TOPPING D90 III Sabre DAC Review

[Kevinc35]

Has anybody updated to the new v1.23 firmware and confirmed it is ok? I’m intrigued by the note “Adjustment: When powered on, if the Bluetooth remote control is not connected, the infrared remote control is enabled for control”. If this works then I might finally be able to control it from my IR system remote (which is how I control my Pre90). I emailed topping last week and asked for the IR codes but haven’t had a response. (They had previously told me there is no IR receiver in the D90 III Sabre which I knew wasn’t completely accurate as the display turned on when I pressed the standby button on my old E50 remote.)

 

[yys310]

I just update to the v1.23. No problem so far.
I use the stock remote as before and did not have any problem. But I don't have problem with previous FW either so I'm not sure what the update really brings in.

 

[Kevinc35]

Has anybody updated to the new v1.23 firmware and confirmed it is ok? I’m intrigued by the note “Adjustment: When powered on, if the Bluetooth remote control is not connected, the infrared remote control is enabled for control”. If this works then I might finally be able to control it from my IR system remote (which is how I control my Pre90). I emailed topping last week and asked for the IR codes but haven’t had a response. (They had previously told me there is no IR receiver in the D90 III Sabre which I knew wasn’t completely accurate as the display turned on when I pressed the standby button on my old E50 remote.)

I used an Arduino Uno to capture and identify the IR codes transmitted alongside the BT by the BC-15A remote. I have previously done this successfully to obtain the codes for the RC-16A remote so the method should be fine. For the BC-15A, the device code seems to be 0x482c and by way of example the standby function button is 0x18 (which makes sense as other Topping remotes use 0x18 for this function). Other ways to express the power button are 482C18E7 (HEX); E7183412 (LSB); Device 18, subdevice 36, function 24 (NEC); and "0000 006C 0022 0002 015B 00AD 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 06A4 015B 0057 0016 0E6C" (Pronto). Encouragingly, with Firmware 1.14, after programing an Android phone containing an IR blaster on which I run Unified Remote, the display of the DAC "woke" when any of the codes I identified were used, although it did not respond to the commands. I tried unpairing the bluetooth remote - no change. I then updated to v1.23 firmware and unpaired the bluetooth remote again. Surprisingly (given the firmware release notes), the DAC still does not respond to these codes and interestingly the display no longer wakes in response. Time to chase Topping for explanation again unless anyone has any ideas.

 

[Kevinc35]

I used an Arduino Uno to capture and identify the IR codes transmitted alongside the BT by the BC-15A remote. I have previously done this successfully to obtain the codes for the RC-16A remote so the method should be fine. For the BC-15A, the device code seems to be 0x482c and by way of example the standby function button is 0x18 (which makes sense as other Topping remotes use 0x18 for this function). Other ways to express the power button are 482C18E7 (HEX); E7183412 (LSB); Device 18, subdevice 36, function 24 (NEC); and "0000 006C 0022 0002 015B 00AD 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 0041 0016 06A4 015B 0057 0016 0E6C" (Pronto). Encouragingly, with Firmware 1.14, after programing an Android phone containing an IR blaster on which I run Unified Remote, the display of the DAC "woke" when any of the codes I identified were used, although it did not respond to the commands. I tried unpairing the bluetooth remote - no change. I then updated to v1.23 firmware and unpaired the bluetooth remote again. Surprisingly (given the firmware release notes), the DAC still does not respond to these codes and interestingly the display no longer wakes in response. Time to chase Topping for explanation again unless anyone has any ideas.

I have this sorted and am successfully using IR to control the DAC. While the LSB codes I generated with the Arduino were correct, I made an error translating to the NEC decimal codes and the non-LSB HEX. The correct IR codes for the BC-15A remote are:
User code 0x1234
Power: 0x18
Mute: 0x06
+: 0x46
-: 0x16
>: 0x15
<: 0x47
Enter: 0x55
C1: 0x04
C2: 0x40
FIR: 0x54
Lineout: 0x50
Auto: 0x10
Bright: 0x14

To use them, you need to unpair the bluetooth remote by pressing and holding the Enter and C2 buttons together until the red light flashes. The BC-15A transmits IR fine, and should therefore control the DAC now, but I have not been successful using it (possibly because, as we all know, the range/angle of use of Topping IR remotes is not great). However, when I program my android phone with IR blaster using Unified Remote it works perfectly. Now I'm even happier with my D90 III Sabre and I hope this helps someone else.

