Topping A90

[TheRealDz]

I was able to get rid of the noise coming from my PC by plugging it into a different power strip.

I am getting a better handle on the A90's sound. As others have said, it is neutral with just a hint of warmth. This means that on most recordings, it sounds fantastic. But on a few, it can sound fatiguing - which is to say it allows the fatiguing recordings to come through in all of their fatiguing glory .

Because of this, my Chord Hugo is too much of a good thing some of the time. My SMSL SU-8 v2 is generally a better match when run balanced and using "rich" or "tube" distortion profiles.

I will miss certain aspects of my Drop Cavalli Liquid Carbon X - especially the harmonic richness it brings. But the A90 brings a sense of effortlessness and clarity that is addictive.

 

[Focux]

apologies if this has been answered but is there a toroidal transformer in the A90?

 

[MatW]

How well with the A90 work with the hifiman Susvara? I just ordered one A90 and waiting for it to be delivered

I just tried briefly. It certainly has enough power. 10 o'clock in high gain is plenty loud for me, so lots of headroom. In terms of sound quality, I think it sounds pretty good. Sure, not as refined as the expensive stuff, but for this price, I am impressed.

 

[canfabulous]

I just tried briefly. It certainly has enough power. 10 o'clock in high gain is plenty loud for me, so lots of headroom. In terms of sound quality, I think it sounds pretty good. Sure, not as refined as the expensive stuff, but for this price, I am impressed.

Hey there - how do you find the amp with the Abyss 1266 TC? I'm demo'ing these headphones and considering different amplifiers should I end up going for them.

 

[MatW]

Hey there - how do you find the amp with the Abyss 1266 TC? I'm demo'ing these headphones and considering different amplifiers should I end up going for them.

I haven't tried - the A90 sits in my second setup where I listen to closed backs. But most likely the result is the same. The Susvara is a little harder to drive than the TC, so the A90 will have plenty of power for the TC as well. In terms of sound quality there are better options I'm sure, but I followed the same strategy when I bought the TC. I bought the THX AAA 789 just to have sufficient power and decent quality, and then upgraded the amp later.

 

[canfabulous]

I haven't tried - the A90 sits in my second setup where I listen to closed backs. But most likely the result is the same. The Susvara is a little harder to drive than the TC, so the A90 will have plenty of power for the TC as well. In terms of sound quality there are better options I'm sure, but I followed the same strategy when I bought the TC. I bought the THX AAA 789 just to have sufficient power and decent quality, and then upgraded the amp later.

Thanks - that's really helpful. The Formula-S or Headamp GSX Mini appear to be obvious choices down the road...

 

[Green Golden Retriver]

I just tried briefly. It certainly has enough power. 10 o'clock in high gain is plenty loud for me, so lots of headroom. In terms of sound quality, I think it sounds pretty good. Sure, not as refined as the expensive stuff, but for this price, I am impressed.

Thanks. This is using the balance xlr cable right? How much more refined is the sound of the expensive stuff. In the future if I’m looking to upgrade should I buy the D90 or get a better amp for the Susvara. (I’m using either the modi1, N3Pro or SR15 as the dac with the A90. If the latter do you have any amp recommendations. Sorry for asking so much questions ><

 

[the machine]

Anybody try the D90/A90 stack with Focal headphones? I'm worried it might become too bright/analytical.

I use this with the clears and I think it's great. For me, it's end game at a low price point. Considered the benchmark line, but I don't think there's much of a need. These have gobs of power, and I run the clears on Medium gain, balanced cable, between 9 and 11 o'clock. I have other amps as well, but this is the best pair for me personally.

 

[Green Golden Retriver]

I use this with the clears and I think it's great. For me, it's end game at a low price point. Considered the benchmark line, but I don't think there's much of a need. These have gobs of power, and I run the clears on Medium gain, balanced cable, between 9 and 11 o'clock. I have other amps as well, but this is the best pair for me personally.

