Review and Measurements of Topping NX4 DSD Dac and Portable Headphone Amplifier

[Asylum Seeker]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but are there any different revisions of the NX4, and if so where can I get the latest version? Apos Audio? Or if there is no revisions then does Amazon have a similar 2 year warranty as Apos Audio?

First came the NX4. Then came the NX4 DSD.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

Any disadvantages, besides no gain and volume control, to listening out of line-out with 250 Ohm cans? Volume is just right...

 

[runner74]

Hello, first time poster here.

I recently realized music sounded "better" through my tv (less fatiguing at matched higher volume, and more engaging - probably better bass), and with headphones (MDR-1AM2) which I didn't "get" before, or like. This made me super motivated to get a proper amp, maybe I am mislead somehow - but it felt like music was heaps more fun to listen to (and of a genre I should like but dont really enjoy anymore) and in general, that I may have been missing something before.

My daily driver is a pair of MDR-F1 and they are said to benefit from a proper pre amp (I believe they have some kind of special circuitry so the impedance is misleading? Quite esoteric headphones, maybe someone here is familiar with them who knows..), but otherwise they are 12 Ohm and the 1AM2s are 16 Ohm, and my last pair are DT-770 80 Ohms.

Because of my headphones being low impedance I had half kinda shrugged it off as well as it being hard to know what is what in these matters (and I am not knowledgeable or experienced) as with the MDR-F1s which otherwise was a reason to get into it, but not knowing what to commit to I just dabbled and got a Hifime Sabre USB DAC which I dont feel made much difference to the onboard.

And basically I liked whatever the tv is (there is a background hiss etc., but what the music sounded like). My initial reaction was - I just need proper power of some kind.

Because of price (ie "just power of some kind") +occasional mobile use, +it being handy in how I have my desktop setup, was looking at the FiiO Q1 Mark II and in general mobile amps+dacs. Reading the review of that here on Audio Science Review, it is good but the Topping is the better choice probably for future proofed general desktop use. But then there is the low volume channel imbalance. And it leaves me unsure what I should go with.


In summary my headphones are: Sony MDR-F1 (12 Ohms), Sony MDR-1AM2 (16 Ohms), BeyerDynamic DT-770 80ohms. So all low impedance but with modification. I am guessing they all need the volume knob turned down with the Topping.

Anyway any thoughts would be appreciated! Or other recommendations.

 

[runner74]

I can't edit the post anymore but went with the NX4S, think I kinda misread the issue seeing others write about it. I'm sure it'll work fine.

 

[runner74]

Was just wondering one thing. Using this as a desktop dac+amp. Is the fact that it has 1 data port and 1 charging port an issue? Guess it would be more ideal with one port, and functionality to turn on and off charging. And guess you can't fight the issue of having a battery attached to begin with (I am again not knowledgeable but know as monkey-hear-see-monkey-follow that modern batteries dont like to be fully charged, but are comfortable around 70-80% and to live longer should not fall under this percentage, or esp 50-40% is where you dont want to be, and not below that. And every complete discharge, kills the battery a little bit more..).
But with all the incredibly knowledgeable people on here anyone have any thoughts maybe on the best approach, and what would likely happen when the battery goes, and when can batteries become dangerous (I mean..in a long time. But just talking theoretically. If it is charged 24/7.), if there is any prognosis. I think for convenience, it would be easier to just keep the "Charge" port connected at all times.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

What would I like to see in the Topping NX4 DSD Mark II?

• Bigger battery
• Faster charging
• Bomb-proof USB-C ports
• Short, right-angle USB-C to USB-C cables in the box
• Clicky volume pot
• A tad more power
• Footprint no bigger than a deck of cards (63mm x 88mm)

FYI & FWIW - I don'tneed line-out or bass boost

How about a smaller single-gain NX4 DSD Mini, no line-out, no bass boost, one third the size of the current model, for IEMs and sensitive earphones?

 

[raif71]

What would I like to see in the Topping NX4 DSD Mark II?

• Bigger battery
• Faster charging
• Bomb-proof USB-C ports
• Short, right-angle USB-C to USB-C cables in the box
• Clicky volume pot
• A tad more power
• Footprint no bigger than a deck of cards (63mm x 88mm)

FYI & FWIW - I don'tneed line-out or bass boost

How about a smaller single-gain NX4 DSD Mini, no line-out, no bass boost, one third the size of the current model, for IEMs and sensitive earphones?

