I ended up scoring an open-box SMSL SP400 for just $350. Can't wait for it to come in!
-Ed
Practical Question Regarding Newer Topping Amps
I've been trying to decide on a preamp for my chain. The Topping Pre90 was originally high on my list, but I kept reading about how the remote on it (as well as the original A90 and the A90 Discrete) are hard to use due to the amp itself having a narrow reception range. This has dissuaded me from purchasing one of them. I am only now realizing that those are older products and that Topping has since released the A90 Pro as well as L70 amps in a newer design with equal or better performance to the older models. Does anyone have experience with the A90 Pro and/or L70 that can let me know how their experience is using the included remote? Does the amp still require the user to have military sniper aim for it to receive the IR signal from the remote?
Or should I just forget all this Topping headphone amp nonsense and just buy the darn Schiit Kara already? 🤣
-Ed
10 responses Add your response
The first Schiit product I bought was a DAC that didn’t DA properly. After determining it wasn’t me I had to argue for them to replace it. Then it worked for about 2 years before total failure. Their response was no fix just buy another. Never again. I do most of my music enjoyment on a Topping DAC balanced into a Topping amp, This system saves ~200 watts off my electrical draw over the A system which I feel no compulsion for. It takes any abuse I give it, total silence between program. I already got my money’s worth
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ever heard of miralax? |
@mlsstl In comparing the Kara’s active mode versus the Freya+’s SS buffered mode, would you say that the Kara performs better? I’m trying to figure out whether or not I’d be giving something up in SS mode if I chose a Freya+ over Kara to experiment with tube mode. -Ed |
Interesting, I currently have eight pieces of Schiit gear (used in three different systems) and have owned three or four other pieces of theirs which I've sold. I've never had a problem with any of them and love the way they sound for the money. And, the two or three times I've emailed Schiit with questions I've heard back within a day or two. Sorry you've had problems with the stuff you've bought. |
@ellajeanelle I own an SMSL DO100 DAC; it was what I used prior to upgrading to a Denafrips Ares II. I am not too familiar with which models in their lineup would make a good balanced (XLR) preamplifier for a speaker chain. I don’t actually care at all for the headphone capabilities. -Ed |
I would buy almost anything over a Schiit product. Have bought 3 of their products and ALL 3 had issues that required returning for refund within days of purchase after dealing (arguing) over several online messages over multiple days with the worst customer service and that I have personally experienced with an audio product company. They don’t even list a contact number. When it comes to audio you get what you pay for 99% of the time! Those were their 3 strikes, and they are permanently out of my business. To your question, I am not too familiar with Topping but Take a look at S.M.S.L. I have a couple of their products in a guest room and the garage. Great little units with good sound, customer service and no issues at all for the $!
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