Topping A90

[jincuteguy]

Thanks, that's what I was looking for, I found the 1 foot version and will order it, and then look for the WBC XLR build with Gotham cable, and see if there is improvement from the Mogami builds.

So you had no noise problems with the A90? What was the problem that caused you to get rid of the A90 then?

So between Gotham and Mogami wires, which one is better? Im trying to get a 6' XLR cable for a Microphone and Interconnect between my DX7 Pro and A90. Currently I'm using Hart Audio Cable XLR going from DX7 Pro to A90.

 

[hmscott]

So between Gotham and Mogami wires, which one is better? Im trying to get a 6' XLR cable for a Microphone and Interconnect between my DX7 Pro and A90. Currently I'm using Hart Audio Cable XLR going from DX7 Pro to A90.

I haven't used Gotham wire made WBC cable yet, that's why I was asking @ra990 what model Gotham cable he used so I can order some to compare against the Mogami cables I am using.

For now I'd definitely recommend the WBC Mogami 2534 made RCA and XLR cables I mention here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/topping-a90.927412/post-15789465

WBC makes other lengths than what I bought, I only needed 1 foot length, but WBC has many listings for other length RCA / XLR cables using Mogami 2534 wire.

Please come back and let us know how it works out for your set up.

 

[goodwinds]

Hi friends!
Finally received A90, the parcel went 41 days. Connected to the D90, a great bunch. The sound quality is wonderful, the design is nice too.
But there is also a flaw. it may be due to the grounding and electrical wiring of the apartment. I found a problem with power noise. This is when connected to the same network filter as the DAC and PC. Strange, but even on xLR. I was surprised, because I had previously had a similar experience on the SP200, but it had interference only on the RCA, with xLR they were not. The problem was fixed by connecting the A90 to an power filter with outlet in another part of the room. Perhaps this will help someone who has not tried such a power connection option.
I also wanted to advise those who use regular USB and power cables to replace them. For example, before the replacement, I did not hear what the D90 how much good quality sound can it produce. Now I have a Furutech GT2 USB and a pair of power cable with aliexpress, inexpensive about $ 20 per cable, but even with them there is a difference.
Also for maximum sound quality, I recommend that you disable preamp and bluetooth in the D90 settings, if you don't need they. If someone does not know how to open the settings menu, it is very simple : the D90 is turned off by the button on the back, holding the power button on the front, press the power button on the back. And choose only one RCA or xLR output on remote.

p.s.
Sorry if the post does not comply with some rules and regulations of the forum, this is my first message here.

 

[hmscott]

Hi friends!
Finally received A90, the parcel went 41 days. Connected to the D90, a great bunch. The sound quality is wonderful, the design is nice too.
But there is also a flaw. it may be due to the grounding and electrical wiring of the apartment. I found a problem with power noise. This is when connected to the same network filter as the DAC and PC. interference appeared only when the PC mouse moves, if it is not moved-there is no interference. Strange, but even on xLR. I was surprised, because I had previously had a similar experience on the SP200, but it had interference only on the RCA, with xLR they were not. Perhaps it's xLR cables, now it's diy Ortofon 8nx + itt cannon. The problem was fixed by connecting the A90 to an power filter with outlet in another part of the room. Perhaps this will help someone who has not tried such a power connection option.
I also wanted to advise those who use regular USB and power cables to replace them. For example, before the replacement, I did not hear what the D90 how much good quality sound can it produce. Now I have a Furutech GT2 USB and a pair of power cable with aliexpress, inexpensive about $ 20 per cable, but even with them there is a difference.
Also for maximum sound quality, I recommend that you disable preamp and bluetooth in the D90 settings, if you don't need they. If someone does not know how to open the settings menu, it is very simple : the D90 is turned off by the button on the back, holding the power button on the front, press the power button on the back. And choose only one RCA or xLR output on remote.

p.s.
Sorry if the post does not comply with some rules and regulations of the forum, this is my first message here.

