Some info about Topping's incoming DX1 II

[Roland68]

So, I've also received mine today, but I'm really disappointed. I compared DX1 II with my old DX1, and with the same headphone, I see a big difference in power output of SE 3.5 out - same headphone (32Ohm Adam Audio H200) with same Low Gain setting - it is about 90% (-18..-16 dB) for DX1 II and about 50-55% for DX1 volume knob. DX1 max power output is rated as 280 mW @ 32 Ohm, and DX1 II is rated as 510 mW @ 32 Ohm. So I expect to have the same output level for DX1 II low gain as for DX1 high gain, or about 75-80% of DX1 High gain mode. I expect the analog knob in DX1 will not match (digitally regulated ?) volume level setting of DX II, but anyway, low-gain mode in DX1 II should be more powerful and closer to high-gain mode in DX1. Or I'm wrong, and the digitally regulated step has a completely different amplification multiplier? And this "extra" power, for example, can be closer to a 0 dB volume setting? Let me clarify: for the same audio track with the same headphones, my comfort level of loudness for DX1@Low gain is about 50% of the volume knob, and for DX1 II@Low gain, it is about -18dB (~90% of the volume knob setting). Both USB DACs are connected to the MBP 14" with the same audio software.

Did you consider that the DX1 II is a balanced headphone amplifier and delivers only one-quarter of its power at the SE output (3.5mm jack)?

 

[vdem]

Did you consider that the DX1 II is a balanced headphone amplifier and delivers only one-quarter of its power at the SE output (3.5mm jack)?

Yes... But we compare rated power output - correct? and DX1 II is rated as 510mW@32Ohm (High gain) and DX1 is rated as 280mW@32Ohm (High gain) for SE. So i can approximate that DX1 II Low gain should be more powerful than DX1 Low gain - is it correct? Or is it possible that DX1 II "Low gain mode" has a different gain setting and is less powerful than DX1? By specification, DX1 Low gain is -2 dB, and DX1 II is -1.6dB, so

just using Google AI mode - made some calculations to verify my hypothesis

Topping DX1 (Gen 1)	Topping DX1 II (Gen 2)
Max Power (High Gain @ 32Ω) 280 mW [1]	Max Power (High Gain @ 32Ω) 510 mW (3.5mm SE) [1]
High Gain Setting +12.0 dB [1]	High Gain Setting +12.4 dB [1]
Low Gain Setting -2.0 dB [1]	Low Gain Setting -1.6 dB [1]
Total Gain Delta (High to Low) 14.0 dB	Total Gain Delta (High to Low) 14.0 dB
Calculated Low Gain Power (@ 32Ω) 6.26 mW	Calculated Low Gain Power (@ 32Ω) 12.35 mW

 

[vdem]

Ok, I see - it is look like Exponential Pot Taper vs Linear Decibel Attenuation issue. This vast difference in knob placement is caused by how the Topping DX1 (Gen 1) uses an analog volume potentiometer versus how the Topping DX1 II (Gen 2) uses a precise, digitally controlled volume attenuation system. But maybe possible to improve via a firmware update volume step change? For example, for low level, each step should be 2 or 3 dB because -90..-80 dB looks like a completely useless (First 25-30% of volume knob setting) and useful volume setting starting from about -50 dB (maybe -60dB for low impedance and high sensitive headpones/IEMs). I see that we have 0.5 dB step for high-level volume setting - the last 10 dB till 0 dB. I think from the point of view of UX (user experience), the same idea should apply to the lowest volume settings - i think it is better to scroll faster -90dB -> -80dB -> -70dB -> -60dB (3db (99->70), 2 dB (70->50) -> 1dB(50->10) -> 0.5dB(10->0) steps for example for each range ).

 

[pier25]

I gotta say the PEQ software is not great. I tried both the desktop ToppingTune app and the web app (only for Chrome).

Tons of weird UX things and bugs. Eg: In the web app when I edit an EQ band for some reason the Gain setting is disabled and I have to enable it again.

Is there even a button to disable all EQ in ToppingTune? Couldn't find it.

Changing the EQ could be a a lot smoother too. It's very laggy and there are annoying audio glitches.

