The Best Amp Ever? - Topping A90 Review

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Topping A90 Here - apos.audio/products/topping-a...
Headphones Tested On
Arya - apos.audio/products/hifiman-a...
Diana V2 - abyss-headphones.com/products...
Diana Phi - amzn.to/35LvzH8
Empire Ears Odin - empireears.com/products/odin
Fir Audio M5 - www.firaudio.com/store/m5
Moondrop Starfields - apos.audio/products/moondrop-...
Also Mentioned - THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/2TwsvZg / massdrop.7eer.net/DmW0n
THX Dac Amp - amzn.to/3cHHTJC
Schiit Magnius - amzn.to/3pKdoJw
OPEN BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Arya - amzn.to/3cDZ0vT
🥈 DIANA V2 - abyss-headphones.com/products...
🥉 DT1990Pro - amzn.to/38BN3DM
CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Sony Z1R - amzn.to/3cF6EWX
🥈 M1060C - amzn.to/39vDkQU
🥉 1More Triple Driver - amzn.to/2wGC2ni
BUDGET HEADPHONES
🥇 HD58X - massdrop.7eer.net/mmKDX
🥈 SHP 9500 - amzn.to/32ZQJ0S
🥉 Porta Pro - amzn.to/2Is8dtu
AMPLIFIERS & DACS
🥇 THX AAA Dual 788 DACAMP - amzn.to/3cHHTJC
🥈 THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/2TwsvZg / massdrop.7eer.net/DmW0n
🥉 DX3 Pro - amzn.to/2wJGp0X
IEMS
🥇 Fir M5 - www.firaudio.com/store/m5
🥈 ZUES - massdrop.7eer.net/rN9Ny
🥉 Tin T2 - amzn.to/2xeGvxT
SPEAKERS
🥇 SVS ULTRA Towers - amzn.to/2v2Fto1
🥈 Vanatoo T1E - amzn.to/2TKEmSl
🥉 Micca RB42 - amzn.to/2wCCO53
ACCESSORIES
🥇 Soundrise Pro Stands - amzn.to/3aCpb4i
🥈 IEM TIP Storage - amzn.to/331xuUN
🥉 Headphone Case - amzn.to/39xOlkF
My Filming Equipment
Camera - amzn.to/38tuIc1
Sigma 18-35mm F/1.8 - amzn.to/2wI119R
Sigma 16mm F/1.4 - amzn.to/2wBRe5q
Sigma 30mm F/1.4 - amzn.to/39ym2m8
Ronin SC - amzn.to/39zDLcG
GVM Slider - amzn.to/2PWZDam
These are my genuine recommendations in various categories. They are affiliated links that help pay for this youtube channel at no additional cost to you.
SOCIAL MEDIA
📘 / joshua-valouryt
📷 / joshua.valour
🔔 / joshvalour
💸PATREON💸
/ joshuavalour
📫SENDING FOR REVIEW??📫
Email Me - JoshuaValourYT@gmail.com
#Topping #A90 #Review
*As an Amazon, Drop and Apos Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

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15 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 570

@Sweet-Vermouth 3 года назад

I'm glad you acknowledge that some of this could be placebo. Self doubt is a mark of maturity

@fluphybunny930 3 года назад

The high end "audiophile" business is built on placebo. It is hilarious :D

@SpykeZ0129 3 года назад

And then you have Z reviews, that overexaggerated everything as the best thing ever and it's end game and it sounds so fucking good please give me more money so i can buy a new house because i never say bad things about anything so I keep getting free shit!

@scottwalthour558 3 года назад

@@SpykeZ0129 Z didn't like the Hifiman Arya's that much. I just bought them and they are the most incredible things I've ever put over my ears.

@ConnorHammond 3 года назад

@@SpykeZ0129 Z doesn't just praise everything and Josh's title is questioning this amp being the greatest amp ever. Everyone exaggerates and audio is subjective.

@herrtrigger7220 3 года назад

my friend is a placebo addict, I told him he should quit he said what difference would it make

@Rime0ne 3 года назад

Wow. If ever there was a review that made me want to pause in the middle and immediately go buy the product in the review, this is it!

@JoshuaValour 3 года назад

Yo! Wednesday I will be dropping a review of the A50S (sort of a follow up to this review). To stay tuned - subscribe and hit the bell icon. | Have a great day!

