There are very good reasons why the inputs may appear to sound different. They should be properly considered long before anyone reaches for explanations like jitter or other completely solved “issues”
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Anyone Review Topping D90III Discrete / D90 III Sabre yet ?
- Thread starter ooauoo2013
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- dac
HifiDuddits
New Member
I don't see .59 available anywhere. .51
HifiDuddits
New Member
Agreed ..Ticking sounds like it's probably WIFI interference to me. Lots of folks have their wi-fi within a foot or three of their components.
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Just to make sure you were playing native DSD512 (and/or DSD128/256 with DSD Bypass ON) in DAC mode and no PEQ?
I'm told the D90 Discrete has extremely low jitter via USB. AFAIK the Pi2AES uses dual NDK NZ2520SD which typically have phase jitter around 0.2 picoseconds. The difference should be well below audibility thresholds IMO.
If I2S still sounds different to USB then the Pi2AES or Topping messed up somewhere.
If we assume jitter isn't the reason, could you elaborate why USB and I2S sound different when playing DSD512 natively (without conversion) on this 1 bit DAC?
Sighted bias
VientoB
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Are the measurement differences in the audible range?
Thanks...You guys were right--I had my DAC sitting directly on top of my streamer. By gapping them a couple of inches using some, "hi-fi isolation feet," I was able to eliminate the ticking noises.
Appreciate the help!
HifiDuddits
New Member
.51..I do not see .59 available anywhere
Okay; I’m not sure what @RichB was talking about then.
I've had this DAC for a month now and haven't noticed any issues. What I don't quite like is the output level and, I suppose, the output impedance. I use it with a Gustard P26 preamp with an input gain of +6dB, so it's one of the best DACs I've ever heard.
Haven’t had issues with mine either; I use the 2.5/5V output setting to my B200s in high gain and it is plenty loud (low gain on the B200s is just a little short of the volume I want on some quiet tracks). I only send PCM though, due to my room correction being an absolute necessity.
Most, there is still an issue with the I2S with DSD is low volume and incorrectly reported as 176K pcm.
- Rich
Hrmmm are you playing dsd64?
176 k pcm looks like dsd dop.
5V will lower the noise floor compared to 4V, but if you find your volume control is very limited due to excess gain (like even on your quietest tracks you are only using like 1/3 of your volume range), you may consider 4V just to help improve volume control granularity. Generally speaking, better to use 5V if your system is fine with it.
If you're using amps with adjustable gain, set them for the lowest gain and use the highest voltage at the DAC (5V) to achieve the lowest noise floor. If the gain is limited or no adjustment on your amps and very high (+26dB or more), you may find it better to use the 4V setting just to get finer volume control.
I want to use 5v out, but I don't know how to switch it from 4v to 5v? I can't see a dedicated switch for that. So I am asking maybe someone could clarify how is this done on this dac?
Thanks in advance for help
There’s a power switch on the back, next to the power connector. Switch it to off. Now press and hold on the control knob on the front while switching the power switch on the back to on again. This will put you in the setup menu where you can change numerous settings including output voltage as well as DAC only versus preamp mode.
