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Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

Thanks for the responses guys. Was hoping to avoid any influence on the sound output. I’m using usb in and optical out.
The option for S/PDIF output is one of the things I love about the D10B / D10S DAC. I use it for the balanced output; but I also have the option of replicating the output to a digital audio chain as well. Or to just continue using it the future for digital output only once I can replace my analog stereo mixer with a digital stereo mixer (currently blocked by issues related to clocking).

Of course, if you only need DDC functionality (i.e., USB -> S/PDIF), you could also use the D10S if your analog audio chain is not balanced. And there are USB to S/PDIF dongles for much less cost; though almost always only optical, so that isn't as much use if you need coax.
 
Hi, can someone confirm that this method works also with smartphone android? thanks in advance for the help
 
Hi, can someone confirm that this method works also with smartphone android? thanks in advance for the help
Yes something like that works fine with iOS. I see no reason why it wouldn’t work with android.
 
Is this still worth getting in 2024. I love the small size and the fact its powered by usb.

In the uk it sells for nearly £140 which in comparision to other more modern dacs makes this quite expensive. I suppose what im really asking is can this still hold its own.
 
Is this still worth getting in 2024. I love the small size and the fact its powered by usb.

In the uk it sells for nearly £140 which in comparision to other more modern dacs makes this quite expensive. I suppose what im really asking is can this still hold its own.
The D10B is a transparent DAC, so it's not like it'll ever become outdated or beat at music playback by newer DACs.

It's already audibly perfect.
 
The D10B is a transparent DAC, so it's not like it'll ever become outdated or beat at music playback by newer DACs.

It's already audibly perfect.
I make the same argument about modern audio in general. It’s very hard to improve from here. Maybe increase output but that’s about it.
 
Yes something like that works fine with iOS. I see no reason why it wouldn’t work with android.
I have tried with the adapter and a power supply connected, with 1hour of tidal and the screen off, the battery of the phone go down from 67% to 50%.
It's the same if I connect the smartphone directly to the dac so the adapter seems unuseful
 
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I have tried with the adapter and a power supply connected, with 1hour of tidal and the screen off, the battery of the phone go down from 67% to 50%.
It's the same if I connect the smartphone directly to the dac so the adapter seems unuseful
To charge your phone while using the USB port for audio output, your phone needs to support USB Power Delivery.

You can then use a USB hub with PD pass-through, like this one:

Primitive USB cable splitters without active electronics can only be used to split power and data going into your USB DAC, so that the phone is no longer providing power.

For this to work, you need to ensure that there's no USB VBUS connection (red wire) between the phone and DAC.
5c05315df15dc2.22026222.jpg

The majority of these splitter cables still have that VBUS connection, which means that the cable works even without an external power supply connected, which in turn means that the DAC will still drain your phone's battery.

You can either modify these cables by cutting the red VBUS wire yourself, or search for a splitter cable made specifically for this purpose, which comes without VBUS connection from the factory.

Here's one such splitter: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003097221593.html
 
I ve tried with the power supply included with my phone, oppo find X3 neo, only 5% of the battery phone. The cable is this https://amzn.eu/d/cOKlGu6

If I cut the red wire the consume of power will be even lower?
The phone remains quite cold during the usage so I don't think that it s in charge and there'snt the icon of the battery
 
I ve tried with the power supply included with my phone, oppo find X3 neo, only 5% of the battery phone. The cable is this https://amzn.eu/d/cOKlGu6
I'm a bit confused.

You use a Micro USB splitter cable with your USB-C phone?

If I cut the red wire the consume of power will be even lower?
If you cut the red wire, then no current can be drawn from your phone's USB port. All power for the DAC must then come from an external power supply.
 
To charge your phone while using the USB port for audio output, your phone needs to support USB Power Delivery.

You can then use a USB hub with PD pass-through, like this one:

Primitive USB cable splitters without active electronics can only be used to split power and data going into your USB DAC, so that the phone is no longer providing power.

For this to work, you need to ensure that there's no USB VBUS connection (red wire) between the phone and DAC.
View attachment 386575

The majority of these splitter cables still have that VBUS connection, which means that the cable works even without an external power supply connected, which in turn means that the DAC will still drain your phone's battery.

You can either modify these cables by cutting the red VBUS wire yourself, or search for a splitter cable made specifically for this purpose, which comes without VBUS connection from the factory.

Here's one such splitter: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003097221593.html
I have a similar cable and yes, the line that goes to DAP/Phone has a vbus. My cable is something like this:

1723768740253.png


Instead of cutting the cable part that goes to DAP (to cut the red wire), I elected to use 2 adapters, so the cable becomes something like this:

1723769062751.png


Zooming at the female usb-c to type-a male adapter (red usb adapter), I have put an electrical tape at the vcc pin thus isolating/covering it as shown below :
1723769700896.png


Using the splitter-y cable, now there is no power connection the DAP/Phone so no battery drain from the player device to the DAC.
 
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