@mikylenaidoo1779 3 года назад

Great review... I have both and the picture you painted about the A90 slightly rounding off the sound where as the thx is a sharp edge , I can absolutely say I agree !

@nl_2652 3 года назад

Looking sharp Josh. And great video, this amp is dope

@Chorgy 3 года назад

I see you with that A50s @4:34! aka the "Mini" A90! Can't wait for that review.

@noseonscent1935 Год назад

You are like wine Josh, just keep getting better and better! Fabulous detailed review.

@bjornodin 3 года назад

It's not often that you see Josh sound as gushy about a product as Zeos is on a daily basis 😋 Great review as always and this seems like an amazing amp! If I didn't already own the 789 I'd probably be ordering one of these.

@Tealc2323 3 года назад

Amazing content, thank you! I wish to see a comparison with Topping L30

@pr0gre551ve 3 года назад

Great review Josh, you nailed comparison with THX 789, I have both and completely agree!

@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING 3 года назад

It's about time you reviewed it

@86cha 3 года назад

Great review. I've been using the A90 with an RME ADI-2 DAC FS driving a DT1990 Pro and Ether CX. Recommend.

@Rubmaster 3 года назад

I've just ordered the ADI-2 FS. Would you be kind to elaborate on the sound difference between the built in amp in the ADI and the A90?

@kingchoy6653 3 года назад

I paired it use to power my Hifiman HE-1000 V2 or use it as a pre-amp to forward the signal to an external amp, pairing it with D90 as the DAC, used them every day for the past 5 months, and as you said, they are perfect.

@robertreynolds2212 3 года назад

I’m fixing to purchase a pair of the exact same headphones. Do you think it’s worth it to save money & purchase this amp or spend a little more for tubes?

@kingchoy6653 3 года назад

@@robertreynolds2212 I think it depends on the type music u like. tubes supposedly give more warmth, but it does require replacing. d90, on the other hand, it is more accurate and dependable. the v2 is expensive, but it sounds great!

@CheetoPhingers 3 года назад

I use it as a preamp for my Vidar as well. Extremely capable headphone amp.

@neocui 3 года назад

This works well with IEMs because low gain is -9dB. (Medium is 0, hi is +9). On low gain, signal attenuation is done on the input stage so it doesn’t affect the frequency response of IEMs. (Unlike the Topping A30 where the 3.5mm IEM output has extra impedance on the output port). The Topping L30 has the same circuit as the single ended portion of the A90, so if you just want a good amp for IEM then the L30 at $140 is also a killer deal.

@topaz5960 3 года назад

Looking forward to that A50s review on the table :)

@weyderwarr 3 года назад

The preamp on this is honestly what is selling this headphone amp to me. If it came with a remote, I'd cream myself. But I understand a remote stepped attenuator is a lot to ask for in a $500 amp. Going to feed this with a Schiit Modius and preamp out to my Schiit Vidar poweramp. Can't wait

@heliolima7552 2 года назад

Your review was important for my decision! I order that amp with the 70SE DAC that will be supply by my dCS bridge connected by XLR. I bought a Focal Clear MG. Hope the sound will be great.

@regis.c4696 Год назад

J'ai le A90 avec le Clear c'est excellent!

@dominicdriman1319 2 года назад

Thanks for yet another great video! For reference sound (clear and clean and neutral and natural) to mix and master dialogue and acapella in a small studio. No extra bells and whistles needed, I just want the best possible reference audio. What would you recommend? 1. RME ADI-2 DAC FS 2. TOPPING A90 + D90 3. Or another option?

@robertosotocampos5394 3 года назад

It improved the sound of my Sennheiser Hd660s, no hiss with iem. Waiting for LCDX. Thank you BlackFriday!

@Cooliewhistles 3 года назад

Improved in what way?

@doma4947 2 года назад

Bought this amp as soon as I heard it, its incredible.

@MachielGroeneveld 3 года назад

Nice sweater. Can you also have a look at the new Gustards?

@kcfish4862 3 года назад

I always find it interesting that we can judge the quality of an amplifier through the sound coming off the headphone

@ethanoux10 3 года назад

I mean what else r u supposed to do? Shove the wires in your ears? lol

@kcfish4862 3 года назад

@@ethanoux10 lmao, be listening to electricity straight.

