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Topping A90 Amplifier _(Z Reviews)_ New "Best" Amp?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ค. 2020
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Mine will be here 5/27/20 or 5/28/20,how the hell did you get one so fast,you in China or something.
@@mckidar The Importer Apos special ordered one to me so I could get it out AROUND the time they had full stock. #JustTH-camrThings
@@ZReviews Oh OK,that's where i order all my topping products too,Love Apos Tell CJ I said wussup.
IM a SUBSCRIBESTAR NOW WOOOHOOO ! YARD SALE BABY !
nope...
So glad to know your preference in "knobs". 👏
Uncut apparently
5:18
"...this is a short, fat knob, and it just doesn't appeal to me"
Me: "Is That a Personal Attack?"
Ayyyy. I designed this!
oh hai sir u work for Topping?
@@DecksPage Currently yes.
@@johnyang799 Can you send me a review unit xD
@@anmolchauhan9513 he only does that for people with an audio precision apx555. Hehehe.
it's a good thing designers get to collect Z rants on their designs, I think he's one of the best reviewers in that regard! best way to improve your product line! keep up the good work John Yang!
Plugged my A90 in last night. Very impressed. Sings with Ethers.
7:29 It's actually 7.6W into 16ohm.
oh you saw that 9:20
Yeah thanks anyway. Means this can do some speaker amp duty if need be.
@@ZReviews Actually, John here helped to engineer the unit. Thanks to Mr. Yang, I'm now $500 poorer. And, I appreciate all the hard work he put into making a device I'd want to spend it on.
4:06 Penta = 5, as in Pentagon, five sided shape.
Pentacon = 5 Connections
It is actually 6.4 watts @32ohm and 7.6 @16ohm (balanced) in case anyone is wondering.
oooooh the A90 review I've been waiting for this! Next up the SMSL stack M400 + SP400 amp coming up later this summer.
5:09 is what you came here for
I really enjoy your reviews because they are never super technical and they are always transparent and honest, which is different than a lot of reviewers out there. But there has always been this hang up in the back of my mind when listening to your reviews, I just couldn’t put my finger on it until now... I just realized that you are Jack Black and you have been doing high end audio reviews with a go pro in some underground bunker for the last several years.
This is basically the best measuring headphone amplifier in the world and its below £700/$700 incredible topping.
Topping has some world class engineers. Still loving my D10.
isn't it $499?
Measurement doesn't mean it sounds good, though. Low distortion is great, but I'd take musical over great measurements every time. I haven't heard the A90, so I can't speak to it's competency. However, I used to own the 789 which measures beautifully and I hated it. Clean, powerful, and utterly emotionless. Different strokes... I am intrigued by the A90, just not sure it fits my preferences.
@@geoffreyalter5016 add into account, most headphones are bright /sterile sounding, you get this robot presentation of sound which is beaten by cheap speakers, what's the point when music is all about enjoyment? It's why high end tube amps are king, side by side compare an actual high end tube amp to a low distortion cheap amp. One will make your heart flutter, the other will be meh. Same goes for DAC's, and such speculation leave many to believe they have "end game" which is laughable since they'd be biased to save their wallets. It's like comparing a 50mp smartphone camera to a 24mp Pro DSLR
@@RyuMasterEX All tubes do is introduce distortion. There is no "magic" sound. A machine can measure more accurately then any ones ears. I used to not care for measurements but now i have Revel M106 a speaker that measures perfectly and no surprise its the best thing ive ever heard as long as the recording quality is good. I will say i understand why people like more musical things because they are more pleasant to listen to however in technical terms that doesn't make them better.
It's all about the girth.
That girth tho
My wife says that to me all the time lol ;)
It's not _all_ about the girth. Texture, feel, and handling matter a lot too.
soda can lol
MosoKaiser very true
In this review, Zeos professes his love for knobs, specifically long, thick ones; and his problem with Schiit. 😹
Love your review style. Look forward to your E30 review. The addition of the Topping E30 to my mediocre system has improved the sound way beyond my expectations. So it would be good to hear what you have to say about the E30.
dont have anything abt the dac, just more in every single audio term
Topping 3 stacks can actually be Oreos if you want one to be silver
A90 comes with its best performance, thanks for your review. 😊
13:40 Even compared to this amp which has an even higher SNR, Zeos said THX is a little harsher with Argons.
