Some info about Topping's incoming DX1 II

[SlowLife]

Same issue
PC 24/7 with settings at 32/192kHz
(but not using the stock USB cable)
- Crackling/distortion every day, 2-3 times a day.
Affected with both 4.4Bal headphones and 4.4Bal speakers.
Note: If set to 32/384kHz, it happens immediately.
- Pops only occur when listening in ASIO mode, only when changing songs at the beginning. No pops during the song.

Currently, I've set "Device knob single-click function: Input Setting" to switch immediately when crackling/distortion occurs.

Tested and confirmed that crackling/distortion has been fixed in firmware V2.69(V15.69.22.69) + driver V6.16.0 .
There are still crackling/distortion, but it's better than previous versions.

32/384kHz almost always has crackling/distortion when refreshing the home.toppingaudio.com page.

32/192kHz only has popping sounds when refreshed, no crackling/distortion (I need to test this more).

 

[snadge]

I'm on the latest firmware V15.69.22.69, and after listening to music for several hours today, all of a sudden I started getting nasty pops and clicks, and then massive distortion whilst the music was playing. I checked and it was both out the headphone jack and the line out. I tried different sources (first was amazon music, Firefox browser 48khz), second was spotify lossless 44.1khz. Both were doing the same thing. I tried selecting optical input (nothing plugged in), went back to USB, and the problem has gone away. I'm okay with the pops/clicks when changing sampling rates or settings etc. I mean, I can live with that. But suddenly going full distortion (cutting in and out) with loud crackles and pops is a bit much. Don't get me wrong, I love this DAC and what it can do, but hopefully this isn't a hardware issue.

 

[SlowLife]

I'm on the latest firmware V15.69.22.69, and after listening to music for several hours today, all of a sudden I started getting nasty pops and clicks, and then massive distortion whilst the music was playing. I checked and it was both out the headphone jack and the line out. I tried different sources (first was amazon music, Firefox browser 48khz), second was spotify lossless 44.1khz. Both were doing the same thing. I tried selecting optical input (nothing plugged in), went back to USB, and the problem has gone away. I'm okay with the pops/clicks when changing sampling rates or settings etc. I mean, I can live with that. But suddenly going full distortion (cutting in and out) with loud crackles and pops is a bit much. Don't get me wrong, I love this DAC and what it can do, but hopefully this isn't a hardware issue.

I had the same problem with 32/384kHz.
Try setting it to 32/192kHz or lower.

 

[Mike123]

Don't get me wrong, I love this DAC and what it can do, but hopefully this isn't a hardware issue.

This behavior may be related to the OS. Under Linux, the RPI5 doesn't require any additional drivers; the system uses a universal USB sound card driver. I didn't need to do anything special when changing the DAC from SMSL to Topping. Windows has its own drivers for each company. A few days ago, Topping released a new driver, 6.16. They update is not just like. Most likely, there are issues with the driver, perhaps difficult to detect. Related to the fact that a Windows computer is often used as a general-purpose computer for multiple tasks. My point is: I have no issues with this DAC, related to unstable operation or extraneous sounds. However, my DAC works with a computer configured exclusively for audio playback: RPI5/Linux/Moode. To determine whether you have a hardware issue with your specific device or a driver issue, perhaps you should connect the DAC to a different computer, not one running Windows?

 

[Dreamic]

I'm on the latest firmware V15.69.22.69, and after listening to music for several hours today, all of a sudden I started getting nasty pops and clicks, and then massive distortion whilst the music was playing. I checked and it was both out the headphone jack and the line out. I tried different sources (first was amazon music, Firefox browser 48khz), second was spotify lossless 44.1khz. Both were doing the same thing. I tried selecting optical input (nothing plugged in), went back to USB, and the problem has gone away. I'm okay with the pops/clicks when changing sampling rates or settings etc. I mean, I can live with that. But suddenly going full distortion (cutting in and out) with loud crackles and pops is a bit much. Don't get me wrong, I love this DAC and what it can do, but hopefully this isn't a hardware issue.

Send them an email, you're not the only person I know who has been jumpscared by 100% volume distortion, have you tried previous firmware? It's still an option through Topping Home.

 

[Rosenbloom]

I use DX1 II with mac mini. Last night it started making cracking noise. I just updated the firmware to the latest version and everything is back to okay. Hope the issue is solved forever.

 

[giraffe]

I'm on the latest firmware V15.69.22.69, and after listening to music for several hours today, all of a sudden I started getting nasty pops and clicks, and then massive distortion whilst the music was playing. I checked and it was both out the headphone jack and the line out. I tried different sources (first was amazon music, Firefox browser 48khz), second was spotify lossless 44.1khz. Both were doing the same thing. I tried selecting optical input (nothing plugged in), went back to USB, and the problem has gone away. I'm okay with the pops/clicks when changing sampling rates or settings etc. I mean, I can live with that. But suddenly going full distortion (cutting in and out) with loud crackles and pops is a bit much. Don't get me wrong, I love this DAC and what it can do, but hopefully this isn't a hardware issue.

I have a similar experience.

I had the same problem with 32/384kHz.
Try setting it to 32/192kHz or lower.
View attachment 541008

I use 24 bit 48 kHz

Upd: I've actually only encountered this issue twice—once yesterday and once today. It's hard to draw any conclusions, but I'll keep monitoring.