@ethanoux10 3 года назад

@@kcfish4862 All these people complaining about how sharp the DT 990. I'm out here listening to electrons.

@timetraveler_0 3 года назад

@@ethanoux10 idk maybe have a device that can compare the inputs and outputs of the amp. How do you think amp manufacturers test their product? Via some headphone?

@kcfish4862 3 года назад

@@timetraveler_0 then how does he even differentiate the cleanness between amps?

@drcordelier7496 3 года назад

A nice little amplifier with balanced inputs and outputs, very interesting for my Sennheiser HD 660s because of the 4.4 mm plug. However, my Lake People G111 with three Burson V6 Vivid Dual OpAmps still plays at its best on the Sennheiser and the Hifiman Sundara. But thanks for the video. I always love watching your vids. Greetings from Germany.

@mouhebkhateeb5609 3 года назад

Getting a magnius and modius for my 660s and getting a adapter from 4.4 to 4pin xlr a 400$ 8nvestment seems enough maybe in the far future if I upgrade my cans might get something this expensive but shcitt stack is enough for the 660s

@drcordelier7496 3 года назад

@@mouhebkhateeb5609 Yes you are right. An adapter should be included for 400 € headphones. But my Lake People G111 has balanced inputs (via a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic plus) but no balanced headphone connection. That's the problem I have.

@davemonell9308 3 года назад

@@drcordelier7496 Very underated dac

@carsdankandchicks 3 года назад

Great review as usual Josh. How is the low gain, low volume channel imbalance when using IEMs? That's the one problem I run into on most amps using IEMs, when you run ~100% digital source input to the amp, I can usually barely get past the analog volume channel imbalance before it's already getting to be too loud...

@haukionkannel 3 года назад

Interesting amp... thanks for review! Are you planning of testing D90? It would be interesting pair to this amp.

@themastroiannis Год назад

great review, thanks!! i wonder if for mixing and mastering this amp would be a good choice, or the 789 or monolith THX AAA would provide a more honest performance. i need the amp to be as close as possible to whatever it was recorded (i mix and master jazz and classical so it has to be super honest). your description of rounding edges on the upper register makes me wonder if this is just some makeup to tame transients. you also mention the 789 seems to sharpen everything so perhaps they are not the right choice either? if you or anyone could comment on this.... would be very grateful!!

@louislu1067 3 года назад

my dream end-game amp!

@fire23wong 3 года назад

Been using A90 and D90 with ADX5000 for the last few months. Simply amazing with plenty of power to drive the ADX5000, gives weight to the sound.

@HiFiGOAudio 3 года назад

It indeed is a perfect amplifier!! Thanks for your review

@DDastrup1234 3 года назад

Good review!! Buying, Dolby atmos for headphones is not available for external dacs and for gaming it’s pretty important so I’m thinking of getting an external amp like this one and having the dac come out of the pc so I can get the Dolby atmos decoding. Thoughts? I imagine gamers are pretty interested in this.

@BunnyslippersEUC 3 года назад

Headphones amplifier technology and IEM technology have evolved a lot. Even the cheaper stuff sound fantastic.

@marte6839 3 года назад

Do you say?

@BunnyslippersEUC 3 года назад

@@marte6839 I say stereoamplifier and headphones technology has stagnated for a long time. Highend headphones prices is ridiculous.

@pipe_dev_null 3 года назад

I know you’re more about the headphone game lately, but would love to see you review the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2 EX bookshelf speakers at some point.

@user-rd3jw7pv7i 2 года назад

im looking for bookshelf speakers atm. any recommendation?

@russb3n 3 года назад

I agree with Josh but I found 2 flaws the first is the shallow volume knob. The second is the overall warm filter sound on all frequencies, I have the Violectric V281 and it also comes across warm but not on all frequencies making come across more 3D vs a warm sheen from the A90. But overall it’s great compact and I WISH all companies can do dual balanced with a 4 pin & 4.4mm balance from Sony because I have all of my custom cables by Norne Audio with 4.4mm very easy to use and lite with highend DAPS via balanced then have Norne Audio make connectors 4.4mm to 4-pin or 4.4mm to single ended.

