Topping A70 Pro vs Topping A90 Discrete

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

A comprehensive and helpful review, as always. Thank you for your time, effort, and perspectives and for sharing this with us all .

[@portnaluinge]

Great review, as usual. I own an A70 Pro and couldn’t be happier with it. It’s paired with a Schiit multibit DAC and the two together give me everything I could want. Got to say though, I was a bit distracted by those EAR Yoshino amps sitting behind you - nice!

[@iiWiReviews]

Great to hear that. EARs are loaners from a friend. Great pieces of gear. They're helping me assess and review my own Acoustic Invader Fulcrum preamp and amps.

[@ChicagoRob2]

That sounds like a great combination. I run a Schiit MM, also, and it is amazing with a good amp.

[@1234markrhino]

Gotta say, ur review r amazing - very specific to the component u r reviewing. Keep up the good work.

[@reflection1119]

I'm considering the A70 pro because I have my sights set on the Mod House Tungsten and it seems very few amps out there have the power to drive the Tungsten properly without spending a few thousand $$$$, other than the A70 pro, but it's good to learn it's limitations through comparisons like the one you have done here with the A90D. Thanks

[@azrecion]

Huge thanks! As always, very informative and accessible! One question: does all of this apply exclusively to the headphone amplifier, or can it all be attributed to using it as a preamp? If this applies only to the headphone amplifier, a huge request is to make a video comparison of the preamps (personally, I am looking for the most transparent analog preamp for external amplifiers of the speaker - the earphone amplifier is the last thing I am interested in). By measurements, it looks much better than the Pre 90 (and A 90). Unfortunately, today few people do reviews of preamps, and you have the best presentation of information, so my request is very big!) Thank you in advance!

[@InDueTime25]

Thank you so much. Superb review. I was trying to decide which is best for me between A90D and A70pro. I want to eventually pair them with SMSL m500 mkii to see what I can find. Thank you again!

[@conorlynch1965]

I had the A70PRO paired with the SMSL M500 MKIII, and it sounded Great while it lasted 😢

[@InDueTime25]

@@conorlynch1965 Wait, what happened? I'm sure they sounded wonderful!

[@conorlynch1965]

@@InDueTime25 The Topping A70PRO had a fatal error within an hour of first use, had been using with Meze 109PRO and it sounded wonderful, switched to my Sennheiser HD600, which also sounded great with single-ended connection, but not as solid as I was expecting for the figures given on paper for the power, so I switched the cable to balanced on the HD600 and plugged it back in, definitely sounded louder but only lasted 1-minute before I heard a crackle in one side of the headphones and error warning appeared - ‘HP DC Abnormal’ Hasn’t worked since, lots of random reports coming through of people having similar problems with higher resistance headphones, not much info coming from Topping as it was first noted in June, so not sure if it’s a hardware problem or bad batch, they’re not too keen on talking about it !

[@frankOcean825]

@@conorlynch1965 did you use as high gain?

[@conorlynch1965]

@@frankOcean825 Yes on Hi-Gain, but volume was low at the time, as I knew people had issues with the unit in advance and was threading lightly !

[@omartinredsys6151]

thanks for your review. You have helped me decide

[@sloboat55]

Excellent video. Cool runnings

[@CraigLintner]

Hello all. Which do you think would pair better with Hifiman Arya Organics - Topping A70/D70 PRO SABRE, Topping A90/D90SE, or XDUOO TA-22?

[@agoniz9271]

Hi Nice review as usual 👍 Do you think A70 Pro is an upgrade in comparison with L70...i have L70 and i wonder... Thanks

[@iiWiReviews]

It's a minor upgrade in overall sound clarity. I would do it only if I could get a really good deal so my budget doesn't notice that.

[@gonepteryxrhamni2648]

@@iiWiReviews and upgrade to a90 d? hifiman ananda nanos

[@rarfn8035]

I am still wondering how these new DACs would compare against oldies such as the Peachtree DAC.iTx which sounds very neutral and musical to me?

