TOPPING D90SE Fully Balanced DAC

Ah shit, that’s right. The soundstage-izer.

I’m really curious about the Sabre version, as I’ve heard the AKM version previously but wasn’t really for me. It sounds as though it’s a good DAC.

One thing I find curious about the SINAD chart is that a Topping DAC is first in every decibel range (that they have represented within the number).
I don’t know if that’s a function of unseen decimals, or if Amir favors Topping for whatever reason, but it’s definitely interesting.

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Shoot! I am really really not kidding! I want to hear some personal comparisons between BF2 vs. D90SE

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I hope it doesn’t become the norm because every DAC I saw that adds full MQA decoding is always 100$ more. :grimacing:

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Hopefully that shit fades away, especially with Apple music offering lossless and qobuz getting a better library all the time.

And if I were a company I’d focus more on airplay than MQA.

Is the Zen DAC V2 not a full decoder?

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Apparently. So it’s a steal if (somehow) someone “needs” MQA.

It’s probably cheaper because Ifi has a deal (?). They seem to advertise MQA a lot.

Coming soon: A comparison of the D90SE, Bifrost 2, and Ares 2 by him.

$$$ is more than enough for a reason.
If you want more info, it can be found on this site and many others by searching.

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Dude. Quit it. You already got your fight with @Resolution on What did you buy today. No need to start it here again.

And he was wrong :stuck_out_tongue:
Even at it’s most basic. If we’re not talking about things like microdynamics and soundstaging and tone and stuff. The way Zeos sees a dac as ‘just’ goign from digital to analog. There’s a huge variety of ways on how to achieve that conversion. And even two dacs using the same ‘way’, the quality of the components differ.

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Wasn’t a fight, nor am I starting another one. You want to know about its imaging, I want to know about its dynamics. No need to be patronising. And please keep your replies on topic, or you can PM me if you have an issue with me.

Think what you want about what happened in that thread, but personal impressions are actually being asked for here.

My point in that thread was that I wanted to know how he found the dac in comparison to the BF2 in terms of things like detail retrieval, macro and micro dynamics, timbre etc.

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It’s just the way he does it. He’s been asking the same question again and again. He’s been given the answer twice now and when he does he feels the need to start his “measurements don’t tell you anything argument”. Measurements don’t tell you everything. Yes. Measurements don’t tell you anything? If you believe so, sure. But there’s no need to be condescending towards people who believe they do tell you something. That is my problem. The need to force his agenda because he doesn’t agree with an answer given to him.

.

Also very curious! Can’t wait for :

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Whilst I get that, the question was more around what the dynamic range actually meant in real world terms rather than coming from a measurement that is vague at best IMO.

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Better Specs:

Flagship ES9038Pro DAC Chip.
Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified.
Flagship-Grade Performance With Ultra-Low Distortion.
2nd Generation 16-Core XMOS XU216 USB Signal Receiver.
PCM Decoding up to 32-Bit/768kHz.
Native DSD512 Decoding.
IIS Input Supports Native DSD1024 Support.
MQA Decoding Support across USB, Coaxial, Optical, and AES Inputs.
High-Resolution Bluetooth V5.0 Connectivity With LDAC Transmission Codec.
RCA & XLR Output Support.
Ultra-Low Noise Pre-Amp Function.
Fully Operational Remote Control.

Output Parameters(RCA):-
THD+N(A-Weighted): <0.00007%@1kHz.
THD+N(No-Weight): <0.0008%@20Hz-20kHz.
SNR: 127dB.
Dynamic Range: 127dB.
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz(+/-0.3dB).
Output Level: 2.1Vrms@0dBFS(4V Mode), 2.6Vrms@0dBFS(5V Mode).
Noise: <1.3uVrms.
Crosstalk: -124dB@1kHz.
Channel Balance: 0.3dB.
Output Impedance: 100 ohms.

Ouptut Parameters(XLR):-
THD+N(A-Weighted): <0.00005%@1kHz.
THD+N(No-Weight): <0.0003%@20Hz-20kHz.
SNR: 134dB.
Dynamic Range: 134dB.
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz(+/-0.3dB).
Output Level: 4.2Vrms@0dBFS(4V Mode), 5.2Vrms@0dBFS(5V Mode).
Noise: <1.1uVrms.
Crosstalk: -139dB@1kHz.
Channel Balance: 0.3dB.
Output Impedance: 100 ohms.

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I find micro or macro dynamics pretty hard to put into words. Like… Good? Great? What does good or great even mean :stuck_out_tongue:
Hence why I’m always looking forward to comparison video’s . If X is better than Y and Y is better than Z then X is definitely beter than Z.

Yeah, they’re definitely something that you need to get used to looking out for, they’re one of those audio gear things that you need to learn to be able to describe properly I think at least.

It’s something that I don’t think I know how to describe yet personally, I’m just starting to get better at describing the basics :sweat_smile:

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Want to hear what a sabre DAC sounds like but dont want to buy another yamaha AVR. Apple music supports up to 192/24, if the DACs purpose was to play apple hires lossless would the D90se be overkill ? Should i spend on other components of the system?

Depends on the other components in the system. Are you using apple earbuds and a $10 amp? Then yes. Spend it somewhere else first :stuck_out_tongue:

What’s the system you plan on placing this in?

Probably the last person who to ask something like that.
If it’s worth doing, it worth overdoing - is what i like.

I was thinking about this and few other Toppings as secondary setups DAC but it ended up… it being made in China and crappy remote. So RME it was in the end battle for me. German, better remote + the endless settings and tuning i like.

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