Sorry. I was thinking in principle and in terms of pairs of devices with comparable SNRs in which cases it would not be significant. I am not aware of the differences among the specific devices listed.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Topping Pre90 Review (preamplifier)
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
How do you like the Navis? I've had the Uni-fi UB5 for the past couple of years and absolutely love their sound paired with a subwoofer. This Christmas I'm going to change it up. My son is giving me the Navis. My first go at powered speakers in my main listening space. I do have to say they are very modern looking though. Can't wait to hear them in my environment. Christmas afternoon will be fun. It'll be sad giving up my power amp. Maybe I'll run both for a while.
I've also thought about getting the pre90 too. The specs are phenomenal. That may come into play since my new DAC only has one analog(SE) in.
On my setup I could not get the volume to scale properly. I also think the volume never completely shut off even at the lowest position. This was some time back and there have been some new amps come and go since then. My memory is a little soft on this now. I do know that I had hoped to replace a Benchmark HPA4 with the pre90. I sold the HPA4 before testing with the CODA #8. The pre90 + CODA #8 combo was so annoying to me that I ended up getting the Benchmark LA4 and took the pre90 to my Benchmark AHB2 system.
The pre90 sounds great with the Parasound A21+ and Benchmark AHB2. With the D-Sonic M3a 800s stereo amp, the CODA #8, and LSA Voyager 350 GAN amp the pre90 had volume issues for me. The sound was too loud and the volume adjustments were not properly changing. It was always sounding too loud.
I am sure there is an easy technical explanation for this. Whatever the case I am now happy with the pre90 and AHB2.
I have 3 preamps, Topping pre90, Benchmark LA4, CODA 07x. If the LA4 had dual XLR outputs as the CODA 07x I would not have gotten the 07x. I like the 07x a lot but the LA4 is my fav.
Hi, i was wondering what DAC you are you using??
I have 3 external DACs and 2 of them are very popular on this site, the Topping D90SE and Benchmark DAC3B. My best DAC, by a lot, is the $3K Musetec 005. I sold my Gustard X26 Pro to buy the Musetec 005. The Gustard was good but the Musetec is incredible. Someone will likely send one in to have it tested here. It won't be mine; I would miss it too much.
misterdog
Addicted to Fun and Learning
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2018
- Messages
- 685
- Likes
- 570
I used to have that problem until I found that one channel of my phono stage was wired out of phase to the other.
Given that I had wired the XLR's I cannot find anyone to blame but myself
.I did have to solder the connections up inside a cupboard though....
Last edited:
How do I find out the unity gain setting when output is set to XLR only and I'm using XLR inputs only if it is not - 6db?
With any input, if output is set to XLR only, unity gain is 0dB.
Lautreamont
Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2021
- Messages
- 5
- Likes
- 4
Sorry for the delayed response. Using LKS MH-DA004 DAC.
lordhumungous
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2020
- Messages
- 311
- Likes
- 345
That is absolutely my experience too and why I dont use the dacs as a preamp if they have that capability.
I may be redundant in saying this, but I'm glad to see that @Kal Rubinson gave a favorable review of the Topping Pre90 in the Feb 2022 edition of Stereophile magazine. Comparing the Topping to a $17,500 Pass Labs XP-32 was a jolt to the audiophile community! John Atkinson essentially confirmed the great measurements that Amir found earlier. I believe this is the first review of a Topping product in Stereophile - a great start!
Can I connect directly a headphones with 40 ohms impedance from the outputs of the Pre90?
As I remember the output impedance is around 40 ohm.
Am I right?
Thanks!
As I remember the output impedance is around 40 ohm.
Am I right?
Thanks!
It does. I bought three of them for multichannel!
I was recommending the pre90 for a few months on A'gon. Though I now sold mine to go back to the Benchmark LA4. Folks were telling me that the pre90 was a desktop level device and not worth even discussing. I laughed when I said it would be reviewed on Stereophile and then that seemed to bring everyone to attention. A lot of sheep.
I now get a lot of DM's now asking me privately about the pre90. I always say that the only 2 amps that worked for me were the Benchmark AHB2 and the Parasound A21+. A lot of amps did not work well for me. However, the AHB2 and A21+ were great with the pre90. The pre90 was at the same sound level as the Benchmark LA4 with these 2 amps. Though the LA4 worked great with ALL the amps. I used it with.
I now get a lot of DM's now asking me privately about the pre90. I always say that the only 2 amps that worked for me were the Benchmark AHB2 and the Parasound A21+. A lot of amps did not work well for me. However, the AHB2 and A21+ were great with the pre90. The pre90 was at the same sound level as the Benchmark LA4 with these 2 amps. Though the LA4 worked great with ALL the amps. I used it with.
DHT 845
Addicted to Fun and Learning
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2021
- Messages
- 509
- Likes
- 451
I listened yesterday to Pre90 driving active 3-way speakers KRK Rokit RP10-3 G4, the source was Topping D70s mqa DAC. Analog cables all balanced XLR Klotz MC5000, coax wireworld from D70s to source (audiolab 6000CDT transport). KRK's DSP set just on straight, 0dB input level. The sound was great, woooow. Smooth and clean, with touch of warmth (kevlar drivers), great midrange (smooth, calm, superb vocals, merit also of D70s), hights clean slighly timid, nice punchy base. Killer sound for the money (without any adjustments, speakers EQ settings within KRK would probably even elevate the performance)
These KRK's represent very high performance to price ratio IMO and superb match with Pre90.
These KRK's represent very high performance to price ratio IMO and superb match with Pre90.
DHT 845
Addicted to Fun and Learning
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2021
- Messages
- 509
- Likes
- 451
I don't know, but with Pre90 there is POWER.
Similar threads