These are the RCA, XLR, USB cables I am using that vastly reduced the noise into my A90 - enough to decide to keep it, it sounds great now with the noise mostly gone, and I'm working on getting rid of the rest of the noise inputs to the A90:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/topping-a90.927412/post-15789465

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Here are the AC cables I am looking at getting, they are a little more pricey than I feel comfortable getting a dozen of, but so far they are the only double shielded 14awg cables I can find that are stocked in inventory, and don't have a 500 unit minimum order to get run made:

NEMA 5-15 Male Plug to IEC320 C13 Connector Double Shielded 1.8 meters / 6 feet 15a/125v 14/3 SJT Black - Power Cord
https://www.stayonline.com/power-cords/nema-5-15-power-cords-2997.asp

There are other lengths:
https://www.stayonline.com/pc_combi...45EF4F946D0C40A483A3C2B739E5F9D3&search_prod=

There are other combinations of shield and wire awg that might be more affordable, and adequate to the job, I'm still deciding what to order and try.

They also have a clearance lot of 7 of these cables, not enough over all for me, and not sure if 4 feet is enough for what I will need, but some of you might be ok with a single order qty, under closeouts I selected the ends + SJT double shielding and ended up with 3 options:

https://www.stayonline.com/power-cords/nema-5-15-power-cords-5761.asp
https://www.stayonline.com/category/c-closeouts.asp
https://www.stayonline.com/category/c-closeouts.asp?pc_id=14B5568782C24F20BD3D28D74CC24786&search_keyword=&opts=&faceted_search_terms=Male+Plug~9D2B1AC469574A329FC64782FBE5C85F|Cord+Jacket~B470BDF047514BF2853541B957E5C6C4

I am looking at other sources too. My criteria are shielding or better yet double shielding, 14awg - standardizing for all power cables - and good noise rejection.

Any suggestions?

 

[goodwinds]

I don't recommend such move. Any voltage spikes in your installation (lightning, power outages, switching home devices like a fridge) can destroy USB ports. Rather get galvanically isolated USB device. Using to many filters can make it even worse. Ideally: one mains filter for all interconnected devices and a proper ground connection.

Perhaps you misunderstood me. In my room there are two outlets, one at the door, it includes a power filter that runs the PC, DAC and monitor. The other one is at the window, and it has a different power filter on. When connecting the A90 to the first power filter, there is interference. By connecting the A90 to the second power filter, there is no interference.
There are no risks or problems with this type of connection.

Cables are currently a hot toping on this thread. understandable why it happens, but works as a workaround, it doesn't remove source of the problem. Your solution may work on your system, but fails on many others and in reverse.

I meant that replacing the USB cable and power cable that are in the box gives a good result. This message is sent to those who have not had experience replacing these cables and are skeptical about this, and are not very impressed with the D90 level for example.
Because I was the same, and if I had not changed the cables and do not turned off the preamp, sold the D90,then I had a false opinion about it regarding its level of sound quality.

A few experiments with connecting A90.
Option 1: A90 is connected to D90 via XLR and RCA. Into the socket with the PC and DAC. There is has interference. But there is no interference when connecting to another outlet A90.
Option 2: A90 is connected to D90 only via XLR, rca cables are disconnected. Connected to the first outlet together with the PC and DAC, there is no interference.
Conclusion: Interference occurs only if there is an RCA connection, when problems with wiring and grounding in the apartment.
Possible solutions to the problem:
1. Use only the XLR connection
2. Use both XLR and RCA connections, but connect the A90 to another outlet without problems.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with topping works. The D90 and A90 are wonderful stuf.

I wanted to ask if anyone had experience comparing a 90 and Cayin ha-1 mk2 ? It has an amazing power of 2x2200 mW for 600 ohms.
Can you advise what the amplifier better for 600om load, on SE output, not balanced.

 

[goodwinds]

This one should sound better than a A90 (on both RCA and XLR connection). I can say with confidence, as it has the same amp as in R28 DAC/Amp combo, recently compared to A90 on the South African forum: http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1AMP/NFB1AMPEN19.htm

Thank you for your recommendation. It has more power, but still 600 mW/600 Ohms is not so much, the A90 has less, 500 mW/600 Ohms on the balance and 125 mW/600 Ohms on the SE. For example, the cayin ha-1 mk2 has 2200 mW/600 Ohms, this is a significant difference! But I have not heard these amp, plus in addition to power, other characteristics they have are noticeably worse. And disign from audio-gd device not very pretty =)

 

[ostewart]

Thank you for your recommendation. It has more power, but still 600 mW/600 Ohms is not so much, the A90 has less, 500 mW/600 Ohms on the balance and 125 mW/600 Ohms on the SE. For example, the cayin ha-1 mk2 has 2200 mW/600 Ohms, this is a significant difference! But I have not heard these amp, plus in addition to power, other characteristics they have are noticeably worse. And disign from audio-gd device not very pretty =)

What headphones are you using?

