Topping D90 III Discrete 1-Bit DAC

This DAC represents Toppings new foray into the world of 1-Bit DACs. I think it deserves its own thread.





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I’m still shocked there hasn’t been more reviews of this dac.

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Also always nice to have PEQ in a DAC.

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Built-in 10-band PEQ on a Dac is friggin sweet…

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The 1-bit architecture though, that’s where the gold is. Naturalness of R2R, speed and slam of Delta sigma.

It’s awesome that they’re selling it for $849 right now, a 15% discount right out the gate!

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Yep, that is what got me to pull the trigger on it. I was holding out for the gungnir 2 but that was more than I was willing to spend on a dac and it is bigger than I want for the space I have for it on my desktop. Same with the cyan 2. This looks similar size to my bifrost 2/64 which is the form factor and price range i would prefer to stick closer to.

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For those who haven’t heard, it apparently performs (D90 III Discrete) in the same league as Cyan 2, with Topping outdoing it for certain exciting, dynamic genres of music and vice versa for Cyan 2.

D90 III Discrete is however much cheaper (especially for EU customers) and more versatile as it comes with remote, conventional input switching, ability to run both outputs at the same time (RCA to subwoofer), perform preamp duties and of course offers PEQ.

It’s going to be interesting to hear if it retains the same overall characteristics as something like the Ru7 which is the only other 1-bit DAC I’ve heard.

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The topping is supposed to be not as warm as a the cyan 2. I have a fairly warm system as most of my amps are tube amps that lean on the warmer range. Which also has me intrigued as I think with my system the topping could possibly have the best synergy but we will see.

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My speakers are warmish but with huge, wide dispersion from the treble - looking to inject some pin-point imaging precision with the Topping.

It’s leaving China tomorrow :partying_face:

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Your dac arrive yet?

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It’s in Paris, ETA is Friday or possibly Monday/Tuesday.

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Mine should be here today or tomorrow. Hoping for today, but it got a customs hold so we will see.

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Nice. I am reading reports of burn-in being especially important for the D90 III Discrete. I think there might be extra something to it this time, given the special architecture employed to make 1-bit work, it is supposedly very reliant on the quality and precision of the power supply.

With that in mind, take immediate first impressions with a few extra grains of salt.

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So my dac showed up. I had been using the Maxwell for work all day (Ease of use).
I hooked up the D90 to the Homage using the Sennheiser HD600’s and it was a pretty drastic, Really shocking difference. I’m giving it some time to burn in and I have a friend who also has a Homage amp. He is going to bring it over so we can A/B quickly with the Bifrost 2/64. Really impressed with the D90. Much more engaging sound than the other topping I have heard. I am generally not a fan of topping. This one has been a very pleasant surprise.

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1-Bit magic bro!

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Hello, I just got it some days ago I cannot be more happy with the sound, even being feeding optical from TV it sounds beautiful, but be aware, it could sound kind of bright if used as PRE, but as a pure DAC a lot better, then switching to the Eversolo DMP-A6 master edition with improved PSU the sound is organic, a lot of slam, pleasant. I tested using Audiolab 6000A as a PRE. Previously I had Topping E70Velvet and D70 Pro Octo, and of course the DMP-a6 internal DAC, all of them with different sound signatures, none one them caused me such an enjoyment listening any kind of music and as I said, even streaming from TV.

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Could you say what are your thoughts after A/Bing with the Bifrost 2/64?

I would say that it’s not really even a comparison, IMO.
I find the topping significantly more holographic. Far more dynamic, significantly more punchy.
An example, S&M2 The Unforgiven III to me has never really done the song justice. I have always found the recording flat and boring. Somehow the d90 discrete helps give it some depth. I am able to pick out things with the d90 discrete that I have never heard from the Bifrost. Instruments on the Bifrost seem a lot more mushed together, in comparison to the D90 Discrete. The base has more texture and more focused in comparison. I already have a fairly warm system, and the d90 discrete seems to have better synergy with my system than the Bifrost 2/64 does. YMMV, but I don’t think I can ever go back to the Bifrost from the D90.

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Thanks!

Just for curiosity, have you ever tried the DX9?

I have not, I have generally not been a big fan of Topping. I had heard their E70 before this and was very meh about it. Most reviewers said, Topping dacs all basically sounded the same. So I just had written Topping off until this one. I really liked the sound of the Cayin RU7, so I wanted to give this one a try. I have been very happy with this version of the D90 though.

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