Musician MonocerosvsTopping Pre90
A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Musician Monoceros and Topping Pre90 — two popular preamps in the Chinese HiFi space.
Specifications
Spec
Musician Monoceros
Topping Pre90
Tubes
—
—
Topology
Class A Discrete
Solid State / NFCA Modules
Volume
R-2R Resistor Ladder (60 steps)
—
Inputs
2 × XLR, 1 × RCA
XLR (Balanced), RCA
Outputs
XLR, RCA
XLR, RCA
Weight
7 kg
—
S/N Ratio
—
124dB
Features
—
Relay Volume Control, Remote Control, Optional Input Extender (Ext90)
Remote Control
✓
✓
Tube Stage
✗
✗
Phono Stage
✗
✗
Headphone Amp
✗
✗
Price (estimated)
Price
~$1169
~$309
Difference
~$860.00 cheaper (Topping Pre90)
Things to Know
Musician Monoceros
- ⚠Volume relays make a clicking sound when adjusting level (normal for R2R but can be surprising).
- ⚠Runs warm due to Class A operation.
- ⚠Display is retro LED style which some find outdated compared to OLED.
Topping Pre90
- ⚠Input impedance is relatively low (10kΩ balanced), which may not pair well with some vintage tube sources.
- ⚠Remote control range is narrow and requires precise pointing.
- ⚠Sound can be perceived as 'lean' or 'dry' by those used to colored preamps.
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