TOPPING D90LE DAC: FULL REVIEW, CLOSE UP SECTION, PROS AND CONS PLUS A FINAL RATING!

[@oscarmarfori613]

Very good and nice review, I have the unit in my system for quite some time and never looked back it does sound great once you’ve chosen the right filter I paired it with a Topping Pre 90 and it made the sound more defined and silky, thanks for sharing your video 👍🏻

[@sexytasmin]

An excellent review Paul. Just what I needed as I’m considering this DAC.

[@wills681]

I have some 'Chi-Fi' IEMs (Planar P1) and for me they are fabulous. The comparison with the development of Japanese tech is very relevant. Buying 'blind' online is always risky but we all know that, don't we? UK agents are a good thing but perhaps more important is the emphasis placed on customer service by the manufacturer. My Kanto (Canadian) subwoofer expired and Kanto shipped me an upgraded model within one week from British Columbia to the UK. The only caveat was that Kanto asked me to give photographic evidence that I had destroyed the defective unit before shipping a replacement. I had fun doing this. 🙂

[@davidurquhart974]

I have a node and d90se in a second system gives my 6k main streamer dac a run for its money most people seem to prefer filter 7 a couple of tricks for better sound are turn preamp mode and Bluetooth off and set output voltage to 5v

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Thanks for the sound tips, David. Fills in a few gaps for areas I missed.

[@davidhossack3127]

Another good review Paul, I have to agree with what you say in your "filter rant" some DACs I've read about are even worse in choice of filter settings than the Topping. Thank goodness my own choice of DAC (the Denafrips ares ii) only has a choice of 2 filter settings, Sharp and Slow, but only available when in oversampling mode.

[@lwdp74]

From your review it sounds like a fine DAC. I use a different method of listening. Music I’ve heard and grown to know and enjoy, I purchase it and keep on my server. I always try to sample and pick the best version! Whenever I’m sampling new hardware I play this. Makes noticing difference easier.

[@RaviNewfarm]

Thanks, found the filter settings on my Topping D50S, seems to have the same choices, then I have something to play with tonight!

[@mrkitewine7700]

I’m considering this or the new Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (if Electromod UK ever get any stock in). The Ares II would be nice but I’d like the simpler return/warranty option that Electromod offer for the Schiit and Topping products for the UK.

[@dannyfannyfoodle]

Outstanding review. Although I don’t own a single piece of so-called “ChiFi”, I have had the exact same thought as you with regard to the scorn heaped upon the now beloved Japanese components of yore. Also, let’s not forget that even many of the great, respected American and European brands are manufacturing in China as well - and their quality and perceived value doesn’t seem to suffer nearly as much. This move to a more traditional distribution model is wise, although the added cost structure will, ultimately, increase costs and the relative value. But it’s a worthwhile trade-off, in my opinion.

[@Bwstevens1]

Excellent review thank you Paul! I'm looking at replacing my Chord Mojo DAC with a desktop DAC and the D90LE looks spot-on! Can you recommend XLR cables as I have never used them and am delighted to see that my Audiolab 8300A has a pair!! Thanks a million.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Brett, many thanks. Cables? That depends on your budget. QED offer some useful examples. Higher end? Check out Tellurium Q Blues.

[@Bwstevens1]

@@TheAudiophileMan super, thanks, will do!

[@dmfdarkness]

I have the D90LE, having had the SE and the Original D90. I've tried a lot of cables, and I have settled on.......super basic studio XLR cables. I have Deulund solid core silver, federation solid core silver, duelund tinned copper, Soundsilver XLR, and a few others. On a whim, I put in a pair of Rapco Horizon cables, and I was shocked. Transparent, neutral, crystal clear. I love them.

[@Bwstevens1]

@@dmfdarkness Thanks! I’ve ordered Chord’s Clearway XLR’s as I got a great deal on them..

[@tomasz5274]

Hi Brett, Would you please share your experience of D90LE when you'll get it and how it sounds comparing to Mojo? I'm currently in similar situation and starting to look for a desktop DAC as well :) Thanks!

[@alandean2]

A very well produced an informative video. The section on filters was especially interesting. I don't have hearing loss but I do need to have the treble set at 1.00 o'clock to get an accurate (for my ears) rendition of the music. So yes it would be very helpful to have those filters unpacked to give an indication of the familiar tone graduations. I think I'm going to get that DAC

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Alan - I do wonder, in that case, if a suite of amp-based tone controls might be a better bet. They offer more settings choices, for example. You get seven here. An amp with give you a couple of thousand at a conservative estimate with treble, bass and loudness switches.

