Topping D90 Balanced USB DAC Review

[Matias]

I noticed you have members using Patreon.
send me a link.

https://www.patreon.com/audiosciencereview

 

[VeerK]

Has anyone paired the D90 with the 887, and would they mind taking a picture of the stack?

 

[jtwrace]

When are they coming out with a version to compete with the Element X so it has an Ethernet input and is Roon Tested? Do that for a $1k and they could own the market

 

[Svperstar]

would you do? My complimentary componentry: PC/JRiver/FLAC -> iFi USB3.0 -> *DAC* -> Woo WA6 SE

Wow you actually bought the WA6 SE? I've almost bought it multiple times but I just can't get myself to pull the trigger lol

 

[majingotan]

My 1st post here! Been lurking. Question: I just recently purchased a D70 (use as DAC only) and still have a couple weeks to return it for a full refund if I want to. So return it and pay the difference for a D90, or just keep it? Opinions? What would you do? My complimentary componentry: PC/JRiver/FLAC -> iFi USB3.0 -> *DAC* -> Woo WA6 SE -> HifiMan Arya/AudioQuest Nighthawk/HD650. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions=)

Just get D90 and be done with upgraditis though rational reasoning would suggest just keep the D70 since the sonic improvements are inaudible. BTW, I like that the iFi has "a keep on" feature so that you can charge your devices even if the PC is off. Get the iFi Gemini cable too for better looks

 

[Veri]

Friends don't recommend friends pricy USB cables for "better looks" ..

 

[maxxevv]

Friends don't recommend friends pricy USB cables for "better looks" ..

But maybe if its a visual fashion thing though ....

 

[Jeffrankko]

Need some advice. I am currently using JDS O2+ODAC combo, connecting between my JBL LSR305 MKII and my PC. I also own a pair of HD6XX.
Was looking to do some upgrade to my DAC/Amp. Wondering if the Topping D90 (with a separate amp, probably THX AAA 789) is an overkill for my speakers and headphones or a Topping DX7 Pro would do just nice?

 

[Celty]

Get the iFi Gemini cable too for better looks

Friends don't recommend friends pricy USB cables for "better looks" ..

But maybe if its a visual fashion thing though ....

Different strokes:

Fruit of the Loom - 3 for $7.84

Yunisu Men, Men’s Summer - $404.00

Cashmere Men’s Brief by Nice Laundry - $1000.00

They all do the same thing, your choice...

 

[AndrewDavis]

How'd you get that pic? I was young and foolish. I needed the money!

 

[Veri]

How'd you get that pic? I was young and foolish. I needed the money!

Be thankful it's not the other picture with the USB cable that you're on

 

[CopperFox]

Edit: removed post about MQA support over different inputs. Apparently the MQA support will work only through USB.

 

[Hifihedgehog]

A big thank you from the peanut gallery to @amirm and the new @WolfX-700 for providing these measurements. Any word yet on a Drop run or is this it? Are they possibly waiting for the MQA version before releasing it to Drop?

 

[westyjeff]

I need this with a built in SSD slot so I could load it with music, hook it up to my amp and let it do its thing.

 

[Mikechw]

I ordered on 28th Dec 2019..
Got mine today 6th Jan 2020..

Testing it tonight...

 

[hht200]

Hi, what do you thing about D70 using dual AK4497 vs. D90 using a single AK4499 (supports 4 outputs and TOPPING dedicate two output per channel). Could this change affect the listening experience?

 

[ElNino]

Hi, what do you thing about D70 using dual AK4497 vs. D90 using a single AK4499 (supports 4 outputs and TOPPING dedicate two output per channel). Could this change affect the listening experience?

AK4499 is AKM's next-gen architecture, with current outputs, whereas AK4497 is the final iteration of the last gen. Dual AK4497 is an attempt to squeeze as much performance as they can out of that chip, but you can see from the measurements that the AK4499 already starts ahead (when well implemented, as it is in the D90).

 

[hht200]

Thanks for your response, my question came from the Gustard DAC-A22 using 2 AK4499EQs. From your response looks like Gustard started to squeeze the performance from the beginning!!!

 

[richpjr]

I have not listened to either the D90 or the D70, but have seen a couple of posts saying that there will be no audible difference between the two. If that is the case, what would be the advantage of getting the D90 over the BT version of the D70 for $150 more? They both appear to have the same features and IO as far as I can tell.

 

[Mikechw]

My setup was:
Roon -> HQPlayer(upscale DSD256) -> ADI-2 PRO fs -> AHB2 -> Pioneer S-2EX

Last night:
Roon -> HQPlayer(upscale DSD512) -> D90 -> AHB2 -> Pioneer S-2EX

First Impression:
D90 (DSD512) does have an improvement over ADI-2 PRO fs..
(there is definitely a difference.. I think I can blind test and tell the difference)

One problem with D90 is that I couldn't get 48k x 512 working on HQPlayer..
I have to set it to 44.1k x 512 for it to work.

For ADI-2 PRO fs It works at 48k x 256...