Topping LA90 Review (Integrated Amplifier)

[Yorkshire Mouth]

They are not all invalid (they have validity to the person doing the test) - but they are all unreliable.

I agree (to an extent, more in a moment) * . But that aside, that’s maybe stretching it just a little.

Any test which someone posts about, and which doesn’t carry a massive and clear caveat acknowledging the issues and problems we’ve discussed, is invalid to anyone reading it - a group we may call ‘the intended audience’. And from what I’ve seen, that’s pretty much all of them. But I appreciate I might have missed the odd one, so point taken. But the test is invalid to that ‘intended audience’. If the person posting their experience kept it to themselves, or as I say included caveats, perhaps that might be different.

* Even then, a person can fool themselves almost as easily as anyone else (Clever Hans, etc.). A person might believe that a self-administered sighted test proves to themselves that they heard a difference, even if they concede that’s quite rightly won’t be enough evidence for others. But that doesn’t change the bias they’re imposing on their own experience, nor the fact that this bias may disappear in future listening (the rest of their experience of the hi-fi they buy based on that test).

Phenomena and noumena.

 

[antcollinet]

I agree (to an extent, more in a moment) * . But that aside, that’s maybe stretching it just a little.

Any test which someone posts about, and which doesn’t carry a massive and clear caveat acknowledging the issues and problems we’ve discussed, is invalid to anyone reading it - a group we may call ‘the intended audience’. And from what I’ve seen, that’s pretty much all of them. But I appreciate I might have missed the odd one, so point taken. But the test is invalid to that ‘intended audience’. If the person posting their experience kept it to themselves, or as I say included caveats, perhaps that might be different.

* Even then, a person can fool themselves almost as easily as anyone else (Clever Hans, etc.). A person might believe that a self-administered sighted test proves to themselves that they heard a difference, even if they concede that’s quite rightly won’t be enough evidence for others. But that doesn’t change the bias they’re imposing on their own experience, nor the fact that this bias may disappear in future listening (the rest of their experience of the hi-fi they buy based on that test).

Phenomena and noumena.

Sounds like we are in violent agreement.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Sounds like we are in violent agreement.

The best kind.

 

[thdny]

After using this amp for about 9 months it started to make popping noise. The same issue is mentioned by other people too. I reached out to the seller on Amazon and I shipped it back to China for testing/fixing. Let's see what happens. Overall the amp was nice until the noise issue started. The power is not that much but I drive triangle gaia speakers and it works fine in a 1br new york apartment. I rarely need to increase the volume all the way up in low volume movie conversations.

 

[pogo]

Congratulations to everyone involved in the development of this amplifier.

Unfortunately, no endurance tests have been carried out. Design weaknesses like noise issues would certainly have appeared here.

 

[manisandher]

After using this amp for about 9 months it started to make popping noise. The same issue is mentioned by other people too. I reached out to the seller on Amazon and I shipped it back to China for testing/fixing. Let's see what happens. Overall the amp was nice until the noise issue started. The power is not that much but I drive triangle gaia speakers and it works fine in a 1br new york apartment. I rarely need to increase the volume all the way up in low volume movie conversations.

Was this the original LA90 or the more recent LA90D?

Mani.

 

[thdny]

Original LA90

 

[Ziofrenko]

No good news... Uff

 

[RCL162]

No good news... Uff

Expecting something? Me too..

 

[Ziofrenko]

I hope I don't expect anything...

 

[staticV3]

Hi
If you still have this amplifier or if you no longer have it, maybe you remember its sound character and could help me.
How does this amplifier build the sound stage?
How deep and wide is the soundstage?
Where is the beginning of the soundstage - in front of the speaker line, on the speaker line or behind the speaker line?
Is the sound detached from the speakers and coming out to the sides?
Kind regards
Michal

The LA90 is a simple amplifier. It cannot "build a sound stage".

That's the job of your speakers, listening environment, music, and potentially DSP.

 

[daniboun]

Hi
If you still have this amplifier or if you no longer have it, maybe you remember its sound character and could help me.
How does this amplifier build the sound stage?
How deep and wide is the soundstage?
Where is the beginning of the soundstage - in front of the speaker line, on the speaker line or behind the speaker line?
Is the sound detached from the speakers and coming out to the sides?
Kind regards
Michal

Sold it sorry.... Got some reliability issues with my second one btw. Nice amplifier but I dont want to trust Topping anymore.

 

[mike70]

I cannot afford a high-quality amplifier with such measurements

Well, I think that's incorrect ... you can find near SOTA hypex amps at the topping price tag. Search for (in the US) buckeye, Vtv, ... etc.

That modules are high quality and have proved durability.

 

[Ziofrenko]

Could you please write something regarding my questions?

Your questions are completely meaningless... And I speak as a sound professional for 10 years and as a bass player for 20 years.
Once the crasstalk measurements are at such high levels, the soundstage cannot be compromised...
It is the other amplifiers with more relevant crosstalk and distortion values that disturb the soundstage present in the support.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I am aware of this, but I cannot afford a high-quality amplifier with such measurements.
Could you please write something regarding my questions?

You don't need anything close to this level of THD+N.

Can you hear a difference between dac+amp path with 92dB vs. 78dB SINAD? (test)

Can you hear a difference between dac+amp path with 92dB vs. 78dB SINAD? Quite a lot has been said here about “audibility” of SINAD, or existing/non-existing sound differences between amplifiers or DACs. Quite often we forget to evaluate SINAD of the whole audio chain consisting of a DAC, power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[RCL162]

I hope I don't expect anything...

Well it is still the same product with no update about reliability then? Pity..i want two.

 

[daniboun]

I am aware of this, but I cannot afford a high-quality amplifier with such measurements.
Could you please write something regarding my questions?

Difficult to answer but as far as I remember. Ultra transparent amp with a great soundstage. Lack a bit of power.... Nice for small / medium rooms.
If you are looking for an alternative check my "Micro audio project" ))

 

[Palladium]

You don't need anything close to this level of THD+N.

Can you hear a difference between dac+amp path with 92dB vs. 78dB SINAD? (test)

Can you hear a difference between dac+amp path with 92dB vs. 78dB SINAD? Quite a lot has been said here about “audibility” of SINAD, or existing/non-existing sound differences between amplifiers or DACs. Quite often we forget to evaluate SINAD of the whole audio chain consisting of a DAC, power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I took my phone SPL app inside of my crappy car and measured 60db dBA broadband noise floor with the engine idling and 70dbA at 60kph, and yet people are still worried about a "mere" SINAD of ~75dB of a car amp for some reason.

 

[Ziofrenko]

In a "mere sinad" there is also distortion as well as noise!!!! THD It's always perceptible.
So if you have a 100dB speaker, that can reach easily 120/125dB of max SPL, and yuo have a room with 40dB of noise floor here the difference between 90 and 120dB of sinad is clearly perceptible.
As well is very noticeable a difference of 30dB of noise on a Mic preamp when you have to do 60 or 70dB of gain on a Mic...

 

[antcollinet]

In a "mere sinad" there is also distortion as well as noise!!!! THD It's always perceptible.
So if you have a 100dB speaker, that can reach easily 120/125dB of max SPL, and yuo have a room with 40dB of noise floor here the difference between 90 and 120dB of sinad is clearly perceptible.
As well is very noticeable a difference of 30dB of noise on a Mic preamp when you have to do 60 or 70dB of gain on a Mic...

If you are listening at a steady 125dB, your ears are going to be damaged before you need to worry about Sinad.