[jpanic4]

I think your wife has a point. Headphone amps are like shoes - you buy one [pair], then use it until it falls apart. Also, when buying one, go as cheap as possible, because even the cheapest get the job done.

Seriously though, I set aside a small fun, just-for-me budget every month, for which I don't have to ask anyone for advice or approval.

Ha! Totally get what you mean. I was just thinking how I thought the 789 was "end game" for me. But I'm soooon realizing there is no such thing. It took me 3+ years to settle on a new amp and by that time the 789 is already 2+ years old now. That is the only reason why I was thinking of spending more on the A90. What I should have done was instead of the SMSL M200, maybe get the E30 and use the savings from that and put it toward the A90 but it's too late to return the M200 now.

Definitely thankful for this community of people to talk through this with!

 

[jpanic4]

Gotcha.

I'm currently in the process of auditioning a few 'neutral' balanced amps myself.

Right now I just have the Jotunheim, and so far, I'm not really liking it very much. The term "ruthlessly revealing" is often used in high-end audio to describe something that is cooler than neutral, to the point of it being cold and harsh sounding. Well, the Jotunheim is brutally revealing! It can literally become painful to listen to, even with relatively good sounding recordings. Unless the recording is absolutely flawless, the Jot's sound can become quite fatiguing in it's tonal character. So unless it does some kind of amazing 180 in the next week (which is highly unlikely), I'll probably be returning it.

I'm hoping to have a better experience with the THX AAA 789 when it arrives next week. And once I get a good idea of the 789's SQ, I'll definitely be giving the A90 a try next.

I'll keep you guys posted on my findings.

What do you think about the 789? Not sure if you received it yet

 

[XERO1]

Wha

What do you think about the 789? Not sure if you received it yet

Should get it tomorrow.

 

[artist777]

Just checked at the Topping A90 photos and was surprised that it is utilized tpa6120a2 as the amplification chips that cost $ 1.5 at the digi-key. I remember that the same chips were installed in the DAART Aquila and the sound was unremarkable. It is difficult to imagine good amplifier with the consumption current is 15mA (just saying that watching on data-sheet of TI). And what is hidden at NFCA module

 

[hmscott]

Just checked at the Topping A90 photos and was surprised that it is utilized tpa6120a2 as the amplification chips that cost $ 1.5 at the digi-key. I remember that the same chips were installed in the DAART Aquila and the sound was unremarkable. It is difficult to imagine good amplifier with the consumption current is 15mA (just saying that watching on data-sheet of TI). And what is hidden at NFCA module

Ask @JohnYang1997 in this thread - he should be able to help you get your questions answered:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-headphone-amplifier-review.13592/post-431311

He works at Topping on the A90,

You might read all of his replies / posts first in that thread before asking, he might have already answered your questions.

 

[Muataz]

Just checked at the Topping A90 photos and was surprised that it is utilized tpa6120a2 as the amplification chips that cost $ 1.5 at the digi-key. I remember that the same chips were installed in the DAART Aquila and the sound was unremarkable. It is difficult to imagine good amplifier with the consumption current is 15mA (just saying that watching on data-sheet of TI). And what is hidden at NFCA module

Each tpa6120a2 can output 500mA. And this is why they need heatsink.

 

[artist777]

Each tpa6120a2 can output 500mA. And this is why they need heatsink.

I'm saying not for output maximum current but about quiescent current. That is also very important =)

 

[Marutks]

If you already have the THX 789 incoming, I wouldn't waste money on the A90.

Sandu says A90 is better

 

[JanisR]

Sandu says A90 is better

Also check out the review on his website - it's a bit more detailed than the video:
https://soundnews.net/amplifiers/headphone-amps/topping-a90-review-resetting-the-trend/

Interestingly, he offers opinion on the A90 + D90 stack, calling it an end game setup.

 

[acs236]

I've been at this years, and as a general rule, I think the differences between good amplifiers are usually quite small.

 

[JanisR]

Saying that Sandu likes the A90 is an understatement. He talks about it like a teenager in love. Many seem to think that the Benchmark HPA4 is the pinnacle of the THX technology and Sandu has said in his review (https://soundnews.net/amplifiers/he...x-789-vs-benchmark-hpa4-battle-of-the-thx-es/) that the HPA4 is better than the THX AAA-789.
Now, it the A90 review, Sandu says that the A90 is pretty much on par with the HPA4. Upon hearing that, I lost my nerve completely and bought the A90. If it turns out to be a disappointment, I will blame Sandu!

Regarding the DAC pairing, how much better, do you guys reckon, the Chord Qutest would be than the D90?
Since the Qutest does not have balanced output, how much of the A90's potential am I losing?

 

[Racheski]

Saying that Sandu likes the A90 is an understatement. He talks about it like a teenager in love. Many seem to think that the Benchmark HPA4 is the pinnacle of the THX technology and Sandu has said in his review (https://soundnews.net/amplifiers/he...x-789-vs-benchmark-hpa4-battle-of-the-thx-es/) that the HPA4 is better than the THX AAA-789.
Now, it the A90 review, Sandu says that the A90 is pretty much on par with the HPA4. Upon hearing that, I lost my nerve completely and bought the A90. If it turns out to be a disappointment, I will blame Sandu!

Regarding the DAC pairing, how much better, do you guys reckon, the Chord Qutest would be than the D90?
Since the Qutest does not have balanced output, how much of the A90's potential am I losing?

When on high gain past 2 o clock I can hear some noise, and I’m using RCA cables as interconnects. I’m switching to XLR to get rid of the noise, but YMMV.

 

[JanisR]

When on high gain past 2 o clock I can hear some noise, and I’m using RCA cables as interconnects. I’m switching to XLR to get rid of the noise, but YMMV.

I'm assuming you're talking about your A90 + Chord Qutest. How would you connect A90 to Qutest if the Qutest does not have balanced outputs? There are RCA-to-XLR cables of course, but is there any point at all in using those instead of RCA-to-RCA cables, since the DAC has no XLR output?

 

[Ra97oR]

Got my D90 delivered just before I went to work. Can't wait to spend some time with it later.

 

[KPzypher]

Saying that Sandu likes the A90 is an understatement. He talks about it like a teenager in love. Many seem to think that the Benchmark HPA4 is the pinnacle of the THX technology and Sandu has said in his review (https://soundnews.net/amplifiers/he...x-789-vs-benchmark-hpa4-battle-of-the-thx-es/) that the HPA4 is better than the THX AAA-789.
Now, it the A90 review, Sandu says that the A90 is pretty much on par with the HPA4. Upon hearing that, I lost my nerve completely and bought the A90. If it turns out to be a disappointment, I will blame Sandu!

Regarding the DAC pairing, how much better, do you guys reckon, the Chord Qutest would be than the D90?
Since the Qutest does not have balanced output, how much of the A90's potential am I losing?

Wow, you have so much blind faith in a reviewer that promotes audio equipment. Never quite understood this.....