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Dealers selling Topping near you
Authorized dealers for Topping Pre90 & Ext90
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Akalın Muzik Ltd. — in-store — İstanbul, Turkey (website)
- Alpha Audio Pte — online and in-store — Singapore, Singapore (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- Audio Concierge — in-store — England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Emotion — online and in-store — Glenrothes, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AudioMagic.pl — online and in-store — Warszawa, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- AV.com — online and in-store — Bacup, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 20 more verified dealers
Topping Pre90 & Ext90 — Transparent, balanced analog control
The Topping Pre90 (with optional Ext90 extender) delivers class-leading transparency and extremely low noise, thanks to its true balanced differential topology and a quoted 124 dB SNR. Listeners report a neutral, refined tonal balance that preserves dynamics and microdetail while keeping the signal chain essentially unchanged — a point emphasized by Steven Stone. The Pre90 offers both XLR and RCA paths, a precise 0.5-dB stepped volume control, and straightforward, durable engineering that fits compact systems. Ideal for two-channel rigs that mix digital and analog sources, it’s especially appealing for customers seeking surgical transparency and excellent value; add the Ext90 for more inputs if needed.
Pros
- Exceptional transparency and very low noise floor, preserving tonal neutrality and dynamics.
- True balanced differential design with both balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) I/O plus a precise 0.5 dB stepped volume control.
- Outstanding value — sonic performance and measured specs that rival much more expensive preamplifiers.
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Cons
- Included remote control is unreliable at typical listening distances and angles.
- Only one balanced and one single-ended input onboard; additional inputs require the $249 Ext90 and its short umbilical limits flexible placement.
Transparency
94/100
Reviewer reports no audible difference with the Pre90 in and out of the chain, calling that 'the definition of a transparent component.' Spec sheet cited (124 dB SNR) and low distortion are used as objective support for exceptional transparency and low noise.
Sound Quality
89/100
Dynamics
90/100
A/B and bypass testing found no loss of liveliness or dynamics when the Pre90 is in the chain, implying very good preservation of micro- and macro-dynamics.
Soundstage Imaging
88/100
While not explicitly dissected, the strong transparency and low noise floor reported imply very good imaging and soundstage integrity; no specific claims of enhanced width/depth were made, so score is slightly conservative.
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Build Quality
86/100
Reviewer calls the unit durable and capable of doing the essentials well long-term, but criticizes the remote as unreliable (effective only within ~5 feet). Overall solid construction but minor ergonomic/remote issues lower the score slightly.
Features Connectivity
85/100
Provides both balanced and unbalanced inputs/outputs and 0.5 dB volume steps; however, only one balanced and one single-ended input are onboard (additional inputs require the $249 Ext90), and the Ext90 umbilical is noted as too short for flexible placement.
Value for Money
92/100
Reviewer explicitly praises value, saying it will be 'extremely difficult to do better sonically or find a better overall value' and that its performance rivals gear costing many times more — strong positive value language.
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