Hello,
I knew Topping DAC started from the 1st generation of D90 with AK4499EX, and I still keep D90 MQA.
Then 2nd gen D90SE/D90LE change to ES9038pro because fire broke out AKM factory, which I owned for months.
Now the 3rd gen. D90 III still maintain the same famliy ID design with new ES9030pro.
I borrow this D90 III from my friend and considering to get a new one.
Front view, although D90 keep the same ID design on chassis but it still changed from SW button to Knob.
Honestly, I prefer SW button more than knob due to mobility, I know that is a weird reason for a desktop DAC.
Rear view, XLR/RCA output, I2S/Coaxial/OPT input, BT, USB and AES input, now it has 12V trigger
Topping add 12V trigger design in their production in recently years, it's really useful for end customer.
Bottom side, D90 III use new foot base which is much better than previously rubber one.
I found that IR sensor is far away from panel during teardown, which means D90 III still has remote problem as D90.
But D90 III add new BT remote control, that maybe a good alternative way to resolve its poor IR design.
Inside, there are three portions. Power on left side, digital procces in middle and DA convertor on right side.
It used Meanwell IRM-20-15 15V 20W SMPS and onboard EMI filter made by discrete components
The source of digital power is TI 5430, which output 5.7V/4.2V as main power rail then convertor to others.
The source of analog power is used LM317 to reg to 12.4V then convert to pos/neg power of OPA.
Analog power used TI 5430 to set two power rail 6.2V as ±6.2V from LM317, then go CLC filter to reduce noise.
SPDIF receiver is AK4118, the MCU ST32 on right side is used for display and overall control.
The USB receiver used XMOS XU316 on the center, and Altera CPLD on below with NDK NZ2520SDA 45M/49M
BT module on the left upper side, the optocoupler of 12V trigger is near connector.
D90 III used two ES9039SPRO which is more than D90SE with one ES9038 and AVDD5V provided from OPA1612
DAC 1.2V came from the D2D IC on the left lower side. TAITIEN 22M/25M in the center can be switched to DAC.
It's quite different from previously ESS chip since 9018. 9018 request one reference clock and use internal PLL.
I believe that may reduce power consumption by remove internal PLL and cost. ES9038 is quite hot when running.
I/V used brand new design I/V converter, you may image those 4 modules as discrete OPA from Topping.
The balanced to single end used OPA1612 as usual.
Coupling capacitor used Nichicon FW 220uF 16V, which is not Hi-Fi enough for me but still ok on circuit design.
I skip all test since Amir already provide a specific review on forum.
Let me know if you got any quesiton on this report, thank you.
I knew Topping DAC started from the 1st generation of D90 with AK4499EX, and I still keep D90 MQA.
Then 2nd gen D90SE/D90LE change to ES9038pro because fire broke out AKM factory, which I owned for months.
Now the 3rd gen. D90 III still maintain the same famliy ID design with new ES9030pro.
I borrow this D90 III from my friend and considering to get a new one.
Front view, although D90 keep the same ID design on chassis but it still changed from SW button to Knob.
Honestly, I prefer SW button more than knob due to mobility, I know that is a weird reason for a desktop DAC.
Rear view, XLR/RCA output, I2S/Coaxial/OPT input, BT, USB and AES input, now it has 12V trigger
Topping add 12V trigger design in their production in recently years, it's really useful for end customer.
Bottom side, D90 III use new foot base which is much better than previously rubber one.
I found that IR sensor is far away from panel during teardown, which means D90 III still has remote problem as D90.
But D90 III add new BT remote control, that maybe a good alternative way to resolve its poor IR design.
Inside, there are three portions. Power on left side, digital procces in middle and DA convertor on right side.
It used Meanwell IRM-20-15 15V 20W SMPS and onboard EMI filter made by discrete components
The source of digital power is TI 5430, which output 5.7V/4.2V as main power rail then convertor to others.
The source of analog power is used LM317 to reg to 12.4V then convert to pos/neg power of OPA.
Analog power used TI 5430 to set two power rail 6.2V as ±6.2V from LM317, then go CLC filter to reduce noise.
SPDIF receiver is AK4118, the MCU ST32 on right side is used for display and overall control.
The USB receiver used XMOS XU316 on the center, and Altera CPLD on below with NDK NZ2520SDA 45M/49M
BT module on the left upper side, the optocoupler of 12V trigger is near connector.
D90 III used two ES9039SPRO which is more than D90SE with one ES9038 and AVDD5V provided from OPA1612
DAC 1.2V came from the D2D IC on the left lower side. TAITIEN 22M/25M in the center can be switched to DAC.
It's quite different from previously ESS chip since 9018. 9018 request one reference clock and use internal PLL.
I believe that may reduce power consumption by remove internal PLL and cost. ES9038 is quite hot when running.
I/V used brand new design I/V converter, you may image those 4 modules as discrete OPA from Topping.
The balanced to single end used OPA1612 as usual.
Coupling capacitor used Nichicon FW 220uF 16V, which is not Hi-Fi enough for me but still ok on circuit design.
I skip all test since Amir already provide a specific review on forum.
Let me know if you got any quesiton on this report, thank you.
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