Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

[Helicopter]

Thanks Amir and @SHENZHENAUDIO I am impressed again. Incredible to include the Neutrik adapters at this price.

If someone doesn't want the adapters, send them to me

TRS is a great solution for the small form factor. Pro audio cables in any XLR/TRS configuration are also readily available at great prices.

I love the performance and the display.

 

[renaudrenaud]

 

[half_dog]

View attachment 142386

You could do one with the fast linear filter vs apodizing one.
Talking about it... @JohnYang1997 do you think that would be feasible to change D10s filter with a firmware update? Or even better, a D10s hardware upgrade with the same noise level of D10 B?

 

[PeteL]

There are Neutrik TRS to XLR adapters included in the box.

Wow, my brain fail to register that. I would have been impressed with any TRS to XLR connector but you guys went for the gold standard, very expensive European brand on a 139$ DAC, it just seems very overkill, Heck Around here those adapters are like 20$+ a piece... I don't get it there's some magic going on in Guangzhou. To come up with these pricing...

 

[JohnYang1997]

Wow, my brain fail to register that. I would have been impressed with any TRS to XLR connector but you guys went for the gold standard, very expensive European brand on a 139$ DAC, it just seems very overkill, Heck Around here those adapters are like 20$+ a piece... I don't get it there's some magic going on in Guangzhou. To come up with these pricing...

It's NOT Neutrik brand but I am pretty sure it's manufactured in China by Yongsheng(which is now owned by Neutrik AFAIK). But nonetheless, we had a few different ones, and this is the highest quality one we picked. It's not too expensive actually.

 

[taner]

An endgame DAC? I have 12x higher priced DAC but only +2dB better on SINAD. Jitter performance of D10B seems even better.

 

[Veri]

Wow, my brain fail to register that. I would have been impressed with any TRS to XLR connector but you guys went for the gold standard, very expensive European brand on a 139$ DAC, it just seems very overkill, Heck Around here those adapters are like 20$+ a piece...

It is Neutrik China-factory. See for example http://www.ghentaudio.com/part/a12.html
Yongsheng(Neutrik China Factory) Quality Gold-plated Plug

Jitter performance of D10B seems even better.

The jitter on both the DAC and the digital outs is particularly impressive. @WolfX-700 measured coax jitter too:

There are old studio external 'word clocks' that perform worse than this ...

 

[PeteL]

It is Neutrik China-factory. See for example http://www.ghentaudio.com/part/a12.html
Yongsheng(Neutrik China Factory) Quality Gold-plated Plug

I get that it had to be something like that of course, but still, here's what, as an end user, and yes I get as well the idea of volume pricing, but here's what I expect to pay for a china factory neutrik trs to xlr. How an amazing value Indeed! And yes they look different than the one we have but looks great quality.

 

[Walter]

Size? This thing is tiny.

Nice job Topping, I don't think you have many boxes left to tick except for more channels.

Yeah, as I had mentioned in a previous post, that is what I was assuming, as well. Just thought I would ask since it was being discussed.

 

[Vandemann]

I miss the coax in. So will many others.

 

[Walter]

I miss the coax in. So will many others.

I don't believe the regular D10S has that feature, either.

 

[raif71]

I miss the coax in. So will many others.

To me there's nothing to miss coz the previous version D10 and D10s didn't have coax in nor optical in

 

[Interference]

Great product, although a bit skeptical on its practical applications. My reason to get and recommend balanced DACs is to directly drive power amplifiers or powered speakers. Without an on-board volume control this become a bit less practical for that purpose.

On the other and preamps and integrated amps with balanced inputs are far less common.

But it's always positive to have affordable high performing options!

 

[jawbfl]

It's Neutrik brand but I am pretty sure it's manufactured in China by Yongsheng(which is now owned by Neutrik AFAIK). But nonetheless, we had a few different ones, and this is the highest quality one we picked. It's not too expensive actually.

I bought some Neutrik clones XLR connectors from AliExpress R Connector, they are very very good for a fraction of the price I wouldn't bother to buy the Neutrik branded ones.

 

[Walter]

Great product, although a bit skeptical on its practical applications. My reason to get and recommend balanced DACs is to directly drive power amplifiers or powered speakers. Without an on-board volume control this become a bit less practical for that purpose.

I would have said the same a year ago, but with the tests that have been done showing little if any negatives to using the volume control on my computer, this is exactly what I have been hoping for. Now I just need business to pick up so that I can actually buy this and some powered monitors and give this Logitech 2.1 system I've been using for the last two years in my office to my kids.

 

[jawbfl]

@JohnYang1997 can the USB provide the necessary power to drive in 4v? I see some similar DACs with an extra USB for power.

 

[JohnYang1997]

@JohnYang1997 can the USB provide the necessary power to drive in 4v? I see some similar DACs with an extra USB for power.

Voltage has little to do with power actually. There's extra inductor added so the startup current is lower than D10s now. So many Android phones can use it. Not guaranteed but the ones that work with D10, not with D10s, should be ok with D10 Balanced.

 

[jawbfl]

Voltage has little to do with power actually. There's extra inductor added so the startup current is lower than D10s now. So many Android phones can use it. Not guaranteed but the ones that work with D10, not with D10s, should be ok with D10 Balanced.

Thanks, I understand, I meant power (VxI), will it benefit from a more powerful USB source like USB 3 for example? or maybe split data and power into 2 USB cables?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Thanks, I understand, I meant power (VxI), will it benefit from a more powerful USB source like USB 3 for example? or maybe split data and power into 2 USB cables?

Like I mentioned it can run on majority of Android phones. So there will be absolutely no issue for PC or Mac.

 

[maty]

Great product, although a bit skeptical on its practical applications. My reason to get and recommend balanced DACs is to directly drive power amplifiers or powered speakers. Without an on-board volume control this become a bit less practical for that purpose! ...

Cheap DAC + cheap monitor controller

Behringer Monitor1 40 €
https://www.thomann.de/ie/behringer_monitor1.htm