That's for people who think the sharper, the cleaner.
Its the exact opposite, usually more distortion equals harsher sound
I know I'm gonna be content with my shitschiit stack for quite a long time... I'm just here for the rants tbh
How about a review with just the A90 & D90 together. 👍
He is indirectly reviewing the A90/D90 stack by saying that he has too much work to do to deal with minuscule differences like this.
From CJ from Apos today: "I know that Topping very specifically have THX in mind with the design brief of the A90.
That it needed to exceeds THX based amp in all measurable metrics"
And it shows, the obliterated the 789. Crossed into the 120dB SINAD threshold, and 24-bits of dynamic range capability theoretically (145db SNR). This thing is insane. If all you care about is performance. Buy this, and you're done literally for life.
@Nuclear Redfield 100% inaudible difference
@Nuclear Redfield If all other metrics hold relatively similar, there's no reason besides personal preference and things of that nature that should dissuade you from buying one of the other.
@Nuclear Redfield If sound quality is what you're after, you're basically finished for life in terms of a DAC and AMP (as long as they don't die before you). Not gonna get much better aside from perhaps if you find a headphone you might like more. But in terms of the processing devices, yeah, you're finished.
I actually know the designer of A90 in person back to my high school times. He started to design this two years ago.
You didn't know him well. You probably only new a middling amount of information about him.
@@matterisstrings I mean, he and I were classmates back in those days, and I was one of the early funders of this project. He was like "I'm making a really great headphone amp and if you want I can send you one once it's finished". I said yes then sent him a few hundred bucks. I got to see his early stage designs and measurements on wechat. If you consider that as "a middling amount of information" then OK.
MidFidelity so how does it work? Is he sending his plans to China and topping makes them?
"I like to grab thicc, long knobs."- Zeos Pantera 2020
Make a video about headphone amps conected directly to speakers, pretty sure 4W+ amps can drive lots of speakers with amazing transparency.
Thanks Zeos! Love this amp! and the KPH30Is, the T5V monitors, the D10 DAC/bridge, the elac DB62s, the Drop 6XXs and all the other shit you recommended and that I bought. HaHa!
I ordered my A90 from apos last week, I am excited to get it!
So how do you like it
Raizel Kuroi so far it’s been great! little too sensitive for IEMS but really nice otherwise.
@@haris525 you like it ?
A while back you compared the Klipsch Heritage amp against the THX789, giving it a very very close.
So the Topping stack, Topping amp with a different DAC or the Klipsch?
Klipsch is still the warmest option. A90 is the new boy on the block. He will probably best the klipsch head to head. And like I said the D90 isn't NEEDED to use this amp.
Hahahaha gosh darn it Z! 😅 Now I’m really considering getting the A90 to pre to my xls 1502s. And have a 789 near my bed and a A90 at my desk or vise versa. Guess I’ll save up my pennies for this, now that I just ordered my D90.
Yeah once you have the D90 the A90 completing the stack is too tempting.
@@ZReviews Bloody shit....im selliing my 887 to get the A90 to laid with my D90.
Cant wait to buy this AMP pairing with RME ADI 2 DAC, as a result of Zeus recommendation baby, and I couldn't be happier!
1/8 of a inch is 3.125mm for reference. 4.5mm might be pushing it for throwing around the word "About" /end pedant
Thanks for these reviews. Recently acquired the A90 & D90 MQA. Very happy with them. Using XLR balanced and results are great.
I like the fact that I’ve been waiting for you to review the ragnarok 2 before I buy it but you never got it up until RIGHT NOW WHEN I ALREADY BOUGHT IT*hasnt come in yet*
In case anyone is wondering if getting the D90 (And consequently, the A90) is even worth it, let me just say that I own the D70, and there's a definite improvement with the D90. The music has more color and vibrance, but not in a bad way where it sounds off. To the contrary, it sounds closer to reality. It's like there's just more of the sound. Every note sounds more like a musical note, and less like the ghost of a note. The D70 sounds a little... Vague, by comparison. Although, on it's own the D70 is a killer DAC, and a hell of a lot cheaper. But, the D90 is superior, and more enjoyable to listen to. I'll have to get back to you on the A90, and whether it's worth the upgrade from the 789. Zeos says it's better, though. And, I've learned that he doesn't really shill things that hard, unless he's actually a little impressed. Can't wait for mine to arrive.
