Solid State Logic SSL 2 MKII vs. Topping Pro E2x2 OTG (Audio Interfaces) Comparison Review and Measurements

[ICIETDIYEUR]

Hello jkim

I read your remarks carefully and you mentioned that slightly lowering the level of the digital signal (you said 0.5dBfs) made it possible to 'correct' the mutitone curve to a large extent

How do you proceed in your case ?

 

[jkim]

I read your remarks carefully and you mentioned that slightly lowering the level of the digital signal (you said 0.5dBfs) made it possible to 'correct' the mutitone curve to a large extent

How do you proceed in your case ?

It only solves the full-scale multitone problem. But if a device is affected by the "Cirrus hump" distortion, there's no way to resolve it.

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

Hi jkim

I understood that well, but it doesn't tell me how you went about lowering the digital level in your case ?

Regarding the problem with the 'CIRRUS hump', it could perhaps be solved with a new firmware, just as it was the case with certain ESS chips in the past (example the TOPPING DX5).

It seems that there is a list of devices affected (or not) by this 'CIRRUS hump': has anyone tried to determine why (hardware or software) ?

For example, the TOPPING D70 pro octo has 8 CIRRUS LOGIC CS43198 chips and is not affected by the 'CIRRUS HUMP': does TOPPING have the solution ?

 

[ssashton]

Hello ssashton

Where do you see this type of capacitor on the PCB ?...

You can't know by how it looks (although usually, class 1 dielectric has a more white case than class 2 which is more brown, but that is not a guarantee).

It sounds like JKIM knows more about this device than me, who was only making a guess.

 

[jkim]

Hi jkim

I understood that well, but it doesn't tell me how you went about lowering the digital level in your case ?

I believe you don't get what I meant there. The full-scale multitone anomaly can be easily avoided in real audio content by setting digital volume in any device to less than 100%. But any good recording of music should not touch 0 dBFS unless it is extremely compressed. So, it shouldn't be a concern in most cases.

Regarding the problem with the 'CIRRUS hump', it could perhaps be solved with a new firmware, just as it was the case with certain ESS chips in the past (example the TOPPING DX5).

It seems that there is a list of devices affected (or not) by this 'CIRRUS hump': has anyone tried to determine why (hardware or software) ?

For example, the TOPPING D70 pro octo has 8 CIRRUS LOGIC CS43198 chips and is not affected by the 'CIRRUS HUMP': does TOPPING have the solution ?

No solution yet for any of the devices.

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

Hi jkim

However, TOPPING seems to have one 'solution' since there is no 'CIRRUS HUMP' in Amirm's review of the D70 PRO octo DAC as you can see

 

[jkim]

However, TOPPING seems to have one 'solution' since there is no 'CIRRUS HUMP' in Amirm's review of the D70 PRO octo DAC as you can see

Amir's reviews do NOT include tests of multitone response at lower levels. AND he has not reviewed the Topping D70 Pro Octo yet. Where did you find the review?

EDIT. you mean this review of Topping D70 Pro Sabre? That's a different model with ESS DAC chips. Anyway, even if he had measured the D70 Pro Octo, he would not have tested for a "Cirrus hump" since his standard measurement package does not include that test.

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

 

[jkim]

You mean the measurements at the Topping website? Whenever you post measurements, please indicate their source.

That multitone test was done at the maximum unclipped level. It cannot show the "Cirrus hump" distortion properly.

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

You're probably right: these measures seem so 'scary' when viewed like that, LOL

I sincerely believe that these days we should be content with what our ears are capable of hearing rather than trying to visualize measurements that have long since become inaudible...