Given the volume control is digital it would be great if there was an option to auto compensate. What I mean is if the EQ setting has a gain of -3db they could increase the amp gain by 3db.

Hey Topping, if you're reading, why not make the web app open source?

 

[gtg465x]

So, I've also received mine today, but I'm really disappointed. I compared DX1 II with my old DX1, and with the same headphone, I see a big difference in power output of SE 3.5 out - same headphone (32Ohm Adam Audio H200) with same Low Gain setting - it is about 90% (-18..-16 dB) for DX1 II and about 50-55% for DX1 volume knob. DX1 max power output is rated as 280 mW @ 32 Ohm, and DX1 II is rated as 510 mW @ 32 Ohm. So I expect to have the same output level for DX1 II low gain as for DX1 high gain, or about 75-80% of DX1 High gain mode. I expect the analog knob in DX1 will not match (digitally regulated ?) volume level setting of DX II, but anyway, low-gain mode in DX1 II should be more powerful and closer to high-gain mode in DX1. Or I'm wrong, and the digitally regulated step has a completely different amplification multiplier? And this "extra" power, for example, can be closer to a 0 dB volume setting? Let me clarify: for the same audio track with the same headphones, my comfort level of loudness for DX1@Low gain is about 50% of the volume knob, and for DX1 II@Low gain, it is about -18dB (~90% of the volume knob setting). Both USB DACs are connected to the MBP 14" with the same audio software.

The DX1’s analog knob was probably tuned to have a linear scale, so 50% position was 50% of max volume / power it could produce, but decibels and the volume knob on the DX1 II are logarithmic. We perceive a 10 dB increase in volume as roughly twice as loud, so a lot of the volume / power of the DX1 II is within that final 10 dB of volume. I asked AI “if a device volume ranges from -100 db to 0 db and you set it to -18 db, what perceived percentage of volume is it at?” and it told me 28.7%. 50% volume on the DX1 II should be around -10 dB.

 

[DazST]

I'm conscious this is likely a dumb question, but am I right to assume that this can be powered by a regular usb phone charger? All the stuff I've read implies powering by a laptop/pc, but if I were to get one of these I'd want other options to power it.

 

[gtg465x]

I'm conscious this is likely a dumb question, but am I right to assume that this can be powered by a regular usb phone charger? All the stuff I've read implies powering by a laptop/pc, but if I were to get one of these I'd want other options to power it.

I believe you should be able to buy a USB-C splitter cable that splits into two connectors, one for power that could be connected to a USB charger and the other for data. Would be nice for someone to confirm it works, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t.

 

[DazST]

I believe you should be able to buy a USB-C splitter cable that splits into two connectors, one for power that could be connected to a USB charger and the other for data. Would be nice for someone to confirm it works, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t.

Thanks for the reply. Although I'd be wanting to use optical input for data (via wiim streamer) and just power via usb.

 

[solderdude]

Thanks for the reply. Although I'd be wanting to use optical input for data (via wiim streamer) and just power via usb.

That'll work just fine but will limit the max. bitrate to 192/24 and you can't access the DSP.

A 5V/1A to 5V/2A adapter will work just fine. No need to get a power supply with more amps.

 

[mdmower]

I installed it half an hour ago. Very soon I got crackling sound (USB - Macbook) and getting worse. After a few min it was crackling all the time.
I went back to V2.46. That is working well so far.
Seems like Topping regularly brings firmware that introduces more bugs than it fixes (familiar form DX5 II).

Same story for me. It occurred on Windows with driver 6.14 and on Debian 13 with backport kernel 7.0.7. So it really does seem to be a firmware problem (and by the way folks, it is not subtle; really loud). I sent an email to Topping at 12:18am Pacific time on May 31, but no reply and firmware remains posted.

 

[DazST]

That'll work just fine but will limit the max. bitrate to 192/24 and you can't access the DSP.

A 5V/1A to 5V/2A adapter will work just fine. No need to get a power supply with more amps.

Thanks for confirming. 192/24 is more than enough for me and I'd be able to use the wiim for dsp, so no big loss there either.