[@alandean2]

​@@TheAudiophileMan Thank you Paul for the very helpful reply. I'm currently using a Schiit Loki Mini with my Rega Brio. I'm looking for a new more powerful amplifier so I shall check your suggestions out

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Great review! Enticing.

[@marcbegine]

Ok, even DSD 512 and IIS, bravo great Stuff🎉

[@richardblaauwgeers4349]

Did you test the IFI zen stream it supposed to be a step up from the bluesound node

[@alexseaford4029]

Thanks for another interesting piece. I believe that, unless you've got the Hi-fi equivalent of Supercar money, China makes the best DACs in the world.

[@gaetancharbonneau3902]

Nice shirt...

[@AndyLew59]

Thanks for doing this Paul. I value your judgement highly & with others bought my Audiolab 6000a on the strength of it. No regrets there! I can now seriously consider this as an upgrade to my Topping E50 when & if the funds/time allow/comes! 👍🤟

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

Anyone know why really 5v sound different? I do no think it is SINAD numbers. Why?

[@nunofernandes4501]

I used a Topping E30 for almost two years and have only nice things to say about it. My current Dacmagic 200M is better but not overwhelmingly so. I can only wonder how it compares to the D90LE.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Nuno, yes I still use an E30 hooked to a second, older TV here. That uses an AKM chip, incidentally :)

[@nunofernandes4501]

@@TheAudiophileMan AKM indeed. I gave the E30 to a friend who is enjoying it to bits, so he says.

[@fletchermunson6225]

"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion...and does't" Tom Waits.

[@fletchermunson6225]

Use an Accordion, go to jail.

[@Nick2842]

I’ve always considered audio research great , how is it there’s never a review on there dac or CD player? I seen one on there new i50 amp but that’s more of an advertisement than a review,

[@1697djh]

No DSD source?

[@dartinbout5672]

Any preference for DSD filters? They are just as incomprehensibly described.

[@marcbegine]

Can it do DSD 256?

[@andymill8552]

It can do a maximum of DSD512, so yes it can do DSD256 as well (and DSD64 and DSD128).

[@grahamjohnsparks]

People have comcern with all things manufactured in China mainly due to the fact Chinese manufacturers seem to have no issue with using counterfeit components. As we know many quality items can and do come from there though those manufactures have to be watched like hawks. As for being so far away, that's just a silly statement.

[@tomasz5274]

It may be not so silly when the manufacturer will send you warranty replacement from China and ask you to pay duty yourself as they do not have control over customs... That's my recent experience with Hifiman :o

[@grahamjohnsparks]

@@tomasz5274 what does distance have to do with tax payment by any party ?

[@isettech]

Playing a Red Book CD on one of those is a total mismatch. Yes it will play it, but the source material has it's limitations at 16 bit 44.1KHZ PCM.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Final sound quality is only partly down to the resolution of the source. Implementation is just as, if not more, important. I’ve heard 16bit/44.1-based HiFi chains that are sonically superior to - say - 24bit/192khz systems. Don’t be a slave to the specs ;)

[@isettech]

@@TheAudiophileMan I actually record in 24 bit with 18 db of headroom, so after post production the MSB that were not recorded is removed in the nationalization of the levels for the 0dbfS level. Your typical CD was never recorded in 16 bit in order to have headroom in the master to prevent harsh digital clipping. Yes the CD then is lossless amplified by shifting lower bits up to the MSB for nominal level peaking at 0dbfs. 3db is one bit. 6 db is 2 bits, etc. This is why 16 bit CDs are able to sound great, unless someone compressed them in the loudness war. In summary, master record in 24 or 32 bits with the standard -18 db of headroom, normalize the volume for peaks at 0dbfs, and you have a CD with the same info as the original recording, but bit rate reduced to 44.1 KHZ sample rate. Get to know some sound recording engineers about the recording and mastering process.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

@@isettech I thought we were talking about the sound from a typical CD using the Topping as part of the chain? To repeat, with the correct implementation, it can sound excellent. See my last reply.

[@isettech]

@@TheAudiophileMan In other words instead of reproducing the digital recording as accurately as possible, the use is not a DAC, but this is a review instead of the ability of the DSP in the device to alter the sound to widen the sound stage and other DSP sound functions.

[@joemarz2264]

My friend, it's not the bit depth nor sample rate what matters the most, but the recording engineer's ability to pull out the best of the format. And as Audiophile Man says, redbook can and does sound excellent on many recordings.