Anyone knows how the Topping E8xE-Pre performs?

[djdolcevita]

I am debating whether to get the Topping E2x2 OTG or the E8x8-Pre. Is the $250 price difference on Amazon justified? (The E2xE OTG is $200, while the E8x8-Pre is $450.)

I haven't found any reviews of the E8x8, which makes it hard for me to commit to it. However, the extra ADAT out, secondary headphone out, and additional line inputs make it worth considering. It seems like it would be more future-proof than the E2x2 OTG for future upgrades.

I would use the interface primarily as a monitoring device because of its super-clean and powerful headphone output. This would then feed into my Apollo Twin X Gen 2 via SPDIF, which I would use as a vocal tracking interface due to its excellent mic preamps and workflow.

 

[unpluggged]

Topping

future-proof

I would use the interface primarily as a monitoring device because of its super-clean and powerful headphone output. This would then feed into my Apollo Twin X Gen 2 via SPDIF, which I would use as a vocal tracking interface due to its excellent mic preamps and workflow.

Do yourself a favor and get the RME ADI-2 DAC/Pro.

 

[djdolcevita]

thanks for this useless comment

Do yourself a favor and get the RME ADI-2 DAC/Pro.

thanks for this useless comment!

 

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thanks for this useless comment

thanks for this useless comment!

No need to repeat twice. If you ask for advice, it's best to not be hostile from the start.

Get the Guangdong device if you like it, but keep in mind their utter unreliability (the L30 frying headphones and the PA5 frying itself are enough, but it does not end here) and lack of safety certifications, not to mention their questionable software and customer service quality.

But I don't understand why you need another audio interface if you need it just for monitoring. Get something from the DX (integrated DAC/HP-amp) line.

 

[djdolcevita]

Not hostile at all, this comment was just not useful. But thanks for further explaining now.
I basically need an interface (not sure if a dac would work as well, I just need lowest possible latency) which has powerful and uncolorized headphones out, spdif out (to feed into my vocal tracking interface) and in the best case 2 headphones out jacks.

If you know of any interface for less than 600.- which fulfills these criterias, let me know, because I don‘t.

 

[Roland68]

No need to repeat twice. If you ask for advice, it's best to not be hostile from the start.

Get the Guangdong device if you like it, but keep in mind their utter unreliability (the L30 frying headphones and the PA5 frying itself are enough, but it does not end here) and lack of safety certifications, not to mention their questionable software and customer service quality.

But I don't understand why you need another audio interface if you need it just for monitoring. Get something from the DX (integrated DAC/HP-amp) line.

But it is also not good to spread or distort false information.

2 or 3 users of the thousands of L30 devices have had their headphones damaged when ESD caused a short circuit in the OPAmp.
Topping replaced the affected devices very easily.
The funny thing is that the ESD problem only occurred because Topping improved the design and also used higher quality materials for the housing and knob.
There are at least 2-3 American devices that did not have such a problem only because they were built cheaper and more economically. I tested this at our ESD test station at the time.

I don't know of a single Topping PA5 device that fried itself, but you can definitely post a link to it.
The problem was the potting compound used in the modules, which led to certain effects and failures. After removing the casting compound and cleaning the modules, the PA5 worked again without any further repairs or replacing components. I have had success with over 10 refurbished PA5s so far.
Thanks to @gamerpaddy, you can also simply exchange/replace the module.
So neither a burned-out nor overheated PA5, but just a stupid decision by the manufacturer regarding the casting compound, ignorance and a lack of long-term testing.

The devices are cheap and have excellent measurements. In return, you have to accept a loss in quality, reliability and service, just like with development and software. All things that are very expensive for a manufacturer and continue to cost money long after the sale.
But if these points were important to all customers, then Topping, SMSL, Sabaj, Loxjie, etc. would not be so successful.

I use Violectric, Lake people, RME, but also the Chinese manufacturers mentioned, depending on what suits better and what is important at the time.

 

[Roland68]

Not hostile at all, this comment was just not useful. But thanks for further explaining now.
I basically need an interface (not sure if a dac would work as well, I just need lowest possible latency) which has powerful and uncolorized headphones out, spdif out (to feed into my vocal tracking interface) and in the best case 2 headphones out jacks.

