Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

[jannek]

Hidizs S9 is a portable dongle. As far as I can see it doesn't provide an actual line-out to properly feed the SH-9.

In Amirs Review it had 2.1 V on the single ended output - what else could be required?

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I’m in a real dilemma.

Do I buy this and the SMSL SH-8S?

Or the EX5?

All I want is a transparent DAC and amp in between my PC and headphones.

 

[TheTalbotHound]

Is there any way to switch the filter on this DAC?

 

[jannek]

I’m in a real dilemma.

Do I buy this and the SMSL SH-8S?

Or the EX5?

All I want is a transparent DAC and amp in between my PC and headphones.

If the power of the EX-5 is sufficient I'd choose the EX-5.

 

[raif71]

Well, I wouldn't consider it that strange.
Shenzen Audio is probably watching this site and using it as an advertising instrument in order to boost their sales.
So.. they are happier, Topping is happier, ASR..., we are happier

 

[Toku]

Is there any way to switch the filter on this DAC?

There is none.
Everything is fixed and cannot be operated from the outside.

 

[Veri]

There is none.
Everything is fixed and cannot be operated from the outside.

But honestly the filter is fine. It has a completely flat THD+N, too. For this price range it seems perfect enough.

 

[TheTalbotHound]

But honestly the filter is fine. It has a completely flat THD+N, too. For this price range it seems perfect enough.

The one in the D10Balanced looks like the minimum phase fast one from ESS. And since ESS chips have a linear phase version of this filter that does not change THD+N, you don't lose anything by switching to the linear phase version.

 

[Veri]

The one in the D10Balanced looks like the minimum phase fast one from ESS. And since ESS chips have a linear phase version of this filter that does not change THD+N, you don't lose anything by switching to the linear phase version.

Except for some added latency MP is default in both AKM/ESS chips for that reason.

 

[maty]

I already saw several times a "bug" in Windows 10 while switching between internal audio and a DAC, or two DACs,.. and getting volume going up to 100% for one device even if I had set it at a lower value before.
I would never take the risk of sending 100% in active monitors, unless setting very low gain on the monitors...

Yes, it is a very bad idea. In my system all the sound is through JRMC thanks to https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/WDM_Driver if I do not execute JRMC there is no sound. And... startup volume is set to 10/99 (with 99 the sound is better than with 100 in my second audio system).

 

[usern]

Useless connection, only USB in, who needs Spdif OUT from a DAC?

I need it. I use D10s to convert USB -> SPDIF Coax.

 

[restorer-john]

I just wish someone, somewhere, would look at the lettering, fonts and placement on the Topping gear. They just screw up everytime and there is zero consistency.

Something the big Japanese players got right from day one. Long before anything was designed or laid out on a computer. And, they still get it right.

The front panel 'D10 Balanced' looks silly- an afterthought. The capital B is too small and it's squeezed under the display.

The rear panel is an absolute disaster. The lettering is not centred over the jacks, the L and R are different distances from the respective sockets, the USB lettering is not centred, the SPDIF out lettering is offset.

Make up your mind Topping, does the white outline touch the lettering, be spaced by a character, or some other random spacing on the same outline? Even the compliance lettering is offset.

There's so little on this tiny box. So little to get wrong. It's the size of a packet of cigarettes. Shouldn't be too hard should it? And yet the exterior just looks like it was done by a 10yo with MS Word and sent to the screen printers.

 

[raif71]

Will these cable work if I want to connect the D10b with a balanced amp ? These are the shortest cable I could find locally and if they work, then the connection will be neater than using 1m cables.
https://shopee.com.my/Gold-tip-1-4-...2.8503259601?adsid=0&campaignid=0&position=-1

 

[Zek]

Is there something about the output circuitry in the D10B that would make Balanced TRS-to-Unbalanced RCA cables—pictured below—cause a failure in the D10B?

