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Topping D900 - teardown

whydan

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2021
Messages
61
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332
Hello,

Some of my friends are quite interesting on Topping D900 since Topping shows on CanJam New York 2024. They start to sell D900 since last month but it's weird that Topping pending D900 for a year cause the date code on bar code label shows 202405.

Front panel, the ID is quite simple with touch panel which used same as another DAC like Centaurus.
yyEFeog.jpeg


Back panel, D900 integrated preamp inside so there are two set of XLR on it without RCA.
I think RCA output can be added if only maintain one set of Toslink/Coaxial.
Rest input I2S, AES, Toslink*2, Coaxial*2, 12V trigger, USB type B and one more Type C.
idYLaaX.jpeg


Bottom plate and foot, D900 used aluminum foot pads this time. You may see counterbore holes reserved for rubber foot, fortunately they kept aluminum foot pads.
yp0hINa.jpeg


The remote made by aluminum like DX9, rest are freebies for first batch.
WE25ZsO.jpeg


Inside, there are five portions, the left is power supply, middle-left is digital process and input, middle-right is DSM32 module and right are preamp.
nGg2plj.jpeg


PCB bottom side, this is the first time I saw flex clean on PCB, hope Topping may keep improve their build quality of SMT.
kwDQgS0.jpeg


Power supply is Meanwell IRM20-15 isolated power, and there are six set of TPS5420 step down for 12V, 4.3V, ±12V and ±8V.
upp8a2n.jpeg


Digital input, 12V trigger on top, BT module on top center. XMOS XU316 on the middle-left and CPLD in the center. Top right is PEQ IC and middle-right is SRC bridge IC with SPDIF receiver function.
5cdAGX6.jpeg


The crystal of XMOS XU316 and CPLD used NDK SDA series, which is ultra low phase noise.
After check PCB trace and found those signals and MCLK came from CPLD which means that CPLD re-clock function works for all input.
Jk4GOCM.jpeg


The top LQF48 IC is for PEQ but didn't know which IC is. The SRC bridge looks like CT7302 which can be used for DSD converter and SPDIF receiver.
gWOikcy.jpeg


MCU came from Synwit, and ultra low noise LDO SGM2209/SGM2211 on the top.
There is an AK4377 blue board which used for display only.
kJDNzd6.jpeg


To avoid any impact of sound quality, it used on DAC to decode both PCM and DSD then used MCU ADC to read the output level which is digital date to show on touch screen, like UV display.
b4K6jv9.jpeg


DSD signal connect between DSM32 board and main board with IPX coaxial cable, rest power and control signal used pin header. There are 2 set 32-phase bit shift on DSM32 so it will be 64pc of logic gate on it.
2gsDHxV.jpeg


Vref made by OPA, although the top marking is removed but I guess this one is OPA1612.
Rest logic gates also remove top marking, suspect Topping is trying to prevent copycat from competitors.
The resistors on string DAC used normal 0402, although there are some 0402 resistors with low temp drift but I can't identify those difference by visual inspection
OCkaqq8.jpeg


The clock on DSM32 board used 11.2898 MHz, but I can recognize which brand of it.
26Zuxej.jpeg


You can see I/V board as a big discrete OP, and of cause all ICs polished. I guess the OPA on I/V may be OPA1652 or OPA1656.
PMmZ4j4.jpeg


The volume control used 9pcs relays per channel, which provide 256steps from -99 to +8dB. You can change 0.5dB or 1dB per step on setup manual.
1XzJbdD.jpeg


There are two OPA on preamp, I guess the tiny one is OPA1612 as power supply and bigger one is OPA1656 as gain stage, the whole design may come from A70pro.
7memlNF.jpeg


The power of resistors matrix also came from OPA1612.
L2Hp4YU.jpeg


The AC coupling caps used Nichicon MUSE BP 100uF 25V on direct output of DSM32 board.
kSoeHbF.jpeg


The temperature of chassis is around 38deg.C (room temp. 33deg.C) after run-in 8hrs.
APxZ7yV.jpeg


Take a group photo for both D90MQA and D900 in the end.
Wse7ANk.jpeg


Let me know any you have any question on this report, thank you.
 
Amazing! Thanks a lot.
 