If you know of any interface for less than 600.- which fulfills these criterias, let me know, because I don‘t.

The E8x8-Pre is a powerful device for the price, no question.

May I ask why you don't just connect headphone amplifiers to the line or monitoring outputs of your Apollo Twin X Gen 2?

Or do you want to feed something in from a device other than the one to which the Apollo Twin X Gen 2 is connected?
Then I don't understand the latency problem.

 

[unpluggged]

spdif out (to feed into my vocal tracking interface)

Wait, what signal do you want to feed your Apollo interface from the device? I first understood it that you want to improve your monitoring by using it as a front-end for the Apollo, and continue to use the latter's mic inputs. Is it meant as a some kind of loopback?

For 600 dollars/euro it's hard to recommend a fully-fledged audio interface with both digital inputs and outputs and with a powerful HP amp (do the two HP outputs need to be independent of each other?), so we need to narrow it down.

Which headphones you intend to use? What is lacking in your current setup in this regard?

But it is also not good to spread or distort false information.

2 or 3 users of the thousands of L30 devices have had their headphones damaged when ESD caused a short circuit in the OPAmp.

The reports are much more numerous.

Topping replaced the affected devices very easily.

This was not my impression. Many people complained about the handling of their cases, AFAIR, Topping at first did not acknowledge the problem, and then offered to exchange dead devices by mail. Could be that local official dealers were more customer-friendly in this regard, but still. And the damaged headphones were not compensated for, they only said they were "extremely sorry".

The funny thing is that the ESD problem only occurred because Topping improved the design and also used higher quality materials for the housing and knob.

Then the design was so much improved that the headphones were just blowing out (apparently, out of joy)?

I don't know of a single Topping PA5 device that fried itself, but you can definitely post a link to it.

Surprising that it went unnoticed by you. On this very forum there had been a very active discussion with at least one dedicated thread, not to mention other places on the net.

Here are some:

New Amp to Replace Topping Pa5

Since Topping Pa5 nuked itself and Topping probably can't guarentee a fix that won't have the amp failing in the same way again, I don't think I want to pay shipping to Topping to get it fixed. (This is a little sad given allegedly the cause for early failures was discovered.) Now I need a new...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Topping PA5 fix - D01 Module Replacement for everyone

Ive been working on the PA5 for a while now after mine died suddently, like many others https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/poll-for-topping-pa5-owners-only-please.33293/ Most of the PA5 units develop a crackling, hissing or just go a little silent or completely dead on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Poll for Topping PA5 owners only please.

Poll for PA5 owners to report product defects. Discussion for any solutions. I think it would be useful to get a handle on some numbers to estimate just how wide spread the issues are. Addendum: Here is Topping's response to the PA5 issues...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or the E70 that could all of a sudden switch to fixed volume mode (locking at 0 dB):

Topping E70 randomly went to MAX volume..

Not sure what happened but all the sudden the E70 went from -30db or so to 0db. Basically blew out my ears for a few seconds and it was stuck on 0db, I couldn't even lower it. Tried spinning the volume control on the E70 for a few seconds, it was locked at 0db. Afraid to put my windows volume...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The problem was the potting compound used in the modules, which led to certain effects and failures.

So you do know about the problem? And I'm the one who is distorting?

After removing the casting compound and cleaning the modules, the PA5 worked again without any further repairs or replacing components.

Great. So I buy a half-baked product that in order for it to work, I must mess with its internals, voiding the warranty (yes, I'm kidding. I know there is no warranty, it's just a lottery).

just a stupid decision by the manufacturer

At least you agree. And it's not the only one.

ignorance and a lack of long-term testing.

So why should the user pay for their ignorance and lack of QA? Wouldn't it better to give your money to those who know their business in the first place?

The devices are cheap and have excellent measurements.

Until they fail.

In return, you have to accept a loss in quality, reliability and service, just like with development and software. All things that are very expensive for a manufacturer and continue to cost money long after the sale.

