Topping D90 Balanced USB DAC Review

[zonk]

Is the XLR neutrik connector compatible with the D90 xlr outputs?

thanks

The the 3-pin in the back are standard XLR-connectors. I have several cables with Neutrik connectors, all is according to the standard.

 

[win]

I suppose one thing to look out for is the 'aes' xlr cable is truly different to the analog xlr cable. Connector will still fit but cable impedance is different by design and will cause issues in some cases

 

[Billy Budapest]

Maybe I'm missing a nuance to your question, but of course they're compatible. The XLR analog is a proprietary four-conductor connector, which are extremely common for balanced connections.

I don’t think you meant to say “proprietary” because that would indicate a unique connector. I think what you meant was “industry standard” if you are talking about an XLR jack.

 

[win]

You're right

 

[Tom C]

If I’m not mistaken, sometimes the locking mechanism on an XLR plug causes a physical interference condition that may make it impossible to use. Could that be what the question is about?

 

[gad]

OP here. Problem was my intransit new amp recommends xlr neutrik cable connectors and due to a serious lack of audio sophistication I had no clue if neutrik was proprietary and might not play nice with my 2020 D90 xlr outputs. Now that I have been enlightened as to the "industry standard" I will go back to Amazon and place my order without
the fear of another return
I seriously appreciate the knowledgable feedback.
Thanks All-

 

[TimF]

My god, the D90 is almost seven years old now. For a DAC that is almost pre-history. It is like having an IBM Selectric II. Amir and most of you are young men and don't likely know what an IBM Selectric II is.

 

[win]

OP here. Problem was my intransit new amp recommends xlr neutrik cable connectors and due to a serious lack of audio sophistication I had no clue if neutrik was proprietary and might not play nice with my 2020 D90 xlr outputs. Now that I have been enlightened as to the "industry standard" I will go back to Amazon and place my order without
the fear of another return
I seriously appreciate the knowledgable feedback.
Thanks All-

You should be all set, just make sure they don't say 'aes ebu', those are for digital connections.

 

[mocenigo]

My god, the D90 is almost seven years old now. For a DAC that is almost pre-history. It is like having an IBM Selectric II. Amir and most of you are young men and don't likely know what an IBM Selectric II is.

What's the problem? I stil have and use it in my main setup. If it is transparent and properly interfaced (impedance-wise), then it does not stop being transparent once some new devices with even better measurements are introduced...

 

[antcollinet]

Maybe I'm missing a nuance to your question, but of course they're compatible. The XLR analog is a proprietary four-conductor connector, which are extremely common for balanced connections.

Three conductor for typical audio applications.

 

[win]

Three conductor for typical audio applications.

Wow I botched multiple parts of my reply

Forgive me asr

 

[antcollinet]

Wow I botched multiple parts of my reply

Forgive me asr

We all have off days.

 

[Oeilvert]

Just picked one of these up second hand... Everything looked fine in the auction photos and seller claims was fine before dispatch (ah good old ebay...)

But now it's here the display looks like this:

Anyone else had this issue?

 

[Jimster480]

Just picked one of these up second hand... Everything looked fine in the auction photos and seller claims was fine before dispatch (ah good old ebay...)

But now it's here the display looks like this:

View attachment 548631

Anyone else had this issue?

I haven't personally seen that happen to any of the topping products I've had or any of my friends have had.

 

[nelamvr6]

That sucks, but it probably doesn't impact the sound quality...

 

[Cut-Throat]

Curious as to what you paid.....

I have one to sell. With a working display

 

[Oeilvert]

Curious as to what you paid.....

I have one to sell. With a working display

It's the MQA version and I paid £250 delivered, supposedly in mint condition

Seemed fair considering what they were new, the D90SE go for £350 and now I wish I went for one of those but here we are... I have found this so will try swapping the display for a new one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007732122172.html

That sucks, but it probably doesn't impact the sound quality...

Correct, it sounds great hence my reluctance to return it even though the seller is an ass. If I sold something and it arrived not working correctly I would want to put things right, ask the buyer what course of action they wanted to take... This clown just says "it was fine"

My good friend AI says:

I'll update once the display arrives.

 

[Cut-Throat]

It's the MQA version and I paid £250 delivered, supposedly in mint condition

Seemed fair considering what they were new, the D90SE go for £350 and now I wish I went for one of those but here we are... I have found this so will try swapping the display for a new one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007732122172.html

MQA isn't even a 'thing' now is it? -- I believe it was a TIDAL invention, and I think they dropped it a while back.
Yes, and mine has MQA --- When I had a TIDAL subscription, I tried it out, just to see if it would work.

 

[Oeilvert]

MQA isn't even a 'thing' now is it? -- I believe it was a TIDAL invention, and I think they dropped it a while back.
Yes, and mine has MQA --- When I had a TIDAL subscription, I tried it out, just to see if it would work.

Oh, I didn't get it for that reason... Just a way to identify it as D90 ver2, there were some minor PCB layout changes/improvements on the MQA version.

 

[elberoth]

Many D90s have OLED display problems.