TOPPING D90SE Updates to D90 III Discrete

[VintageAudio]

Hey guys my D903D finally arrived 1.5 months. While I was waiting already received and loving the topping Centaurus.

I'm debating whether I should just return the D903D (without cracking the shrink-wrap seal) to avoid any potential restocking fees/devaluation for the vendor....or crack it open, and compare it to Centaurus.

My question is what's been your experience with burn-in time for the d903d? Scanning the forum, I've seen people claim noticeable improvements with a few hours, all the way to 4 days of burn-in for the D903D to really open up.

Want to make sure I'm giving it a fair shot, if I'm going to crack the seal.

Right now my Centaurus is sounding good with everything with that R2R smooth sound. I'm expecting the D903D to really shine at finer details but so far, users have said it's really transparent - revealing good and bad recordings for what they are.

Anyhow before I get too far off track - what's been your XP with burn-in time for this puppy to be running optimal?

Thanks!

 

[JjB067]

Hey guys my D903D finally arrived 1.5 months. While I was waiting already received and loving the topping Centaurus.

I'm debating whether I should just return the D903D (without cracking the shrink-wrap seal) to avoid any potential restocking fees/devaluation for the vendor....or crack it open, and compare it to Centaurus.

My question is what's been your experience with burn-in time for the d903d? Scanning the forum, I've seen people claim noticeable improvements with a few hours, all the way to 4 days of burn-in for the D903D to really open up.

Want to make sure I'm giving it a fair shot, if I'm going to crack the seal.

Right now my Centaurus is sounding good with everything with that R2R smooth sound. I'm expecting the D903D to really shine at finer details but so far, users have said it's really transparent - revealing good and bad recordings for what they are.

Anyhow before I get too far off track - what's been your XP with burn-in time for this puppy to be running optimal?

Thanks!

In my case it took about 9 hrs of playing before it sounded at its best, it has basically remained at that level since.

 

[tommo21]

Hey guys my D903D finally arrived 1.5 months. While I was waiting already received and loving the topping Centaurus.

I'm debating whether I should just return the D903D (without cracking the shrink-wrap seal) to avoid any potential restocking fees/devaluation for the vendor....or crack it open, and compare it to Centaurus.

My question is what's been your experience with burn-in time for the d903d? Scanning the forum, I've seen people claim noticeable improvements with a few hours, all the way to 4 days of burn-in for the D903D to really open up.

Want to make sure I'm giving it a fair shot, if I'm going to crack the seal.

Right now my Centaurus is sounding good with everything with that R2R smooth sound. I'm expecting the D903D to really shine at finer details but so far, users have said it's really transparent - revealing good and bad recordings for what they are.

Anyhow before I get too far off track - what's been your XP with burn-in time for this puppy to be running optimal?

Thanks!

I have both. Had the D90iii Discrete first before I bought the Centaurus. I prefer the D90iii Discrete actually. Especially ahead of the OS and Best options on the Centaurus. The Centaurus NOS mode gives a different "flavour". I also have the SMSL SU-X. although in a blindtest I would probably fail to hear the difference in any of them. It's also a bit dependent on what you listen to and what your preferences are. I also have the Fosi ZD3 with Muses 02 and a beefy linear power supply and would probably say that I couldn't pick that out amongst these three as well in a blindtest. I'm a DAC-hoarder, but when it comes to it...there's not much between any of them....other than price. But still....I go back for more and new dac's

 

[VintageAudio]

I have both. Had the D90iii Discrete first before I bought the Centaurus. I prefer the D90iii Discrete actually. Especially ahead of the OS and Best options on the Centaurus. The Centaurus NOS mode gives a different "flavour". I also have the SMSL SU-X. although in a blindtest I would probably fail to hear the difference in any of them. It's also a bit dependent on what you listen to and what your preferences are. I also have the Fosi ZD3 with Muses 02 and a beefy linear power supply and would probably say that I couldn't pick that out amongst these three as well in a blindtest. I'm a DAC-hoarder, but when it comes to it...there's not much between any of them....other than price. But still....I go back for more and new dac's

Lol, I hear you brutha...I'm also a DAC hoarder and trying to change my ways, which is why I'm really hesitating to crack open the D90iiiD as I'm not sure it will bring enough of an enjoyable difference for me to justify the spend.

