TOPPING D90 vs TOPPING D50s Comparison Chart

TOPPING D90 DAC

TOPPING D50s DAC

Price

$749.99 USD (Standard)

$849.99 USD (MQA)

$249.99 (USD)

Dimensions

1.77 x 8.74 x 6.3 (in)

4.5 x 22.2 x 16 (cm)

4.68 x 4.33 x 1 (in)

11.9 x 11 x 2.6 (cm)

Weight

6.6 (lbs)

2.9 (kg)

1.2 (lbs)

.51 (kg)

D/A Chip

AKM AK4499

ESS ES9038Q2M Sabre (2x)

Inputs

• USB
• IIS LVDS (HDMI)
• Optical
• Coaxial SPDIF
• AES/EBU
• Bluetooth
• MQA (MQA Version only)

• USB
• Optical
• Coaxial
• Bluetooth

Outputs

• Balanced XLR
• Single Ended RCA

• RCA (Dual Channel)

Bluetooth

• aptX HD
• LDAC
• 5.0

• LDAC
• 5.0

USB Interface

• XMOS XU208 (Standard)
• XMOS XU216 (MQA)

• XMOS XU208

Sampling Rates

USB: PCM up to 32bit,768kHz / Native DSD up to DSD512 / DSD DoP up to DSD256

IIS: PCM up to 32bit,768kHz / DSD up to DSD512

Coaxial, Optical, AES: PCM up to 24bit 192kHz

USB: PCM up to 16bit, 44.1kHz - 32bit, 768kHz / Native DSD64-DSD512 

Coaxial, Optical: PCM 24bit, 192kHz and DOP DSD64

Dynamic Range

• 128 dB

• 118 dB

Influencer Sound Opinion

“D90 is fast, articulate and it hits like a train when it's needed. It doesn’t roll-off sub-bass information and my usual pugilist music as electronica and rock started throwing punches at me, I finally felt a crazy amount of energy and impact. Finally, I can listen to my rock without feeling that something is missing from my music. In this respect, D90 is sounding like a grown-up, balls to the wall DAC with authority has its chin up and knows to impress a music aficionado like myself. Finally, an AKM based DAC with a slam, speed, and impact, the end must be near for sure.”

—Sandu Vitalie, Soundnews.net

“Sub-bass was always fast, light on its feet, struck hard and gone deeper into the mix. Sub-bass performance is actually very good…. Everything down to 30 Hz notes was felt with my entire body, it’s deep-reaching, layered and detailed but also controlled without any flabbiness.

Mid-bass performance is not elevated, like how some other units are doing in this price range. It is super linear but defined and clear sounding. There were multiple times when I spotted bass layers that hit me like waves on a shore, nothing to complain here.

As for midrange, I’m glad that TOPPING didn’t go for a V-shaped sound signature as SMSL did with their M500, D50s, by comparison, is not shy in showing off all those mid frequencies at their best. When the tracks asked for a smooth and musical midrange, D50s delivered plenty of those. When tracks demanded a technical and deep-reaching midrange, D50s was able to be technical without being clinical.

Treble is extended to the sub-sonic area; everything is outlined and revealing. The usual suspects like cymbal crashes and double drums carried a lot of energy, sounded clear with a sharp outline. Treble wasn’t clinical or bright or something like that, just extended yet never harsh on the ears.

—Sandu Vitalie, Soundnews.net

Influencer Conclusion

“I am not that easily impressed when it comes to audio sources, I evaluated more than 20 audio sources last year and out of all of those, probably only 3 of them created goosebump moments for me. D90 is sounding easily in the top 3 DACs I tested at my place at any price point. It sounds so familiar and yet so different compared to other delta-sigma designs that I don’t know how to start this evaluation….Any music I would play, D90 would always unfold it like candy in front of me. It grew on me because I can now listen to even too-crowded and up-front music with ease, D90 makes that a lot more approachable, I can chew that pill much easier, I’m again impressed.”

—Sandu Vitalie, Soundnews.net

“My definition of “giant killer” is this: if the overall performance is close enough in every single category, then for me it makes more sense to purchase the less expensive unit. That's why I call it “giant killer” ...that's why giant killers can be a $300 or $1,000 DAC, it doesn't matter, the price because if a $300

DAC performance is close enough to a $1,000 DAC, that as far as I'm concerned is called a “giant killer.” This TOPPING D90 is a giant killer.”

—Thomas & Stereo

“The jump from TOPPING D50 to D50s seems like a massive one: better SNR, better cross-talk numbers, dual DAC configuration and the best Bluetooth receiver with widest codec support is the cherry on top...This is an amazing achievement for TOPPING, if you really don’t need an internal headphone amp, some additional digital inputs or the balanced XLR output then D50s at $250 is without a doubt an amazing value!”

—Sandu Vitalie, Soundnews.net

Apos Audio Customer Reviews

Take a look at the community reviews: TOPPING D90 DAC

Take a look at the community reviews:  TOPPING D50s DAC

If you have any questions, you can start a chat or email us at “contact@apos.audio”