Topping D70 Pro Sabre Review - Detail and clarity in spades ♠️♠️♠️

The Topping D70 Pro Sabre is a detail retrieving monster! It's extremely clear and controlled and gives you an very crisp and resolving sound.
I personally prefer the softer D70 Pro Octo, but if you need a DAC in a recording studio or are looking for accuracy, this one is it!
I want to thank ‪@aposaudio‬ for loaning me this unit for evaluation.
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Topping D70 Pro Sabre : rebrand.ly/D70ProSabre
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Other DACs in this Video
SMSL SU-1 : amzn.to/3O3Gm56
Douk Audio U8 : amzn.to/3vE6xZS
EQ and Tone Control:
Douk Audio T8 Pro : amzn.to/3sRT0N0
Schiit Loki+ : amzn.to/47B5tUJ
And my favorite cables:
WBC RCAs : amzn.to/49O1RzZ
WBC XLRs : amzn.to/3QQRdjc
WBC Speaker Cable 14ga : amzn.to/3G90uhK
WBC Speaker Cable 9ga : amzn.to/47Fadbf
Check out these products as well:
SMSL PS100 : amzn.to/3sJUoRY
Topping E30 II : amzn.to/3MdwHsb
Bellari PA555 : amzn.to/3WWM38f
Dayton Audio HTA200 : amzn.to/44SiHvl
Eversolo DAC Z6 : amzn.to/42ly5yu
WiiM Mini Streamer : amzn.to/41yM5UA
Douk T14EQ : amzn.to/4bQ9mro
Cambridge Audio Alva ST Turntable : amzn.to/3Fz9k8J
Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntalbe : amzn.to/3YYYDTM
Ortofon 2M Black : amzn.to/3yRpnei
Audio-Technica cartridge headshell : amzn.to/3mT09t9
Oyaide 5N Pure Silver Headshell Wires : amzn.to/3n8vTLe
Neoteck Digital Stylus Scale : amzn.to/3FADYi4
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Transcript
Follow along using the transcript.

[@landosazo7506]

great, great, great review and comparison Rick. Wonderful job ! I have been contemplating in upgrading my current fantastic DAC - the SMSL SU-1 with the AKM chip. I mostly stream from Spotify. What DAC, preferably with an AKM chip, would perform similar to the Topping D70 PRO Sabre that you have tried so far ? Thanks

[@RickRuizAudio]

Hey Lando, Thanks for watching. I appreciate it. I haven't tried many AKM based DACs. I'll reach out to a few companies and see if they'll send me something on loan to review. Hopefully I can get something in soon.

[@ayewhite333]

Do you think the octo has stronger bass than this unit?

[@RickRuizAudio]

Yeah, I do but in a slightly fuller, looser bass. The Sabre a tighter more precise bass. So more rumble on the Octo but a good rumble.

[@sachincyogarajah2793]

How does the D70 pro sabre compare to the D90 pro sabre?

[@RickRuizAudio]

I actually haven't heard the D90. But I would assume pretty close as the both use ESS 9039S Pro, But the D90 III Sabre does have I2S input so if you have a transport with I2S, go for the D90 III Sabre for the extra $200. Or that's what I would do if it was in my budget. The screen is super nice on the D7O though, if you're adding the looks to your criteria. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Rider4683]

I'm trying the octo with A70 Pro. With I have not the sound mode in the menu? And what filter do you use? Thanks

[@RickRuizAudio]

On the Octo, I liked filter 5, and filter 2. You can find the Sound modes in the D70 Pro Octo, not the A70 Pro, in the Advanced menu, just under the filter menu. Thanks again!

[@Rider4683]

@@RickRuizAudio yes the d70 Octo. I have not the sound mode. I've only DAC mode. Why?

[@RickRuizAudio]

Check manual here: www.toppingaudio.com/download/d70-pro-otco-user-manual You should see Filter, then Advanced. Select advanced and you should go into next menu and see Sound Mode. If it's not there, maybe it needs a firmware update.

[@Rider4683]

@@RickRuizAudio i don't have it. My firmware is the 1.07, the last on may 2024

[@RickRuizAudio]

@@Rider4683 I'm sorry Rider, I don't know. Maybe contact where you purchased or email Topping directly.

[@snoopyboobs]

What are your speakers? Do you have a video about your system?

[@RickRuizAudio]

Hey @snoopyboobs Thanks for watching. I appreciate it. I actually haven't made a video on my speakers. They are a DIY build. The Bass cabinet is a Joseph Crowe No. 1303 with is a 12" Bandpass going down to 31Hz. In room lower. The Mid is a planar magnetic that was going to be Josephs No. 1300 Horn, But changed to an open baffle Mid. His crossover base design was adjusted to cross a little higher. 600Hz instead of 300Hz. and I had Joseph change the 2 way design to a 3 way. He custom designed the horn for my LCY super-tweeter which handles over 10kHz. I didn't think their would be interest in speakers no one could buy so I didn't make a video but they do sound amazing with very low intermodulation distortion figures. But check out his webpage and KZbin. He's at Joseph Crowe's DIY Speaker Building.

[@snoopyboobs]

@@RickRuizAudio I'm familiar Joseph Crowe, I'm a diyer myself. Is it the GRS or B&G planar? 8" or the 10"? I have a pair of the B&G 10's but never got around to using them. Are you crossing over all passive? Very cool, thanks for the details!

[@RickRuizAudio]

@@snoopyboobs It's the 8. GRS. The BG would handle more power. They have stronger magnets but I was already close to my budget for my build and as you know, the BGs are 5x the cost. But they do sound great. Yea as of now passive crossovers. 14ga 5mH inductor (solen) + 150uF poly cap (solen) + 0.1uF cu foil in paper bypass cap (myflex) for the woofer, 1.0uF cu myflex for tweeter, and for bandpass on mids, 14ga mundorf cu foil inductors, Jantzen Supremes bypassed by myflex coppers, and Deulund resistors for notch filter. All in I think I spent 4k on parts and 2 months to build on my free time. I'm actually very proud of them. I'm no carpenter so I think I did ok. You should really put those BGs to use! The 10s are what PS Audio use on their FR30, even tho the rumors say they are GRS.

[@snoopyboobs]

@@RickRuizAudio it's a very cool build. you should be proud.