Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier Review

[Sokel]

This morning I received an email from Shenzhenaudio.com with discounts, ending in 6 days - amongst other products - Topping LA90D @ $679 (discount $120) 2 year warranty, Free shipping, tax and import duty paid

That's not really fair for the early adopters who usually are the hottest fans of the companies.
And just after 2 months from it's release!
I wonder about their business model,brand fans is one of the main engines of success for a company,it's weird to let them down in such a way.

Brand Fans Are Vital To The Success Of Your Business

Convert customers or clients into brand fans to create your most valuable audience and grow your business up to 2.5 times faster...

www.brand-success.co.uk

 

[antcollinet]

That's not really fair for the early adopters who usually are the hottest fans of the companies.
And just after 2 months from it's release!
I wonder about their business model,brand fans is one of the main engines of success for a company,it's weird to let them down in such a way.

Brand Fans Are Vital To The Success Of Your Business

Convert customers or clients into brand fans to create your most valuable audience and grow your business up to 2.5 times faster...

www.brand-success.co.uk

I do hope this isn't a strategy of "shift as much stock as possible before any design issues become well known."

 

[manisandher]

The fact remains that heat will rise and cold descend, this is basic physics...

No it's not.

Hot air rises, not heat.

 

[Down South]

No it's not.

Hot air rises, not heat.

Are you serious LOL.

 

[Jim Creek]

BTW: Amazon has the LA90 Discrete on sale for $679.

 

[oceansize]

Are you serious LOL.

Some basic physics for you, courtesy of the BBC's revision notes for schoolkids.

 

[manisandher]

Are you serious LOL.

"Heat will rise" I can accept as a simple school boy error - you're not the first. But "this is basic physics"? Nah.

 

[ampguy]

Just saw a link to a thread on reddit about Apos - (1) the company is a drop shipper/ (2) is really a cover for Shenzhen audio and (3) everything seems to ship from China. Lots of comments that this company takes forever to reply etc. etc.

Ali express is very easy to deal with and I've had some great buys BUT if something goes wrong or is defective don't expect a positive response. I've had one defective product which got zero response and one product the wrong size. Both cost a few Euros so decided to write them off rather than get involved in drawn out hassles. I now wouldn't buy anything expensive again.

As always - caveat emptor.

aphysically - think about a charge back on your card?

maybe, but my previous returns and replaced items were from n. Calif. the sale today on la90d and pa7 indicate that pa7s ship faster so maybe there was a change to la90d models? I’m in no hurry and expect Black Friday prices to be same or lower, am also fond of the pa5 and Smsl a300, not sure I even need the power of these newer units

 

[geekosa]

Does someone know the input impedance of the LA90D ?

 

[tritopia]

The LA90 discrete version has been difficult to purchase in Korea for several months.
When I inquired with the dealer, they said it would be in stock in mid-June, but this schedule is also undecided.
I asked for confirmation on the reason and received an answer.

“Production is being delayed because one part is missing.”

I hope it will be re-released with a well-resolved revision.

 

[ampguy]

The LA90 discrete version has been difficult to purchase in Korea for several months.
When I inquired with the dealer, they said it would be in stock in mid-June, but this schedule is also undecided.
I asked for confirmation on the reason and received an answer.

“Production is being delayed because one part is missing.”

I hope it will be re-released with a well-resolved revision.

I wonder if it is the heat reducing part?

 

[tmitchmd]

Update:

BrightAudio is providing a full refund and Topping hasn't figured out the problem yet.

"This situation has been taken seriously by us, and we have collected several machines with similar problems for research, but there are no definite results yet.
However, don't worry, as a serious and responsible manufacturer, we will continue to do more tests and analysis until we find the root cause of the problem and solve it...
you don't have to send back the LA90D."

 

[Talisman]

Update:

BrightAudio is providing a full refund and Topping hasn't figured out the problem yet.

"This situation has been taken seriously by us, and we have collected several machines with similar problems for research, but there are no definite results yet.
However, don't worry, as a serious and responsible manufacturer, we will continue to do more tests and analysis until we find the root cause of the problem and solve it...
you don't have to send back the LA90D."

Do we have a source for this news?

 

[Sokel]

Do we have a source for this news?

They have it on stock in their shop and can't see any announcement.
Someone would expect to stop selling it if the situation was dire.
Unless a reliable official statement come out I wouldn't believe such posts.

TOPPING LA90 Discrete Performance Discrete Power Amplifier Hi-Res Audi

brightaudio

www.brightaudio.net

 

[Down South]

I didn't receive a reply to my query with Shenzhenaudio yesterday so tried another route and got an instant reply - the free shipping only applies to orders under $400.

 

[restorer-john]

I wonder if it is the heat reducing part?

Nah, the missing part is 'reliability'. Topping hasn't been able to source that part as the Americans and the Japanese have cornered the market...

 

[restorer-john]

I didn't receive a reply to my query with Shenzhenaudio yesterday so tried another route and got an instant reply - the free shipping only applies to orders under $400.

That makes sense, not.

You would think that a larger gross sale amount, the more profit and the easier it is to absorb the freight costs. I mean, that's how the rest of the world has done it, like, forever.

 

[Down South]

That makes sense, not.

You would think that a larger gross sale amount, the more profit and the easier it is to absorb the freight costs. I mean, that's how the rest of the world has done it, like, forever.

Yes but they are stating they will absorb the import duties too - take a look at their site. With AliExpress the price they charge covers these import duties but that is a huge company.

 

[aphysically]

Update:

BrightAudio is providing a full refund and Topping hasn't figured out the problem yet.

"This situation has been taken seriously by us, and we have collected several machines with similar problems for research, but there are no definite results yet.
However, don't worry, as a serious and responsible manufacturer, we will continue to do more tests and analysis until we find the root cause of the problem and solve it...
you don't have to send back the LA90D."

Do you think you could provide more context or screenshots or anything? It's not that I have particular issues doubting you - I'm just hoping to use evidence of what other sellers are doing to get Apos to finally do something with my two failed LA90D.

 

[Sokel]

Do you think you could provide more context or screenshots or anything? It's not that I have particular issues doubting you - I'm just hoping to use evidence of what other sellers are doing to get Apos to finally do something with my two failed LA90D.

I would ask them (Bright audio) myself if I were you.
Second hand info (specially in such a brutal market) is always doubtful.