View attachment 80812

I already like its SE performance but wouldn't hurt if Topping add a 4.4mm balanced output

 

[Asylum Seeker]

I already like its SE performance but wouldn't hurt if Topping add a 4.4mm balanced output

No! No balanced. Powerful, clean single-ended. No price-increasing ghost chasing, please. KISS.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

Wow, what a device. It arrived after 2.5 months from Drop but worth the wait. Clean sound. No distortion whatsoever. With Senn 6xx, its blissful. Charging seems to take a long time, though. Thanks to Amir for the review. Topping, you got a really good one here.

Yes... Charging is not the swiftest. Quite slow, in fact.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

If anyone is interested to buy Topping NX4 DSD, there is a new Drop run for 136$.
https://drop.com/buy/topping-nx4-dsd-dac-amp

Here where I live in Indonesia, normal price is under $110 with free four-day delivery. Is that not a bargain?

 

[Asylum Seeker]

I somehow missed that you already have it . So, provided detailed feedback. Whats the store that offers this in Indonesia? Do they ship abroad by any chance? Please let me know.

There are a handful of stores on Tokopedia that sell that NX4 DSD for under $110.

 

[Lance768]

This is another independent measurements from a youtuber . Measures same.

 

[donjoe0]

Did you measure IMD on this Amir?

Yeah, why no IMD plot @amirm ? It's a Sabre DAC, you can't draw final conclusions without looking at the IMD.

 

[Veri]

Yeah, why no IMD plot @amirm ? It's a Sabre DAC, you can't draw final conclusions without looking at the IMD.

This is a really old review... one of the first when he bought his AP-555. We are 2+ years later.

 

[donjoe0]

This is a really old review... one of the first when he bought his AP-555. We are 2+ years later.

Well, there's already an IMD plot in the Oppo HA-2 analysis in the same year, but you're right: that was in September and this one is from June, so that might be the explanation.

 

[Rorosello_]

Hi there, I want to ask whether I need NX4 to power my ATH R70x with my Shanling M6 dap because now I'm using the balance output on M6 to drive the R70x in low gain at comfortable volume ranging from about 45-60 out of 100 depending on the music I played. (For info, the balanced output listed on Shanling M6's marketing material is 350mW @32ohms, while SE is 160mW @32ohms, & r70x has 470ohms impedance with 99db sensitivity).

I'm not that good with all this calculation, so idk if M6 is still good enough or not. But if my M6 is not enough to drive r70x, does NX4 can help with that? (My reason for choosing nx4 is because of the good value it has, portability & it's below $150). I do know few people already recommended me to just get full size amp like the Topping L30 to drive them but I prefer to just listen via my DAP for now. TIA

 

[manueljenkin]

Hi there, I want to ask whether I need NX4 to power my ATH R70x with my Shanling M6 dap because now I'm using the balance output on M6 to drive the R70x in low gain at comfortable volume ranging from about 45-60 out of 100 depending on the music I played. (For info, the balanced output listed on Shanling M6's marketing material is 350mW @32ohms, while SE is 160mW @32ohms, while r70x has 470ohms impedance with 99db sensitivity).

I'm not that good with all this calculation, so if my M6 is not enough to drive r70x, does NX4 can help with that? (My reason for choosing nx4 is because of the good value it has, portability & it's below $150). I do know few people already recommended me to just get full size amp like the Topping L30 to drive them but I prefer to just listen via my DAP for now. TIA

I'll recommend you to try the apogee groove. Used/refurb ones can be found less than 150$. I own both the nx4dsd and groove and I find the groove to drive my hd800 better than nx4. My friends with dt880, hd600 etc also feel similar, so I guess r70x would also fall in similar class (high impedance moderate sensitivity headphones).

 

[Rorosello_]

I'll recommend you to try the apogee groove. Used/refurb ones can be found less than 150$. I own both the nx4dsd and groove and I find the groove to drive my hd800 better than nx4. My friends with dt880, hd600 etc also feel similar, so I guess r70x would also fall in similar class (high impedance moderate sensitivity headphones).

I just check them out, but don't think I can get it locally here & it seems to be better used with a PC/Laptop than pairing them with my M6.

 

[manueljenkin]

I just check them out, but don't think I can get it locally here & it seems to be better used with a PC/Laptop than pairing them with my M6.

Groove works fine out of my phone + usb audio player Pro for bit perfect audio. It still manages to push nice power even when source from a phone though it is a tad more powerful out of a pc. I have been able to use phone -> groove -> hd800 quite well.

 

[Rorosello_]

Groove works fine out of my phone + usb audio player Pro for bit perfect audio. It still manages to push nice power even when source from a phone though it is a tad more powerful out of a pc. I have been able to use phone -> groove -> hd800 quite well.

I would consider if i can get it locally, but unfortunately no local store have them & if i were to import, the tax is gonna be pretty high