Topping A90 Discrete Review (Headphone Amp & Preamp)

[mediocrebutarrogant]

On both channels or just one channel ?

both channels, like paper crumbling, and sometimes when I turn the amp on it shows -5 , and then goes to normal, this is an intermittent issue, the -5 flashing.

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

Maybe try to update the firmware.
And try to unplug all for 1min then plug again.

This i tried

 

[Snoopy]

both channels, like paper crumbling, and sometimes when I turn the amp on it shows -5 , and then goes to normal, this is an intermittent issue, the -5 flashing.

First review I look at on amazon

„
error -5 after 1 year
Reviewed in Spain on 11 September 2024

The product die after one year and im not alone with this problem
“

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

both channels, like paper crumbling, and sometimes when I turn the amp on it shows -5 , and then goes to normal, this is an intermittent issue, the -5 flashing.

more pronounced in right channel. Also noticeable in high gain, not so much on low, but still there.. and the tightness is gone when music is playing

 

[solderdude]

sounds like the amp developed a fault in one of the power supply rails or maybe some switching relay in the gain circuit.
I would contact Topping support.

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

sounds like the amp developed a fault in one of the power supply rails or maybe some switching relay in the gain circuit.

i see.. thanks for your diagnosis. what should I get to replace A90D I wonder .. there have been moments of pure bliss with it

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

First review I look at on amazon

„
error -5 after 1 year
Reviewed in Spain on 11 September 2024

The product die after one year and im not alone with this problem
“

I know these things break, but my Topping chain has truly given me much joy as well

 

[solderdude]

i see.. thanks for your diagnosis. what should I get to replace A90D I wonder .. there have been moments of pure bliss with it

I would contact Topping support first.

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

ok good news is 6.35 output seems to work ok for now, which is strange

 

[wimawow]

I’m having the -5 error on power on issue. Had the A90d for 2 years. The reseller is willing to repair or replace it. I’m just waiting for the package to make it to guangdong. It’s been in us customs hands waiting to be cleared to fly out. Of course this has to happen while our postal service is being gutted. I have no idea how long it might take to get there. Hopefully it won’t be longer than 2 months.

 

[maruko]

Have any of you had the A90D for more than two years without ever having had a problem?

I got mine two weeks ago, as a preamplifier in my speaker system, and I feel very good.
Now I only use the A90 for headphones.

But I'm afraid it may present the problems that many of you have had.

 

[ivanfraser]

Have any of you had the A90D for more than two years without ever having had a problem?

I got mine two weeks ago, as a preamplifier in my speaker system, and I feel very good.
Now I only use the A90 for headphones.

But I'm afraid it may present the problems that many of you have had.

Just over 2 years regular use as both preamp and headphone use. Still going strong.

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

I got the singxer sa 1 v2 to replace , A90D, it don't shake my ears no more no need to double blind test

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

is A70 pro better than A90D?

 

[Snoopy]

I got the singxer sa 1 v2 to replace , A90D, it don't shake my ears no more no need to double blind test

Shake your ears ?
I believe the A90D is a perfectly fine amp when it works but take this example with a grain of salt.

A friend of mine got some cheap Bluetooth Headphones while ago for something like 150 euro.. the things got bass Boost and all that stuff, the headphones are shaking on his head and the drives are rattling around in the ear cups from boosting everything to the max .. and he loves it.

The Singxer SA-1 is another very well reviewed and measured Amp.
I switch regularly between the SA-1 and a SMSL SP400 and I’m fine with both

The SA-1 should be absolutely fine for most Headphones without some insane EQ or negative gain applied to it.

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

Shake your ears ?
I believe the A90D is a perfectly fine amp when it works but take this example with a grain of salt.

A friend of mine got some cheap Bluetooth Headphones while ago for something like 150 euro.. the things got bass Boost and all that stuff, the headphones are shaking on his head and the drives are rattling around in the ear cups from boosting everything to the max .. and he loves it.

The Singxer SA-1 is another very well reviewed and measured Amp.
I switch regularly between the SA-1 and a SMSL SP400 and I’m fine with both

The SA-1 should be absolutely fine for most Headphones without some insane EQ or negative gain applied to it.

Hans Zimmer 2049 and Why so serious, on A90D and my stealth, literally give me a head massage on A90D, while singxer does give good performance, its nowhere close to A90D on bass , detail retrieval is at par at best , just my 2cw

 

[mediocrebutarrogant]

@JohnYang1997 whats it going to cost to fix my A90D out of warranty with briefly showing -5 then hissing/crackling noise out of warranty I guess?It does play music, but not peak performance

 

[maruko]

I'm trying to figure out if I'll be able to drive the Noire (13 Ohm) without problems with the A90D. From Amir's review it would seem that with a 13 ohm load we are very close to the amp protection limit.

I'm also trying to quantify if the SINAD loss of the amp due to the very low impedance of this headphone can be audible.

Any suggestions?

 

[staticV3]

I'm trying to figure out if I'll be able to drive the Noire (13 Ohm) without problems with the A90D. From Amir's review it would seem that with a 13 ohm load we are very close to the amp protection limit.

The A90D can drive the Noire to >124dB SPL before you encounter any clipping or protection from the Amp.

In other words: using the A90D you can effortlessly destroy your hearing and your headphones, without ever triggering protection.

I'm also trying to quantify if the SINAD loss of the amp due to the very low impedance of this headphone can be audible.

Not even remotely audible.

 

[maruko]

The A90D can drive the Noire to >124dB SPL before you encounter any clipping or protection from the Amp.

In other words: using the A90D you can effortlessly destroy your hearing and your headphones, without ever triggering protection.


Not even remotely audible.

May you explain me better?

So, why this protection limit will not engage if we have a 13 ohm headphone?

What mean in the first post by amir “When pushed into protection with loads < 32 ohm, the unit shut off” and “Protection limited at 16 and 12 ohms”.

And why noise would be “not even remotely udibile”, there shouldn’t be a significant reduction in thd+n at that impedance?

Thanks