Topping D90 Balanced USB DAC Review

[Snafu]

Pity it doesn't have a "proper" volume control.
Personally I would never buy an item with up/down buttons for level control however good the performance.

Toppings remote RC15 is pretty good to use, it's light and has precise buttons.

 

[daftcombo]

WolfX measured the new Gustard pre-amp which looks good:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...asurements-of-gustard-p26-preamplifier.10492/

I thought about that one but that would make the pair more expensive than an ADI2 DAC.

 

[boXem]

Yes. Great too. I was talking about these newer Topping and Matrix. It would be great if they could live without a preamp (Again: for those who need a turntable).

So you should write "The whole design is so perfect I wish there were other options from my favorite OEMs".

 

[Veri]

I thought about that one but that would make the pair more expensive than an ADI2 DAC.

Can't you use the volume control on D90 with the arrows or the remote? That's what I would do. Pre-amps are kinda overrated (in most cases).

 

[bennetng]

Can't you use the volume control on D90 with the arrows or the remote? That's what I would do. Pre-amps are kinda overrated (in most cases).

Some people are just too obsessed with those noise floor measurements but remember, the audio files also have their own noise floor. As long as your speakers/headphones are not sensitive enough to make the DAC's noise floor higher than the audio files' noise floor, there is nothing to worry about.

 

[MediumRare]

... so why ppl keep comparing current $600 product with a $1000 product. Weird :/

Isn't that the entire purpose of this site? To compare performance and see where a price premium is justified, or not?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Some people are just too obsessed with those noise floor measurements but remember, the audio files also have their own noise floor. As long as your speakers/headphones are not sensitive enough to make the DAC's noise floor higher than the audio files' noise floor, there is nothing to worry about.

You should not compare to the audio file. The attenuation is decoupled from the music. Meaning you can mute the audio and still be hearing the noise. Though the noise is small.

What you should be looking at is the absolute sound level that's coming from the dac noise, through the amp and transducer and room(if). If this level is lower than 0dbspl it's not audible.

 

[bennetng]

You should not compare to the audio file. The attenuation is decoupled from the music. Meaning you can mute the audio and still be hearing the noise. Though the noise is small.

What you should be looking at is the absolute sound level that's coming from the dac noise, through the amp and transducer and room(if). If this level is lower than 0dbspl it's not audible.

That's exactly what I mean. As long as the digital attenuation is not large enough to reveal the DAC's noise floor, there is nothing to worry about.

 

[maxxevv]

Heard about the RME ADI-2 Pro Fs?

Not so sure about the "Pro Fs", but the "Pro" didn't exactly ace measurements like the ADI-2 did.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...f-rme-adi-2-pro-comparison-to-adi-2-dac.2682/

 

[Veri]

That's exactly what I mean. As long as the digital attenuation is not large enough to reveal the DAC's noise floor, there is nothing to worry about.

Which in a modern 32-bit DAC is pretty much a non-issue I love digital attenuation!

 

[Sunship]

So you should write "The whole design is so perfect I wish there were other options from my favorite OEMs".[/

So you should write "The whole design is so perfect I wish there were other options from my favorite OEMs".

Whateeeeever.

 

[daftcombo]

Can't you use the volume control on D90 with the arrows or the remote? That's what I would do. Pre-amps are kinda overrated (in most cases).

But what if you have to turn down the volume very quickly, when someone enters the room to ask something, for instance?

 

[Max]

But what if you have to turn down the volume very quickly, when someone enters the room to ask something, for instance?

Mute button ?

 

[cryptout]

I'm also a big fan of digital volume. I have my Atom amp at 3 o'clock and only touch it to shutdown. I use the remote of my D50s to handle the volume and yeah the mute button works really nice.

 

[bennetng]

Which in a modern 32-bit DAC is pretty much a non-issue I love digital attenuation!

The last "DAC" I bought with an audible noise floor is a SoundBlaster Live in 1999.

 

[veeceem]

My DX7 Pro has a volume knot and a remote which I rarely touch :/ laptop on -> dx7 pro auto on -> play music then amp also auto on. Sit on chair, use phone, pick song, and close eyes.
I use foobar2000 and foobar2000 controller, which can remotely turn off laptop, so I just walk away when no longer listening to music. Only press 1 button on laptop for every listening section.
Oh, and Bluetooth can also wake the Topping up on-connect.

 

[Svperstar]

The last "DAC" I bought with an audible noise floor is a SoundBlaster Live in 1999.

I saw a video from a guy who workes for Creative saying people come up to him all the time furious that the Soundblaster Live Value they bought in 1999 doesn't have proper Window 10 support. Like come on bro its time to move on .

 

[Tom C]

Yes. Great too. I was talking about these newer Topping and Matrix. It would be great if they could live without a preamp (Again: for those who need a turntable).

This is what I use to switch between digital source and turntable. It’s not perfect, but it’s cheap, quiet, and works well in this application.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-of-schiit-sys-passive-pre-amp-switcher.2335/

 

[Frank Dernie]

Toppings remote RC15 is pretty good to use, it's light and has precise buttons.

Does it have a rotary volume control on the remote?
Very few remotes do and I HATE up/down buttons with a deep and intense loathing.

 

[LuckyLuke575]

@amirm looks like you may have to get into BT testing. I'm sure AP will be able to hook you up with a nice inexpensive module...

A lot of guys are using Bluetooth streaming. I +1 on seeing BT measurements @amirm