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Topping A90 Discrete Review (Headphone Amp & Preamp)

Rate this Headphone Amp/Pre-amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 16 4.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 13 3.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 69 17.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 306 75.7%

  • Total voters
    404

Doodski

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Thnx for the input. Is it an audible difference, because for the life of me I can’t hear a drawback with high gain. Old ears:)
Cheers
There is about a 10dB difference from ~58dB THD + N Ratio and downwards.
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Dogcoop

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There is a bout a 10dB difference from ~61.5dB THD + N Ratio and downwards.
index.php

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Thnx!
Is that an audible difference? If it is, I am very disappointed that Topping would recommend high gain with full size headphones.
 

mocenigo

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Unable to update the firmware on my A90D. I just got my A90D from Apos, and before even connecting wall power I plugged in the the USB-C cable and on THREE computers (two Macs, one Windows) no drive came up. No display. I then wall powered the A90D for a bit, pulled the plug, waited 2 minutes, and same results. I tried three USB-C cables and same results. What am I doing wrong?

Try again through a powered hub.
 

Doodski

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Thnx!
Is that an audible difference? If it is, I am very disappointed that Topping would recommend high gain with full size headphones.
The amp output is clean enough for IEM's and the 50mV test got good marks too.

Audible is a not-likely situation from the lowest wattage onward.
 

MRC01

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Another common reason low gain is preferred is channel balance: most volume knobs have better channel balance in the top (loudest) of the range. However, with the A90 Discrete this is not an issue as it has a stepped attenuator - perfect channel balance at all settings. To me, that alone justifies the extra $ from the A90, the extra power is just icing on that cake.
 

HDavidson

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Topping has several devices with a preamplifier in its range.

Question: pourquoi n’a-t-il pas sorti un amplificateur de puissance à part entière (sans contrôle du volume) jusqu’à présent?
He has all the competencies for this..
This would be a logical extension..
 
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MRC01

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Good question. Topping does make power amps, but I don't know why they have volume controls.
Why write the question in French?
 
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My result.
When I held down the volume knob on the main unit and turned it to the right, the gain switched to "H". Turned it to the left, the gain switched to "L". The firmware is "VER23".
Thank you, happy to see it's a very simple operation.
 

mrjayviper

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Suggestion for suitable and current production Topping balanced DAC? (Not the d90) thanks
 

enricoclaudio

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Suggestion for suitable and current production Topping balanced DAC? (Not the d90) thanks
D30 Pro or E50. I have an E50 and it’s very reliable.
 

carlcamper

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enricoclaudio

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My A90D finally will be shipped tomorrow from Headphones.com. For those interested, they got plenty stock and it ships from their warehouse in the US with free FedEx 2 days shipping.

 

dougq

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It is a direct comparison with the RME. @amirm has said that the RME is his every day dac/amp. When he says he has never seen an amp have such an upper hand that includes the RME. When he says he has not heard the Stealth come to life so well, that includes compared to the RME. What exact comparison are you looking for?
I wanted to touch back on this because the response seems kind of touchy. Is there an audible improvement in dynamics at normal volume levels. Bass response? Anything? Is the difference at any listening levels? Or only when listening loud? Really any kind of comparisons. Is it worth even grabbing this for most use cases in comparison to the RME internal amp?

Reading the review, and then going back and reading the original review statements are kind of high level and vague. I'm looking for a direct comparison if one can be had.
 

carlcamper

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I wanted to touch back on this because the response seems kind of touchy. Is there an audible improvement in dynamics at normal volume levels. Bass response? Anything? Is the difference at any listening levels? Or only when listening loud? Really any kind of comparisons. Is it worth even grabbing this for most use cases in comparison to the RME internal amp?

Reading the review, and then going back and reading the original review statements are kind of high level and vague. I'm looking for a direct comparison if one can be had.
Im expecting a lot more reviews and comparisons moving forward since these are starting to ship out to the US market.
 

enricoclaudio

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I wanted to touch back on this because the response seems kind of touchy. Is there an audible improvement in dynamics at normal volume levels. Bass response? Anything? Is the difference at any listening levels? Or only when listening loud? Really any kind of comparisons. Is it worth even grabbing this for most use cases in comparison to the RME internal amp?

Reading the review, and then going back and reading the original review statements are kind of high level and vague. I'm looking for a direct comparison if one can be had.
This is the kind of comparison that you have to do yourself. Get the A90D and the RME, listen to both, keep the one you like the most and return the loser back. The most you can lose is the return shipping and maybe a 10% restocking fee.
 
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