Topping D90 Balanced USB DAC Review

[JohnYang1997]

I just got a D90 MQA and I am returning it, because The Roon Volume control does not work with Roon USB Bridge and Roon (PRE-AMP mode was active). I can choose Fixed or Device volume for the D90 In Roon and the Roon Volume still says Fixed Volume. The D90 physical remote control volume works.

One thing I noticed is that Topping D90 reports the max and min volumes as zero for Roon. So, if you go to the device settings in Roon. the Device Limits Min and Max are both zero and you cannot change them. If I look at my Node 2i Device limits it says Zero for Min and 100 for Max.

Roon DSP Volume seems to work, but then the MQA does not work when I attenuate the volume with the DSP Volume. If I leave it to 100% then the MQA activates.

D90 sounds great, but the usability with Roon is not that good, when I got used the device volume of my previous DAC.

That's the issue with MQA.

 

[JohnYang1997]

I can confirm this, already almost forgot about it. Switch to or from 384kHz and bang. That is why I massively avoid that frequency. Luckily it's not that I really have anything in 384kHz.

Will check on that. Happens on your D90 right?

 

[kkeretic]

Will check on that. Happens on your D90 right?

No, D50s.

 

[LuckyLuke575]

If I ever build the ultimate headphone and DAC/AMP combination, then this D90 would be in that stack hooked up with XLR connectors. Very well done to Topping. I'm a huge fan of the brand.

 

[nelamvr6]

If I ever build the ultimate headphone and DAC/AMP combination, then this D90 would be in that stack hooked up with XLR connectors. Very well done to Topping. I'm a huge fan of the brand.

That's exactly the headphone setup I'm using, XLR connectors to a Drop TXH AAA 789. Sounds great!

 

[LuckyLuke575]

That's the issue with MQA.

I like the additional MQA functionality as I use TIDAL to stream music

 

[JohnYang1997]

I like the additional MQA functionality as I use TIDAL to stream music

You can use HIFI in Tidal which provides better sound quality than MQA.

 

[Toku]

Roon DSP Volume seems to work, but then the MQA does not work when I attenuate the volume with the DSP Volume. If I leave it to 100% then the MQA activates.

D90 sounds great, but the usability with Roon is not that good, when I got used the device volume of my previous DAC.

Not limited to D90 MQA, all DACs with MQA decoders have the same operation.
Although MQA has appeared, it has some problems.

 

[nelamvr6]

You can use HIFI in Tidal which provides better sound quality than MQA.

MQA files sound really good. I was pleasantly surprised, having read all the objections to their existance here.

 

[majingotan]

MQA files sound really good. I was pleasantly surprised, having read all the objections to their existance here.

Wait till you try the DBT ABX volume matched test. It could just all boil down to seeing MQA or masters on the screen makes you perceive sound better psychoacoustically. Remove the Bias and the sonic differences disappear and all the unicorn perceptions disappear

 

[nelamvr6]

Wait till you try the DBT ABX volume matched test. It could just all boil down to seeing MQA or masters on the screen makes you perceive sound better psychoacoustically. Remove the Bias and the sonic differences disappear and all the unicorn perceptions disappear

This is of course possible. But it is also possible that these files simply sound really good, yes? Until there are DBT ABX volume matched tests, both are equally possible. In the mean time, I'm going to just go ahead and enjoy the music.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

This is of course possible. But it is also possible that these files simply sound really good, yes? Until there are DBT ABX volume matched tests, both are equally possible. In the mean time, I'm going to just go ahead and enjoy the music.

There are several proprietary encoding schemes which claim to have the highest fidelity, closer to the original intent of the creators and other assorted claims. The thing to realize however is that plain old boring FLAC files are the original file, and nothing on earth (or any other planet) could be any more accurate than that. The creators of these proprietary formats are simply trying to generate income, whether they are 'improving' anything or not (usually not).

 

[nelamvr6]

There are several proprietary encoding schemes which claim to have the highest fidelity, closer to the original intent of the creators and other assorted claims. The thing to realize however is that plain old boring FLAC files are the original file, and nothing on earth (or any other planet) could be any more accurate than that. The creators of these proprietary formats are simply trying to generate income, whether they are 'improving' anything or not (usually not).

Have you actually listened to any of these evil horrible MQA files? Just curious...

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Have you actually listened to any of these evil horrible MQA files? Just curious...

Yes I have and they sound identical to the non-MQA versions (my DAC has MQA). They are not 'horrible', and I never said they were. My intent was simply that they were no improvement and that a lossless format like FLAC is literally the original unaltered file, and MQA doesn't 'improve' on that.

 

[nelamvr6]

Yes I have and they sound identical to the non-MQA versions (my DAC has MQA). They are not 'horrible', and I never said they were. My intent was simply that they were no improvement and that a lossless format like FLAC is literally the original unaltered file, and MQA doesn't 'improve' on that.

My applolgies, I didn't mean to suggest that you had called them horrible. I have read other comments on these fora that suggest that MQAs are evil incarnate.

I have enjoyed listening to both the flac and MQA versions of quite a few songs, I am glad that I decided to buy the MQA version of the D90 so I have that option.

 

[JohnYang1997]

MQA files sound really good. I was pleasantly surprised, having read all the objections to their existance here.

What about the CD quality also sounds very good. Or simply the music is so good. Not the format.

 

[nelamvr6]

What about the CD quality also sounds very good. Or simply the music is so good. Not the format.

When I've had the chance to sample all formats, where there are high res versions as well as red book, I usually find that I like the high res version better. But more often than not that can be easily attributed to the mastering of a version.

I don't make any claims to being a golden ear, especially not at my age. I'm just really glad that we have so many versions to choose from. And I'm also glad that I can also sample the MQA files when they're available.

 

[frogmeat69]

I have an MQA capable DAC, and I want that sumbitch to light up when I play tunes on Tidal, lol. Otherwise, I just listen to my ripped library in FLAC . They all sound good to me, but I usually try to find older CD's to rip of the music I like, say pre 1993.

 

[Ntrax]

MQA sound the same as flac to me. Maybe 1 day I'll be able to tell the dif.

 

[192kbps]

What about the CD quality also sounds very good. Or simply the music is so good. Not the format.

I've read some of your comments on balancing input and output, so is D90 + L30 the best choice?