this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2023
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Hi everyone!

I recently saw the new Topping DX9 pop up for sale and I'm wondering how it fares against the D70 Pro Sabre + A70 Pro stack. It would be great to get your opinions and insights to help get a good consensus on this. Both offerings have very similar price points (around $1,200) and overall specs, but they both have unique pros and cons.

Here's a quick rundown of what I've found:

Offering 1: Topping D70 Pro Sabre + A70 Pro

Pros:

  1. Proven Quality: It's been produced for a while and has been heavily reviewed, so the QC is most likely better than a brand-new product, and there are many reviewers advocating for the quality of the system.
  2. R2R: Most people seem to say that an R2R DAC sounds better than a delta-sigma one.
  3. Compact: Takes up less desk space, which is great for smaller setups.

Cons:

  1. Basic Design: It doesn't stand out much in terms of aesthetics, however, some may prefer this.

Offering 2: Topping DX9

Pros:

  1. Cool Design: It has a very stylish look with a transparent top and cool LEDs.
  2. Limited Edition: It being a limited edition run might be something some people are interested in, and seems to be pretty unique.
  3. Brand New: Latest release with potentially the newest technology.
  4. All-in-One: Convenient, though it being an all-in-one might be a downside for some.

Cons:

  1. Limited Reviews: Not many reviews are available yet, so it's hard to gauge its performance and opinions on how it sounds.
  2. Delta-Sigma DAC: According to some it might not match the R2R in terms of the sound quality, but I feel like there isn't much of a consensus on R2R vs Delta Sigma.
  3. New Release QC Concerns: Being new, it might face initial QC challenges that are typical with new releases, as the production process hasn't had as much time to mature.
  4. Larger Size: Requires more desk space.

Any insights, especially from those who have experience with either of these models, would be greatly appreciated!

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[–] Uebelkraehe@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The D70 Pro Sabre is - as the name indicates - a delta-sigma DAC, too.

[–] Cubed_Candy@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Oh, didn’t realize that, I guess maybe the A70 Pro is R2R in some capacity? It’s just what I read on the product page for it

[–] LyKosa91@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

That's referring to the volume control. Honestly I'm not sure what R2R actually means in real terms in that context, but it sure as hell isn't the same thing as a resistor ladder DAC

[–] TRX808@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

The volume knob is R2R to control channel imbalance (basically eliminate) as step it up. I don't think it's a pot like the A90, it's all digital. The relay volume knob isn't the same as an R2R DAC.

[–] amynias@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Hello I own this stack, A70 Pro + D70 Pro Sabre, and I love it. The FFT and VU displays are really nice and I love the port selection, I use the balanced 4 pin XLR port with my Meze Empyreans a lot.

[–] antagron1@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Have you had any cutout issues with the a70? I have an rme dac and the amp cuts frequently. Also the vu meter barely budges. How is yours setup ? What volume are you set to on the dac side?

[–] zZINCc@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I had cut outs for my first hour or 2 of listening every 10 or so minutes. It stopped after that and is smooth sailing.

[–] antagron1@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. Did you change anything or is this “burn in”? A lot of people were suggesting it was DC / low frequency protection kicking in

[–] zZINCc@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I changed the outlet but I have no clue if that did anything. I was planning on doing a return if it continued but I have about 20 hours on them after it.

[–] antagron1@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Did that have an immediate impact or did it kind of fade out over time?

[–] zZINCc@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] antagron1@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I will try that then!