@MrStingraybernard 3 года назад

Finally an affordable amp that I will probably buy

@futuresense 3 года назад

I heard some units had issues where one channel would loose signal/break? Like what happened to Oluv/clavinetjunkie?

@pennfootball71 3 года назад

Hi Jason I have hd an A90 and an HPA-1 from Pass Labs simultaneously. The A90 is considerably more powerful BUT didn’t sound as musical as the Pass Labs that is smoother. The A90 does have a worse feeling cheap pot on the volume control...It also has a lower noise floor when you crank it up. Pass at the end of the day sounds a little better even with less power and more noise on sensitive IEM’s. It is fine for my ZMF Aeolus and my Hifiman cans. I can get it as loud as in need to blow my head up even with 1/2 the power! I sold the A90 I might try the Luxman headphone amp next or a GSX Mini

@robertnoblitt518 3 года назад

The HPA-1 is priced 7 times the A90 ($3,500 vs $500). What a surprise if the HPA-1 sound smoother. At its price the HPA-1 ought to include balanced inputs and outputs.

@pennfootball71 3 года назад

@@robertnoblitt518 PassLabs didn't like the balanced sound with a higher noise floor. They tried it a few ways.

@hannesprotsch7839 3 года назад

Hi Joshua great review, Is there a posibility that you review a product von Lehman Audio ?

@revelationsoundstudio 2 года назад

I was thinking about the Rupert Neve headphone amp however a it has a little bit warm sound and the sound stage is not as big as some others. With my Focal Clear MG's I want a more open neutral sound amp with a good sound stage. In choosing a headphone amp, its best to consider the character of your headphones and what matches best with it. For instance on the Sennheiser 800S headphones perhaps a slightly warmer Rupert Neve amp would match better with it vs one with a large sound stage and more sparkle.

@annelouisemendoza394 3 года назад

Wanted to buy these for the longest time. Now, I'm buying. LOL

@brianisaac1804 3 года назад

This video is perfect timing, was waiting till Black Friday to make my purchase. Hopefully this will be good with my HD800s.

@dasboss9111 3 года назад

got mine a few days ago and, ohhh boy, they fit together very nicely imo

@brianisaac1804 3 года назад

@@dasboss9111 very cool

@drcordelier7496 3 года назад

I think you shouldn't buy a $ 400 or € headphone amplifier for a $ 1500 or € headphone. Something better like a Violectric by Lake People or something similar would be popular.

@brianisaac1804 3 года назад

@@drcordelier7496 Why? And I'll check it out. I will mostly game with them.

@the0nlytrueprophet942 3 года назад

@@brianisaac1804 you could get a neutral amp and a tube amp like a darkvoice to have the best of both worlds with hd800s.

@MagnumOpus007 2 года назад

Joshua- Great review as always! Do you think the A90 sounds better (your opinion) than the amp in the RME ADI-2 DAC? I don't require more power for my 300 Ohm headphones, but curious if the sound quality is similar or superior to the ADI-2 headphone amp.

@nmnate 3 года назад

I've been eyeing an A90 to replace my Jotunheim in the home office (perhaps with a D90). My expectations from its specs (and measurements) will be that it will do everything I expect, with no place for me to find flaws. My living room system has a HPA-4 as a preamp (which I have no way to find any fault for...except maybe cost). Thanks for the review!

@budnoel4915 3 года назад

I have the A90 with the D90 they are a great combination. Very clean, smooth and tight bass.

@Staybrown11 3 года назад

Awesome review. Did you try this A90 with the Audioquest Knighthawk? Thanks.

@utubie24 3 года назад

Hey josh thank you for your review! Would you say that the A90 is better that the Audio-gd NFB-1 amp?

@prabinpaudel5572 3 года назад

You should try yulong canary 2 from Apps audio. As you have loved aune a7s so much

@davidmason8212 3 года назад

As always excellent review. But there is another con that i would like to mention . The power converter from ac to dc and from 110 volt to 5 or 2 volts is internal that makes it hard to change as if it was external plus the temperature will increase more.

@GtsAntoni1 3 года назад

What about us 240v guys? Is it a switch mode that covers the range?

@qupeter1224 2 года назад

@@GtsAntoni1 considered topping is a chinese brand, expecting even better ac to dc covert on 240 v since china use 220-240v

@eruilluvitar 3 года назад

Thanks for the awesome review! Any idea how it stacks up to the Amp inside an RME ADI-2 Pro?

