Topping BC3 Review (Bluetooth Receiver) & BT CODECs

[staticV3]

I just ordered one for your recommendation. The performance difference in the tests seem to favor the BC3. But I will trust your judgment and give it a try. Just looking for the best option for my money

For use in your car, you can set the Power mode to On/Off upon charger, and turn off the 5K's charger:

Then power the 5K from a USB socket.

That way, the 5K will turn On/Off with the car, and the battery life will be preserved as it's neither charged nor discharged.

 

[thyristor]

Can this play 44.1 kHz without resampling it to 48 kHz?

 

[nagster]

Can this play 44.1 kHz without resampling it to 48 kHz?

AP dashboard for Topping BC3 (SBC and aptX).

 

[nagster]

Impulse response of Topping BC3.
At present, the AP Bluetooth module cannot handle LDAC, so I also measured with a USB Bluetooth adapter connected to a PC.

 

[nagster]

32-tone FFT spectrum with AP Bluetooth module.

 

[nagster]

32-tone FFT spectrum with USB Bluetooth adapter connected to a PC.

 

[Rja4000]

32-tone FFT spectrum with USB Bluetooth adapter connected to a PC.

So your adapter with the "Alternatve A2DP driver" is as good as the AP.

AAC is... not looking good.

(I guess you know I've published some measurements with the "alternative A2DP driver")

 

[nagster]

AAC(VBR and CBR) AP-dashboard of Topping BC3 and iFi ZEN Blue V2.

A Note Concerning Analysis of Pure Sine Signals Transmitted Using the AAC Codec

Explore how pure sine signals analyzed via FFT behave differently than when they are transmitted using the AAC codec, revealing amplitude modulation effects.

www.ap.com

 

[nagster]

AAC(VBR and CBR) 32-tone of Topping BC3 and iFi ZEN Blue V2.

 

[Grossmeister_T]

Hello to all,
I just got a Pro-ject Stream Box RS and I am looking for a Bluetooth Receiver with LDAC Support. The Topping BC 3 sounds quite very interesting. But I read when this unit is connected via Toslink to the DAC no volume Control from my Smartphone is possible which is marked in the manual. Is this still true? Or ja there been an Update? Or do you know an alternative device? What I would love would be for example the WiiM Pro with LDAC, but this doesn't exist so far I think.

Excuse the questions cause I am a noob.

Br

 

[DrZingo]

Standard Aptx does indeed play some serious games in the treble. If you simply play a sine sweep from 20 kHz downwards you can clearly hear all kinds of weird artifacts on Aptx that aren't there with SBC.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

OMG, new panther joined the family!

I almost missed the egg on his foot...haha

still cant get my ldac to stay on and OMG what a wonderful panther

 

[jannek]

I maybe found a pretty interesting device comparable to the BC3 (or even Xduoo XQ50 Pro 2) - the BerryBak BEA1. https://store.sure-electronics.com/product/796
Newer top-of-the-line Bluetooth chipset (also capable of AptX Adaptive and AptX Lossless), USB input, coaxial SPDIF output. Only thing missing (if needed) is a battery. Even cheaper than the BC3. Is anybody in the US willing to order it and have it sent to Amir for measuring?

 

[staticV3]

I maybe found a pretty interesting device comparable to the BC3 (or even Xduoo XQ50 Pro 2) - the BerryBak BEA1. https://store.sure-electronics.com/product/796
Newer top-of-the-line Bluetooth chipset (also capable of AptX Adaptive and AptX Lossless), USB input, coaxial SPDIF output. Only thing missing (if needed) is a battery. Even cheaper than the BC3. Is anybody in the US willing to order it and have it sent to Amir for measuring?

Nice find! I ordered one and plan to post some Bluetooth measurements.

Perhaps @VintageFlanker, @Rja4000, and @nagster are also interested?

 

[AndreaT]

Sadly, after a few months of non use, the touch buttons are all but unresponsive. It is fully charged, connected to 5v supply, little red dot is on, but no response to touch (locking switch is in the off position).
Any reset sequence? Any tricks to resuscitate this excellent Bluetooth receiver?

 

[nagster]

Sadly, after a few months of non use, the touch buttons are all but unresponsive. It is fully charged, connected to 5v supply, little red dot is on, but no response to touch (locking switch is in the off position).
Any reset sequence? Any tricks to resuscitate this excellent Bluetooth receiver?

I don't know if it's the same problem as yours, but my BC3 also stopped working a while ago. But I think the LED was still on.
In my case, I was able to use it after charging it with an old-fashioned 5V/1A charger. It didn't work with a newer charger that supports USB PD.

 

[Rja4000]

I was able to use it after charging it with an old-fashioned 5V/1A charger. It didn't work with a newer charger that supports USB PD.

Classical issue for a lot of those USB C devices.
I usually load them through a USB A to USB C cable, to bypass the PD protocol and get the 5V.

Some PD sources don't deliver power if the device is not able to communicate, it seems.
Which should not be the case, but...

 

[somebodyelse]

Some PD sources don't deliver power if the device is not able to communicate, it seems.
Which should not be the case, but...

That is often because the device designer failed to implement the USB-C spec correctly, as happened with the initial run of the Pi 4.

 

[AndreaT]

Classical issue for a lot of those USB C devices.
I usually load them through a USB A to USB C cable, to bypass the PD protocol and get the 5V.

Some PD sources don't deliver power if the device is not able to communicate, it seems.
Which should not be the case, but...

USB A to USB C cable, tried both 3A and 1A charger. It might not charge correctly as you suggest, because the LED goes dead as soon as I disconnect from charger. Oh well, Apple does not support LDAC anyway, so I’m back to an older Auris Bluetooth receiver…I listen to Apple Music only to guide my choice, and then purchase the 16/44.1 red book CD, as it sounds better after transfer to my Weiss server.