>
Finally, a complete stack! I've been wanting a stack since the Schiit stack came out. I was a little disappointment that the 789 only matches Drop's other DACs, and nothing else. Which, their DACs aren't even as good as the 789, and so Drop really needs to make something that's worthing pairing it to, but don't got it. Oh well, at least Topping was ready to compete. I must admit, they are really kicking some big name butts.
>
I can't wait for their P90 pre-amp to come out, so I can run the DAC is dedicated mode, which allows DSD to bypass the modulator with DSDD mode, but then you have to use the analog POT on the AMP, which ain't the greatest, and you'll want to bypass that as well... So you have to get the pre to complete the stack, and God only knows how much that's gonna cost us. Just wait until they add a linear power supply, and a USB add-in card.... And, who knows? But, I'll probably be broke by then, anyway.
I suppose it depends on your system. As for me, the D70 has remained a more musical device with more fluid and pleasant presentation of vocals. Yes, the D70 does have some kind of slowness and gentleness, but D90 in comparison is too punchy and assertive, which makes it harder to focus on music. I really wanted to keep D90, but in the end I had to return it. This is my experience with AT-HA22TUBE and HD660S.
@@KingFiercer_zip Yeah... I still listen to my D70. It's more relaxed. I plan to keep it near my bed and the D90 at my desk.
After lots of research, I purchased Topping A90 and D90 MQ, in no small part due to your reviews. All I've got to say is I hope you don't have tech issues. The D90 MQA does not produce MQA, only PCM. And yes, I'm using XLR balanced, TIDAL MQA, USB from computer to DAC. Apos replied but offered no help other than to refer me to Topping, who I'd already emailed. You may want to mention in your reviews that getting technical support for these high end products from China et al. A bit of "at your own risk" it seems... Buyer beware?
Are you using the windows app? You need to set all slider to active in the additional settings of your sound card in th app
@@jani80k 1st, thanks much for helping!
2) forgive my ignorance, which Windows app are you referring to? I'm a newbie to this world. ;-) I am using the TIDAL player app. I've also installed the Topping USB Audio control panel for the D90 MQA
3) Within the "speakers properties" | advanced tab I can select options, for e.g., 32 bit, 96000 Hz but I thought this did not matter since the D90 is connected via USB?
Again, thank you for any help.
@@Michaelincontext I own a SMSL500 and I used to have the same issue. It only got resolved, when I activated MQA passthrough, exclusive mode etc. After selecting my DAC next to the volume slider in the app at the bottom right if the screen
How does this compare to the rebel amp?
Loving your Channel and reviews for the Topping D90 and A90. Where can I buy the Balanced headphone adaptors that you have plugged into the A90 in your review? Thanks VERY much and wishing you well from London England !
Just listened again and have now emailed this to HART.
Hi Guys,
I have a new pair of Sennheiser 650 HD’s and I have a Topping A90 Amp that has balanced and unbalanced headphone sockets. Right now I am plugging in my 650’s into the unbalanced socket.
However I want to take advantage of my amp that has two balanced sockets ….a 4 pin XLR and a 4.4mm.
What you you offer to help me use my 650’s with a Balanced connection
Thanks very much
By the way you were promoted on the Z Reviews TH-cam page
Best
Anthony
I would love to see a review of the Fostex HPA8 since Z owns quite a few Fostex cans and they are around $1100 US too.
I have a sp200 and will get my m200 tomorrow, but when I see videos like this I feel like I'm missing out, maybe $550 isn't enough :o but its hopefully not a difference worth paying for
I'm not enough of a baller to go full summit-fi, so I have purchased the A90 + D90 as my mid-fi tier stack to power my headphones and monitors. Now I need to find my endgame headphones, been looking into the Hifiman Aryas.
If performance is of concer, your stack is summit-fi
I have all three . the Arya are end game
What is summit fi?
@@nonenothing4412 It's a term audiophiles use for the best gear that money can buy, regardless of price $10,000+ dacs and amps, etc.
Apparently, in terms of performance, this IS summit-fi.
We kinda figured you liked thick, long knobs 😆😬😆👊🏼✌🏼
I am only here to download your cute Japanese girl background.
*Imaginary Girl Background, She holds no title or nationality, has no human rights and does not fear death, for it will never come for them.