500mW @600Ohms is loads!

(for reference the T1 2nd Gen from Beyerdynamic only needs 63mW to get to 120dB SPL - which is painfully loud)

Also I'm using the HiFiMAN HE6SE with the A90 - they need 5624.66mW to get to 120dB SPL - again this is wayyy louder than anyone needs)

 

[goodwinds]

What headphones are you using?

Now the ones described in the signature. For them, the A90 is more than enough. But there is interest in different old models, without a replacement cable, for a classic connection. For example, the dt880-600 Ohm, in the review zeos said that the A90 does not fully disclose them. The volume level is not so important for me, but as far as I understand, the more power the amplifier gives out, often excessive to most headphones, the more better & complete the sound is.

 

[ostewart]

Now the ones described in the signature. For them, the A90 is more than enough. But there is interest in different old models, without a replacement cable, for a classic connection. For example, the dt880-600 Ohm, in the review zeos said that the A90 does not fully disclose them. The volume level is not so important for me, but as far as I understand, the more power the amplifier gives out, often excessive to most headphones, the more better & complete the sound is.

A bit more is fine, but we're talking almost 10x the power required. So you'll be fine with the A90, honestly. (Zeos probably knows very little about impedance matching and how it works, let alone headphone calculations) I would not trust him to say if the A90 will drive a said pair of headphones.

It'll easily blow the drivers of many headphones if you're not careful.

 

[goodwinds]

A bit more is fine, but we're talking almost 10x the power required. So you'll be fine with the A90, honestly. (Zeos probably knows very little about impedance matching and how it works, let alone headphone calculations) I would not trust him to say if the A90 will drive a said pair of headphones.

M aybe you are right, I do not perceive him as a specialist and I do not really like his frequent swearing, but him a man-emotion, he shares his experience and sometimes this is more important than knowledge of the theory and qualifications.
I am also grateful to him for the tradition of making sound demo recordings of headphones.

 

[casimirobukayo]

Hello A90 users! I just blew the 2 fuse of my A90. I dont know why it blew. Luckily i have a 1A 250V extra fuse. But the stock is 500mA 250V only. Can it harm my A90? Thanks

 

[sajunky]

Hello A90 users! I just blew the 2 fuse of my A90. I dont know why it blew. Luckily i have a 1A 250V extra fuse. But the stock is 500mA 250V only. Can it harm my A90? Thanks

TL;DR. Usually when fuse is blown, something else is wrong, not a fuse. If it blew 500mA fuse (while it shouldn't), it will also blew 1A fuse and return to the safe (dead) state. Fuse is only there to prevent fire.

Yes, you can use 1A fuse to check whether it get blown instantly. If it doesn't, then switch device off and install the right fuse. For this type of devices use only a slow-blown fuses.
/Sorry, not sure if my grammar is fine/

 

[jincuteguy]

Hello A90 users! I just blew the 2 fuse of my A90. I dont know why it blew. Luckily i have a 1A 250V extra fuse. But the stock is 500mA 250V only. Can it harm my A90? Thanks

So how did it blow up? too hot?

 

[bahamot]

Hello A90 users! I just blew the 2 fuse of my A90. I dont know why it blew. Luckily i have a 1A 250V extra fuse. But the stock is 500mA 250V only. Can it harm my A90? Thanks

Topping is using 1A fuse for current A90 shipment.

 

[casimirobukayo]

TL;DR. Usually when fuse is blown, something else is wrong, not a fuse. If it blew 500mA fuse (while it shouldn't), it will also blew 1A fuse and return to the safe (dead) state. Fuse is only there to prevent fire.

Yes, you can use 1A fuse to check whether it get blown instantly. If it doesn't, then switch device off and install the right fuse. For this type of devices use only a slow-blown fuses.
/Sorry, not sure if my grammar is fine/

It blew upon switching on.. dont know might be a sudden surge of electricity? It happened twice with the 2 stock fuse. Hopefully the 1A fuse will last.