misterdog
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What is this volume 'granularity' of which you speak ?It all sounds excellent with the proper volume granularity.
My pre 90 and AHB2 are superb with Quad ESL's.
What is this volume 'granularity' of which you speak ?It all sounds excellent with the proper volume granularity.
Volume granularity in myspeak refers to the range of volume adjustments possible where you can hear a change in volume. With the pre90 and my CODA #8 and also my sold LSA Voyager 350 GAN the change in volume levels from the MUTE to MAX was limited. It was too loud over most of the volume settings. With the AHB2 stereo and mono this is not a problem and the volume can be adjusted from total MUTE to a very loud level. Each volume change had a noticeable affect on the loudness.
Unfortunately, my AHB2s are not the amps I use for the system that I want the pre90 to be used. I ended up buying the Benchmark LA4 for the AHB2's since I realized it was a better preamp. I had the HPA4 before but sold it when I got the Topping pre90. A little too fast to sell though I made money on the unit by selling it to Europe. The LA4 is amazing on the CODA #8 and the Voyager.
If you can get the pre90 to work it is a good unit.
The Topping pre90 works excellent with my AHB2 stereo and mono. It also works well with my new Parasound A21+, my new headphone only amp. It does not work well with my CODA #8 or my now sold LSA Voyager 350 GAN. These issues I have had with the pre90 and amps does not occur with the LA4 or HPA4. I actually sold the HPA4 thinking the pre90 would be all I needed since it worked great with the AHB2. However, after I switched amps in the office the pre90 fell on it's face.Hi. I am thinking about buying Topping Pre 90 to a/b test with my Benchmark LA4 Pre amp. I also have AHB2.
So Topping Pre with AHB2 is not good? I expect it to be transparent. Thank you.
Hi. I am thinking about buying Topping Pre 90 to a/b test with my Benchmark LA4 Pre amp. I also have AHB2.
So Topping Pre with AHB2 is not good? I expect it to be transparent. Thank you.
You need it if you have more than one analog input (Edit or any....) (cd player+turntable etc) and maybe if you need the increased Voltage if you have a low gain poweramplifier.Can I ask a noob question? As I know the Dac D90se already has the preamp and volume control function. So why do we need an pre90 preamp?
Does D90/D90SE have analog input?You need it if you have more than one analog input (cd player+turntable etc) and maybe if you need the increased Voltage if you have a low gain poweramplifier.
No.Does D90/D90SE have analog input?
The "preamp" part of the D90 is just digital attenuation of the output down from max output of (over) 4V. Some amps might be able to handle higher input than that so the Pre90 can do that boost but more likely people want to use the D90 at full output but use the volume control on the p90 instead going into a powerampI think the correct answer is: if you are attempting to use a power amplifier that would "view" the power of the signal output of the D90se as overly low or "faint," even using the D90se's preamp section, a separate preamp such as the Pre90 would help to boost that tiny D90 output to better serve the input requirements of the power amp.
No. Full output in preamp mode is same as dac only mode.So the output of the D90se is higher when used as a DAC only as opposed to using its default configuration of DAC + preamp?
I don't think ESS chips (as in D90se) have any differences in addition to locking volume. AKM chips (as in old D90) turned on direct DSD (avoiding PCM conversion) when in DAC mode. ESS chips don't have a separate direct DSD mode, they have their own prioprietary DSD implementation.That answers begs the following question: then what advantage is gained utilizing the DAC only mode of the D90se (reveal: I'm both a relative newbie AND a new D90se owner). Maybe a better question: under what circumstances should I use my D90 in DAC only mode and when should I use in DAC + preamp mode)?