@@ZReviews Basically she is YoRHa. So says the HD800 owner with a BHC w/warm tubes which kill 6k issues...so nice.
Just a reminder that in a couple of months the L30 and A50S will be released using the same tech, but a t less power (still plenty) and much more affordable. The L30 aims to be the Atom/Heresy killer delivering 3 watts.
I came here just to make sure that the DX7 Pro is the same size as the A90 and stacks nicely. Going to use the former in a DAC-only mode with an A90.
How would you compare the A90 to the Rupert Neve RNHP amp, sound-wise?
You got everything that's what's up man yo boy finally we got do
Hey Z...this thing will do a true 5 watts out of the balanced out. The 789 does a true 1 watt on the unbalanced. Grab a pair of balanced Argons or put a balanced cable on your t60rp and check it out.
Topping usually has internal lps in their higher models.
Z try the FluxLab Acoustics FA-10 if you can , it’s a 16W on 32 Ohm balanced beast, I have heard great things about this amplifier and it could be the new "powerhouse amp" at a very resonable price!
The FA-10 is not balanced. The FA-12 is balanced but has a lot less power (1700mW into 50 Ohm) but I haven't seen any reviews of it yet.
adnjohnson Yeah, don’t really know if it’s a true balanced topology, but it still has the XLR hp output (which however does not mean that it is completely balanced, I know it well).
Honestly thinking of pairing the A90 amp + JNOG dac maybe listen through LCD-2 Classic and call it my vacation
Mogami has Green XLR cables. The same cables used by world's best cables.
Stop it! I've just bought a Mass Drop THX AAA 789 based on your video about that! :)
Same im stressing lmao
@@theodorezurla496 It's a nice amp mate; good choice 😊
@@johnratcliffe6438 thanks u have it paired with the smsl su9 wbu?
@@theodorezurla496 No mate, Metrum Acoustics Musette, a NOS DAC. I am researching to replace that; either with another Metrum Acoustics DAC or a Schiit DAC.
@@johnratcliffe6438 any favorite headphones?
I always get seasick while watching your videos.
I ordered mine and it's supposed to ship in about 20 days I cannot wait
Zeos is always entertaining! lmoa.
THX 789 or A90?
2000 mW per channel into 50 Ohms or so, you're good for 95% of headphones.
Actually way more than that. 6.4 watts 32ohm, so 50ohm must be around 4 watts.
@@humanbass I'm just saying in general not just this amp. That calculation depends on the design by the way. Some have slightly lower outout at 16 ohms than 40 ohms. I just extrapolate a line between the data points they give to estimate power into my cans.
@@xyanide1986 it does 1w at 300ohm, so 50 is certainly way more than 2w.
What about that 5%? What headphones need mote than that?
@@the_trash_mane5875 None, this thing will destroy transducers essentially..
QUESTION: What is the best way to directly connect the A90 to a 2018 16 inch MacBook pro?
Hi love your style of review , i have a question if sound in from xlr balanced output from mixing board to inputs A90 and out to D10S would it work ,cause I've been doubting on buying for studio recording .Thank you for your time
You should try IEM, it is the lowest distortion and IEM is a good test
wut? dt880 on the WALL? looks like third time's the charm!
I keep wondering why more headphone amps that have a lot of juice don't have speaker outs a la Linear Tube Audio which have a couple of units which will put out 1 watt into 8 ohm for those with high sensitivity (100+db) speakers.Hmmm almost worth Patreon even in these hard time to get an answer
Would you recommend this with a 600ohm Byerdynamic T1?
15:17 your thing...it's open
This is interesting from the standpoint of having a 4.4mm output.
Hey Zeos, a big hello from germany... matches this amp with the fostex th 909?
My preference is the big Sony amp and the violectric hpa v280. Should i give the 909 a try on theeeeese?
Hell no, 909 on those amp would be a disaster. You need match the impedance and power before you throw any kind of random setup to fuck up your sound, you can still listen but that'll be fucking horrible. 909 requires a very high level of tight control whereas low power
It's not a good amp for Zeos unless it has a long hard knob. #GotEm
I feel like paying more on dac than AMP is a mistake, it should be $AMP = $(2xDAC)
I’d like to see an A90 vs Jotenheim 2 shootout!!! I currently have a THX 789 but had the Schiit J2 on order but they’re having problems fufilling orders due to parts being on back order so I want to switch over to the A90 but not very hesistent due to all the reviews I see on Amazon saying its great….”when it actually works!?!?! So there's obvioulsy some sort of QC issue going on with Topping.