[@Mastermnd1]

After some consideration I decided to buy the A70pro and it arrived yesterday. I am not a reviewer so I cannot compare to other amps, but as a regular user, I'm more than happy with it. Zero noise, it drives all my stuff and it sounds great. Thank you for this video, because it helped me to decide between my options

[@sjofelumsk]

Hope yours won't break down. A lot of defective units around

[@Mastermnd1]

@@sjofelumsk It's been 6 months. Works like a charm

[@alstonmaccow9386]

Nice review well done

[@carminedesanto6746]

The synergy between all the components working together to make a sonic signature that pleases YOU.. It’s the audiophile puzzle 🧩 that we’re all enjoying. Take care 👍☕️🍕🔥🥓

[@asan1050]

Sir!, Thank you very much!

[@riccitone]

I clicked and was baited anyway!…Seriously, another great review and comparo. I’ve been trying to decide on a good pairing. But am now inadvertently most interested in those planars! 🙏🏼

[@psysword]

Any thoughts on the topping dx9? Sandu has already blessed it with gold

[@iiWiReviews]

I didn't get it so no toughts at this point.

[@Alex-dj7nc]

Thanks, I was waiting for this review. My choice is Topping E70 velvet + Topping A70 pro.

[@azrecion]

The A70 pro is a higher class, it clearly needs a DAC a level or two higher.

[@Poot8888]

​@azrecion bs

[@mihinohajimari4330]

Thank you for your comprehensive review. Could you briefly compare the sound of the a70 to the a30? What are the main differences?

[@iiWiReviews]

A30 is a great sounding amp. It has slightly recessed midrange and highs compared to this one. A70 is more forward, a bit more deteiled and cleaner sounding in general too. It's noticeable improvement in my opinion but it's definitely not night and day difference.

[@invisiblekid99]

Ugh what to choice, what to choose. I feel I could possibly get some extra richness from my SNSL D1se sound tuning and go with the A90. But I think I'll like the sound of the A70. But the A90 is a legend. Hmmmm.

[@paulzolayvar3091]

I have the A70 Pro but only using it as a preamp. Is the A90D a better sounding preamp or the Pre90 is even better for 2-channel HI-FI listening? Thanks!

[@reptidan]

Just bought one. Curious what you think!

[@Sentinel88]

A70 pro vs a90d as preamps Still a90d better for you ?

[@iScorpio1971]

Great input and reviews! Thanks. What about pairing Topping's D70 Velvet, or for that matter their lower end AK4493S E30II with the A70 Pro, instead of the suggested A70 combo?

[@АлексейСамойлов-у9ш]

Выбираю между topping a70pro, gustard h16, smsl sh9, smsl h400 какой посоветуете из этих?

[@davidl2153]

Hi thanks for the review but how does it fair as a preamp or against the new schiit midgard?

[@vitalysamonov3399]

I am just getting it for the cool display gon a pair with dx9 for dac and tubes

[@ceannairereibiliunach8133]

Some people on the Audio Science Review website are reporting some faults with this unit .

[@Hirnlego999]

Sigh, PA5, L90D and now possibly this as well..

[@ancientalien815]

Would this be a huge upgrade from a original topping L30?

[@mejias4682]

"would the topping a70 pro work well to boost my ADAM Audio T10S Subwoofer with 2- ADAM Audio T8V Studio Monitor, it seems everyone speaks only on the headphone part, but never mention anything in regards to the rear speaker outputs of the unit. i want to get amp first, then looking forwards to getting DAC.

[@edverbeek6292]

Special thanks for the track of Lyn Stanley. Never heard of and beautiful.

[@iiWiReviews]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@spamcan9208]

One of the reasons why I watch reviews for things I'll never buy is for the music examples.

[@liamporter1137]

Thanks for sharing.

[@davidmusoke]

Hey! great review as always ... I have the A30 HP amplifier. How does it compare with this A70 Pro?

[@juliancrun]

For once I can see a review with the product. I've had the A70Pro for three weeks and it's tremendous I listen to it with the Verum. DDC Iris, DAC Ares II and Hifir Rose rs250a. I can't be happier.

