—ChiFi Guru—

Your guide in the world of Chinese HiFi

Singxer SA-1 V2vsTopping Pre90

A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Singxer SA-1 V2 and Topping Pre90 — two popular preamps in the Chinese HiFi space.

Specifications

Spec
Singxer SA-1 V2
Topping Pre90
Tubes
—
—
Class
A
—
Topology
Fully Balanced Discrete
Solid State / NFCA Modules
Inputs
XLR, RCA
XLR (Balanced), RCA
Outputs
XLR Pre-out, RCA Pre-out, Balanced Headphone
XLR, RCA
Features
Gain Switch (Low/High), Output Impedance Switch (Z)
Relay Volume Control, Remote Control, Optional Input Extender (Ext90)
S/N Ratio
—
124dB
Remote Control
✗
✓
Tube Stage
✗
✗
Phono Stage
✗
✗
Headphone Amp
✓
✗

Price (estimated)

Price
~$599
~$309
Difference
~$290.00 cheaper (Topping Pre90)

Things to Know

Singxer SA-1 V2

  • ⚠No remote control (major downside for living room use).
  • ⚠Gain switches are located on the bottom of the unit.
  • ⚠Volume knob is analog; slight channel imbalance possible at very lowest levels (first 5%).

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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