Topping Centaurus R2R

[Sonic-Wall]

In the last 3 years, number of new DACs coming out resembles a DAC tsunami! The only interesting thing is that Topping starts to integrate PEQ which puts them into competition with RME. For the rest I can't be bothered.

Actually there are already a number of companies that provide a DSP/PEQ in their DAC or streamer.
Eversolo, WiiM and Fiio provide already more advanced implementations including compressors, limiter, enhancer, room correction, 10 or more band PEQ, mobile app control, etc.

Fiio K19 - Innovative, 31-band high-precision lossless PEQ
The K19 features DEL (Dual Engine Limiter) technology, and through proprietary algorithms, the K19 can apply various audio effects such as dynamic range compression (DRC) and dynamic range enhancement (DRE) as well as an advanced limiter to prevent clipping. Also on the K19 is an adjustable 31-band high-precision lossless PEQ*, which supports direct adjustment of PCM 44.1k~192k audio signals without resorting to sampling rate conversion (SRC). For each band, the gain can be adjusted between a range of +12~-24dB and the Q value can be adjusted between a range of 0.4dB~128dB. And the PEQ curves don’t have to be used only by you – PEQ presets on the K19 can be shared between users. Being able to import and export PEQ presets opens up a whole new dimension to sound adjustment!
*PEQ adjustment is supported on Windows and Mac computers, as well as with the mobile control app 2.

 

[Soria Moria]

JDS Element 4 also has 10 band PEQ.

 

[Sokel]

Actually there are already a number of companies that provide a DSP/PEQ in their DAC or streamer.
Eversolo, WiiM and Fiio provide already more advanced implementations including compressors, limiter, enhancer, room correction, 10 or more band PEQ, mobile app control, etc.

Fiio K19 - Innovative, 31-band high-precision lossless PEQ
The K19 features DEL (Dual Engine Limiter) technology, and through proprietary algorithms, the K19 can apply various audio effects such as dynamic range compression (DRC) and dynamic range enhancement (DRE) as well as an advanced limiter to prevent clipping. Also on the K19 is an adjustable 31-band high-precision lossless PEQ*, which supports direct adjustment of PCM 44.1k~192k audio signals without resorting to sampling rate conversion (SRC). For each band, the gain can be adjusted between a range of +12~-24dB and the Q value can be adjusted between a range of 0.4dB~128dB. And the PEQ curves don’t have to be used only by you – PEQ presets on the K19 can be shared between users. Being able to import and export PEQ presets opens up a whole new dimension to sound adjustment!
*PEQ adjustment is supported on Windows and Mac computers, as well as with the mobile control app 2.

I see that Fiio underlines the EQ quality,as well as Topping at the advertising.
Thing is that this quality was not evident at the D50 III,test showed a rather bad one.

We have to start testing it.

 

[Burki]

This R2R DAC looks very interesting because it also provides a 10-Band PEQ and a nice display at half the price of the HoloAudio Cyan R2R DAC

My meaning it's a bit different.
I'm using currently as my main dac the Holo Audio May (but also many other dacs working here on other systems) and for this as R2R dac I prefer in every case NOS in combination with HQPlayer.
So there isn't any need for a PEQ (HQPlayer is here much better) in the dac itself.
The other point for me is the brand. How long will it work without troubles?
Sometimes, less it's more and so I'm thinking about to buy the Holo Audio Cyan 2 for my bedroom and not the "more fancy" Topping...

 

[Ahmonge]

So there isn't any need for a PEQ (HQPlayer is here much better) in the dac itself.

It makes sense if you use several digital sources connected to the same DAC

 

[Sonic-Wall]

Most people simply don‘t want to use a PC in their HiFi system and prefer a PEQ in their DAC/streamer.

 

[Soria Moria]

Most people simply don‘t want to use a PC in their HiFi system and prefer a PEQ in their DAC/streamer.

For the vast majority of younger people their PC is part of their hifi system. Wouldn't surprise me if they outnumber the ones who don't.

 

[Burki]

You don't follow my whole arguments.
As written above: Using an NOS dac like the Holo Audio (cyan 2 and spring don't have an oversampling modus and the oversampling in the may is terrible) an external oversampling is for me a must (I also don't trust topping's oversampling)
For realizing this, normally a computer will be involved (I don't touch them, while hearing) and so it's much better (PEQ in the topping is, also limited to 24/192) to use all the filter options for example in HPQ.
If you want to have a PEQ in the dac, I wouldn't use a R2R dac...

 

[mocenigo]

This seems to be something different from the D900.

TOPPING Centaurus R2R Digital to Analog Convertor (DAC)

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[Deleted member 81041]

It's nice to see you can store PEQ settings on the device for use when not connected to a computer.

 

[Deleted member 81041]

One last thought: I know the calculated SINAD is around 106, but then why does the image on Topping's site show around 110?

 

[NTTY]

They claim THD+N < 0.0005% which means SINAD > 106dB. And that’s what they show. Maybe 106dB is what they consider the minimum.
Proper measurements will confirm.

 

[welwynnick]

Proper measurements will confirm.

I don't think there's any reason to doubt Topping's specs, they've always proven to be comprehensive, honest and accurate.

The only qualification to that is they're always the best possible result, so if low gain or 8 ohm speaker load or 300 ohm headphone load or A-weighting gives the best result, then that's what's quoted. Amir's measurements are usually slightly worse, though there are a few instances where he matches them.

In Topping's specification page the AP FFT chart usually shows a lightly better result than the headline spec.

 

[maximit]

For the vast majority of younger people their PC is part of their hifi system. Wouldn't surprise me if they outnumber the ones who don't.

I also like the ability to quickly change my EQ settings on my Mac for different headphones/songs with one click. Changing it on the DAC is not as fast or simple.

 

[NTTY]

I don't think there's any reason to doubt Topping's specs, they've always proven to be comprehensive, honest and accurate.

There are no reasons to doubt indeed, at full scale. Where R2R suffered in the good old days was at lower levels.
I’d be interested to compare with BurrBrown of 3 decades ago, if only I could find some accepting 24 bits data. I need to search for that.

 

[solid12345]

For the vast majority of younger people their PC is part of their hifi system. Wouldn't surprise me if they outnumber the ones who don't.

I hate PCs for a hifi system personally because I don’t want a loud fan going on at the same time while listening in the background much less saving a bit of energy. I know I’m probably the minority though.

 

[raif71]

I hate PCs for a hifi system personally because I don’t want a loud fan going on at the same time while listening in the background much less saving a bit of energy. I know I’m probably the minority though.

I'm not a fan of using PC to play music, preferring to use DAP or dedicated music player

 

[Coverpage]

Hope they can beat Holo Audio May but looking at the SINAD seems unlikely

 

[Soria Moria]

I hate PCs for a hifi system personally because I don’t want a loud fan going on at the same time while listening in the background much less saving a bit of energy. I know I’m probably the minority though.

I don't like loud fans either. But my setup is dead silent at my distance. All Noctua fans running at 20% speeds.

 

[mattjones1811]

It's just Cyan2's module as Holo audio also sells these modules to other companies.

Specs are not as good as Spring or May but looks like better than those old PCM1704 chips and Soekris modules.

On the other hand, Cyan2 seems to have better build quality and supports higher samplerate over USB.