2. digital
  3. 157412-112191

TOPPING D90MQA AK4499

https://www.ebay.com/i/114013045351?ul_noapp=true

I am currently using a full balanced SMSL SU-8 with the 9038 ESS Sabre chips. Do you think that I could actually hear the difference between these DACs? Any improvement? I can not truthfully discern any improvement in sound between the SMSL unit and the 100 dollar DAC I used before, a PreSonus USB Audiobox recording and playback DAC meant for home recording with a 96K Cirrus chip. I do use balanced cables and a Re-Clocker along with Audirvana and powered monitors

and there is the Gustard A22 with DUAL AKM4499 and MQA - MQA coming this month
a bit more kit at $1150

I am tempted for the Topping D90MQA and with the savings over the Gustard trying a Schiit Freya +



canibefrank
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I doubt you would hear a difference. I had the D90 and returned it I couldn't hear a difference over the ESS dac in my integrated amp. Once a DAC reaches a SINAD of around 105 db it's about impossible to tell them apart.
canibefrank OP
406 posts
 
@djones51    

could you notice any difference in the presentation AKM velveeta sound vs ESS swashbuckling Sabre chip? I was hoping there might be a bit of the old holygrafik soundstage and a ribbon tweeter tie-me-down effect. wot.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
If MQA is something you're wanting the D90 is a good DAC I don't think the SU8 decodes MQA.
canibefrank OP
406 posts
 
No SU-8 does not do MQA
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
I have had the D90 MQA for 2 weeks - but it is being returned this week. I bought it to hear fully rendered MQA but the darned thing only does that through its USB input -- not Coax/BNC SPDIF or optical.  :(

As a non MQA DAC, say, streaming HR Quboz, it sounds very nice. Sweet high end, spacious, great on transients. Definitely a lil more silky than ESS Sabre sound as I remember it, though I did not have one on hand to A-B back to back.

This being said, the D90 doing non MQA is not discernably better than my Chord 2Qute/Qutest or RME ADI-2. Obviously the RME has a very similar AKM chip, so there is a family resemblance.
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