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Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier Review

Rate this stereo amplifier

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 15 3.5%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 21 4.9%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 68 15.9%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 325 75.8%

  • Total voters
    429
You're right...so I did buy the previous version which didn't have these problems...apparently their last one as it's no longer listed in the 'certified' pre-owned equipment...and APOS + Shenzhen have increased their pricing from $670 to $799 again. So there you go...the delta in measurements between the Discrete and previous version are so low I won't be able to tell the difference. There is a Topping LA90 on sale at usaudiomart.com for $590 if anyone is interested. I just wanted something very neutral sounding so I can match it with a Freya+ and play with different NOS 6SN7 tubes sound. My other amps sound great but when I add tubes in the pre-amp the get a little too 'warm' sounding. Warm + Neutral = Perfect (clarity + musicality)...Warm + Warm = more musicality but loses some detail that I like. Back on thread, would be interesting to see if we can find out what was wrong with the LA90 Discretes that were Popping and locking...lol
An off thread reply - try NOS 6F8G instead. Tung Sol R/P 6F8G or other round plate 6F8G but the Tung Sol ones are superb.
 
Can someone with a background in electronics do an analysis of why it is happening?
 
At the top of this thread, I see this amplifier is rated as Great (golfing panther). (What does that even really mean?)
The experiences in this thread indicate the opposite.
 
At the top of this thread, I see this amplifier is rated as Great (golfing panther). (What does that even really mean?)
The experiences in this thread indicate the opposite.
I guess Amir should remove it from his recommendation list at least.

And mention it in the first post.
 
An off thread reply - try NOS 6F8G instead. Tung Sol R/P 6F8G or other round plate 6F8G but the Tung Sol ones are superb.
So I can use 6F8Gs in the Freya+ and thank you for the suggestion. Any particular years for these Tung Sol tubes? Can you characterize the sound? I've got a few different NOS 6SN7s like RCA smoke glass, Sylvania black plates, GEs, etc. And apologies to the thread for wandering :)

I think Topping has solved this Popping problem is manufacturing new units based on an APOS email from 'Bob'...LoL...must be a common name in China...just beware of 'open box' equipment that will undoubtedly circulate as folks try to dump anything they are stuck with that still has the problem.
 
So I can use 6F8Gs in the Freya+ and thank you for the suggestion. Any particular years for these Tung Sol tubes? Can you characterize the sound? I've got a few different NOS 6SN7s like RCA smoke glass, Sylvania black plates, GEs, etc. And apologies to the thread for wandering :)
Yes, please stop. This is a review thread. And the discussion of tube-rolling especially has no place here.
 
Yes, please stop. This is a review thread. And the discussion of tube-rolling especially has no place here.
Did you read the second part regarding Topping solving the popping and crackling problem and remember 'you don't have to read a contribution if you don't want to'...God Bless America!
 
So I can use 6F8Gs in the Freya+ and thank you for the suggestion. Any particular years for these Tung Sol tubes? Can you characterize the sound? I've got a few different NOS 6SN7s like RCA smoke glass, Sylvania black plates, GEs, etc. And apologies to the thread for wandering :)

I think Topping has solved this Popping problem is manufacturing new units based on an APOS email from 'Bob'...LoL...must be a common name in China...just beware of 'open box' equipment that will undoubtedly circulate as folks try to dump anything they are stuck with that still has the problem.
NOS tubes only - 50s'-early 70s' - they are exceptional and of course you will need adaptors. I used them in preamp section of h/amps - Tung Sol 6F8G driver / ouput 2 x Russian 1578. For me an end game sound.
 
I received my Topping LA90 today (previous version) and again I'm blown away by the sound quality. Amir said they went to the Discrete version because they could not source parts for the older LA90 design...but that old design is amazing. For those weary like I was after getting Popping and Crackling version of the Discrete...the previous version LA900 is a very good choice.
 
Did you read the second part regarding Topping solving the popping and crackling problem and remember 'you don't have to read a contribution if you don't want to'...God Bless America!
Allah bless America too!
 
Just got two AHB2's to try with Susvara and can't tell the difference between them and a single LA90D.
 
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I am now ABing volume matched A90D, LA90D and monoblocked AHB2's and they're all identical. If you need want a linear amp for your headphones/speakers, A90D and LA90 really are all you need.
 
There are complaints about noise generated by the LA90D, but are there multiple reports of the same symptoms?

If the LA90D amplifier circuit replaces the old model LM3886 IC chip with a discrete circuit, care must be taken when handling the - terminal of the speaker terminal.
Since there is no clear circuit diagram, I just imagined it by looking at the PC board of LA90D, but I think that 32V, which is half the power supply voltage, is applied to the - terminal of the speaker. Please disregard if my thinking is wrong.
 
I am now ABing volume matched A90D, LA90D and monoblocked AHB2's and they're all identical. If you need want a linear amp for your headphones/speakers, A90D and LA90 really are all you need.
You are 100% right...perfect neutral sound reproduction...my tubes shine through it and it's super fun rolling with it...when you can't hear any distortion and the line 20-20Khz is perfectly flat...that's it...and any amp that can do it will sound the same...and I don't need more that 50 watts of power even for my mag .7s or KLHs which need power...I listen at a reasonnable volume and the LA90 has plenty...having fun with it and want everyone else to do the same or not...it's up to you...and Amir :)
 
There are complaints about noise generated by the LA90D, but are there multiple reports of the same symptoms?

If the LA90D amplifier circuit replaces the old model LM3886 IC chip with a discrete circuit, care must be taken when handling the - terminal of the speaker terminal.
Since there is no clear circuit diagram, I just imagined it by looking at the PC board of LA90D, but I think that 32V, which is half the power supply voltage, is applied to the - terminal of the speaker. Please disregard if my thinking is wrong.
I think you are correct. With the L90D, don’t use bare wire, or even spade lugs. use banana connectors and only connect or disconnect with power off and amp unplugged. Don’t use unbalanced sources or adapters. If you have an unbalanced source, get a proper preamp with true balanced outs, or different amps.
 
I think you are correct. With the L90D, don’t use bare wire, or even spade lugs. use banana connectors and only connect or disconnect with power off and amp unplugged. Don’t use unbalanced sources or adapters. If you have an unbalanced source, get a proper preamp with true balanced outs, or different amps.
My Orchard Audio GaN monoblocks are the same way. I know a couple of folks who have let out the magic smoke by being careless while making connections.

I'm expecting to receive a couple of LA90D's from Apos in late August. Hoping I have better than average luck with them. Buying Topping gear is always a risk, but I've been lucky so far with my Pre90/Ext90, DX3 Pro+, and E50/L50/PA5 stack, so I'll spin the dial one more time…
 
My Orchard Audio GaN monoblocks are the same way. I know a couple of folks who have let out the magic smoke by being careless while making connections.

I'm expecting to receive a couple of LA90D's from Apos in late August. Hoping I have better than average luck with them. Buying Topping gear is always a risk, but I've been lucky so far with my Pre90/Ext90, DX3 Pro+, and E50/L50/PA5 stack, so I'll spin the dial one more time…

Replying to my own post since I don't see an edit button…I decided to cancel my order for two LA90Ds. Although I'll give up the $240 of savings if I decide to purchase later at list price, that's a small price to pay for piece of mind now. At this point, there's no guarantee that the August 15th batch will be significantly more reliable than ones that have already shipped.

While I've always had good to great service with Apos, the horror stories in this thread have reduced my confidence in Apos' ability to respond in a timely manner if the next container full of LA90Ds are lemons.
 
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