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Topping A90 Headphone Amplifier Review
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Bow_Wazoo
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Yesterday I put into operation for the first time the combination of smartphone / Neutron player / USB and Topping E30 / A90 combination.
After about two hours, I had multiple interruptions in the sound (estimated the fraction of a second).
Neither the Neutron player, nor the DAC gave any indication of an interruption in the data stream.
Therefore I have the amplifier in the suspicion. But as I said, it is only a suspicion.
The error was not reproducible, but still worry me. I have been listening with the Neutron player for many years, and have had many topping devices here, but I have not experienced anything like this....
Has anyone here experienced similar?
After about two hours, I had multiple interruptions in the sound (estimated the fraction of a second).
Neither the Neutron player, nor the DAC gave any indication of an interruption in the data stream.
Therefore I have the amplifier in the suspicion. But as I said, it is only a suspicion.
The error was not reproducible, but still worry me. I have been listening with the Neutron player for many years, and have had many topping devices here, but I have not experienced anything like this....
Has anyone here experienced similar?
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How about if U use balanced connection into the A90?
Had no idea LCD 5 are that demanding.
staticV3
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They aren't, at least according to Audeze's specs: 14Ω, 108.5dB/Vrms
With the E30 as DAC, the A90 in High gain, and a -9dB preamp that should give @Bow_Wazoo 121.5dB SPL peak, which is bonkers loud (I listen at 80).
I suspect there's something wrong, so I suggest troubleshooting with a multimeter.
inscythe
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You can run both balanced and SE at the same time, but not 2 balanced. For the balanced, it will take whichever get plugged in first if I remember correctly, so you can run 2 different headphones at the same time.
Aha, I see! I guess this is a universal rule in the world of headphone amps?
I just thought about how things like Sennheiser HDV 820 has two 4.4 mm outputs, and why it would have that if it's not possible to run two balanced at the same time. The only reason I can think of would be just in case one of them somehow stops working? Lol.
inscythe
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As long as the outputs are handled by separate output stage circuits, then it is possible. In A90, the balanced and SE are separated, so you can run both together.
You will need to check with the individual amp's internal design. Some amps with balanced jacks for convenience only (actually internally SE), they may not be able to run multiple headphones when you plug them in balanced and SE jacks at the same time.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Horn speakers with LA90 ... sure but why is there a wireless AirPod Max in the picture ? 
( I know they can be used wired too but does not require A90-high power levels)
( I know they can be used wired too but does not require A90-high power levels)
cheapmessiah
Active Member
The information "panel" on that A90D looks interesting, would those double digit indicators on it mean that the volume control is going to be digital?
I like the look of the A90D and appreciate the remote control. So long as those indicator lights are orange and not super bright I think it's a very nice design. If this was available before I might have even gone for this over the SH9.
According to the photo in the recent Apos email i got for the D90LE (which also has the A90D powered on) the numbers are white. They were stacked together, but as the A90D isn't available for sale on the site (yet) I couldn't figure out what the heck it was. A google search later led me to this thread.
I'm not sure what the significance of 'discrete' is - discrete amps for each channel?
cheapmessiah
Active Member
Can you share the photo here?
Discrete means there's no chips used on the amplifying section of the amp, the circuit is designed with more specificity than it can be done with monolithic chips. My guess is that it's just a product to show customers topping can do the same that brands like Ferrum or Burson can do, while getting better measurements than them in the process.
cheapmessiah
Active Member
It looks really cool
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Why not move the connectors to the left and use a similar display as on the D90LE with all the needed info ?
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