Looking for a digital transport, or USB bridge, not being bothered about EQ,MQA, or streaming, the specifications of the M50 suggest it matches my requirements at the right price, when compared to other products such as the Limetree Bridge or Silent Angel M1.
From the specifications, it (apparently) can use CUE files to control music file transport rather than having the irksome task of listing individual tracks on a playlist. With the approximation that 3 CD albums in WAV format require 1GB of storage, then access to 256GB, or approximately 750 CD albums, should meet the needs of most, but not all, users. The rule of thumb is certainly valid when using FLAC.
However there are a number of curious drawbacks:
- if the input uses a USB connection, the output has to be optical or coax - why not USB-in; USB-out? After all, there are sufficient USB connectors on the back !
- the M50 requires a 5V supply but, breaking tradition with other Topping products, there is no power supply "in the box".
- not sure if the DLNA implementation allows the use of an Android app, such as Bubble, to to control file transport.
The specifications suggest the USB-C can be used as an input from computer, mobile phone, tablet but not from a USB HDD. This is not really a USB bridge as there is no way to input from a USB HDD and output to a USB DAC, that is unless the information is not as clear as it should be.
https://www.topping.audio/productinfo/816698.html
see: Any connection of IIS/OPt/COAX/USB (when using USB input, USB output cannot be used at the same time) - this implies that if any one of the three USB connectors are used as input, all three are considered to be input and neither of the other two can be used as output.
Surely Topping can do better regarding USB connections and at the same time include a matched power supply in the box.
Agreed that listening to customer feedback would be welcome. However the M50 almost matches my requirements so it is high on my "want" list.