[@Undead.Musicphile]

Love your channel and your reviews 👊👍 Now to choose a headphone amplifier...😄😀

[@ЗаВДВ-р8е]

How does it compare to Gustard x18?

[@carlosamlgo4863]

Menha gustado mucho tu review.De los pocos youtubers que dien que algo nuevo y bueno,puede sonar ligeramente por debajo de su predecesor.Te felicito. Una oregunta mi cadena es He 1000 stealth -Topping A90D -Smls Do200 mk2. Te parece una buena idea cambiar el dac por un Smls Su 10 o apenas notaré el cambio. Gracias y saludos

[@Besserwisser1900]

I got Topping D90 (akm4499) and Arya Organic, which Amp would pair the best with these do you think ? A90/D , L70 or A70 Pro ? I'm leaning towards A70 pro..

[@crisanccm]

Tks a lot man :)

[@owConfidence]

Can anyone answer if it would be crazy here either one of these amps with a modius e schiit dac. If the answer is no, which amp answer would you go for?

[@peterandersson6762]

Hi. I have an Eversolo a8. How do you think the a70pro would work with this setup, and Hifiman Arya Stealth? I realey like your videos👍🏽

[@iiWiReviews]

I never tried them together but I don't see any reason for them not to match well. Both are mostly neutral sounding devices that are not picky with pairing.

[@peterandersson6762]

Thank you for your fast response!

[@peterandersson6762]

I have thought abought the topping a70 pro or smsl sp400 and smsl vmv p2. Which of these 3 amps do you think would match the a8 best? Thanks in advance! Peter from sweden.

[@DavidLinde-i9n]

I have bought one, based on this review :). Seems a hair bright on the vocal side, but otherwise enjoying it. Do you think that this dac needs "burn in" time to get to that sweet spot? I have also ordered the SMSL SU-10 and will keep whichever works best in my system. TY for all of your hard work and detailed reviews!

[@iiWiReviews]

Basically every DAC's sound loosens up a bit after some time. So I wouldn't make any final decision in the first week for example (depending on how much you use it, it might take a bit longer).

[@carlosamlgo4863]

Hola,al final con cuál te quedaste ?Y por qué ? Estoy por comprar uno de los dos.Gracias

[@DavidLinde-i9n]

@@iiWiReviews Thank you! It keeps getting better the longer I use it. However, I have now fallen into the Gustard R26 hole! Just received it today so will be letting it play for a while before I compare to the SU-10.

[@carlosamlgo4863]

​@@DavidLinde-i9nhola ! Que tal fue la experiencia con el Smls su 10,vale la pena ? Estoy muy interesado en comprarlo.Gracias por tu ayuda.

[@tbobreak]

Hi, i own a topping dx7 pro, i will upgrade to a smsl su-10, wich would be the better pairing A90D or A70pro? now i have a monolith m1060, and in the future will upgrade to another hi level headphones.

[@iiWiReviews]

I would go for A90D with SU-10

[@CrackaSlapYa]

@@iiWiReviews Well that answers my question then I think- I would be pairing with my Fiio K9 ESS which is a 2 x ES9038 Pro 8-channel DAC just like the SMSL SU-10.

[@drival060590]

Hello there, I just have a question: Is it not actually possible to use only and exclusively the A70 Pro as a headphone amplifier? Do I need a second device? I am just asking because I want to connect it to a computer. It has no coaxial, no USB-B and no TOSLINK/optical out connections. Am i blind? :D And do you know if it suits the Focal Clear headphones (original ones)?

[@iiWiReviews]

You can use it with your PC only if you connect it to the analog output (3.5mm stereo jack usually). But that way your motherboard sound sets the quality, noise, etc. This is an amplifier that will make it louder and not better. If you want to connect digitaly over USB, optical, etc. You need a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter). And since you're using it with headphones you actually want a DAC and an Amp in one device. Take a look at my latest Aune S9C review for example, it's a really good one. Topping DX5 is another great option that is more affordable. Alternative is to go with fully separate DAC and Amp so you get a stack of two devices. But two in ones are usually better bang for the buck.