 

[pier25]

@TOPPING @TOPPING-Service

The 15.69.22.69 firmware has KILLED my DX1 II.

I downloaded it from their website for macOS. Used the UDF app as usual. It showed an error that the firmware update had failed and that I should unplug the device. Now it won't turn on.

Edit:

The device doesn't show anything in the LCD display but after using the UDF app again it shows the device has reverted to the 1.0 firmware. After that I could try again and update to 15.69.22.69. Thanks @Rosenbloom !

 

[Rosenbloom]

@TOPPING @TOPPING-Service

The 15.69.22.69 firmware has KILLED my DX1 II.

I downloaded it from the website for macOS. Used the UDF app as usual. It showed an error that the firmware update had failed and that I should unplug the device. Now it won't turn on.

You may repeat the same procedure of firmware update as if the unit is on. The update will proceed. This is what happened to my unit. I am also using mac.

 

[pier25]

You may repeat the same procedure of firmware update as if the unit is on. The update will proceed. This is what happened to my unit. I am also using mac.

Thanks! That worked. Holy shit.

 

[SlowLife]

Tested and confirmed that crackling/distortion has been fixed in firmware V2.69(V15.69.22.69) + driver V6.16.0 .
There are still crackling/distortion, but it's better than previous versions.

32/384kHz almost always has crackling/distortion when refreshing the home.toppingaudio.com page.

32/192kHz only has popping sounds when refreshed, no crackling/distortion (I need to test this more).

View attachment 540988View attachment 540992View attachment 540993
View attachment 540994

 

[Dreamic]

Topping needs to know this is apparently happening for others even at 48kHz, and not just when screwing with Topping Home but when minding business listening to music etc @TOPPING @TOPPING-Service

 

[sansenri]

"crackling and distortion, better than previous versions" is still not good enough for me...
OK, it's cheap but in case I go for it, the money I pay is good 100%
I'm somewhat disappointed by all the reported issues so far, as I own the DX1 and I find it's great.
Two aspects are mandatory for me,
it must work flawlesly from USB (I would use it with the PC - windows 10) no cracking, popping or distortion;
it must work without external power supply and deliver high volume without distortion (I suffer from hearing loss, so high gain at loud volume and no distortion is important).
My DX1 does this, high gain and volume at 2 o'clock most of the time, and it's fine.

 

[Soundproof]

"crackling and distortion, better than previous versions" is still not good enough for me...
OK, it's cheap but in case I go for it, the money I pay is good 100%
I'm somewhat disappointed by all the reported issues so far, as I own the DX1 and I find it's great.
Two aspects are mandatory for me,
it must work flawlesly from USB (I would use it with the PC - windows 10) no cracking, popping or distortion;
it must work without external power supply and deliver high volume without distortion (I suffer from hearing loss, so high gain at loud volume and no distortion is important).
My DX1 does this, high gain and volume at 2 o'clock most of the time, and it's fine.

By the looks of it, Topping has a good many hardware combinations with a significant variety of chips++ and (just about literary) endless combinations of user hardware to support. There is no way they can carry out tests of all combinations internally before releasing their devices. Just not possible. And then, there might be some combinations they never thought of, coming from early adaptors.

Your DX1 has been around for a while, and by the looks of it, has far far less techical and usage complexity thant the DX1 II.

It does indeed make sense to hold if any of the reported issuse in what in practial terms is a beta testing period is likely to affect you, There's no reason to be disappointed, being grateful for the hefty job the ASR guys are doing to get it sorted out is more to it. And Topping has been impressively light on their feet to fix things. Just my guess, but DX5II strikes me as highly educational for them. Bet they learned a lot. Which is promising for their future devices.

And when they really get the hang of it, I suppose they will have more manpower for developing their PEQ software/clients as well.

This is going well. Very well.

 

[sansenri]

I'm not doubting the usefulness of ASR guys beta testing the device, although I'm not fully convinced that's how it should go.

In my opinion there are still too many uncertainties, I'll keep watching here...

 

[pier25]

Have been trying the new 15.69.22.69 firmware. After a couple of hours I started getting the random clicks again. I'm on macOS and running at 48k.

 

[sansenri]

I'm no engineer, but sounds somewhat strange to me that faults are so erratic, if something is wrong why is it not wrong from beginning, why do faults show up after hours of use?

 

[pier25]

I'm no engineer, but sounds somewhat strange to me that faults are so erratic, if something is wrong why is it not wrong from beginning, why do faults show up after hours of use?

No idea. Maybe overheating or some memory leak in the firmware code.

My unit does get warm to the touch but nothing extreme.

 

[Soundproof]

I'm not doubting the usefulness of ASR guys beta testing the device, although I'm not fully convinced that's how it should go.

In my opinion there are still too many uncertainties, I'll keep watching here...

People do of course expect fully working products, that's for sure, and each must decide if or when it's time. People have different tolerances and different expectations for being qick getting new products

 

[sansenri]

No idea. Maybe overheating or some memory leak in the firmware code.

My unit does get warm to the touch but nothing extreme.

I trust not heat, as that would be a hardware problem, I assume...