Topping D90 Balanced USB DAC Review

[Martin]

How long did it take using the D50 in that way for you to see the burn in?

I first noticed it at around 2 months but it’s getting progressively worse. It’s 16 months old now.

Martin

 

[eduardw]

I first noticed it at around 2 months but it’s getting progressively worse. It’s 16 months old now.

Martin

Martin small question do you have de dac always turned on. Mine d90 will turn of when not used so for some hours a day it is off.

 

[Martin]

My DAC is on 24x7.

Martin

 

[win]

I want to disassemble it and tap into the ribbon for the oled screen and do some custom messages with a raspberry pi. A 24hr clock would be sweet.

 

[Sukie]

My DAC is on 24x7.

Martin

Does the D50 have an auto-screen shut off feature (like the D50s)?

 

[frogmeat69]

Does the D50 have an auto-screen shut off feature (like the D50s)?

From what I remember it does.

 

[Sukie]

From what I remember it does.

I'm only asking as I have the D50s and make use of the auto screen-off precisely so I don't get burn-in.

 

[Jmsent]

Does the D90 remember your brightness setting and other mode settings when the power is removed?

 

[kkeretic]

Does the D50 have an auto-screen shut off feature (like the D50s)?

Unfortunately no.

 

[bahamot]

Does the D90 remember your brightness setting and other mode settings when the power is removed?

Yes

 

[Harmonie]

My DAC is on 24x7.

Martin

Hi Martin,


I used to keep (and still am) my old Wadia dac 24x7 since 25years+
It's simple, it has no on/off buttom on the front, just a switch in the back, not really intended to be shut off.

But, with all what I read here at ASR, what justifies you to keep your today's well measuring dac keep it on all the time ?

 

[Martin]

Hi Martin,


I used to keep (and still am) my old Wadia dac 24x7 since 25years+
It's simple, it has no on/off buttom on the front, just a switch in the back, not really intended to be shut off.

But, with all what I read here at ASR, what justifies you to keep your today's well measuring dac keep it on all the time ?

It’s the “sound card” on my Intel NUC. My PC runs 24x7 and I don’t want to (and shouldn’t have to) futz with turning the DAC on and off dozens of times a day.

Martin

 

[Sukie]

It’s the “sound card” on my Intel NUC. My PC runs 24x7 and I don’t want to (and shouldn’t have to) futz with turning the DAC on and off dozens of times a day.

Martin

Completely agree but, to be fair, Topping did take this on board when they designed the D50s.

 

[Martin]

Completely agree but, to be fair, Topping did take this on board when they designed the D50s.

Is it the default setting or buried somewhere?

 

[Sukie]

Is it the default setting or buried somewhere?

It wasn't the default setting, which I agree it should be. However it was easy to find in the manual.

 

[Gradius]

The screen is essentially unreadable. Any engineer specifying an OLED screen for a static display that does not automatically shut-off by default should be fired.

It's a "feature".

It's called planned obsolescence.

 

[nj75f]

A beginner-question
Wanted to use a cable xlr-in and xlr-out (headphone); so balanced in and balanced out.
Manual say signal-to-noise is some dB lower for cinch/rca in and balanced-out.

I suppose it is no biggie? Rather have 4 V input and balanced output (no grounding issues?) than limited to 2 V?

 

[Veri]

I suppose it is no biggie? Rather have 4 V input and balanced output (no grounding issues?) than limited to 2 V?

Yeah it's just theoretical lowest noise. In practice, ground loop immunity is quite nice to be protected from possible nasty problems

 

[Jimbob54]

A beginner-question
Wanted to use a cable xlr-in and xlr-out (headphone); so balanced in and balanced out.
Manual say signal-to-noise is some dB lower for cinch/rca in and balanced-out.

I suppose it is no biggie? Rather have 4 V input and balanced output (no grounding issues?) than limited to 2 V?

Just a small word of warning- if you have easy to drive, sensitive headphones - 4v or more XLR in can mean you dont get much range on the volume dial on the amp before it gets too loud- depending on which amp, gain settings and headphones of course. But you can always lower the DAC volume if you find you need balanced connections.

 

[terasankka]

I have a Musical Fidelity M6si that has 220wpc running into high sensitivity Klipsch Heresy IV (99dB) speakers. I am planning on getting the D90 MQA. If I connect it via the XLR, will I have the issue mentioned above? "you dont get much range on the volume dial on the amp before it gets too loud"

Also and other question. Can I turn off the display totally with D90?