Topping A90 failure issues. Should I try a 3rd A90?

I have the A90 and it is a workhorse for me. I have been using it recently to break-in new gear. So that means playing it 24 x 7 for a week (no problems). In this scenario I use iPhone ear plugs to output sound. 

When it is not doing break-in work I enjoy the A90 with a Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro DAC using some very old Audience AU24 XLR interconnects. I bought the Mini over the Topping D90 because it was reviewed to be a bit better and also for the incredible ROON streaming options with the Matrix (so no direct computer connection).

I listen to this combo with Meze Empy headphones and it is amazing for the price. This combo comes close to the quality of my Benchmark HPA4 + DAC3B pairing but that combo is much more money.

I know this chain is a bit old, but I think the same thing just started happening with my A90. Static in the right channel from all headphone outs (both balanced outs and single ended out). It seems to be certain frequencies or volume levels that are effected (e.g., I'll head the same "static" noise on each drum hit).

Tried different headphones, different cables, different outputs from the computer (USB and optical to the D90, then XLR to the A90). The RCA outs on the A90 to my speakers do not have the same issue.

@audioville I ended up getting a 3rd A90 (after considering other amps) and so far, so good. Depending on where / when you purchased the A 90, you may still have a warranty (I think it is a 1 or 2 year warranty?). I purchased the Topping "ensemble" D90 MQA & A90 from Apos. They were very slow to respond but they eventually replaced both failed units. (They don’t reveal if their online support is in China or stateside, or if stateside has to get approval from the China manufacturer so it’s odd. Their email support comes in flurries at odd times suggesting they're based overseas; it is messy and disorganized.)

I’d also check if you are using an aftermarket (Hart, Periapt, or other) balanced interconnect and/or headphone cable whether or not it "shorted" and caused the problem. This is hard to diagnose and hard to find an engineer on forums who might explain if this could even cause the issue. At some point, you stop wasting time on what happened and just replace the cables & get a new A90 and get back to music. :-) I very well may be wrong, but I am suspicious if a cable could cause a short or damage to the amp.

I hope you are able to get it replaced. When it works, I love the A90 & D90!

My first a90 got the same exact problems. I don’t use it as much, but after a few months or maybe even a year, it blew up. One of the channel, got statics problems just as described. Still within warranty, returned and exchanged for a second one. Did not used the second a90 until 3 months later. Right out of the box, power light blink red, after turned off but not right away. Than later, discover another problem. When used in high gain, music will blackout in spit second, kind of like a skip pause every 3 mins. Sometimes less sometimes more…Returned and just received my third a90. It is still in testing period. Not sure how long this will last…
I lost confident with Topping…😩

dreas
Topping A90 failure issues. Should I try a 3rd A90?

Wow! they get raved about over at Audio Science Review and get second from the top honors. I’d try a third, could have just been a bad batch of one component.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-a90-headphone-amplifier-review.13...

Cheers George