Topping LA90 Review (Integrated Amplifier)

[daniboun]

For those who might be interested, I ordered my LA90 in Italy, in stock in Silver and black version with a discount of 50€ with a promo code (
I don't know if the promo code is valid for a long time)

Topping LA90 Amplifier 2x90W 4 Ohm / 1x180W 8 Ohm

www.playstereo.com

promo code : NEWSLETTER

Can be shipped in many ways )

 

[thin bLue]

Great job again! @JohnYang1997

May I ask numbers of LA90's energy consumption @ idle, and if it has standby modes, what watts @ standby?

 

[DualTriode]

So there we have it.

The challenger came in with some fancy foot work.

The AHB2 is still Champ by TKO.

Thanks DT

 

[daniboun]

So there we have it.

The challenger came in with some fancy foot work.

The AHB2 is still Champ by TKO.

Thanks DT

can you develop? champion in your ears or proven champion?

 

[tritopia]

I am using two amps, SMSL SA400 and Topping PA5.
And today I added Topping LA90!!!

First impressions are good enough.

 

[daniboun]

Got first info : The LA90 is using a LM3886 inside.

About the LM3886 :

https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm3886.pdf

Same chip as the Neurochome )
Maybe same topology : composite amplifier ?? )

Review and Measurements of Neurochrome Modulus-286 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Neurochrome Modulus-286 Power (speaker) amplifier Kit. It is on kind loan from company designer and member, @tomchr. It is to ship by end of this month and costs $1,299. See: https://www.neurochrome.com/product/modulus-286-kit-2/ As you may...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[pma]

Got first info : The LA90 is using a LM3886 inside.

About the LM3886 :

https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm3886.pdf

Same chip as the Neurochome )
Maybe same topology : composite amplifier ?? )

Review and Measurements of Neurochrome Modulus-286 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Neurochrome Modulus-286 Power (speaker) amplifier Kit. It is on kind loan from company designer and member, @tomchr. It is to ship by end of this month and costs $1,299. See: https://www.neurochrome.com/product/modulus-286-kit-2/ As you may...

audiosciencereview.com

Hmmm ….. , as expected.

 

[Tusoli5]

Got first info : The LA90 is using a LM3886 inside.

Made quite a bunch of LM3886 chipamps and really liked their sound in mono chip. Prefered it in dual triple triple chips per channel as it was more stable and efficient.
But, in mono chip its power always was quite enough for 86db speakers.
In dual mono it was very revealing and easy to listen.

If topping managed such results with low noise and low distorsion, it can be a very good amp to try.

 

[DualTriode]

can you develop? champion in your ears or proven champion?

People have reported to have returned the amplifier to Topping or the vendor because of technical failures.

DT

 

[DualTriode]

Got first info : The LA90 is using a LM3886 inside.

About the LM3886 :

https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm3886.pdf

Same chip as the Neurochome )
Maybe same topology : composite amplifier ?? )

Review and Measurements of Neurochrome Modulus-286 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Neurochrome Modulus-286 Power (speaker) amplifier Kit. It is on kind loan from company designer and member, @tomchr. It is to ship by end of this month and costs $1,299. See: https://www.neurochrome.com/product/modulus-286-kit-2/ As you may...

audiosciencereview.com

How do you know this? Do you have a photo?

I first speculated a composite amplifier in post #835.

Are you sure that it is not a TDA7293 chip?

DT

TDA7293 Datasheet by STMicroelectronics | Digi-Key Electronics

View datasheets for TDA7293 by STMicroelectronics and other related components here.

www.digikey.com

 

[jrosser]

How do you know this? Do you have a photo?

I first speculated a composite amplifier in post #835.

Are you sure that it is not a TDA7293 chip?

DT

TDA7293 Datasheet by STMicroelectronics | Digi-Key Electronics

View datasheets for TDA7293 by STMicroelectronics and other related components here.

www.digikey.com

TDA7292 would make the pin count 15 rather than 11?

Looks like 11 pins from the photo all the way back in post #292

 

[DualTriode]

TDA7292 would make the pin count 15 rather than 11?

Looks like 11 pins from the photo all the way back in post #292

Progress?

Anyone with a up close photo that identifies the chip?

DT

Edit:

Looking at the photo I see what looks like op-amps down in there. Error correction?

 

[daniboun]

How do you know this? Do you have a photo?

I first speculated a composite amplifier in post #835.

Are you sure that it is not a TDA7293 chip?

DT

TDA7293 Datasheet by STMicroelectronics | Digi-Key Electronics

View datasheets for TDA7293 by STMicroelectronics and other related components here.

www.digikey.com

Got the info from L7Audiolab (author) I think he knows what he's talking about)
That being said, we will quickly find out when we have pictures of the innards of the beast. )

Something almost sure, the PSU is a Bipolar SMPS @ 32-02-32V @3,75A

And here are some pictures with the original box which is nice) Dell XPS PCs are delivered with the same type of pacakge) You can also see the size of the power supply) :

DAC = Gustard AK4499

 

[daniboun]

People have reported to have returned the amplifier to Topping or the vendor because of technical failures.

DT

Should be a good idea to check firmware : https://www.tpdz.net/newsinfo/642479.html
Last version : 1.3

Find it really unfortunate that Topping does not stipulate the list of fixes...
Mine is 1.2

 

[Selkirks]

Updating the firmware to v1.3 did nothing to resolve the issue I had with the LA90.

 

[daniboun]

Updating the firmware to v1.3 did nothing to resolve the issue I had with the LA90.

That s why I mentioned : "Find it really unfortunate that Topping does not stipulate the list of fixes..."

Reading the plan below, we guess that it will be necessary to disassemble the case from the front. The ventilation holes let us guess that there are people under the box)

For those who own the LA90 : we see 4 screws towards the corners and I imagine that the two screws in the center must hold the PCB in place
In my humble opinion it will be necessary to be satisfied with pictures taken from the front side =) I'll try to dig a little deeper into the subject knowing that I don't want to void the product warranty...

BTW the Sinad list is now up to date )

Amplifier SINAD list ASR + 3rd parties

List Name,THD+N (5W, 4 ohms),SINAD (dB) (5W, 4 ohms),Power (W) (1% THD+N, 4 ohms),Price (USD),Source Topping LA90 (stereo, bypass, low gain),0.00009%,121,90,800,<a href="https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/topping-la90/">L7 Audio Lab</a>,Suggestions, corrections and more info here: Topping LA90 Discre...

docs.google.com

 

[pjug]

Something almost sure, the PSU is a Bipolar SMPS @ 32-02-32V @3,75A

You would think so with the three pins, but Amir checked it and it is +64V, with the other pin no connection.

 

[nagster]

Congratulations to all of topping. Keep going further.

===
board, power consumption, temperature.

 

[thin bLue]

Congratulations to all of topping. Keep going further.

===
board, power consumption, temperature.
View attachment 206403

Thanks for this specific review!

 

[solderdude]

You would think so with the three pins, but Amir checked it and it is +64V, with the other pin no connection.

Pictures below show this as well 64V only.
This means the amp is either bridged on the output or there is split power supply in there.

The obligatory connecting of - outputs to enable bridged operation suggests the amp is already bridged inside.

Maybe the LM317/337 have something to do with this but these are current limited below the output current capability of the amp.
2 of these in parallel would limit the LF output current to 3A, for higher frequencies the power supply caps could provide extra current.

Too bad the one that took it apart and found out about the LM317/337 did not show the power amp part number(s).

Would be fun if @JohnYang1997 would give some hints about the internal structure.