Topping Pre900

[staticV3]

Ultimo you have to listen to find out what is will bring.

I agree, so long as you listen blind and precisely level-matched.

Listen sighted however, and all bets are off for assessing relative sound quality.

 

[PristineSound]

That is just the same story as what people say about audio switches. The electronic signal is beyond imagination sensitive for distorions. Therefor specs are not telling the compleet story. Ultimo you have to listen to find out what is will bring.

If the FR is linear, which they are, if the distortion and noise are below the threshold of hearing, which they are. How can they sound different?

 

[RetroStereo]

My problem with the Pre900 and most all other preamps made today is not their quality: their quality is generally superb. It's their lack of versatility.

I'm using a ancient Apt Holman preamp with 2 phono inputs, a tuner input, 2 auxiliary inputs, 2 independent tape inputs & outputs, an external processor input & output inserted immediately in front of the volume control, and 2 parallel main outputs. Moreover, it has really good tone controls that can be completely bypassed and a defeatable loudness compensation circuit that matches the Fletcher Munson curves and tracks with the volume control.

To all of that I've added an A90D (complete with the EXT90 & D90 III discrete) connected to the Apt through its external processor loop. With this combination, I can route any source on the Apt to the A90D and vice versa - safely, because there is no possibility of cross feed with the external processor loop.

The Pre900 & A900 are audio engineering marvels, but they can't come close to the versatility of the Apt & A90D combination. In truth, no modern preamp does.

Edited to add: I take that back. I think McIntosh still makes a preamp with an insane combination of inputs & outputs and other special features (if you want to spend a bazillion dollars or two).

 

[z624391]

Most of the current old-fashion high-end pre-amps deliver a lot of inputs but they costs easily multiple modulo 10k euro, like the Mark Levinson 626.
For me there is big difference between the digital and analog domain. Digital is the mid-end serious able to compete with the high-end. For analog items you still need to invest a lot because mid-end is not on the level of high-end.

Therefor last year I decided to try the Pre90 ending with a very positive experience and later I bought the D900 with even a bigger possibtie experience (only the D900 pre-amp scores very bad). And now I will try the Pre900 and expect again a positive result. Financially spoken the costs are very limited compared to the old-fashion high-end.
The support is also good: I reported a smal problem with the D900 and just got a new one which solved the issiue.

I think that Topping like to make clear that the Chineze are also able to compete with the old-fashion famous high-end brands.

You can easily find all kind of reviews, this is one of my favourites: and as you can see you need also solid power and cabels and audio cabinet:

 

[PristineSound]

My problem with the Pre900 and most all other preamps made today is not their quality: their quality is generally superb. It's their lack of versatility.

I'm using a ancient Apt Holman preamp with 2 phono inputs, a tuner input, 2 auxiliary inputs, 2 independent tape inputs & outputs, an external processor input & output inserted immediately in front of the volume control, and 2 parallel main outputs. Moreover, it has really good tone controls that can be completely bypassed and a defeatable loudness compensation circuit that matches the Fletcher Munson curves and tracks with the volume control.

To all of that I've added an A90D (complete with the EXT90 & D90 III discrete) connected to the Apt through its external processor loop. With this combination, I can route any source on the Apt to the A90D and vice versa - safely, because there is no possibility of cross feed with the external processor loop.

The Pre900 & A900 are audio engineering marvels, but they can't come close to the versatility of the Apt & A90D combination. In truth, no modern preamp does.

Edited to add: I take that back. I think McIntosh still makes a preamp with an insane combination of inputs & outputs and other special features (if you want to spend a bazillion dollars or two).

I need dual balanced output, preferably in XLR format. No Chinese preamps have this feature today, with the exception of the Denafrips Athena.

I think I may pull the trigger for the Athena.

 

[PristineSound]

Most of the current old-fashion high-end pre-amps deliver a lot of inputs but they costs easily multiple modulo 10k euro, like the Mark Levinson 626.
For me there is big difference between the digital and analog domain. Digital is the mid-end serious able to compete with the high-end. For analog items you still need to invest a lot because mid-end is not on the level of high-end.

Therefor last year I decided to try the Pre90 ending with a very positive experience and later I bought the D900 with even a bigger possibtie experience (only the D900 pre-amp scores very bad). And now I will try the Pre900 and expect again a positive result. Financially spoken the costs are very limited compared to the old-fashion high-end.
The support is also good: I reported a smal problem with the D900 and just got a new one which solved the issiue.

I think that Topping like to make clear that the Chineze are also able to compete with the old-fashion famous high-end brands.

You can easily find all kind of reviews, this is one of my favourites: and as you can see you need also solid power and cabels and audio cabinet:

I think you have fallen to audio voodoo nonsense.

You do not need any special power cables, as long as it's quality copper cables that's safety certified, which you can buy for $10, you will be just fine.

 

[da Choge]

but they can't come close to the versatility of the Apt & A90D combination. In truth, no modern preamp does.

Have you seen the new Emotiva XSP-2 Differential Reference® Stereo Preamplifier? Although it has a digital stage, looks like it was created mainly as an analog preamp. Granted, it could have maybe one more balanced input and possibly one more single-ended input. I've completely lost faith in any Emotiva AVR/AVP and I'm not crazy about their power amps any more, but the XSP-1 received great technical/spec as well as subjective reviews and this XSP-2 looks to be even better. Not crazy about its large clunky dated looks, but it's a very reasonable price to pay for a versatile great preamp. I'd love to see it tested by ASR.

