TOPPING Audio Interfaces Coming soon！

[ra990]

The specs will be interesting to pro audio users, but they have a long way to go before proving themselves on the software side. I don't want a whole band with 8 tracks recording only to have drivers crash in the middle of the session. That's why I go with RME, mostly for their proven stability with their drivers but also respectable hardware and specs.

 

[jae]

Might be something to replace MOTU M2/M4 for a lot of people. Is it bus-powered?

 

[unpluggged]

Might be something to replace MOTU M2/M4 for a lot of people

Why replace it?

 

[jae]

Why replace it?

Well, I moreso meant "replace as a product option" if someone is in the market to buy something, not necessarily that someone would need to replace a perfectly good working interface. My biggest complaint about the MOTUs is that their headphone amplification portion is lacking in power, but knowing Topping's other products I doubt that would be an issue if it's an all-in-one device. Would be nice to have the mic inputs at the back too.

 

[HoberM]

As production is on going and the product availability is July, do you have some specs leak ?
I mean attractive ones

 

[PuX]

since everyone is complaining about the software of an unreleased product, I'll add an optimistic view:
it will be very easy to compete against existing affordable options because they are frankly not very good.

 

[Sokel]

since everyone is complaining about the software of an unreleased product, I'll add an optimistic view:
it will be very easy to compete against existing affordable options because they are frankly not very good.

I'm more interest about durability and clamp input voltage,I'm probably spoiled from E-MU about the former,it has tolerate every climate on earth,any mistake that can be done by a user and still going after 15 years.
And all that for 100 euro.

 

[PuX]

E-MU

that's a fun coincidence, I have a E-MU 0404 USB and the only thing that failed in the many years I've had it is the power supply, and I managed to buy a replacement for ebay.

would be great to see measurements and compare against modern options.

 

[Sokel]

that's a fun coincidence, I have a E-MU 0404 USB and the only thing that failed in the many years I've had it is the power supply, and I managed to buy a replacement for ebay.

would be great to see measurements and compare against modern options.

In terms of it's ADC i can measure something like this:



105db SINAD measuring Khadas tone,Amir's measurement with his top of the line AP is 110db SINAD.
Not bad I think.

(I have a gazzilion measurements with that if you look around my posts)

 

[computer-audiophile]

I'm moderately excited about what's coming and what the design looks like. Slowly, it's getting too much for me with the cheap stuff that spills over from China. I'm not impressed with it anymore.

Right now I have a little Tascam interface sitting on the table. I had bought it to try with my guitar, and then just left it plugged into my near field monitors, even though I have other DACs that have better SINAD. It does not sound worse than these, and I always have to like the look.

 

[PuX]

105db SINAD measuring Khadas tone,Amir's measurement with his top of the line AP is 110db SINAD.

it could even measure itself by passing from output to input, but really it would not be quite comparable to Amir's measurements because different equipment is used, probably different software etc.

I've seen some RMAA measurements but again those aren't really comparable to anything...

I do think it would show respectable performance for such old device.

 

[Trell]

it will be very easy to compete against existing affordable options because they are frankly not very good.

That’s not the case. One example is the Motu M2 that’s a very nice audio interface.

 

[kipman725]

I have the TASCAM US-2x2HR (a bit like the one above just more inputs) and have been quite satisfied with it as an audio interface, the drivers in windows 10 are flawless in my usage. I did some loopback measurements here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s/tascam-us-2x2hr-loopback-measurments.29212/ as use as a peice of test equiment I would be interested if SINAD in loopback could exceed 110dB (Hard!). Also interested in interfaces that are 4 in 4 out and interfaces that also have digital outputs. Mic pre-amps that can cope with dynamic microphones (high gain needed sometimes) are useful.

 

[Sokel]

it could even measure itself by passing from output to input, but really it would not be quite comparable to Amir's measurements because different equipment is used, probably different software etc.

I've seen some RMAA measurements but again those aren't really comparable to anything...

I do think it would show respectable performance for such old device.

Loopback?
Here's a couple:


1Khz SINAD



Multitone32


IMD DIN


IMD SMPTE

Transparent enough I would say,in normal listening there would be nothing missing.
And that is the smaller than yours,0204 USB powered (it gets a little better powered by external but the point is the raw performance achieved for beer money 15 years ago).
A lot of far newer ones are not as good even if they are pricier.


I expect A LOT better in terms of measurements from Topping but it has to be as durable too to prove itself in pro/semi-pro audio.

 

[AnalogSteph]

The specs will be interesting to pro audio users, but they have a long way to go before proving themselves on the software side.

Make it UAC2 compliant and license the Thesycon drivers, as others have done before. I don't think anyone would be expecting them to compete with RME for driver overhead at this point. They just need to get any major firmware kinks worked out, which seems feasible enough.

 

[192kbps]

Reminds me of Winamp, but it's a start isn't it?

 

[beeface]

I can appreciate why people think of pro audio when they hear "audio interface", but these days audio interfaces are also purchased by civilian consumers: bedroom producers, streamers, aspiring influencers, gamers.

If I wanted a Focusrite device I could just head over to the local shopping centre and buy one from a consumer electronics store.

I don't know how Topping will be received by actual pros, but if the right influencers and websites give these interfaces a positive review, they might sell a lot of units to an average consumer Googling "best audio interface"

 

[Doodski]

if the right influencers and websites give these interfaces a positive review, they might sell a lot of units to an average consumer Googling "best audio interface"

... and. Creating a support network that has answers for troubleshooting etc and it snowballs.

 

[restorer-john]

2 channels in July, 4 channels in October, and 8 channels in December.

Yep, right. The whole lot recalled and replaced in January the following year.

They've got no business releasing audio interfaces- they can't even make one two channel amplifier that lasts its warranty period.

 

[RickNRoll]

<Haha>, software engineering is too difficult for Topping.

I have some cheap chinese USB for non audio purposes. The USB software is terrible but it functions. For example, only works when plugged into a USB 2 port and not through a hub.