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Review and Measurements of New Topping D50s DAC

Before i got separate PSU for D50s i used powerbank. I had 10k mAh one and it lasted almost whole day so i recommend 15-20k mAh.

There was no audible difference between working wall psu, powerbank and actual PSU. Wall psu is on all the time and D50s starts when you start pc, with or without listening it, powerbank needs to be reloaded daily so for me last one is easiest to use since i can turn it on with rest of the system.

I got this PSU as 5V/2A-version (or 3A can't remember):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zerozone...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
 
Snafu said:
I have lately had some dropouts between ASUS360 WIN10 laptop and (USB) D50S when using Tidal. Music just stops but time runs in Tidal app.

Tidal log gives "AUDCLNT_E_BUFFER_SIZE_ERROR"

I have tried adjusting buffer size from Topping win10 interface and made a factory reset for D50s. No help so far, any ideas ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I read your post over and over again.
The ASUS360 WIN10 laptop you use has many variations and I didn't know what was used for the CPU chip.
However, I think that all CPUs have low processing power and are high load when playing digital audio. If the condition persists, the PC switches to power saving mode to save battery power.
As a result, I think there is a dropout in the playback music.
Once, switch the power options as follows and test.

From the Control Panel, go to "Hardware and Sound" >> "Power Options" and open "Select or Customize Power Plan".

I think the current settings are probably "balanced (recommended)".
Switch this to "high performance".

Check if dropouts occur in this state.
 
Thanks for the reply @Toku. When listening tidal laptop is usually all the time plugged in. These happened with battery too.
I contacted tidal and they were looking something in their end and there haven't been any problems since last post.

This Asus UX360CA has M3, ssd and 3200 x 1800 touch screen, i didn't want high power version because i don't need it and battery life is better like this (+better display).

Thanks again, looks like tidal is back to normal
 
i used a powerbank just to test and it did sound different. I don't know which one is better but thru the power bank, it sounds warmer, focused. Via a phone charger it seems its brighter and more lively. I preferred the latter even though the powerbank should technically be the the superior / cleaner power.
 
mykeldg said:
i used a powerbank just to test and it did sound different. I don't know which one is better but thru the power bank, it sounds warmer, focused. Via a phone charger it seems its brighter and more lively. I preferred the latter even though the powerbank should technically be the the superior / cleaner power.
Click to expand...
Distortion often is recognized as in more detailed because sounds sound louder as they really are if they are dietorted. So it could be but I doubt you can hear the difference, maybe only if your non powerbank power source is really bad.
 
ninetylol said:
Distortion often is recognized as in more detailed because sounds sound louder as they really are if they are dietorted. So it could be but I doubt you can hear the difference, maybe only if your non powerbank power source is really bad.
Click to expand...
my suspicion too. I have a modi multibit that measures poorly and it does sound much sharper and muddier at the same time!
 
Just posting my burn in on my D50s. Had it since July. Pretty sure it was always on lowest brightness and auto off. The COAX looks better, which is probably what burned in though it still looks "off". I rarely look at the display and it's far from the listening position so not sure how long ago this occurred.

IMG_20200107_150739~01~01.jpg
MVIMG_20200107_151318~01.jpg
 
You should see the screen on my old E17 which has no auto off whatsoever. It is terrible. I’m not sure why they insist on using these... I’d be fine with a simple illuminated liquid crystal thing.
 
BogdanR said:
You should see the screen on my old E17 which has no auto off whatsoever. It is terrible. I’m not sure why they insist on using these... I’d be fine with a simple illuminated liquid crystal thing.
Click to expand...

It's called Planned Obsolescence.

Guess is time to see LCD options for this unit.

Someone opened their D50s? Which OLED uses? model? brand? etc?

Or have any service manual for this unit (would be much better).
 
I’m not even sure I want a display if I’m honest. A simple switched input with tiny LED witnesses would be enough. And perhaps an LED array of some sort to indicate operating bitrates/ modes. I like my old Arcam rDAC in this respect: simple and understated.
 
I received a D50s via Drop last week and had a chance to use it for the first time yesterday, however, the unit failed to power up when connected either to my Macbook Pro via the supplied USB cable or to a 5V power supply. I promptly emailed Drop yesterday and still awaiting a response. Very disappointing all around.
 
jxs226 said:
I received a D50s via Drop last week and had a chance to use it for the first time yesterday, however, the unit failed to power up when connected either to my Macbook Pro via the supplied USB cable or to a 5V power supply. I promptly emailed Drop yesterday and still awaiting a response. Very disappointing all around.
Click to expand...

I was part of the same "drop". Sorry to read about your troubles. To be clear it isn't powered by the USB port. It has to get power from the 5V line. It comes with a power cord, but no power supply. You have use your own USB power supply. Long shot - you need to plug it into 5V AND press the power button to get it to turn on.
 
Thank you, Timbo2. I guess I misunderstood Amir's original post?

"For my testing, I just used the round 5 volt cable to USB that Topping provided. I simply plugged that into one of my USB 2.0 on my desktop workstation."

Timbo2 said:
I was part of the same "drop". Sorry to read about your troubles. To be clear it isn't powered by the USB port. It has to get power from the 5V line. It comes with a power cord, but no power supply. You have use your own USB power supply. Long shot - you need to plug it into 5V AND press the power button to get it to turn on.
Click to expand...
 
Usb is 5 volts too, although a separate wall charger is probably better quality power.
 
jxs226 said:
Thank you, Timbo2. I guess I misunderstood Amir's original post?

"For my testing, I just used the round 5 volt cable to USB that Topping provided. I simply plugged that into one of my USB 2.0 on my desktop workstation."
Click to expand...

Try using any 5V USB charger you have for a phone. It doesn't take much current so even a very old one from the early days of the USB 2.0 standard will work.
 
ninetylol said:
Usb is 5 volts too, although a separate wall charger is probably better quality power.
Click to expand...

From a PC / laptop - for sure! However, sometime they can try to be "smart". Just to rule that out I'd try a "dumb" USB charger from phone or similar.
 
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