
- In both cases, change the volume up or down, then back corrects the voltage.
- In DAC mode, switching from AES to I2S increases the output and causes clicks and distortion. The unit must be power cycled to correct.
- Rich
With a Pi2AES, I prefer the following settings:
- DSD Bypass ON. This seems to run cooler and I *think* sounds better, Multiple exchanges with Topping support have not produced a meaningful description of this function.
- Pi2AES - IIS settings (no jumpers), all settings are the default.
- USB, AES, I2S all sound different. I prefer I2S.
I am still working with Topping support to diagnose and, hopefully correct, the following issues.
- Switching the input from I2S to AES produces a large volume drop. At volume -25 the voltage, drops from about 2 volts to 1 volt.
- Switching the input from AES to I2S produces a large volume increase. At volume -25, the voltage increases from 2 volts to 3.8 volts.
- In both cases, change the volume up or down, then back corrects the voltage.
- In DAC mode, switching from AES to I2S increases the output and causes clicks and distortion. The unit must be power cycled to correct.
- Rich
F1Fan72
Senior Member
Has the clicking issue been resolved with the latest FW update?
deitrick
Member
D90 III Discrete Firmware
Changelog
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.49 (April 1, 2025)
Fix: After muting high sample rates (greater than 192KHz), adjusting the device volume still produces sound.
Fix: Playing 768KHz music, certain operations could cause noise.
Fix: When music is playing, putting the device on standby and then turning it back on results in no output, requiring a restart.
Fix: After disabling the PEQ function, the mute function for high sample rates (greater than 192KHz) was not deactivated.
Fix: Muting high sample rates (greater than 192KHz) also muted 192KHz unintentionally.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.44 (March 19, 2025)
Adjusted: Modified the five default PEQ parameters and their names.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.43 (March 18, 2025)
* Fix: Some PEQ configuration settings cause distortion when playing certain music.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.42 (March 12, 2025)
* Fix: Issue where the five default PEQ configurations were not taking effect
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.41 (March 10, 2025)
* Fix: The device did not save the five headphone configurations
* Fix: After restoring factory settings, the device configuration, originally L/R, changed entirely to L+R
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
V0.40 (February 26, 2025)
* Fix: No output when song volume is low
* Fix: Distortion when pausing playback and adjusting volume without playing a song
* New: Independent left/right PEQ adjustment feature
* New: Five default PEQ configurations are saved locally and can be uploaded for selection on the host device
deitrick
Member
I no longer hear the faint clicking when switching between tracks using Tidal via my WiiM Ultra.
I've tried changing tracks, adjusting volume, pausing and playing, and allowing a track to complete and advance on its own to the next track. All occurred without the faint clicking. I am connected via USB from WiiM Ultra to D90 III Discrete.
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