Some info about Topping's incoming DX1 II

[Janox]

Good measured parameters are useless if the device is unreliable, unpredictable, and capable of destroying the rest of the sound system. Loud clicking and distortion are not good for speakers.

 

[snadge]

I've been streaming 44.1khz lossless from Spotify for about 6 hours or so now, with no issues. The fact that I can't reproduce the issue I had before (extremely loud and intermittent distortion), is actually kind of scary if anything. Others have said that 48khz seems to be the issue, and when I had the issue it was after about an hour or two of streaming Amazon Music which is 48khz. The fact that I use pipewire/ALSA on Linux should be inconsequential, but the graph rate (the sampling rate pipewire mixes at) is determined by the stream. So if I switch from Spotify (44.1khz) to Amazon Music or Youtube videos (48khz), it will switch to that frequency. So given I can't reproduce the problem with Spotify at 44.1khz, I will try switching back to Amazon Music (48khz) and see how it goes. This time, if it happens, I'll record a video of it on my phone.

It's worth noting that the issues others report with the popping and the clicking out the RCA outputs is definitely a thing. Perhaps it could be mitigated with a fast mute/unmute whenever the device re-initializes or starts streaming. Who knows. Given how annoying it is, I would hope this matter gets some attention. I'm crossing my fingers a firmware update can alleviate this, as this is otherwise an excellent device with very good measurements as everyone has seen.

I also use the device in UAC 2.0 mode, which shouldn't matter, but just for reference. The only thing I used Windows for was to reboot and install the updated firmware. I can report that foobar2000 works fine with the asio drivers, and can play native DSD64/DSD256 etc. However, I don't really use Windows, and would only do so if someone wanted me to do further tests for whatever reason.

*EDIT* .. Good news everyone! I managed to reproduce the problem and take a video of it this time. It takes a few hours, but it seems I can do it reliably by using Amazon Music at 48khz. Here's a crappy 2 minute YouTube video that illustrates how it sounds. (sorry about the quality)
Topping DX1 II 48khz issue with firmware 15.69.22.69

 

[giraffe]

I've been streaming 44.1khz lossless from Spotify for about 6 hours or so now, with no issues. The fact that I can't reproduce the issue I had before (extremely loud and intermittent distortion), is actually kind of scary if anything. Others have said that 48khz seems to be the issue, and when I had the issue it was after about an hour or two of streaming Amazon Music which is 48khz. The fact that I use pipewire/ALSA on Linux should be inconsequential, but the graph rate (the sampling rate pipewire mixes at) is determined by the stream. So if I switch from Spotify (44.1khz) to Amazon Music or Youtube videos (48khz), it will switch to that frequency. So given I can't reproduce the problem with Spotify at 44.1khz, I will try switching back to Amazon Music (48khz) and see how it goes. This time, if it happens, I'll record a video of it on my phone.

It's worth noting that the issues others report with the popping and the clicking out the RCA outputs is definitely a thing. Perhaps it could be mitigated with a fast mute/unmute whenever the device re-initializes or starts streaming. Who knows. Given how annoying it is, I would hope this matter gets some attention. I'm crossing my fingers a firmware update can alleviate this, as this is otherwise an excellent device with very good measurements as everyone has seen.

I also use the device in UAC 2.0 mode, which shouldn't matter, but just for reference. The only thing I used Windows for was to reboot and install the updated firmware. I can report that foobar2000 works fine with the asio drivers, and can play native DSD64/DSD256 etc. However, I don't really use Windows, and would only do so if someone wanted me to do further tests for whatever reason.

*EDIT* .. Good news everyone! I managed to reproduce the problem and take a video of it this time. It takes a few hours, but it seems I can do it reliably by using Amazon Music at 48khz. Here's a crappy 2 minute YouTube video that illustrates how it sounds. (sorry about the quality)
Topping DX1 II 48khz issue with firmware 15.69.22.69

yep, something similar is happening to me. But "noise attacks" are a little shorter and occur less frequently.

 

[Dreamic]

*EDIT* .. Good news everyone! I managed to reproduce the problem and take a video of it this time. It takes a few hours, but it seems I can do it reliably by using Amazon Music at 48khz. Here's a crappy 2 minute YouTube video that illustrates how it sounds. (sorry about the quality)
Topping DX1 II 48khz issue with firmware 15.69.22.69

Even listening to this at 1:30 almost killed me. Topping needs a firmware out this week, I've already emailed and pinged them once so.

