Review and Measurements of the Topping D70 DAC

[Veri]

My first post. Nice site & info! I bought a D50 last year based on praise here.
I'm wondering why there is no option for better quality/external power supply on this? It should make it better, no? I'd like to see it on a second generation along with Bluetooth. Cheers

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-you-need-linear-power-supply-for-dacs.7021/

https://drop.com/buy/topping-p50-linear-power-supply#overview

This kind of PSU is already in DX7 and D70.

 

[typericey]

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-you-need-linear-power-supply-for-dacs.7021/


This kind of PSU is already in DX7 and D70.

Is this confirmed? Just want to make sure as I don’t see any mention of a linear power supply on the D70 product page. Unless toroidal is always equal to linear?

 

[chosen_too]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPPING-D7...0?pageci=13afbc96-9194-49c8-9535-5c9c48b6ccfa

What next? 150$? Very strange.

 

[Veri]

Is this confirmed? Just want to make sure as I don’t see any mention of a linear power supply on the D70 product page. Unless toroidal is always equal to linear?

An external switching supply as opposed to an internal toroid one is how I see is often differentiated in lower/higher end gear, yes.

Switching psu can be totally fine though as with RME adi-2, modi3, many others... LPS are seen as some holy grail for whatever reason, perhaps unfairly so..

 

[Majestyk]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPPING-D7...0?pageci=13afbc96-9194-49c8-9535-5c9c48b6ccfa

What next? 150$? Very strange.

That's a crazy low price. Oddly, I can't find that auction in ebay's search. Unfortunately the estimated delivery is Tue. Sep. 10 to Mon. Oct. 21

 

[KingFiercer]

I think it's just a mistake. Similar his lot is US 429$, and this one is AU 429$.

 

[Majestyk]

Yeah, I contacted him asking if the price was correct. I suspect he'll change it.

 

[DeepSpace57]

Yeah, I contacted him asking if the price was correct. I suspect he'll change it.

Ebay does not allow for having a purchase

 

[frogmeat69]

Almost tempted to buy one from that link, but don't need it, and don't want the hassle of trying to cancel if the seller ends up hitting me for $429 US instead of AU, a $200 difference.

 

[Majestyk]

I heard from the seller and he doesn't understand why I would question the price.

 

[Majestyk]

Does anyone know if these Topping devices are electrically safe? Obviously they have no UL certification. Would the units with external power supplies be safer to use?

 

[Snafu]

I heard from the seller and he doesn't understand why I would question the price.

well then, give him -15% offer from that price...

 

[Majestyk]

Seems he finally figured out his mistake. Price is now AU $639.99.

 

[Berdugo]

Hello,

I ordered the D70 and tested it for a few days, and compared it to my Gustard A20H dac, which also has dual AKM AK4497 chips, but uses dual-mono configuration. Both were used in a fully balanced config, with a Pro-Ject Head Box DS2 headphone amp, with the same AK4497 built-in filter called 'short sharp'.

I really wanted to try out the D70, thinking it could be an upgrade, but it wasn't. There was a little bit of increase in resolution with the D70, with slightly better separation between the instruments, but it definitely lacked general punch, bass was recessed (yet the A20H does not have artificially boosted bass), there was a bit of lack of treble extension and the soundstage sounded a tiny bit narrower. That was a big no for me. I could not enjoy the music as much. I'm not a believer in dac burn-in, so I'm going to send it back for a refund.

 

[Veri]

Hello,

I ordered the D70 and tested it for a few days, and compared it to my Gustard A20H dac, which also has dual AKM AK4497 chips, but uses dual-mono configuration.

The D70 is dual mono just as well. Also obligatory question: did you volume match properly in your comparison?

 

[Berdugo]

The D70 is dual mono just as well. Also obligatory question: did you volume match properly in your comparison?

Ok I did not know it was also dual-mono. And yes the volume was matched properly.
To be clear, I'm not saying the D70 sucks, it has pretty good feedback after all. All these differences were not extreme, maybe my post was a bit dramatic, but they were enough to put me off and make me go back to the A20H with "relief" every time.

 

[zym1010]

Ok I did not know it was also dual-mono. And yes the volume was matched properly.
To be clear, I'm not saying the D70 sucks, it has pretty good feedback after all. All these differences were not extreme, maybe my post was a bit dramatic, but they were enough to put me off and make me go back to the A20H with "relief" every time.

I now have D70. Hopefully I would have similar feeing as yours if I should bought RME ADI-2 some day...

 

[sonci]

I'm not a believer in dac burn-in,

The only thing I'm sure of, is burn in..

 

[DeepSpace57]

Someone here also mentioned D70 lacks at lows; anyway decided to wait for Sabaj D5 measurements. 114 of SINAD is claimed for DAC use, which is worth to give some time.

 

[Majestyk]

Burn in may apply to speakers/headphones but IMO I think it's hog-wash with electronics. As for as DAC differences, the way I see it is if there is a difference in sound between filters (Sharp, etc) then there is going to be a difference between DAC's.