How much does the D90 improve the sound when use with A90?

 

[the machine]

How much does the D90 improve the sound when use with A90?

Improve the sound is subjective, but improve the sound from what? The A90 will still need some sort of digital to analog convertor. You can use on board conversion if you're hooking it up to a computer, but the sound quality is usually pretty poor. The only other stand alone DAC I owned was a topping D70, but I never hooked it up to the A90, as I use Tidal and wanted MQA for their masters files. I found the A90/D90 to be warmer than the D70 with the 789. The clears are already an analytical detailed headphone, the 789 in my opinion is extremely detailed as well and it just lost some of its "musicality" to me. The 90 stack felt perfect for me

 

[Green Golden Retriver]

Improve the sound is subjective, but improve the sound from what? The A90 will still need some sort of digital to analog convertor. You can use on board conversion if you're hooking it up to a computer, but the sound quality is usually pretty poor. The only other stand alone DAC I owned was a topping D70, but I never hooked it up to the A90, as I use Tidal and wanted MQA for their masters files. I found the A90/D90 to be warmer than the D70 with the 789. The clears are already an analytical detailed headphone, the 789 in my opinion is extremely detailed as well and it just lost some of its "musicality" to me. The 90 stack felt perfect for me

I’m using the Elear now, have you heard the Elear and how does it compared to your Clear if you have heard both.

 

[the machine]

I’m using the Elear now, have you heard the Elear and how does it compared to your Clear if you have heard both.

I did own the elear which I sold. The elear has a different sound signature. I hadn't tried them on the A90D90 before I sold them, but the day I did sell them I hooked them up for the person who bought them so he could hear them and I wished I hadn't sold them. The sub bass extends much lower and slams harder. It's a more fun headphone, nowhere near as analytical as the clear. I think it would have been a good headphone to keep to compliment the clear. I only listened briefly so I can't give a fair comparison, but I liked how it sounded.

 

[Green Golden Retriver]

I did own the elear which I sold. The elear has a different sound signature. I hadn't tried them on the A90D90 before I sold them, but the day I did sell them I hooked them up for the person who bought them so he could hear them and I wished I hadn't sold them. The sub bass extends much lower and slams harder. It's a more fun headphone, nowhere near as analytical as the clear. I think it would have been a good headphone to keep to compliment the clear. I only listened briefly so I can't give a fair comparison, but I liked how it sounded.

Thanks , nice comparison .

I’m currently using the dac of Sr15 with a90. (Connect with 3.5mm to rca cable) I steam music with tidal and Spotify app from my SR15. If I upgrade to D90 dac how much would the sound quality inprove? Would I also still be able to connect my SR15 to the d90 through 3.5mm to rca cable and steam music from the SR15? As I don’t want to connect my pc to the d90 as another setup is already connected and being used with the pc.

thanks for all help in advance

 

[the machine]

Thanks , nice comparison .

I’m currently using the dac of Sr15 with a90. (Connect with 3.5mm to rca cable) I steam music with tidal and Spotify app from my SR15. If I upgrade to D90 dac how much would the sound quality inprove? Would I also still be able to connect my SR15 to the d90 through 3.5mm to rca cable and steam music from the SR15? As I don’t want to connect my pc to the d90 as another setup is already connected and being used with the pc.

thanks for all help in advance

I have never heard the Sr15, so I couldn't compare. The DAC chip in the D90 is the top of the line AKM chip that is currently available. Whether it sounds the best or not is subjective.It sounds fantastic to my ears. I do not have any other standalone DAC's to compare it to, with the exception of the D70, which I barely used and sold because I wanted MQA. Maybe others can chime in.

 

[elricofchaos72]

Hey there - how do you find the amp with the Abyss 1266 TC? I'm demo'ing these headphones and considering different amplifiers should I end up going for them.

I tried the, with my Phi CC. No problem driving them to loud volume levels distortion free.