TOPPING D90 III Sabre DAC Review

[maruko]

SNR is the ratio of full-scale output amplitude to output amplitude during silence.

Nothing is playing while the Noise part is being measured.

Ok, got it. Thanks again.

 

[mike7877]

D90 III power consumption at different sampling rates (into XLR into 10k ohm)

176.4 || 0.0855A
192 || 0.0860A
44.1 || 0.0880A
48 || 0.0890A
88.2 || 0.0890A
96 || 0.0895A
352.8 || 0.0910A
384 || 0.0920A

Interesting how 192 is least because 8x = 384

 

[Billy Budapest]

D90 III power consumption at different sampling rates (into XLR into 10k ohm)

176.4 || 0.0855A
192 || 0.0860A
44.1 || 0.0880A
48 || 0.0890A
88.2 || 0.0890A
96 || 0.0895A
352.8 || 0.0910A
384 || 0.0920A


View attachment 453937


Interesting how 192 is least because 8x = 384

What is the native rate for the chip’s delta-sigma modulation? 1-bit, 2.8MHz? My guess is that sample rates with the greater processing overhead to decimate & oversample, or Fourier transform, or whatever needs to happen computationally to get them to the native rate would result in higher power consumption.

 

[mike7877]

What is the native rate for the chip’s delta-sigma modulation? 1-bit, 2.8MHz? My guess is that sample rates with the greater processing overhead to decimate & oversample, or Fourier transform, or whatever needs to happen computationally to get them to the native rate would result in higher power consumption.

I think it's quite a bit higher than that, actually.
It's 48/96/192/384 x 64/128/256/512/1024 and
44.1/88.2/176.4/352.4 x 64/128/256/512/1024

I think default target is to hit 45.1584/49.1520MHz (ie. 48 * 1024 = 49,152)
There might be an alternate mode that makes the target half (22.579MHz and 24.576MHz)
That's the idea I get from the datasheet, though I'm not 100%

 

[MLaranjeiras]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the TOPPING D90 III Sabre balanced stereo DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $899.
View attachment 342759
As you can see, the design is what we have know about most of the Topping products. I do wish at this price that we had a high resolution display that showed VU meters and such. Usability would be better that way although the included remote is easy to use. Back panel is as you would expect:
View attachment 342760
Nice to see Topping continuing to provide trigger support for automatic turn on of the downstream amplifiers and such.

TOPPING D90 III Sabre Measurements
The DAC has two output setting modes. One that provides max of 5 volts nominal and one that is 4 volts. For fairness I tested using the latter. DAC was allowed to warm up which improved its performance by about 1 dB.

As usual, we start with our dashboard:
View attachment 342762
This is the best performance we have seen from Topping and is in a virtual tie with the previous king of DAC SINAD measurements:
View attachment 342763

RCA performance is still superb and fully transparent:
View attachment 342764

Dynamic range is exceptional as you would imagine as it is setting the SINAD:
View attachment 342765

Multitone shows the exceptionally low distortion:
View attachment 342766

As does 50 Hz response for compatibility with other sites using it:
View attachment 342767

Jitter could be a hair better given the performance elsewhere:
View attachment 342768

IMD performance is excellent:
View attachment 342769

Linearity is perfect:
View attachment 342770

We have the typical filters but I would stay with default (F3):
View attachment 342771
View attachment 342772

The filter selection impacts wideband THD+N measurements so I stayed with the default:
View attachment 342773

Story is told....

Conclusions
Topping aimed to capture the top spot in the rankings and it got there, besting every other DAC it has produced, albeit with very small margin. If the cost is not a concern and you are buying a new DAC, might as well opt for D90 III.

I am happy to recommend the TOPPING D90 III Sabre.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Comparing only the measurements of these DAC with the Topping E50, although the TOPPING D90 III Sabre has pushed the limits a little further, overall, the measurements are practically the same. All the improvements are in the millimeters scales, maybe resulting in nuances that a balanced setup/environment would more easily highlight. This may not be the case for most audio enthusiasts, like myself.

Topping E50 - August 2021 - $175.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e50-review-balanced-dac.26219/
Topping D90 III Sabre - January 2024 - $879.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90-iii-sabre-dac-review.51493/

 

[EJ3]

Comparing only the measurements of these DAC with the Topping E50, although the TOPPING D90 III Sabre has pushed the limits a little further, overall, the measurements are practically the same. All the improvements are in the millimeters scales, maybe resulting in nuances that a balanced setup/environment would more easily highlight. This may not be the case for most audio enthusiasts, like myself.

Topping E50 - August 2021 - $175.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e50-review-balanced-dac.26219/
Topping D90 III Sabre - January 2024 - $879.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90-iii-sabre-dac-review.51493/

It hasn't been the case for me for many years. Now that it's there with indistinguishable audio (for many of us, anyway), how 'bout them designing some helpful usefulness to it?
I used to run sound for local & regional bands on weekends. I never felt the need for balanced cables in my home environment.
On the other hand, IF I ever had the money to have a home that needed such long runs or through the walls runs, I would not spend it on a home that big (but on a large tract of property with my modest home hidden from the streets [and no where near where any incorporated area might have jurisdiction in my lifetime]).

 

[Bob101]

Comparing only the measurements of these DAC with the Topping E50, although the TOPPING D90 III Sabre has pushed the limits a little further, overall, the measurements are practically the same. All the improvements are in the millimeters scales, maybe resulting in nuances that a balanced setup/environment would more easily highlight. This may not be the case for most audio enthusiasts, like myself.

Topping E50 - August 2021 - $175.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e50-review-balanced-dac.26219/
Topping D90 III Sabre - January 2024 - $879.12 USD - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90-iii-sabre-dac-review.51493/

I went from an E50 (first gen) to a D70 (not a D90, but close enough for me and better looking). Main reason: I needed a pre-amp/DAC with a more robust volume and input control. And I could afford it. For anyone just needing a DAC: get the E50. It does not sound the same, but there a very few people, none of which you or I are acquainted to, who would be able to tell the difference in a blind test. I know I can't. And is difference the same as better? The E70 will stay with me now until it dies, which it has not shown any intent to whatsoever.