TOPPING D90MQA AK4499

I have had the D90 MQA for 2 weeks - but it is being returned this week. I bought it to hear fully rendered MQA but the darned thing only does that through its USB input -- not Coax/BNC SPDIF or optical.  :(

As a non MQA DAC, say, streaming HR Quboz, it sounds very nice. Sweet high end, spacious, great on transients. Definitely a lil more silky than ESS Sabre sound as I remember it, though I did not have one on hand to A-B back to back.

This being said, the D90 doing non MQA is not discernably better than my Chord 2Qute/Qutest or RME ADI-2. Obviously the RME has a very similar AKM chip, so there is a family resemblance.

hmmmm

Canibefrank 
If you want to hear the AKM chips Velvet Sound with a small investment you may want to try The Schiit Modi 3 for $100.
Nothing to lose. I am very impressed with its overall quality and sound. As a matter of fact I bought 2!

hmmm hmmmm
perhaps looking at the Freya + without a change in DAC is in order
with the PreSonus USB DAC and a Wyred4Sound reclocker the hifi sounded righteous

For a time the Modi 3 was the best measuring DAC Schiit built. Not sure about the other new ones I think they started using the APx555 anyalizer to improve their products.