Help with Topping A30Pro Review (Balanced Headphone Amp) problems

[rcstevensonaz]

What other dacs would be recommend for the A30pro. Btw i ordered the D10b after i sent the dx3 back. I am not getting enough volume with my smsl out of the A30pro. only if i use it with the L30 pre amp.

IMHO and in my context, the D10B is the perfect device and I use it for all of my USB-based input sources since it is (a) balanced output and (b) also a simultaneous digital bridge. That would be equally true for the D10S if my audio chain was based on consumer (-10 dBV) rather than professional (+4 dBU) nominal line voltages.

However, there are three very critical elements in my context that are different from most people's setup:

1. I do not do any input switching at the DAC. Every audio source is routed to a separate channel on an analog or digital stereo mixer; and all channels are always active.
2. I do not control audio volume on the DAC. Every DAC is set to pass audio at nominal gain (e.g., DAC mode rather than preamp mode); so I actively avoid all DACs with a volume knob.
3. Room correction (EQ/ PEQ) is applied mid-audio chain, after the audio mixer and uniquely for each output device (e.g., headphones, desk speakers, room speakers); so I do not need any room correction capability on the DAC.

In your context, item #3 may be an issue if you want to do headphone EQ and your audio chain is only the D10B => A30Pro. In which case, I'm not sure that would be the right DAC for you since you would not be able to do any for your headphones (or downstream speakers if needed).\\]

One other note: do keep in mind that the volume knob on the A30Pro can go all the way up to full volume and remain within its rated power. Many of us were trained to get very nervous of blowing out our speakers anytime we started to get close to "2 o'clock" on our amplifier's volume knob. That is not the case with the A30Pro.

 

[Alalla]

IMHO and in my context, the D10B is the perfect device and I use it for all of my USB-based input sources since it is (a) balanced output and (b) also a simultaneous digital bridge. That would be equally true for the D10S if my audio chain was based on consumer (-10 dBV) rather than professional (+4 dBU) nominal line voltages.

However, there are three very critical elements in my context that are different from most people's setup:

1. I do not do any input switching at the DAC. Every audio source is routed to a separate channel on an analog or digital stereo mixer; and all channels are always active.
2. I do not control audio volume on the DAC. Every DAC is set to pass audio at nominal gain (e.g., DAC mode rather than preamp mode); so I actively avoid all DACs with a volume knob.
3. Room correction (EQ/ PEQ) is applied mid-audio chain, after the audio mixer and uniquely for each output device (e.g., headphones, desk speakers, room speakers); so I do not need any room correction capability on the DAC.

In your context, item #3 may be an issue if you want to do headphone EQ and your audio chain is only the D10B => A30Pro. In which case, I'm not sure that would be the right DAC for you since you would not be able to do any for your headphones (or downstream speakers if needed).\\]

One other note: do keep in mind that the volume knob on the A30Pro can go all the way up to full volume and remain within its rated power. Many of us were trained to get very nervous of blowing out our speakers anytime we started to get close to "2 o'clock" on our amplifier's volume knob. That is not the case with the A30Pro.

I will see when the D10B arrives. I EQ using my pc.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I will see when the D10B arrives. I EQ using my pc.

Then you should be all set!!!

(And unless any future response are specific to the A30Pro interactions, you might be best moving the D10B related follow-ups to a different thread topic related to D10B or DACs in general.)

 

[Alalla]

Something interesting happened . I had connected smsl su1> L30ii > A30pro I was switching my headphones from the A30pro to the L30ii. I have noticed the same buzzing when i had my headphones plugged in into the L30ii while it was connected to the A30pro. It only buzzes when the L30ii pro is in the amp mode and not in the pre-amp mode. The buzzing stopped when i disconnected the RCA cables coming off the A30pro. But the buzzing also stopped when i disconnected the RCA cables from the SMSL su1.

it seems that as long one side of the chain is connected to the Mains power (PC, or the DX3 pro with the PSU) and the other side is also connected the mains (A30pro) the buzzing will happen.

 

[Alalla]

Then the D10B with only the USB input might not fix the issue. Or there is something odd with my A30pro