Some info about Topping's incoming DX1 II

[Mike123]

I connected the DAC to my main audiosetup. On the positive side, my Samsung TV works perfectly via Toslink in any optical input mode. The downside is that the RPI5 doesn't power the DAC by default. I had to Google it and disable the default 600mA USB limitation. After that, the DAC started working. My main system is MoOde/Camilla DSP. I decided not to disable PEQ Camilla and not to use the PEQ DAC. However, when connecting a TV, room correction is now available for the TV as well. That was the main reason for the purchase. I updated the firmware to version 2.54. So far, there have been no bugs. It's even a bit unusual . As for the sound, it's richer, deeper, brighter, and more transparent. The soundstage has gone into infinity. Just kidding . Of course, I didn't hear any difference from my SMSL DO100. So far, I'm very happy.

 

[NTTY]

I published the review here.

I did not have time to test everything I wanted, but it's a good start. Your feedback will be more than welcome.

Cheers

 

[Mike123]

Yeah, it's definitely buggy... If you use the left/right buttons on the remote to switch inputs and the EQ button to cycle through the equalizers, the equalizer works correctly and there are no clicks. If you use the C1-C3 buttons, the input switches, and the correct EQ1-EQ3 text lights up on the screen. But... the equalizer either doesn't apply at all or applies incorrectly. In addition to the incorrect equalizer, there are also periodic soft clicks. That's it. So, the C1-C3 buttons are not used for now; separate input switches and the equalizer cycle button are used. I'm still investigating .

 

[Demmers]

No wonder it gets toasty…. look at that packaging!
No need for me to have a look any further than this as someone else has already

 

[Mike123]

But it's so nice to be back with Topping and have it work correctly with inactive inputs. After purchasing the SMSL, I was very surprised that the inactive input would be disabled. As a result, after switching inputs, audio players would lose the USB connection and stop playing. This DAC is designed the same way as the old Toppings. You can switch to the TV for a couple of minutes, then back to the USB, and the music will continue playing.

 

[BoraBora]

I give up, too much problems. I ordered a DX5 II. I know there was a boatload of problems with it but they seem to be fixed.

 

[giraffe]

I also encountered incorrect EQ profile switching several times when using presets C1-3 from the remote control. When this error occurs, the screen displays incorrect information about the selected EQ profile, but if I go to the Topping Home, the current profile is displayed correctly (not the one saved in preset C1-3). Switching C1-3 profiles from the Topping Home also does not cause this issue (at least I couldn't reproduce it after several attempts).

The device is connected via USB to a PC (Windows 11), used 10-12 hours a day, and turned off at night. Over five days of use, I have not encountered any noise issues. I primarily use the device in non-exclusive mode with a sample rate of 48 kHz (the same for both the DAC and ADC).
However, when changing the sample rate, a barely audible click can be heard (for example, when switching tracks in a player using exclusive mode and playing audio with different sample rates).

 

[GenaSup]

I’m considering this DAC for use with both my headphones and my active Edifier speakers.

Since the DAC has an optical output, I would prefer to connect the speakers via optical to avoid an unnecessary analog-to-digital conversion, as the speakers have a built-in DSP.

However, after reading the manual and the discussions here, I still haven’t been able to figure out whether this setup will actually work. Specifically, if I use the DAC’s USB input connected to my computer, can I connect my active speakers to DAC's optical output?

 

[staticV3]

Specifically, if I use the DAC’s USB input connected to my computer, can I connect my active speakers to DAC's optical output?

Yes, you can.

 

[NTK]

I’m considering this DAC for use with both my headphones and my active Edifier speakers.

Since the DAC has an optical output, I would prefer to connect the speakers via optical to avoid an unnecessary analog-to-digital conversion, as the speakers have a built-in DSP.

However, after reading the manual and the discussions here, I still haven’t been able to figure out whether this setup will actually work. Specifically, if I use the DAC’s USB input connected to my computer, can I connect my active speakers to DAC's optical output?

Welcome to ASR!