I kept creeping up and up, higher and higher and it's really true, the law of diminishing returns. Went as high as Harmony Laiv and Audial S5B, - great dacs, but sold them and now creeping down the DAC chain to see how much cheaper, smaller form factor I can go and still be happy.

I think the speakers/headphones make more of a difference and I've already settled in with a pair of Hifiman Susvaras and a couple sets of Etymotic ER4SR/E2SRs, on the speaker side I'm still upgrading.

Centaurus is a keeper for me because of the "flavour". If I keep the D90IIID, it would replace a Khadas Tone 2 Pro. Kinda like the Tone 2 Pro just because of its tiny size and the way it tucks neatly under my amp.

Anyhow, I'll let it stew. Good to know I can essentially burn in the D3 over this weekend and still get a good sense of its capabilities.

 

[velemar1]

I have both. Had the D90iii Discrete first before I bought the Centaurus. I prefer the D90iii Discrete actually. Especially ahead of the OS and Best options on the Centaurus. The Centaurus NOS mode gives a different "flavour". I also have the SMSL SU-X. although in a blindtest I would probably fail to hear the difference in any of them. It's also a bit dependent on what you listen to and what your preferences are. I also have the Fosi ZD3 with Muses 02 and a beefy linear power supply and would probably say that I couldn't pick that out amongst these three as well in a blindtest. I'm a DAC-hoarder, but when it comes to it...there's not much between any of them....other than price. But still....I go back for more and new dac's

If you could only own one of them (assuming you had a perfect pairing setup for either), would you pick Centaurus or D90iii Discrete? Sonically, which would you crown?

 

[tommo21]

If you could only own one of them (assuming you had a perfect pairing setup for either), would you pick Centaurus or D90iii Discrete? Sonically, which would you crown?

For me...it's the D90iii Discrete. It's more dynamic, tighter bass, and gives me slightly more "air and details" in the treble. The SU-X is even more punchy but slightly edgy at times on wrong equipment. So for me...the Centaurus will probably go first when selling. But I want a top level AKM Dac to try and compare first also...

 

[Edward Ng]

…. But I want a top level AKM Dac to try and compare first also...

May I enthusiastically recommend a setup like mine which is a Geshelli Labs JNOG3 with SparkoS Labs dual SS2590 op-amps and a nice linear power supply (can do a FiiO PL50; in my specific case a Teddy Pardo MiniTeddy)?

That replaced a D90 III Discrete for me and I couldn’t be happier!

-Ed

 

[wkvk]

For me...it's the D90iii Discrete. It's more dynamic, tighter bass, and gives me slightly more "air and details" in the treble. The SU-X is even more punchy but slightly edgy at times on wrong equipment. So for me...the Centaurus will probably go first when selling. But I want a top level AKM Dac to try and compare first also...

If you follow @Edward Ng's advice, please, tell us your impressions, because I'm considering buying one of those two DACs.

 

[Edward Ng]

If you follow @Edward Ng's advicee, please, tell us your impressions, because I'm considering buying one of those two DACs.

Full disclosure: D90 III Discrete for me is still king for DSD recordings, but 95% of my music collection/streaming lists are PCM and I prefer the JNOG3 w/SS2590 op-amps for PCM.

-Ed

 

[VintageAudio]

Full disclosure: D90 III Discrete for me is still king for DSD recordings, but 95% of my music collection/streaming lists are PCM and I prefer the JNOG3 w/SS2590 op-amps for PCM.

-Ed

I had JNOG 2 socketed with SS2590s.

Huge improvement.

If you want to experiment though, give the VirtualHiFi opamps a try.

I bought the SuperSonic V2 op amps and tested them against SS3601s...the SuperSonics V2 killed the sparks.

