manisandher
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Purely out of interest, does anyone know whether Topping have stuck with a linear PS for the D90 III, or have they gone over to an SMPS, like many of their other DACs?
Mani.
Mani.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
TOPPING D90 III Sabre DAC Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
NHL99
Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2021
- Messages
- 87
- Likes
- 96
Distinguishable from the https://www.rme-audio.de/adi-2-dac.html ?
JSmith
Master Contributor
Anecdotal evidence https://gearspace.com/board/electro...rme-ff800-now-10-years-old-should-i-sell.html
it is commonly accepted that RME is more reliable and their customer support is great (which is why they are pretty popular in professional world). I'd reckon that the audio shop would be far more easier to fix them if they are out of warranty.
Nothing wrong with buying Topping if you like the brand/performance/price, you can do much worse for more money. But just want to add a point of discussion before anyone want to jump in and buy the next thing they (or other Chinese manufacturers) release. I do own a SMSL C200 and I think it's great for the price, but if it's ~1000$ my priorities are different
mash
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2020
- Messages
- 148
- Likes
- 301
Over the last 3+ years, I've updated several of the systems in my house. One of the first ASR recommended boxes that I bought was the original D90 (with AKM DACs). I also own a couple of D10s and a DM70 (note - I have never had an issue with any of the Topping devices that I have bought). At this point, I don't need to add anything and would only buy something as an upgrade to an existing component(s).
That said, my current upgrade criteria doesn't include improved SINAD (unless we are talking about HT AVRs/AVPs). At this point, I'm way more interested in things like DSP processing (support for Dirac), multi-channel sub cross over support, or being able to combine boxes (Roon support). For my current requirements, companies like MiniDSP are doing much more interesting things than Topping.
That said, my current upgrade criteria doesn't include improved SINAD (unless we are talking about HT AVRs/AVPs). At this point, I'm way more interested in things like DSP processing (support for Dirac), multi-channel sub cross over support, or being able to combine boxes (Roon support). For my current requirements, companies like MiniDSP are doing much more interesting things than Topping.
It's just a balanced DAC right, that's quite expensive! It's cutting edge but there are better value balanced DACS out there that have been reviewed here on ASR.
My enthusiasm for SOTA DACs like this Topping has gotten pretty low.
Instead of having even better measurements in the next generation I would be more excited about having actual feautres.
A subwoofer out with high pass and low pass crossover functionality, PEQ, or things like crossfeed for headphones would be way more useful than 5dB more of SINAD or 0.5 bits more of dynamic range.
Instead of having even better measurements in the next generation I would be more excited about having actual feautres.
A subwoofer out with high pass and low pass crossover functionality, PEQ, or things like crossfeed for headphones would be way more useful than 5dB more of SINAD or 0.5 bits more of dynamic range.
manisandher
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I repaired one myself at the time - just replaced its SMPS - and then sold it.
I still have the other sitting in the 'studio' in my basement. Its PSU is OK, but something seems amiss with its Firewire interface, from what I can remember. Not sure if I can be arsed to look into it now.
Mani.
Didn't believe either. The current display is not adequate to have PEQ on this DAC...
renaudrenaud
Major Contributor
You don't need any display in the unit. You need a smartphone.
Don't think it have any PEQ, but the screen is not an indication from my point of view.
EdW
Senior Member
Yes nearly all DACs these days have a volume control but the balance control is perhaps a useful feature for some which is normally only found on a full separate preamp
The remote control improvement may only have cost Topping a minimal amount extra but hopefully it fixes a significant range shortcoming noted with several remotes from them in the past
phoenixdogfan
Major Contributor
For this kind of money, should have 10 band PEQ. We are now at the point where full DSP features need to be part of the expectation set. Time to raise the bar again.
i saw topping, I makes it as excellent and then I started reading the review. I feel like on DAC front now reached a saturation in terms of technical ability as an instrument, to the point it’s getting boring to see excellence everyday. We need some poor device to be reviewed soon. It’s fun to read the comments then!
D
Deleted member 21114
Guest
If Amir included "EQ-ability" in the tests, Topping would have a 2000 band graphic equalizer stuck on the front of this thing in three weeks.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
This is all well and good, but is there really any reason to buy this when you can get *almost* the same, already transparent, performance for less than ½ the price with, say, a Topping E70 <https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e70-stereo-dac-review.39188/>? (There many others now in the same bracket.)
Similar threads