And also the risk of damage to my property and life. Don't forget that there are also big concerns about their electric safety. They often use non-certified power supplies of shady origin, and also do not certify their own devices in this regard, even mains-powered. So it's not a simple tradeoff of reliability against price and performance. Safety is at stake here, too.

In short, I would avoid them for any serious work. The only Topping device I have ever bought is the 5V-powered E30 Lite II for about $70 on the 11.11 sale last year for my grandma's TV speakers (these are Kali LP-6 that have limiters and I adjusted their input levels so that they will not make her deaf at full output), and I hope it will last for a couple of years.

 

[boxerfan88]

For what it’s worth…my E2x2OTG works very well & reliably for me. Build quality is good as well. In case you’re still considering the Topping device.

 

[djdolcevita]

No matter how good the Apollo Twin X Gen 2 is, it‘s outputs are clearly colored, which makes mixing & mastering as a musiccian basically impossible, since you can‘t trust your ears.

As I said: I would use the E2x2 primarily as a monitoring device because of its super-clean and powerful headphone output. This would then feed into my Apollo Twin X Gen 2 via SPDIF, which I would use as a vocal tracking interface due to its excellent mic preamps and workflow.

My Setup:

Hifiman XS (High Sensitivity Planars = Hard to drive)
Sennheiser HD490 Pro
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250Ohm

Any actual recommendations?

 

[Blumlein 88]

Paul Third has used some of their devices including the E8x8 on his youtube channel. Topping generally has met specs they claim and I expect the E8x8 would as well. I have a Topping DAC, D10B which has given me no trouble. I wouldn't consider them paragons of reliability from other reports. For the phones you list and your other desires/needs I don't know of something that would be better without also costing more. You might also think about the E4x4 if you don't need 8 channels. If two is all you need, then E2x2 should be fine for you. Plus it has been measured by Amir here on ASR.

 

[5150]

No matter how good the Apollo Twin X Gen 2 is, it‘s outputs are clearly colored, which makes mixing & mastering as a musiccian basically impossible, since you can‘t trust your ears.

As I said: I would use the E2x2 primarily as a monitoring device because of its super-clean and powerful headphone output. This would then feed into my Apollo Twin X Gen 2 via SPDIF, which I would use as a vocal tracking interface due to its excellent mic preamps and workflow.

My Setup:

Hifiman XS (High Sensitivity Planars = Hard to drive)
Sennheiser HD490 Pro
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250Ohm

Any actual recommendations?

If you think the Gen2 is colored I don't know what to tell you. It is a very premium product with good components and implementation in every single path. An upgrade to anything else will be a very modest difference, especially a Topping 2x2 which doesn't perform as well as their consumer products

If reducing color is the goal maybe replace your headphones, especially the beyerdynamics.

 

[heliosfera.records]

Hi, I'm new here, and I recently got a Topping E8x8, so here is my quick review. I have a recording studio, mostly working with rock music but also other similar genres, using almost all real instruments.
The unit looks pretty solid and well-made; its knobs feel good and are quite satisfying to use. The mic preamps are very clean—but in a good way. They sound quite similar to my Audient ID44 preamps but with more clarity in the high mids (1000 to 2500 Hz range). The DAC also sounds quite similar to the Audient, with the same sonic character of more clarity in the high mids and maybe a bit more detail in the transients, but still far behind my Topping E50 DAC.
The line input provides just slightly less transient detail compared to the direct input to the ADC on the Audient.
Where the Topping is obviously superior to my Audient interface is in the headphone outputs. They sound very clear, and with the high-gain setting, they can drive my HD6XX and other studio headphones without any problem. In fact, my clients often comment on how good their headphone mixes sound while we are recording.
I haven't been able to try the ADAT feature yet because the driver for the Topping doesn’t run on my operating system (OSX 10.14). I tried the driver on Windows, and it works fine, but I can't upgrade my OSX yet. However, the interface is recognized by my Mac Mini without any issues (I just can't tweak its internal settings).
Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase. It is much cheaper than other 8-channel interfaces available in my country (Chile, South America) and performs close to units that cost two or three times the price of the Topping.