Unfortunately, in my current chassis Aiyima A70, I can fit my SS2590s, so I could not compare them with Supersonic V2 (sold my JNOG 2 a while back).

The Supersonics are just chip based opamps soldered in parallel with a heatsink (might be OPAs, but not sure).

They do sound amazing though..made the SS3601 sound muddy in comparison.

 

[SMen]

Full disclosure: D90 III Discrete for me is still king for DSD recordings, but 95% of my music collection/streaming lists are PCM and I prefer the JNOG3 w/SS2590 op-amps for PCM.

-Ed

This is a MAJOR point!

Everyone needs to listen across all, and not cherry pick, comparison recording formats.

 

[migo]

Any one here with D90 III Discrete with whining PS in standby mode?

 

[Arkadisk]

I have been using D90 III Discrete for a week in the configuration:
PC HQplayer with NAA-> Gustard U18 (config Mode 3 F15)-> I2S -> D90 IIID (firmware V0.39) ->XLR > SMSL H300 > HD800 headphones
I use the D90IIID option of the DSD Bypass ON in menu and send DSD Native upsampling from HQplayer .

1.
Music plays OK for all frequencies even DSD512 - 22.57 (44.1 x 512) and 24.57 MHz (48 x 512). It's super

The documentation specifies DSD Bypass support for Dsd Direct 64-256.
Question:
Does this mean that the I2S DSD Direct signal received by the D90IIID is somehow technically "degraded" in D90IIID for DSD Native 512 compared to DSD Native 256?

2.
Moreover, during music playing (DSD Native > I2S >) D90IIID shows on the display for:
- Hqplayer DSD Native 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x 256) > D90IIID shows 11.28 MHZ (OK)
- Hqplayer DSD Native 12.288 MHz (48 x 256) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 22.5792 MHz (44.1 x 512) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (small error - because the source frequency is 22.5792 MHz and not the simplified 11.28 x2 = 22.56), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 24.576 MHz (48 x 512) > D90IIID shows - - - MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok

I am waiting for a response from Topping service after February 5.
(Topping: We will be out of the office on Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 4 with no access to emails)

 

[migo]

I have been using D90 III Discrete for a week in the configuration:
PC HQplayer with NAA-> Gustard U18 (config Mode 3 F15)-> I2S -> D90 IIID (firmware V0.39) ->XLR > SMSL H300 > HD800 headphones
I use the D90IIID option of the DSD Bypass ON in menu and send DSD Native upsampling from HQplayer .

1.
Music plays OK for all frequencies even DSD512 - 22.57 (44.1 x 512) and 24.57 MHz (48 x 512). It's super

The documentation specifies DSD Bypass support for Dsd Direct 64-256.
Question:
Does this mean that the I2S DSD Direct signal received by the D90IIID is somehow technically "degraded" in D90IIID for DSD Native 512 compared to DSD Native 256?

2.
Moreover, during music playing (DSD Native > I2S >) D90IIID shows on the display for:
- Hqplayer DSD Native 11.2896 MHz (44.1 x 256) > D90IIID shows 11.28 MHZ (OK)
- Hqplayer DSD Native 12.288 MHz (48 x 256) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 22.5792 MHz (44.1 x 512) > D90IIID shows 22.56 MHZ (small error - because the source frequency is 22.5792 MHz and not the simplified 11.28 x2 = 22.56), music plays ok
- Hqplayer DSD Native 24.576 MHz (48 x 512) > D90IIID shows - - - MHZ (WRONG!), music plays ok

I am waiting for a response from Topping service after February 5.
(Topping: We will be out of the office on Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 4 with no access to emails)

Any news from topping on this?

 

[Arkadisk]

Any news from topping on this?

Answer from Topping service:
" The D90III D does not support playback at a sampling based on 48KHz. Therefore, it is normal for an error to be displayed. Normally, when you turn on DSD bypass and play DSD512 or other songs with a sampling rate based on 48KHz, the device will display "unsupported". You can try connecting directly to the PC without using the Gustard U18 to see if the display is normal. "