 

[Bleib]

I don't have such a severe bug but it's not bug free yet, yes, it still needs fixing

 

[sansenri]

I've been streaming 44.1khz lossless from Spotify for about 6 hours or so now, with no issues. The fact that I can't reproduce the issue I had before (extremely loud and intermittent distortion), is actually kind of scary if anything. Others have said that 48khz seems to be the issue, and when I had the issue it was after about an hour or two of streaming Amazon Music which is 48khz. The fact that I use pipewire/ALSA on Linux should be inconsequential, but the graph rate (the sampling rate pipewire mixes at) is determined by the stream. So if I switch from Spotify (44.1khz) to Amazon Music or Youtube videos (48khz), it will switch to that frequency. So given I can't reproduce the problem with Spotify at 44.1khz, I will try switching back to Amazon Music (48khz) and see how it goes. This time, if it happens, I'll record a video of it on my phone.

It's worth noting that the issues others report with the popping and the clicking out the RCA outputs is definitely a thing. Perhaps it could be mitigated with a fast mute/unmute whenever the device re-initializes or starts streaming. Who knows. Given how annoying it is, I would hope this matter gets some attention. I'm crossing my fingers a firmware update can alleviate this, as this is otherwise an excellent device with very good measurements as everyone has seen.

I also use the device in UAC 2.0 mode, which shouldn't matter, but just for reference. The only thing I used Windows for was to reboot and install the updated firmware. I can report that foobar2000 works fine with the asio drivers, and can play native DSD64/DSD256 etc. However, I don't really use Windows, and would only do so if someone wanted me to do further tests for whatever reason.

*EDIT* .. Good news everyone! I managed to reproduce the problem and take a video of it this time. It takes a few hours, but it seems I can do it reliably by using Amazon Music at 48khz. Here's a crappy 2 minute YouTube video that illustrates how it sounds. (sorry about the quality)
Topping DX1 II 48khz issue with firmware 15.69.22.69

thank you for testing again and reproducing at least one of the faults reported from several users. Please send the video to Topping, thanks!

 

[NTTY]

This is as bad as it sounds! I don’t know the cause and I did not experienced that. It is obviously not bug free indeed.

 

[sphenicstands]

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.

I can't say with 100% certainty because I didn't capture the product page but I'm pretty sure the marketing material on the DX1 II product page has advertised Switch and PS5 UAC1 compatibility from the start and yet they've only implemented support in the v2.69 firmware, judging from the change log. So I'm not convinced the other issues are a case of "combinations they never thought of" but perhaps are a result of an attitude of "ship first, fix later". Almost as if they're dependent on DX1 II sales to fund continued development. For unimplemented features, this could be acceptable if the product page stated certain features will be available in future firmware updates but failing that, reeks of false advertising.

v2.69 quote:

"Improved: UAC 1.0 compatibility, now supports Switch 2, PS5, and other devices
New: UAC 1.0 microphone input"

Good measured parameters are useless if the device is unreliable, unpredictable, and capable of destroying the rest of the sound system. Loud clicking and distortion are not good for speakers.

This. It seems to be failing miserably at its core functionality of converting digital to analog. Even if it's eventually fixed, I'd be reluctant to give money to Topping. Their approach seems more appropriate for a kickstarter, where they could be very up front about expected early instability but IMHO, is totally inappropriate for a product offered at retail.

 

[Soundproof]

I can't say with 100% certainty because I didn't capture the product page but I'm pretty sure the marketing material on the DX1 II product page has advertised Switch and PS5 UAC1 compatibility from the start and yet they've only implemented support in the v2.69 firmware, judging from the change log. So I'm not convinced the other issues are a case of "combinations they never thought of" but perhaps are a result of an attitude of "ship first, fix later". Almost as if they're dependent on DX1 II sales to fund continued development. For unimplemented features, this could be acceptable if the product page stated certain features will be available in future firmware updates but failing that, reeks of false advertising.

v2.69 quote:

"Improved: UAC 1.0 compatibility, now supports Switch 2, PS5, and other devices
New: UAC 1.0 microphone input"


This. It seems to be failing miserably at its core functionality of converting digital to analog. Even if it's eventually fixed, I'd be reluctant to give money to Topping. Their approach seems more appropriate for a kickstarter, where they could be very up front about expected early instability but IMHO, is totally inappropriate for a product offered at retail.

