Topping A90 Discrete Review (Headphone Amp & Preamp)

[enricoclaudio]

more question please

1. output impedance
2. how many steps are there on the volume control?

99 steps on volume control.

 

[Snoopy]

Just got my A90D delivered. It came with Firmware 2.3 already and after connecting it to my Mac Studio with a USB-C to USB-A cable, the firmware drive came up on my desktop immediately. Sound is as good as my A90. Can't really hear any difference with my Sennheiser 660s or with my Sundaras. I have it set it up in High gain and volume at 65 is plenty loud for me. This is really the perfect companion for my Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3

View attachment 222324

Isnt the sabre3 and the A90D a bit overkill for these headphones or do U have other headphones as well?

 

[enricoclaudio]

Isnt the sabre3 and the A90D a bit overkill for these headphones or do U have other headphones as well?

Overkill? Not because I own a $3000 DAC/Streamer that means I need to own a $3000 pair of headphones. I used to own a pair of DCA AEON 2 Noires and returned them after 6 months because I found myself listened more with the 660s and Sundaras. I also listen much more with my Dynaudio monitors than with headphones but I do like to own good electronics, and in this case the MA X-SABRE 3 is my favorite DAC/Streamer.

 

[nagster]

Input impedance graph and output impedance graph of the A90 Discrete.
I don't have an XLR4 conversion cable so there is no XLR4 output graph.

 

[Matias]

 

[Madlop26]

Joshua Valor claims a sound difference between the A90 and A90D, hard to believe, he did a blind test to prove it, there is a video , but it was barely scientific to put it mildly.
Anyway I think he is moving to right direction, I guess....

 

[registlse]

Another person compared the two on another forum (Headfi), it says exactly the opposite, the A90D would sound leaner, analytical than the A90... you would have to order both to get an opinion!