@Artaois13 3 года назад

That's what I want most. I just don't like how they do balanced on it.

@versaleyang 3 года назад

@@Artaois13 That happens to be my setup, RME ADI-2 Pro balanced into the A90 and using the pentacon balanced out. My personal impressions are first the A90 has simply more power even from the unbalanced output. It has slightly more slam, the ADI-2 amp is slightly looser in bass. It delivers more speed, at least in combination with planars. Through the balanced outs you have just a bit better soundstaging but not by much. Overall though I'd say the ADI-2's amp is good enough for most people and the difference isn't that huge, but whether it's worth spending another 500 for? That's personal opinion. One thing to keep in mind, through RCA single ended to the A90, it produces groudloop noises, and is a known issue with the A90 in combination with a lot of DACs. The noises are not present however using balanced inputs, so make sure to use balanced.

@denzel420 2 года назад

I need to buy one, immideately!

@herrtrigger7220 3 года назад

Does it compete with the HPA4 as a stereo pre amp, as in the balanced outs? If so, it's a world beater and that's what many of us would like to know. Not sure how the A90s low end Alps volume control is on the same footing as the world class stepped control in the HPA4, does A90 use something else am I wrong here? Awesome video

@suli1824 3 года назад

Will you do Starfields review? please do!

@speresec 3 года назад

So how does this compare to the Ayre Acoustics QX-8, Blue Hawaii, dCS Bartok, Chord Dave or the Mytek Manhattan II? Does it have zero feedback and what materials are the parts made of?

@AsreiMurasame 3 года назад

After hopping on and seeing this review I have to agree. I own both a D90 MQA and A90 paired on high end cables. They're phenomenal everything from the detail retrieval, the clarity, I upgraded from a DX7 Pro and it absolutely destroys it. Funny thing was at the time I thought the DX7 Pro was amazing compared to most things I've heard

@awsomenesscaleb 3 года назад

The DX7 Pro is a great DAC, more or less as good as the D90, but its headphone amplifier isn't so great. The A90 is superior.

@AsreiMurasame 3 года назад

@@awsomenesscaleb I have to disagree here having tested both side by side on the A90. The detail retrieval was quite noticeable on the D90 in comparison to the DX7 Pro. I immediately decided to sell the DX7 Pro after the comparison.

@qupeter1224 2 года назад

smsl m400 seem to be a little bit better than d90, same chip but somehow measurement is slightly better

@dan7872 3 года назад

I have this amp and while it has a lot of switches for different selections I feel it is missing a switch for selecting the output or at least individual volume controls.

@PhotoTerco 3 года назад

I have it for over 4 months now and pairing with my D90 the sounds is just perfect, maybe missing a bit of soundstage but by far I'm super happy.

@omerfreireich1944 3 года назад

Hey Josh, when you switch the hpa to rca/xlr output switch the other option switches off? If so then I'mma need to start saving up haha

@kevlar218 3 года назад

Unrelated to the review but may I ask where you got that desk/table behind you and what the model# is? I have been looking to change my computer setup and move to a TV display as well but I cannot find any desk big enough to suit my needs and would love to throw something together in the same way you did.

@budnoel4915 3 года назад

You should try the A90 with the D90 and the DT1990's they make the bass so tight and deep.

@kickyouinhalf 3 года назад

Yep, pretty good match. Aside from tight bass, fast action and high clarity, it also helps with the brightness enough so that it's still crystal clear without hurting your ears. This is probably good enough for 90% of all audio enthusiasts and entry level headphone audiophiles looking for great quality without breaking the bank.

@lonestar1664 3 года назад

Can you please share which DAC was used during the testing. Thanks

@MoarCoffeePlzzz 3 года назад

Would love to hear a review of the A90 and D90 stack paired together!

@tr_vmi4844 3 года назад

That's exactly what I was thinking.....

@xquisy 3 года назад

I have the stack and it sounds amazing! All the music you will listen too and even games will sound clear and crisp.

@LundAalborg 3 года назад

I have the stack with D90 and A90 using balance connection between them. Using LCD-X (balanced) with Roon DSP. Sounds perfect!