What is the problem? I have seen Mola Mola using similar inside their sources.

they are very close, it gives the impression that if they rotate a bit the naked parts will short. they should all be ground, so probably no problem though
 
I'v been using D900 for 3 weeks, the best sounding DAC in the history of Topping, no need to say more. The sound field is regular, the information is full, and the sound image is clear. The vocal line is not thick, the background accompaniment is deep, very musical! The information is not violently presented like the combination of D903d+A90d, it has a warmer feeling. The previous problem of scattered and fuzzy image is finally cured. The PRE is with analog relay volume control, the sound is also full and clear at low volume.
 
I'v been using D900 for 3 weeks, the best sounding DAC in the history of Topping, no need to say more. The sound field is regular, the information is full, and the sound image is clear. The vocal line is not thick, the background accompaniment is deep, very musical! The information is not violently presented like the combination of D903d+A90d, it has a warmer feeling. The previous problem of scattered and fuzzy image is finally cured. The PRE is with analog relay volume control, the sound is also full and clear at low volume.
This is exactly the right forum for this kind of posting :facepalm:
 
I'v been using D900 for 3 weeks, the best sounding DAC in the history of Topping, no need to say more. The sound field is regular, the information is full, and the sound image is clear. The vocal line is not thick, the background accompaniment is deep, very musical! The information is not violently presented like the combination of D903d+A90d, it has a warmer feeling. The previous problem of scattered and fuzzy image is finally cured. The PRE is with analog relay volume control, the sound is also full and clear at low volume.
The guy went to the wrong forum, he thought he was on Head fi
 
they are very close, it gives the impression that if they rotate a bit the naked parts will short. they should all be ground, so probably no problem though
Those IPX connectors are covered by GND so no risk on short cause IPX cables are coaxial type.
It got some benefit because those IPX cable already used for WIFI antenna in laptop for higher frequency.
 
The AC coupling caps used Nichicon MUSE BP 100uF 25V on direct output of DSM32 board.

Thank you for this teardown, as usual great job!

Variable outputs also use the coupling caps? Or it is ommited?
 
Thank you for this teardown, as usual great job!

Variable outputs also use the coupling caps? Or it is ommited?
Honestly I didn't have a full PCB trace on output stage, and D900 is on the way to my friend for couple of days.
Regarding to my photo, there is one relay to switch signal between direct out and variable output circuit.
The coupling caps is on the path after relay, so coupling caps should not impact to volume control output.
 
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Super, nice pics,thank you very much!
 
Great photos!
Unfortunately, I expected a lot more for €1800.
Why another Mickey Mouse power supply?
Why these sound horrible mute chips on the output instead of decent relays? It's not worth the money.
 
A D900 is out for delivery today... :)

- Rich
 
The temperature of chassis is around 38deg.C (room temp. 33deg.C) after run-in 8hrs.
APxZ7yV.jpeg
Thanks for the insights! Here I had up to 25°C in-room-temperature in the last days when it was upwards of 30°C outside, and I am thinking about an AC unit for my apartment, but 33°C? Ouch, my body would shut-down under these circumstances. :)
 
I'v been using D900 for 3 weeks, the best sounding DAC in the history of Topping, no need to say more. The sound field is regular, the information is full, and the sound image is clear. The vocal line is not thick, the background accompaniment is deep, very musical! The information is not violently presented like the combination of D903d+A90d, it has a warmer feeling. The previous problem of scattered and fuzzy image is finally cured. The PRE is with analog relay volume control, the sound is also full and clear at low volume.
In case the sarcasm from the other members went over your head, the reason is all DACs sound the same.

 
In case the sarcasm from the other members went over your head, the reason is all DACs sound the same.


The USB, AES and I2S inputs of my D90 III Discrete do not sound the same.
It is fairly obvious with quick switching, and yes, I have verified with a multi-meter that the gains are the same.

Internally, the D90 is not handling the inputs that same. Roon should be the same, for all inputs to the Raspberry Pi5/P2AES DietPi is also involved.

There is no testing here for adverse conditions and different sources.

There is bias in those believe that all DACs sound different as well as those who believe they sound the same.
There are also rewards for supporting popular positions.

- Rich
 
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