 

[usern]

Will these cable work if I want to connect the D10b with a balanced amp ? These are the shortest cable I could find locally and if they work, then the connection will be neater than using 1m cables.
https://shopee.com.my/Gold-tip-1-4-...2.8503259601?adsid=0&campaignid=0&position=-1

If the balanced amp has XLR female inputs then yes

 

[jannek]

I just wish someone, somewhere, would look at the lettering, fonts and placement on the Topping gear. They just screw up everytime and there is zero consistency.

Something the big Japanese players got right from day one. Long before anything was designed or laid out on a computer. And, they still get it right.

The front panel 'D10 Balanced' looks silly- an afterthought. The capital B is too small and it's squeezed under the display.

The rear panel is an absolute disaster. The lettering is not centred over the jacks, the L and R are different distances from the respective sockets, the USB lettering is not centred, the SPDIF out lettering is offset.

Make up your mind Topping, does the white outline touch the lettering, be spaced by a character, or some other random spacing on the same outline? Even the compliance lettering is offset.

There's so little on this tiny box. So little to get wrong. It's the size of a packet of cigarettes. Shouldn't be too hard should it? And yet the exterior just looks like it was done by a 10yo with MS Word and sent to the screen printers.

If you want to bother someone for crappy design, take Audio GD. I wouldn't even mind their DIY "design" if at least performance would be fine - which isn't. OK, I'm an Engineer, no designer but I have absolutely nothing to complain about Topping design and am more than happy with performance.

 

[GeekyBastard]

I just wish someone, somewhere, would look at the lettering, fonts and placement on the Topping gear. They just screw up everytime and there is zero consistency.

Something the big Japanese players got right from day one. Long before anything was designed or laid out on a computer. And, they still get it right.

The front panel 'D10 Balanced' looks silly- an afterthought. The capital B is too small and it's squeezed under the display.

The rear panel is an absolute disaster. The lettering is not centred over the jacks, the L and R are different distances from the respective sockets, the USB lettering is not centred, the SPDIF out lettering is offset.

Make up your mind Topping, does the white outline touch the lettering, be spaced by a character, or some other random spacing on the same outline? Even the compliance lettering is offset.

View attachment 142638
View attachment 142637




There's so little on this tiny box. So little to get wrong. It's the size of a packet of cigarettes. Shouldn't be too hard should it? And yet the exterior just looks like it was done by a 10yo with MS Word and sent to the screen printers.

"Something the big Japanese players got right from day one." Sure they might did, but at what price point, and with what kind of performance? With this kind of price vs performance ratio and literally bargain price, you could just give me a plain metal box with basic I/O and I'll be happy.

 

[Labjr]

If the balanced amp has XLR female inputs then yes

If the XLR inputs were male, I'd be looking for another amp.

 

[Lupin]

If you want to bother someone for crappy design, take Audio GD. I wouldn't even mind their DIY "design" if at least performance would be fine - which isn't. OK, I'm an Engineer, no designer but I have absolutely nothing to complain about Topping design and am more than happy with performance.

If you like a design is pure personal preference of course. Just like not everyone likes the same whine.
Sure Audio-GD measures piss poor but personally I kinda like their design, nice solid build with "industrial" looks. To be honest I would not be able to pick my Audio-GD from my D30pro in a volume matched blindtest.

Restorer-john is more talking about the inconsistencies in the design then the actual design as a whole. He kinda has a point there although it never bothered me until now that I paying attention to it
Fot the Topping design as whole... well so many people so many tastes. I'm sure you can find a million people who love the Topping design and a million more who will hate it with a passion.

 

[Lupin]

Will these cable work if I want to connect the D10b with a balanced amp ? These are the shortest cable I could find locally and if they work, then the connection will be neater than using 1m cables.
https://shopee.com.my/Gold-tip-1-4-...2.8503259601?adsid=0&campaignid=0&position=-1

Thought @JohnYang1997 mentioned that cables are supplied in the box.
What would be the added value of the cables in the link?