[Edit] Unfortunately, it seems from NTTY's review of this DX1 II DAC, it doesn't work as a DDC (digital to digital converter). See post #415

...
User Experience

It was easy to configure the Topping with my Windows 11 computer since I had nothing to do The operating system saw the Topping and named it "DX1 II". Interestingly, it sees it as an input too, and I was hoping I could get the optical input to feed my computer, but no. I don't know if that's expected. I tried with the driver that Topping published but I wasn't successful either. So actually, this digital input only serves to feed the internal DAC for conversion. EDIT: @Berwhale informed me that an analog input is available with front 3.5mm, which makes sense. END EDIT.

The digital output will not relay a digital signal from the computer, meaning the Topping can’t be used as a DDC. That optical output, for what I could test, will only route the SPDIF input to SPDIF output. I'm not sure of that use case, maybe to chain them or use another DAC?

The menu offers several possibilities to tune the device, High/Low Gain, Front/Rear outputs activation, digital filter selection, and few others, one of which one is a setting for Optical input compatibility which had no effect on my side (see the review).
...

 

[Tatteredmidnight]

This is such a frustrating device! When I saw it announced it looked nearly perfect for work use. With company supplied laptops, it's not always an option to install EQ/DSP software. Even not considering EQ, since I use a wired headset, having a properly performant dac/HP amp with mic in and physical volume control is very appealing. Add to that the balanced line out (my desktop speakers only take balanced inputs and I get ground loops using USB with other unbalanced DACs), and it really looked like a Goldilocks device for an incredible price. Sadly, it seems they may have tried to cram too much into a very small, inexpensive unit. Still, if they can resolve the USB bugs, and the balanced output leakage was an isolated anomaly, it would be a much nicer solution than my current SMSL M8 + Atom mk1 + long 3.5mm cord sandwiched between for headset input + OS EQ that I'm currently stuck with. At least until they can sort out all the bugs.

It would also have been really nice if it included a way to control the device and EQ via something like Bluetooth and a phone app. The web app removes the need to install the fat client, so it should still be viable to use with Linux or a more locked down Apple laptop.

 

[Cluj]

I’m considering this DAC for use with both my headphones and my active Edifier speakers.

Since the DAC has an optical output, I would prefer to connect the speakers via optical to avoid an unnecessary analog-to-digital conversion, as the speakers have a built-in DSP.

However, after reading the manual and the discussions here, I still haven’t been able to figure out whether this setup will actually work. Specifically, if I use the DAC’s USB input connected to my computer, can I connect my active speakers to DAC's optical output?

I'm actually using it, and it's possible to connect it to a PC and output audio from the DX1ii's digital output to active speakers.
By changing the settings, you can also adjust the volume using the DX1ii's dial.
Well... I won't deny that there are a lot of bugs; it takes time to fix them.

 

[giraffe]

I’m considering this DAC for use with both my headphones and my active Edifier speakers.

Since the DAC has an optical output, I would prefer to connect the speakers via optical to avoid an unnecessary analog-to-digital conversion, as the speakers have a built-in DSP.

However, after reading the manual and the discussions here, I still haven’t been able to figure out whether this setup will actually work. Specifically, if I use the DAC’s USB input connected to my computer, can I connect my active speakers to DAC's optical output?

Spoiler: Topping DX1 II + SMSL SU-1

Just tested, PC -usb-> DX1 II -spdif-> SU-1 -rca-> active speakers works fine

EDIT: By default, the volume control doesn't affect the SPDIF out, but you can enable this in the settings. You can also disable equalization for the SPDIF out in the settings.

 

[GenaSup]

I'm actually using it, and it's possible to connect it to a PC and output audio from the DX1ii's digital output to active speakers.
By changing the settings, you can also adjust the volume using the DX1ii's dial.
Well... I won't deny that there are a lot of bugs; it takes time to fix them.

Spoiler: Topping DX1 II + SMSL SU-1

View attachment 539935

Just tested, PC -usb-> DX1 II -spdif-> SU-1 -rca-> active speakers works fine

EDIT: By default, the volume control doesn't affect the SPDIF out, but you can enable this in the settings. You can also disable equalization for the SPDIF out in the settings.