 

[mdmower]

Same story for me. It occurred on Windows with driver 6.14 and on Debian 13 with backport kernel 7.0.7. So it really does seem to be a firmware problem (and by the way folks, it is not subtle; really loud). I sent an email to Topping at 12:18am Pacific time on May 31, but no reply and firmware remains posted.

Topping replied about the crackling sound problem on firmware 2.50. I appreciate their acknowledgement of the issue and that they're working on a quick fix.

Thank you for contacting TOPPING support. We are happy to assist.

Thank you for your feedback! We are aware that this is a bug in the new firmware and will be fixed in the next firmware update. We expect to resolve it this week. Thank you for your support and patience!

 

[vdem]

The DX1’s analog knob was probably tuned to have a linear scale, so 50% position was 50% of max volume / power it could produce, but decibels and the volume knob on the DX1 II are logarithmic. We perceive a 10 dB increase in volume as roughly twice as loud, so a lot of the volume / power of the DX1 II is within that final 10 dB of volume. I asked AI “if a device volume ranges from -100 db to 0 db and you set it to -18 db, what perceived percentage of volume is it at?” and it told me 28.7%. 50% volume on the DX1 II should be around -10 dB.

Yes , I understand that mathematically I have more power output , but it less intuitive from UX perspective that 90% volume setting is only 30% of real power output. And about 50% volume knob settings for DX1 - it is around 50 maybe it is 55% - it ls something between 12 and 1(13) o’clock. For me its look like similar volume level is something about -18..-15dB if I speak about my usual comfort loudness level

 

[Bleib]

Surprisingly it's already on sale, -15%

TOPPING DX1 II ES9039Q2M Desktop DAC & Headphone Amplifier

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[staticV3]

So I expect to have the same output level for DX1 II low gain as for DX1 high gain

3.5mm output is about equal between DX1 and DX1 II.

Definitely with both in Low gain, where the difference in maximum output is less than 0.5dB

With both in High gain, maximum output is basically identical with high impedance headphones (DX1 II plays 0.5dB louder), but the advantage grows slowly with falling impedance.

At 32Ω, the DX1 II can play 2.5dB or 20% louder, that's it.

The real gain comes from switching to Balanced output.

And, as you've already experienced, analog pots and digital volume encoders behave fundamentally different.

 

[vdem]

3.5mm output is about equal between DX1 and DX1 II.

Definitely with both in Low gain, where the difference in maximum output is less than 0.5dB

With both in High gain, maximum output is basically identical with high impedance headphones (DX1 II plays 0.5dB louder), but the advantage grows slowly with falling impedance.

At 32Ω, the DX1 II can play 2.5dB or 20% louder, that's it.

The real gain comes from switching to Balanced output.

And, as you've already experienced, analog pots and digital volume encoders behave fundamentally different.

Yes, I see. Basically, for my low-impedance headphone with high sensitivity (Adam Audio H200), I don't need a balanced output - but for my Hifiman 400SE I will use it, of course. I hope Topping developers can tweak the firmware to use 2 or 3 dB steps for low level like -99...-70dB range - same as they did it for range from -10... 0 dB with 0.5 dB for better user experience.

 

[Bleib]

Received mine. Pictures don't quite do justice to how small it is. So far I'm using the newest bios solely on Win11 x64, no bugs

Display off turns it completely off.
Topping MX3s still shows the input though

 

[vdem]

Received mine. Pictures don't quite do justice to how small it is. So far I'm using the newest bios solely on Win11 x64, no bugs

Display off turns it completely off.
Topping MX3s still shows the input though

Same size as previous DX1 Gen1. Do you use the new firmware 2.50? Did you have any bugs reported early in this topic?

 

[Bleib]

Same size as previous DX1 Gen1. Do you use the new firmware 2.50? Did you have any bugs reported early in this topic?

Didn't own the original unit, I have a distaste for units with channel imbalance. Newest, works fine. 2 hours playtime so far.
Used chrome to connect to the unit, Firefox does not work.

Remote feels a bit cheaper than the one for DX5 II, it's also slightly smaller, length is about 1cm less

 

[gtg465x]

That'll work just fine but will limit the max. bitrate to 192/24 and you can't access the DSP.

A 5V/1A to 5V/2A adapter will work just fine. No need to get a power supply with more amps.

You can enable EQ for optical.