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Topping Centaurus R2R DAC Review

Rate this R2R DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 18 6.4%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 69 24.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 140 49.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 54 19.2%

  • Total voters
    281
‘Audiophiles’ belief that an earlier version of something is always better, Cd was better than streaming, vinyl was better than CD, it’s a men of a certain age, issue.
Keith
 
‘Audiophiles’ belief that an earlier version of something is always better, Cd was better than streaming, vinyl was better than CD, it’s a men of a certain age, issue.
Keith
It sounds like those people that think that modernity has caused degradation to society, and we have to bring back things they associate with better days.
 
‘Audiophiles’ belief that an earlier version of something is always better, Cd was better than streaming, vinyl was better than CD, it’s a men of a certain age, issue.
Keith
The first CD-players had only 14 bit DAC's (Philips) with its impact to the sound. Some of the early facts from a new system are burned in the common memory and generalized forever.
 
I don't even think 14-bits was the real issue anyway.
I don't think there ever was an issue - other than "it sounds different from my vinyl" (possibly flatter top end) therefore bad.

I'd be prepared to bet some subjective luddite reviewer listed a load of subjective "faults" with digital which was repeated by others and entered the mythology as a bogeyman.
 
The first CD-players had only 14 bit DAC's (Philips) with its impact to the sound. Some of the early facts from a new system are burned in the common memory and generalized forever.
1983 Philips 14bits DACs achieved 16bits thanks to oversampling and noise shaping, today’s tech :)
 
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What is the heritage of the enthusiasm for R2R? I mean, how did it begin?
Some of the first 1bit implementations were less performing than SOTA R2R of the time.
And so some said they made no sense, as some say the Topping in discussion here makes no sense compared to other 1bit “better performing” DACs.
Different times, same underlying reason.

Let’s wait 30 more years and maybe someone will ask “What is the heritage of the enthusiasm for 1Bit? I mean, how did it begin?”

:)
 
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This is a review, detailed measurements and listening test of the Topping Centaurus R2R stereo balanced DAC with PEQ filter support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $999.
View attachment 413793
The unit has the elegant look of the new Topping DACs with high resolution, high contrast screen, nicely highlighting the volume level. It is fully graphic and can be changed to show spectrum, VU, etc. The included Bluetooth remote felt like it had a slight lag to it. Nothing serious but I don't remember this before. There is no rotary volume control. I use the remote for home use but on desktop, a rotary control is nicer for quick adjustments. Back panel shows the nice feature set we have grown to like from Topping:
View attachment 413794
Of note, we have the very useful trigger in/out for automatic turn on/off of downstream amplifier.

As the heading indicates, this is Topping's first discrete "R2R" DAC instead of using an integrated DAC solution. R2R performance can range from close to awful to respectable -- but never as good as IC based solutions. Let's see where the Centaurus lands. All tests are in default 4 volt mode instead of 5 volts (and "PRE" mode).

If you are not familiar with my DAC measurements, please watch this video first:

Topping Centaurus R2R DAC Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard with XLR output:
View attachment 413795
This is better than I expected! Topping says THD+N is better than 0.0005% and we are getting half of that, resulting in the Centaurus landing in our "Excellent" category:
View attachment 413796
View attachment 413797

Harmonic distortion is higher than state of the art but all peaks are below -120 dB, making them inaudible.

RCA performance is naturally a bit lower:
View attachment 413800

Noise performance is essentially state of the art:
View attachment 413801

Jitter test output is not as squeaky clean as we normally see from Topping but is transparent:
View attachment 413802

Distortion was kept in check with our punishing 50 Hz tone into 600 ohm load:
View attachment 413807

Where we go sideways with R2R is in mid levels:
View attachment 413803

We have about 20 to 25 dB more distortion and noise at -33 dB than state of the art DACs. The quietness that topping brings to the table shows up at the start of the sweep where distortion is still very low.

Linearity however, has taken the smallest, negligible hit:
View attachment 413804

Edit: forgot to include multitone:

View attachment 413998
I was disappointed that none of the filter settings resulted in flat frequency response to 20 kHz:
View attachment 413805
View attachment 413806
On the other hand R2R fans get full menu of what they are asking with myriad of filter settings.