@alondite215 3 года назад

Do you like the idea of having shards of glass stabbed into your ears? Because that's what a D90+A90 is like.

@MoarCoffeePlzzz 3 года назад

@@alondite215 Don't think its like that at all? I have it paired with some Audeze and it's very nice.

@HybridBoy0 3 года назад

what DAC would you pair it to? that is also balanced but not too expensive.

@pivendren 3 года назад

Josh can you please link the songs you use in video? Great tracks but Shazam struggles to pick them up most of the time.

@zyghom 3 года назад

hi Joshua, I have moved from zero to Sundara + iFi ZEN DAC. Now thinking about adding ZEN CAN to it. How about A90 instead of CAN with Sundara? Does it make any "soudable" difference or too much for Sundara? thank you

@winstonthecuttlefish5352 2 года назад

Would it be worth upgrading from the Questyle CMA400i to the A90/D90 combo? Btw the CMA400i is also dead quiet with IEMs.

@awsomenesscaleb 3 года назад

With this amp, the headphone amplifier problem has pretty much been solved. Now I want Topping to come out with a $600 speaker amplifier that competes with the Benchmark AHB2 like the A90 comes with the HPA4.

@hypnoz7871 3 года назад

That would require a Purifi module to compete with the Benchmark AHB2. They cost $1000 alone to the manufacturer. And Topping already said in audiosciencereview forum that it's very unlikely to happen due to tight margin profit.

@LazYevgen 3 года назад

THX now is 250 on the Drop... So with the price of this A90 it's kinda hard to swallow. But indeed this is really good amp.

@M_jamessnell 3 года назад

This is gonna be a weird comment, but I love the close-ups you do in your videos. I study game art and I specialise in Material Art (Making the textures so it looks like it's made of the right material) and the close-up shots make for amazing reference images. Was watching this video while take a break and ended up taking screenshots so I can reference some of the minute details XD

@madbuldog 3 года назад

When can we expect some Pro-Ject equipment on your reviews? Can I suggest trying out Pro-Ject HeadBox DS2 B.

@exodusvelo 3 года назад

yes, more brands should send stuff. Tired of the whole chifi always, OTHER BRANDS SHOULD SEND JOSH MORE STUFF, you can trust the guy, he makes great lighting, he knows the stuff. I wish more studio monitor companies send him stuff, subwoofers, emotiva subs, adam subs, krk, subs, tiny raw genelecs... violectric. hedd. all these companies should send josh shit to talk about. pro-ject has lot of interesting things, but they don't send to you tube reviewers WHAT DA FFFFFFFFFFF!!!!! Pro-ject, send the stuff so we can give you our money, LOL!!!

@InvisibleIink 3 года назад

For us budget guys, Josh, can you also review the A50s? Its price is a little more consumer-friendly for us guys. Thanks.

@ExSkyCyclePilot 3 года назад

Ditto ^^^

@kontrebassman 3 года назад

It's not everything, but it actually measures better than the A90, which is mind boggling. www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-a50s-headphone-amplifier-review.16290/

@InvisibleIink 3 года назад

@@kontrebassman that’s nuts! Crazy good performance for us budget guys...

@kontrebassman 3 года назад

@@InvisibleIink Yeah, i agree. I think the extra 300 really comes down to no wall wart, better case construction, and balanced options.

@Zd0g119 3 года назад

Josh said "Say no mo", dropped A50 little bit after

@dixter1652 3 года назад

so now Topping has released the combo D90 (MQA) and A90.... there was talk of them releasing a Pre90, anyone heard any news on the Pre90...

@Senn_S7 2 года назад

Would you recommend the Topping A90 for Sennheiser HD820, Sundara, Audeze LCD-2 and mostly Planar magnetic headphones alile?

@f1shb0n3d 3 года назад

Please review RME ADI-2 DAC FS V2 - this is the ultimate DAC/headphone amp/preamp. I really want to hear what you think about the amazing features such as crosstalk, loudness, EQ and very curious if it drives Arya and Diana well.

@BaldyBaeby 3 года назад

I had it for months, sold it. It not endgame. Go fully balanced for endgame my friend.

@robertnoblitt518 3 года назад

I had an RME ADI-2 DAC /amp briefly. I returned it because the unit didn't respond to the remote control. However, I was also disappointed with its sound quality as a headphone amp. It is a very good DAC if used with a separate amp, but also very complex to operate.