[@CrackaSlapYa]

@@iiWiReviews Would you put the Aune s9c over a Topping A90D w/ a Fiio K9 Pro ESS (or a SMSL SU-10 if you are unfamiliar with the Fiio) stack? For Hifiman HE1000 Stealth. I greatly value your opinion and videos.

[@ahmedsafa91]

i have a90d .. do you recommend pairing it with smsl su9 dac or m500 mkii ??

[@iiWiReviews]

Original SU-9 can be a bit dry in the upper frequencies, so I wouldn't. M500 MKII is a better match, so are Topping E70/E70 velvet. But M500 MKII goes for great price these days, which makes it a no-brainer in my opinion.

[@d1str3ss0r]

Invest in a D90LE

[@giovannirizzotti3923]

Great review, as usual! I was wondering if, with the A70 pro I'd be able to use the xlr out in a passive way, without powering on the amplifier. I already do something similar with unbalanced RCA, with a Topping E30 and a Topping L50 (which have passive passthrough RCA). This allow me to connect E30 to L50, than L50 to my studio monitor and, once I power on the L50, I can just hear the sound from the headphone output. Hope this makes sense.

[@CheekyFest]

Which headphones were you using?

[@iiWiReviews]

Goldplanar GL2000, Verum 1, and AKG K702

[@aRc11-11]

Stands to reason that the 90 series is due for an upgrade.

[@d1str3ss0r]

Why? A90D is already better than A70 Pro. PS. I also listen to D70 Pro in an A/B test with the D90Le and the second was better in my opinion So A90D+D90LE is still a better combo than A70/D70 PRO

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Its not about the 70 or 90, its about the prefix in front, A, D, etc. The number just denotes what how high it is in a lineup.

[@Nebo600]

I have the A90 and the D90SE and I’m looking to upgrade very soon. Probably something around the 2k mark

[@jungtarcph]

Imagine if they had DSP in like a Mini DSP 💖

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️SRBJ ,GREAT ADVICE…FOR ALL BECAUSE…IT IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF PERSONAL TASTE 😋💚💚💚

[@danrdey]

Послушал вас и заказал А90 дискрет !

[@d1str3ss0r]

A90D/D90LE way better combo than A70PRP/D70PRO

[@charlesurias]

Way better? Like how much better? Have you personally A/B compared both combos with a variety of headphones?

[@d1str3ss0r]

@@charlesurias the discrete circuit it’s itself better for professional uses and yes,i personally tested them with Audeze,Hifiman,Beyerdynamic and Audio Techica Headphones. Is better,i can’t tell you how much,but way more precise,way more clinical,way more clear in the high frequency range

[@masterazlan6999]

Na... I like tubes sound mo.. Peace!

[@SimpleMailWork]

Why TRS connectors? Do we live in the nineties of the XX century? It is so foolishly!

[@iiWiReviews]

It's TRS and XLR combined into one so you can use whichever you like. I used XLR personally.

[@garfythecat]

17W output is absolutely insane and so unnecessary

[@spamcan9208]

I wonder how much it costs in parts and engineering effort to hit such an absurd number.

[@charlesurias]

I’m just hoping it’s enough to power my HE6SE V2 well. I’ve heard several accounts of the A90D not having the juice to have good control of the drivers.

[@frostzxs]

@@charlesurias same thoughts about my he-6, looking for something powerful for reasonable money

[@kennethmccullough1342]

How does Aune S17 Pro compare to these two. Trying to decide between the 3.

[@iiWiReviews]

Not big difference but it goes like this in my opinion: 1. Aune S17 pro 2. Topping A90D 3. Topping A70 pro But please take the size and the heat of S17 pro into account before deciding. I have it but I don't use it because it's too big for my desktop and too hot to be stacked.

[@АлексейСамойлов-у9ш]

​@@iiWiReviewsА как они всё в сравнении с gustard h16, smsl h400, smsl sh9?