 

[PristineSound]

Have you seen the new Emotiva XSP-2 Differential Reference® Stereo Preamplifier? Although it has a digital stage, looks like it was created mainly as an analog preamp. Granted, it could have maybe one more balanced input and possibly one more single-ended input. I've completely lost faith in any Emotiva AVR/AVP and I'm not crazy about their power amps any more, but the XSP-1 received great technical/spec as well as subjective reviews and this XSP-2 looks to be even better. Not crazy about its large clunky dated looks, but it's a very reasonable price to pay for a versatile great preamp. I'd love to see it tested by ASR.

The published spec seems impressive, would be nice to get Amir to bench test this.

 

[PristineSound]

Have you seen the new Emotiva XSP-2 Differential Reference® Stereo Preamplifier? Although it has a digital stage, looks like it was created mainly as an analog preamp. Granted, it could have maybe one more balanced input and possibly one more single-ended input. I've completely lost faith in any Emotiva AVR/AVP and I'm not crazy about their power amps any more, but the XSP-1 received great technical/spec as well as subjective reviews and this XSP-2 looks to be even better. Not crazy about its large clunky dated looks, but it's a very reasonable price to pay for a versatile great preamp. I'd love to see it tested by ASR.

The more I learn about this product, the more I am interested, too bad it doesn't come in silver. But will absolutely explore this some more.

 

[da Choge]

too bad it doesn't come in silver.

Yeah - all the components are in black for my main living area, but in the masterbed, everything is in silver, and it is too bad this doesn't come that way.

 

[Thighsofsteel]

Most of the current old-fashion high-end pre-amps deliver a lot of inputs but they costs easily multiple modulo 10k euro, like the Mark Levinson 626.
For me there is big difference between the digital and analog domain. Digital is the mid-end serious able to compete with the high-end. For analog items you still need to invest a lot because mid-end is not on the level of high-end.

Therefor last year I decided to try the Pre90 ending with a very positive experience and later I bought the D900 with even a bigger possibtie experience (only the D900 pre-amp scores very bad). And now I will try the Pre900 and expect again a positive result. Financially spoken the costs are very limited compared to the old-fashion high-end.
The support is also good: I reported a smal problem with the D900 and just got a new one which solved the issiue.

I think that Topping like to make clear that the Chineze are also able to compete with the old-fashion famous high-end brands.

You can easily find all kind of reviews, this is one of my favourites: and as you can see you need also solid power and cabels and audio cabinet:

Why is the device on a pile rubber discs? Topping kindly provide perfectly designed feet.

 

[RetroStereo]

Have you seen the new Emotiva XSP-2 Differential Reference® Stereo Preamplifier? Although it has a digital stage, looks like it was created mainly as an analog preamp. Granted, it could have maybe one more balanced input and possibly one more single-ended input. I've completely lost faith in any Emotiva AVR/AVP and I'm not crazy about their power amps any more, but the XSP-1 received great technical/spec as well as subjective reviews and this XSP-2 looks to be even better. Not crazy about its large clunky dated looks, but it's a very reasonable price to pay for a versatile great preamp. I'd love to see it tested by ASR.

It's close, but no cigar. I have 2 turntables, a tuner, 2 analog tape decks, 2 digital tape recorders, a blu-ray player I'm using for sacd & cd, and I'm driving 4 analog unbalanced power amp channels.

I'm really extremely happy with the Apt/A90D/EXT90 combination. True, the Apt lacks remote control; but at 75, I'm fairly used to outdated equipment and willing to put up with its lack of creature comforts. Plus, it's an amazingly good preamp (one has been tested here on ASR).

 

[RetroStereo]

Why is the device on a pile rubber discs? Topping kindly provide perfectly designed feet.

So vibrations from earthquakes or footfalls won't quantum entangle the electrons or bit stream, of course [tongue firmly in cheek].

 

[PristineSound]

Why is the device on a pile rubber discs? Topping kindly provide perfectly designed feet.

Because Tharbamar is an audio subjectivist who's brought into audio voodoo.

 

[z624391]

Why is the device on a pile rubber discs? Topping kindly provide perfectly designed feet.

It’s all about what people experience and “believe” what could be achived with non-standard external attributes. In this case some dempers seems to deliver a better result.

 

[staticV3]

It’s all about what people experience and “believe” what could be achived with non-standard external attributes. In this case some dempers seems to deliver a better result.

The Topping is solid-state. What are they dampening?

 

[z624391]

The Topping is solid-state. What are they dampening?

All dempers/feets do have a different way of working i.e. design, and therefor a different outcome. Most of the time "standard" feets are not offering the highest result and can easily be replaced by more sophisticated ones. But for yourself you must find out (within your budget) what is working for you.
Personally I use these dempers: https://isoacoustics.nl/producten/orea-serie.

 

[Purité Audio]

You are living under a delusion
Keith

 

[Thighsofsteel]

All dempers/feets do have a different way of working i.e. design, and therefor a different outcome. Most of the time "standard" feets are not offering the highest result and can easily be replaced by more sophisticated ones. But for yourself you must find out (within your budget) what is working for you.
Personally I use these dempers: https://isoacoustics.nl/producten/orea-serie.

Have you seen the measurements of not only the A900 but virtually all products in the Topping range? They are hugely more transparent than any human being can hear. Even young humans.
What you are saying is complete nonsense.

 

[z624391]

Have you seen the measurements of not only the A900 but virtually all products in the Topping range? They are hugely more transparent than any human being can hear. Even young humans.
What you are saying is complete nonsense.

So, the Topping engineering team can be dismanteld now they reached the end of human hearing?