@regis.c4696 Год назад

The A90 Discrete just came out, are you going to compare it to the A90? I have the A90 with Focal Clear, it’s great!

@shogunner3053 2 года назад

What dacs would you suggest to pair with this amp? I have 6xx and plan on buying berydynamics 177x.

@stevenmishos 3 года назад

Glad you mentioned the pre-outs, but I'd go a step further and say the A90's USABILITY of the pre-outs is also top notch. Some amps have pre-outs, but the way they're toggled on and off is by plugging or unplugging your headphones (i.e. plugging in your headphones, will mute the pre-outs). Other models have pre-outs, but have made the (insane) decision to have them ALWAYS ON (looking at you Schiit Magnius). With a A90, leave your headphones plugged in, and simply flip the front panel switch when you want to change to the pre-outs and drive your studio monitors.

@-nepherim 3 года назад

This exactly. Very few other amps behave in this manner so you end up with a mix of pre-amp toggle hooked up to a HPA. This is an all in one solution, finally.

@Sasha_May 3 года назад

Does A90 have a bypass when the device is switched off? And if it does, is it just for the RCA or both RCA and XLR bypass? So that the audio can be relayed to another device without necessarily switching the A90 on.

@divemaster 3 года назад

Does the A90 have standby mode or switch off when not in use? Or can it be left on? Or recommended to use front power switch to turn off when not in use? I am using with the D90 DAC, and the D90 goes into standby which is awesome. But the AMP seems to stay on. Just concerned to leave it on. Thanks.

@CarlosRodriguez-bh6ic 3 года назад

joshua what dac under $1k would you pair this with? Thank you keep up the great work!

@weyderwarr 3 года назад

You could do a Schiit Bifrost for $700 but honestly the Schiit Modius balanced DAC pairs GREAT with the A90 and is only $200.

@Instealer21 3 года назад

A few years ago I bought a he400i and the o2/odac combo. Recently I bought an Arya, but I'm not sure whether I should upgrade my o2/odac. Will I even hear a difference if I do upgrade? I've had my eyes on the topping A90 and maybe the D90.

@the0nlytrueprophet942 3 года назад

Are you me? I think the answer is yes but you'd do way better getting a new pair of headphones, they have been refreshed recently.

@dmtphone 3 года назад

I have the Liquid Platinum and am looking for a neutral reference amp. So tough to decide between the magnius or a thx or if I should stretch the budget for an A90

@PassionforSound 3 года назад

I've got and/or reviewed all 4. I'd go A90 > THX > Magnius

@michaelmcdonald4313 3 года назад

Don't waste your money on the A90. Many many issues and its a harsh amp in the highs. Very compressed, lacks micro details. Even when volume knob at zero music still bleeds thru on any gain. It has distortion issues when feeding RCA inputs. It has power but lacks the guts to drive anything with authority. Its a weak with piercing highs no matter what dac chips you use. Save money and heartache and buy something else. The Cayin ha6 amp is cleaner and has bigger sound stage and stellar micro details. I kept the cayin and monolith liquid plat that on sale now for 399. I am keeping the topping d90 dac with mqa. Headphones used. Hifiman he4001, he560, he500se, Arya, clear, grado ps500e. Sources Denon 5910ci with 1792 burr brown dac chip. Topping d90 and Bel canto dac3 and Bel canto CD transport. Both a90 units had issues and even after 300 hours of use was very fatiguing. Put it this way the original schiit asgard class a 199 buck amp made in 2010 is sweeter sounding then this amp. To me its only worth 300 bucks and you better have dark headphones and 95db headphones or higher to get best out of this amp. Its a WIMP. CAYIN plus powerful with wide deep sound stage with micro details all heard. A90 compressed in a can screaming to be a better amp. All the stats mean zero its how it plays and presents music that matters. In the end its your money to buy what you desire. Best of luck.

@bladerealm124 3 года назад

Great review! How does the A90 compare to the Dethonray Honey H1?

@theodorezurla496 3 года назад

Love the dethronray honey 🍯 😍

@jaskiratgolee7661 3 года назад

Bro, I love your vids, could you make a video comparing the Dt 990s to the Dt 1990s?