With default filter, there is still some out of band noise to reduce performance but impact is low:
View attachment 413808
Go to "non-oversampling" mode and ultrasonic noise shoots through the noise, causing that off-the-charts green line. Best not to have a tweeter that attempts to go above 20 kHz!

Topping Centaurus R2R DAC Listening Tests
I gave the DAC a quick test to see if I can the magic of R2R DAC. Connected the XLR output to Topping A90 headphone amp and drove the Dan Clark E3 headphone with it. I Was listening to one of my favorite tracks from Civil Wars, the remake of Billie Jean on the RME ADI-2 Pro. After quickly moved the headphone jack to Centaurus A90 chain, I noticed the highs collapse a bit but raspiness of the Jean-Paul White became more pronounced and pleasing! Was quite a surprise until I plug the headphone back into the RME, cranked up the volume to similar level and it too produced the same sound. Teaches me not to do sighted tests like this. :)

Conclusions
Objective performance of Centaurus seems to be the best that can be done with R2R technology. Topping brings to the table ultra low noise, equalization and great packaging, offsetting some of the shortcomings of that technology. Ultimately it can only polish that so much. Fortunately, distortion levels are likely still well below audibility, sans the rolled off highs that may be audible to younger folks. They should keep in mind as they change filters that the roll off changes with it.

Once a month someone asks me what R2R DAC they should buy. They say they have tried all the ESS/AKM DACs and want to play with something new. When I tell them I have nothing to recommend, some accept that, but others downright get angry with me! Now I can tell them to go and get the Centaurus and sleep easy that it at least doesn't compromise much fidelity.

While I would not buy or use an R2R DAC, I am still going to recommend the Topping Centaurus for those who want an R2R technoloy.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Hey Amir! How are you?

Just for curiosity. Why would you buy or use an R2R DAC?

Thank you for another great test and review :)
 
This is a review, detailed measurements and listening test of the Topping Centaurus R2R stereo balanced DAC with PEQ filter support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $999.
View attachment 413793
The unit has the elegant look of the new Topping DACs with high resolution, high contrast screen, nicely highlighting the volume level. It is fully graphic and can be changed to show spectrum, VU, etc. The included Bluetooth remote felt like it had a slight lag to it. Nothing serious but I don't remember this before. There is no rotary volume control. I use the remote for home use but on desktop, a rotary control is nicer for quick adjustments. Back panel shows the nice feature set we have grown to like from Topping:
View attachment 413794
Of note, we have the very useful trigger in/out for automatic turn on/off of downstream amplifier.

As the heading indicates, this is Topping's first discrete "R2R" DAC instead of using an integrated DAC solution. R2R performance can range from close to awful to respectable -- but never as good as IC based solutions. Let's see where the Centaurus lands. All tests are in default 4 volt mode instead of 5 volts (and "PRE" mode).

If you are not familiar with my DAC measurements, please watch this video first:

Topping Centaurus R2R DAC Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard with XLR output:
View attachment 413795
This is better than I expected! Topping says THD+N is better than 0.0005% and we are getting half of that, resulting in the Centaurus landing in our "Excellent" category:
View attachment 413796
View attachment 413797

Harmonic distortion is higher than state of the art but all peaks are below -120 dB, making them inaudible.

RCA performance is naturally a bit lower:
View attachment 413800

Noise performance is essentially state of the art:
View attachment 413801

Jitter test output is not as squeaky clean as we normally see from Topping but is transparent:
View attachment 413802

Distortion was kept in check with our punishing 50 Hz tone into 600 ohm load:
View attachment 413807

Where we go sideways with R2R is in mid levels:
View attachment 413803

We have about 20 to 25 dB more distortion and noise at -33 dB than state of the art DACs. The quietness that topping brings to the table shows up at the start of the sweep where distortion is still very low.

Linearity however, has taken the smallest, negligible hit:
View attachment 413804

Edit: forgot to include multitone:

View attachment 413998
I was disappointed that none of the filter settings resulted in flat frequency response to 20 kHz:
View attachment 413805
View attachment 413806
On the other hand R2R fans get full menu of what they are asking with myriad of filter settings.