I might be something I missed and I therefore ask:

Are there ANY known HARDWARE issues as in faulty components, faulty assembly, faulty/bad hardware design, causing any deviation from or causing sub-spec perfomance or failures?

 

[Mike123]

I wonder where the respected community, which believes that Topping should be banned from selling such terrible equipment, finds alternatives to this bad product?

 

[Bleib]

I might be something I missed and I therefore ask:

Are there ANY known HARDWARE issues as in faulty components, faulty assembly, faulty/bad hardware design, causing any deviation from or causing sub-spec perfomance or failures?

Everything indicates that the bugs occur @ firmware level

 

[Soundproof]

Everything indicates that the bugs occur @ firmware level

Thanks Bleib,
By the looks of it, there might be storage limitations for firmware/software (if max 3 PEQ profiles stored is an indicator), thus storage might or may not be a limitation to what can be done with the firmware. Beyond that, I can't really think of good reasons preventing all issues to be solved.

Perhaps the conclusion of "permanent failure and a write-off" is as premature as the claimed prematurity of the product release

 

[SlowLife]

Thanks Bleib,
By the looks of it, there might be storage limitations for firmware/software (if max 3 PEQ profiles stored is an indicator), thus storage might or may not be a limitation to what can be done with the firmware. Beyond that, I can't really think of good reasons preventing all issues to be solved.

Perhaps the conclusion of "permanent failure and a write-off" is as premature as the claimed prematurity of the product release

The screen can only display EQ1, EQ2, and EQ3, so Local PEQ can only save 3 profiles, which makes sense.
Cloud PEQ can save 20 profiles.

 

[VientoB]

I wonder where the respected community, which believes that Topping should be banned from selling such terrible equipment, finds alternatives to this bad product?

That's a good point. It's a pioneering product at its price point.

 

[Dreamic]

That's a good point. It's a pioneering product at its price point.

It's technically a broken product currently, but yea it can become a pioneering product once it's finished being developed.

 

[Mike123]

It's technically a broken product currently, but yea it can become a pioneering product once it's finished being developed.

Technically, this is an excellent product. It has certain drawbacks for some users in certain configurations. I understand when the owner says this product is bad for me and not suitable for me. I don't understand when the owner says this product is bad for everyone and not suitable for anyone. That's not true. Well, I can understand the DX5 II owners. They were pioneers with DAC with PEQ. They paid $300, and they didn't expect the DAC to be so crude. But I don't understand people who, a year after lengthy threads about the DX5 II, buy another Topping DAC for $130 and keep making the same mistakes (although let's be honest, Topping is learning and has far fewer problems).

 

[VientoB]

It's technically a broken product currently, but yea it can become a pioneering product once it's finished being developed.

It's not entirely broken, is it? For the vast majority of situations it's going to work.

 

[VientoB]

Technically, this is an excellent product. It has certain drawbacks for some users in certain configurations. I understand when the owner says this product is bad for me and not suitable for me. I don't understand when the owner says this product is bad for everyone and not suitable for anyone. That's not true. Well, I can understand the DX5 II owners. They were pioneers with DAC with PEQ. They paid $300, and they didn't expect the DAC to be so crude. But I don't understand people who, a year after lengthy threads about the DX5 II, buy another Topping DAC for $130 and keep making the same mistakes (although let's be honest, Topping is learning and has far fewer problems).

Well the DX1 II actually has better features than the DX5 II which I have. You can use PEQ with all inputs, it has a headphone amplifier, and the screen looks to be more readable as well.

 

[Matias]

Working perfectly for me from day 1, so do not generalize. Maybe it is one of those "vocal minority, silent majority" situations.

 

[Mike123]

Maybe it is one of those "vocal minority, silent majority" situations.

It's always like this. Dissatisfied people are more willing to vent their dissatisfaction. Satisfied people simply take advantage and remain silent. I alone bear the brunt of the satisfied owners .