@buster7618 3 года назад

The 990 is bright as hell, the 1990 is less bright. Solid all around analytical headphone good for gaming and music. The treble was too fatiguing for me to use them as daily drivers and I prefer sennheisers for that purpose. If you own and enjoy the 990s then your hearing is probably shot already and you will love the 1990s.

@jaskiratgolee7661 3 года назад

@@buster7618 😂 dope, thx man

@CaptnKrksNippls 3 года назад

@@jaskiratgolee7661 Don't worry I like the 990s too and my hearing is just fine.

@levelcheap2435 3 года назад

@@jaskiratgolee7661 Yeah, don't worry man, there's a reason the DT 990 Pro has been go to studio headphones for around 2 decades. Edit: Also, I have the DT 1990 PRO and I think they're fun as hell, especially for rock, because of their strong soundstagr and clarity.

@buster7618 3 года назад

@@levelcheap2435 ya everyone owning 990's has nothing to do with Ninja and the cool pads lol

@CidiousX 3 года назад

I've got the A50s supposedly using the same technology as the A90 Any chance of reviewing the A50s ad comparing it against the A90?

@afibaedwards1852 2 года назад

Looking to get 6xx, and topping A90 do you have a video with a good dac to pair with this setup?

@TheUnPlayable 3 года назад

Hey Josh, how would the DX7s compares to this one ?

@sethw3564 3 года назад

You've gotta review the SMSL Sp400 when it comes out next month. It looks to be a topping a90 version. Fully balanced thx888. Looks similar to thr a90 with thx tech 😊

@Circiaify 3 года назад

Would you reccomend there DAC D90 as well?

@ANGEL90004 2 года назад

What would be better for detail retrieval for the Hifiman arya the smsl sp400 or the topping a90?

@dank850 10 месяцев назад

I just picked one of these up at a bin store for $10 new... didn't even know what it was till I watch this 😂

@poweredbyrice967 3 года назад

How would this combo, the A90+D90 compare against a AIO Burson Conductor 3x Reference?

@ItzBloodyxGunner 3 года назад

Drop + THX AAA 789 or A90? Looking to get a balanced amp for Senn 8xx headphones.

@SirPierreSe 3 года назад

Have you tried a Matrix Audio DAC?

@thevashfan12392 3 года назад

thx 789 + monolith 124459 vs. topping A90 + D90 which one's better? aim: looking for a very smooth, very clear experience range of music: jazz, classical, complex rock and metal work (lots of instruments, different ranges used)

@yuckysamson 3 года назад

Josh, are you saying that you prefer the sound of this amplifier to say, an SPL phonitor XE? I just have a hard time imagining that it would punch THAT high.

@bjmarchives 3 года назад

I have question for A90 owners. While in pre-amp mode and XLR selected as the input, will I be able to output the signal via XLR + RCA or XLR only? I would like to send the XLR signal to some monitors and the RCA signal to a subwoofer.

@robertnoblitt518 3 года назад

It will not do what you want (send the XLR signal to some monitors and the RCA signal to a subwoofer). In pre-amp mode, the RCA and XLR outputs are all active, but send only the input selected.

@RossKyle95 3 года назад

due to its topology it will feed current and will push Susvaras with grace and oomph and any other planars very well

@M1cRaa 2 года назад

How to connect Monolith to A90? Only via RCA?

@migurbimarq 3 года назад

Do you like the topping A90 more than the Monoprice 887?

@nitinvaid89 3 года назад

I am thinking to get new headohones focal celestee And this amp I have never bought the amps .. will it be a good combo ? And I can connect it to my pc right ?

@floriank6874 3 года назад

After seeing a few videos from you I got hooked into the audiophile world. I really enjoy watching your videos. I am considering to step up my listening experience and buying the A90-D90 stack. I like that A90 has a balanced and unbalanced output, this would give me the opportunity to try out my Beyerdynamic dt1990 pro. To begin with, I ordered the HD6xx. I also thought about connecting my Rokit RP5 G4 to the stack. I might consider buying more headphones in the future or trade some hardware. Do you think the stack is overkill? Have any of you guys, have some thoughts about my setup? Maybe some suggestions for improvement s. Greetings from Germany Florian (atm I am driving the ur 22 mk2 with the Beyerdynamic dt1990 pro and the Rokit RP5 G4)