With default filter, there is still some out of band noise to reduce performance but impact is low:
View attachment 413808
Go to "non-oversampling" mode and ultrasonic noise shoots through the noise, causing that off-the-charts green line. Best not to have a tweeter that attempts to go above 20 kHz!

Topping Centaurus R2R DAC Listening Tests
I gave the DAC a quick test to see if I can the magic of R2R DAC. Connected the XLR output to Topping A90 headphone amp and drove the Dan Clark E3 headphone with it. I Was listening to one of my favorite tracks from Civil Wars, the remake of Billie Jean on the RME ADI-2 Pro. After quickly moved the headphone jack to Centaurus A90 chain, I noticed the highs collapse a bit but raspiness of the Jean-Paul White became more pronounced and pleasing! Was quite a surprise until I plug the headphone back into the RME, cranked up the volume to similar level and it too produced the same sound. Teaches me not to do sighted tests like this. :)

Conclusions
Objective performance of Centaurus seems to be the best that can be done with R2R technology. Topping brings to the table ultra low noise, equalization and great packaging, offsetting some of the shortcomings of that technology. Ultimately it can only polish that so much. Fortunately, distortion levels are likely still well below audibility, sans the rolled off highs that may be audible to younger folks. They should keep in mind as they change filters that the roll off changes with it.

Once a month someone asks me what R2R DAC they should buy. They say they have tried all the ESS/AKM DACs and want to play with something new. When I tell them I have nothing to recommend, some accept that, but others downright get angry with me! Now I can tell them to go and get the Centaurus and sleep easy that it at least doesn't compromise much fidelity.

While I would not buy or use an R2R DAC, I am still going to recommend the Topping Centaurus for those who want an R2R technoloy.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

What in the circuit makes this an R2R DAC? In contrast to standard ESS/AKM chipsets?
 
If you’d need a purse, why would you buy a Louis Vuitton?

There’s no magic behind R2R conversion. It does the job as shown by Amir. So why not? Because it’s too expensive?

What to prefer: a per the books implementation of an ESS or AKM which delivers 120dB SINAD as expected, or a discrete somehow unique R2R not too far 111dB SINAD? Let people decide.

There’s life beyond pure performance based on one single metric. If you want inexpensive super high performance DACs, you have plenty.

There’s no “if you’re into science”, you just want to classify people in two colors. But sorry, there’s room for a rainbow of us.
Hmm, ok, I don't really think we're arguing, but I struggle to see the attraction of an expensive R2R DAC that performs "adequately" for regular readers of ASR. If you think there are plenty of good reasons for avid readers of ASR to buy this expensive R2R DAC vs other more rational options then ok, but they don't really exist, I'm fine with that conclusion.
 
Hey Amir! How are you?

Just for curiosity. Why would you buy or use an R2R DAC?

Thank you for another great test and review :)
I think Amir already replied to your question: “While I would not buy or use an R2R DAC, I am still going to recommend the Topping Centaurus for those who want an R2R technoloy.;)
 
Hmm, ok, I don't really think we're arguing, but I struggle to see the attraction of an expensive R2R DAC that performs "adequately" for regular readers of ASR. If you think there are plenty of good reasons for avid readers of ASR to buy this expensive R2R DAC vs other more rational options then ok, but they don't really exist, I'm fine with that conclusion.
I understand your POV.

I just think there are people not on a budget and willing to spend “stupid” money on a device as long as it delivers. On ASR, it means a SINAD that puts the device into the excellent ranking category of Amir, which this one achieves.
 
Hey Amir! How are you?

Just for curiosity. Why would you buy or use an R2R DAC?

Thank you for another great test and review :)
Amir actually said that he would not in the listening part of his review.
 
Because if you are an audio manufacturer would you say no to harvesting $$$ the some of the most gullible people on the planet?
Sure, My point was that most of the tweakos think there is something magical about legacy brands and that Chinese manufacturers of reasonably priced components don't have any of that magic that the Stereophile/Absolute Sound subjective reviewers claim to find in five and six-figure gear.
 
The problem is stereophile and aboslute sound, they sell dreams and illusion
 
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