Thanks for your review. I have the anandas and am trying to make up my mind between the jotenheim 2 and the topping a90. The reason for the Jot 2 is because I was looking for a warmer sound and not too analytical. Can you give me some insight.
Better than the ifi Pro iCan you reviewed years ago?
they put the power switch in the back at schiit because thats where the power comes in
Money no issue which amp should you buy if you bought the topping d90 dac THX AAA 789 or topping A90
I world go for A90 I think hp power output is better than thx789 and you have xlr Penta balanced I have d90 and thx 789 , A90 is on the way probably will sell my 789 both build in China but topping feels better build
Thanks
Can you compare this to the VIOLECTRIC V280
I have question for A90 owners. While in pre-amp mode and XLR selected as the input, will I be able to output the signal via XLR + RCA or XLR only? I would like to send the XLR signal to some monitors and the RCA signal to a subwoofer.
Hope it comes with a remote to use instead of getting up all the time to turn up and down the volume. I would be hooking this up to my d90 for sure but what the volume control?
You should get your argons modded to be balanced.
So, there is a Schiit Ragnarok review coming up.... ;) Please do not review with the internal DAC, Use a Yggy 2. Please Please _/\_
1:12 Summoning the MQA demon BYURRRGHH
How do you think is this stack of D90 and A90 compairing to the RME ADI-2 DAC ? Are they comparable at all ?
Topping a90 stack rips the adi 2 apart
Not sure I get the “you need 8 watts to properly run t50 mods”. They run great with way less power.
Do you have to unplug the headphones to play powered monitors or just switch output to preamp?
Put a rubberband on the volume knob
Does it compete with the HPA4 as a stereo pre amp, as in the balanced outs? If so, it's a world beater and that's what we'd all like to know.
Noooooooo Zeos, I just got my 789. Not doing it. NOT BUYING ANOTHER AMP. Fuck.
Excuse my laziness, but what’s the difference between the Topping D90 and the A90?
So i need to selll my SMSL SP200 THX AAA-888 Headphone Amp :D
No you can keep that as i have the stack (SMSL SP200 and M200),gonna stack the a90 with the DX7 Pro I like shit to be complete,like lunch meat and cheese with bread
@@mckidar how u dealin with the m200 being so ugly? i love my sp200 but man that dac is ugly af
Would you consider this amp to be a total upgrade from Aune X7s?
My Knob is up for the taking
Something tells me MQA is not worth $100 {at least yet}
but if you make the 880s balanced you get half a watt to power them. Still not enough?
Hi zeos, uf you ever get a wells audio milo with vishay and khozmo update, would love to get your take. It is a very different design philosophy then the current risibg trend of THX, topping or smsl. Thank you
Around 3:55 are you talking about dt 880 pro beyers?
yes he is. they are on the wall and the review is coming
Do you have a list where you rank all the stuff you’ve reviewed?
Shenzen claims this is 7.6 watts per channel, a true monster.
So Z if you're forced gun to head to only pick 1 are you taking the RebelAmp, THX 789, or A90 as your one and only married to Amp for rest of life? Which one tickles your will across most of your headphones and most of what you listen to?
Do new Topping L30 amp or Parasound - Zdac v.2 DAC and Headphone Amplifier.
Airist r2r and 789 stack or topping D and A90 stack? I'm also planning on getting the schiit freya with a speaker amp
btw your E30 is not working ... keep press switch On for 5 sec you will see on the screen 44.1pcm
and make sure you update the firmware
not gonna lie. im really poor but i managed to save up a chunk of change to upgrade my audio setup from my philips fidelio x2 and ive been watching a ton of videos and reading a ton on sites and reddit and headphone finders and amp assistants and i really am going nuts here lmao. like im probably gonna go for the smsl because thx 888 and smaller size and physical switches, but i feel like i missed the point of diminishing returns on amps so i can pick up basically anything in the $500 range and not care, so shopping desktop is easy
Hi Zeos I have Arya coming and currently got chord Hugo 2 is connecting Hugo via RCA give me a good SQ or should go for Topping own DAC for XLR connection doee XLR sounds better than RCA, is it worth investing in A90 with Hugo 2 for Arya. Thanks