 

[blanc]

My TOPPING D90 III Sabre DAC gets very warm after an hour of powering on even without any input signal. Is it normal? Is it possible to power off its output stage if the input is idle?

 

[DACs_Lover]

The Absolute Sound listed WADAX as the most expensive DAC

"Reference DAC has tremendous dimensionality, stunningly realistic timbral rendering, exceptional transient performance, and an overall presentation that is, by a significant margin, the state of the art in digital. "

- Is it a lot better than Topping D70 III?
- Has it even been lab-measured?

I heard some accusations that some well-known publications get paid to review products.
Thank you.

 

[yys310]

My TOPPING D90 III Sabre DAC gets very warm after an hour of powering on even without any input signal. Is it normal? Is it possible to power off its output stage if the input is idle?

It's normal. When you change the source to an input that's no signal it'll cut the output (you can see the DC offset varies when the output is on/off) but I'm not sure which part of the circuit it shut down.

The Absolute Sound listed WADAX as the most expensive DAC

"Reference DAC has tremendous dimensionality, stunningly realistic timbral rendering, exceptional transient performance, and an overall presentation that is, by a significant margin, the state of the art in digital. "

- Is it a lot better than Topping D70 III?
- Has it even been lab-measured?

I heard some accusations that some well-known publications get paid to review products.
Thank you.

Do you know they also highly recommend D90SE and LA90?
Not every writer in absolute sound share the same value I believe.
To me the point of these review media exist is for people to find the reviewer you share the similar experience on the system you have listened to before and perhaps that reviewer's opinion can apply to your subjective feeling on new products to you.
It's better to clarify which kind of paid to review you're talking about to have more discussion. Many youtuber get devices that's not required to send back to manufacturer and review the product. Does this also count?

 

[fendy323]

hi , i have d90 from ak4499 now, is it the worth upgrade to d90 iii sabre? or wait the next generation?

but when the next generation launch ?

 

[staticV3]

hi , i have d90 from ak4499 now, is it the worth upgrade to d90 iii sabre?

No. Spend your money on things that matter (music, speakers, room treatment).

but when the next generation launch ?

Can't be far off:

1 bit DAC launched by TOPPING

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[MBO]

hi , i have d90 from ak4499 now, is it the worth upgrade to d90 iii sabre? or wait the next generation?

but when the next generation launch ?

I have both, Topping D90-III is much better than D90, an exchange is definitely worth it.

 

[theREALdotnet]

I have both, Topping D90-III is much better than D90, an exchange is definitely worth it.

What have they improved? Two things I'd have wished for: better remote control range (presumably Bluetooth now?) and matching polarity on RCA and XLR outputs (rookie mistake, probably didn't happen again).

 

[MBO]

D90-III has a great sound quality and is the same as the most interesting one. Everything else has been improved too.

 

[airgas1998]

currently have d90se...stupid to move to this one or??

 

[staticV3]

currently have d90se...stupid to move to this one or??

If you're looking for better sound quality, then yes. Stupid.

 

[yys310]

currently have d90se...stupid to move to this one or??

One of my friend tested it and says it sounds better.
content in Chinese
Why asking listening experience here?

 

[OTL]

I'm an audio designer in the high end with 40 years experience and 3500 pieces of product in the market. I'm new here but I don't see much in terms of listening tests. Is this strictly a numbers forum? If the sound doesn't move me it's "meh "no matter what the numbers are. Just curious.

 

[jamesdyson]

I'm an audio designer in the high end with 40 years experience and 3500 pieces of product in the market. I'm new here but I don't see much in terms of listening tests. Is this strictly a numbers forum? If the sound doesn't move me it's "meh "no matter what the numbers are. Just curious.

Numbers, unless you can demonstrate a listening test was controlled and without bias.

 

[Beave]

I'm an audio designer in the high end with 40 years experience and 3500 pieces of product in the market. I'm new here but I don't see much in terms of listening tests. Is this strictly a numbers forum? If the sound doesn't move me it's "meh "no matter what the numbers are. Just curious.

Listening tests are greatly welcomed here and are highly informative - provided, of course, that they employ basic controls (level matching, double blinding).

 

[yys310]

After one passed. The goalpost will move accordingly.

 

[Palladium]

What have they improved? Two things I'd have wished for: better remote control range (presumably Bluetooth now?) and matching polarity on RCA and XLR outputs (rookie mistake, probably didn't happen again).

I very much prefer the IR remote.