Thank you very much for the quick replies.

As I understand it, the optical output is always active and cannot be muted, right? That means I would need to mute the speakers themselves whenever I want to use only headphones.

Also, it is not clear to me how volume control works when it is enabled for the optical output.
According to the manual, the DAC only switches the output mode between LO/headphones/both. Then, if I have the headphones output selected and the optical output is always active (as stated in the manual), does that mean that adjusting the volume with the knob will change the volume for both the headphones and the active speakers connected via the optical output?

Hopefully the bugs will be fixed by the time I’m able to buy this DAC

 

[NTTY]

Welcome to ASR!

Unfortunately, it seems from NTTY's review of this DX1 II DAC, it doesn't work as a DDC (digital to digital converter).

I got it wrong. Dunno what I did, probably misconfigured something, but it does indeed DDC from USB input to optical output. Thanks @staticV3

I'll update the review accordingly.

 

[Cluj]

Thank you very much for the quick replies.

As I understand it, the optical output is always active and cannot be muted, right? That means I would need to mute the speakers themselves whenever I want to use only headphones.

Also, it is not clear to me how volume control works when it is enabled for the optical output.
According to the manual, the DAC only switches the output mode between LO/headphones/both. Then, if I have the headphones output selected and the optical output is always active (as stated in the manual), does that mean that adjusting the volume with the knob will change the volume for both the headphones and the active speakers connected via the optical output?

Hopefully the bugs will be fixed by the time I’m able to buy this DAC

Yes. The digital output is always active, so it needs to be muted on the connected device. The volume is synchronized with the selected analog output.

 

[giraffe]

Thank you very much for the quick replies.

As I understand it, the optical output is always active and cannot be muted, right? That means I would need to mute the speakers themselves whenever I want to use only headphones.

Also, it is not clear to me how volume control works when it is enabled for the optical output.
According to the manual, the DAC only switches the output mode between LO/headphones/both. Then, if I have the headphones output selected and the optical output is always active (as stated in the manual), does that mean that adjusting the volume with the knob will change the volume for both the headphones and the active speakers connected via the optical output?

Hopefully the bugs will be fixed by the time I’m able to buy this DAC

If the "OPT Output Volume Follow" setting is enabled in the settings, the volume control affects the SPDIF output signal level. Furthermore, the device remembers the volume setting for each output (HP/LO/ALL), so switching outputs will also change the volume.

If the "OPT Output Volume Follow" setting is disabled in the settings, the volume control does NOT affect the SPDIF output signal level (it's always at maximum).

As far as I understand, there's no way to mute just the SPDIF output.

 

[Mike123]

Hopefully the bugs will be fixed by the time I’m able to buy this DAC

After a day of use, I'm not at all disappointed. And judging by the threads about the DX5 II, I expected much worse. Of course, there are plenty of minor bugs. But the main functions: the balanced line output, USB input, optical input (at 48 kHz), and PEQ, all work fine and are quite stable. I didn't notice any clicks, interruptions, or freezes.

The hardware design and asembled are excellent. The software... well, what can you do? Topping is struggling with serious software right now. But for the price, it's already completely paid for itself.

 

[GenaSup]

Many thanks for the replies.
I still need to think about the best way to use my devices with this DAC, but now I know what to expect.

It seems that the most convenient solution would be to connect the speakers to the DAC via RCA. That way, the volume could be controlled independently, and switching between devices would be much more convenient.

With the digital output option, I would still need to control the speakers directly, and I'd also have to keep muting and unmuting the headphones on the DAC itself, as well as muting and unmuting the speakers separately.

 

[Janox]

I also encountered incorrect EQ profile switching several times when using presets C1-3 from the remote control. When this error occurs, the screen displays incorrect information about the selected EQ profile, but if I go to the Topping Home, the current profile is displayed correctly (not the one saved in preset C1-3). Switching C1-3 profiles from the Topping Home also does not cause this issue (at least I couldn't reproduce it after several attempts).

PEQ presets are stored in the remote control by long pressing the C1, C2 and C3 buttons. Then the switching works correctly.