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TOPPING D90 III Discrete DAC + A90 Discrete Amplifier

VSG

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TOPPING showcases its engineering with the new D90 III Discrete, which uses the company's own 1-bit DAC architecture for native DSD playback. You also get parametric EQ support software control. We pair it with the matching A90 Discrete amplifier which should work well with sensitive IEMs as well as hard-to-drive headphones too.

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Dr. Dro

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These are super cool, although I really wouldn't mind an earlier generation stack at a nice price - the original D90 sounds like something right up my alley. :)

I'm probably going to be on the market for one of these things soon.
 
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VSG

VSG

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Dr. Dro said:
These are super cool, although I really wouldn't mind an earlier generation stack at a nice price - the original D90 sounds like something right up my alley. :)

I'm probably going to be on the market for one of these things soon.
Click to expand...
This is the start of TOPPING getting into custom design DACs, with at least two more coming up. So I can imagine it will start to trickle down cost wise in a few years too. I suspect most people will be plenty happy with the older gen offerings too.
 
Anoniem

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Too bad that I really can't justify the upgrade due to my current set, but this is a really nice combo. Wonder how they measure on ASR, the original A70 did very well.
 
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SOAREVERSOR

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Good review and nice to see them doing something new. I wouldn't qualify 1500 for a stack as expensive though. Especially one that isn't just doing the generic thing a lot of other competitors do at higher price points.
 
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The Terrible Puddle

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The toughest competitor to Topping are themselves.
Anything beyond a DX3 Pro+ and you're buying features, aesthetics and numbers.
 
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MaMoo

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1-bit DACs making a come back? Those were everywhere in the 90s on cd players like the Panasonic MASH. They tended to sound smooth and good at low volumes. Also, Delta-Sigma DACs can be also 1 bit.
 
Metroid

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The best value for the money at the moment is d50III + a50III + trs balanced cable., It's 60% cheaper than d90iii+a90iii, offers 80% of what the d90iii offers and yet it has 10-band PEQ too.

The Terrible Puddle said:
The toughest competitor to Topping are themselves.
Anything beyond a DX3 Pro+ and you're buying features, aesthetics and numbers.
Click to expand...
I disagree here, to me if no PEQ then not worth a dime. If topping adds PEQ to dx3+ pro then I change my view about it.
 
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