Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

[JohnYang1997]

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

Adapters not cables.

 

[Labjr]

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

Adapters are supplied. Not cables. If you need a short length of cable to attach to a component directly underneath those cables would work in place of using the adapters and XLR to XLR cables.

 

[Lupin]

Adapters not cables.

Aah ok, my bad

 

[raif71]

Adapters not cables.

Is there a picture of the supplied adapters ? ... forgive me if this has been posted before.

 

[JohnYang1997]

Is there a picture of the supplied adapters ? ... forgive me if this has been posted before.

I think people will start posting them very soon. I don't have any around. I found one TRS to female yesterday but it isn't it.

 

[kchap]

Adapters not cables.

My only worry is the DAC could overdrive my amp. It is only 6db but if the amp goes into clipping it could damage the speakers. I was thinking of inserting a balanced pad on both inputs of the Amp. Can the D10B drive a 3 kΩ load? I was thinking of using these values:

 

[pma]

I think people will start posting them very soon. I don't have any around. I found one TRS to female yesterday but it isn't it.

This?

Original:
https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/na3mp

 

[JohnYang1997]

My only worry is the DAC could overdrive my amp. It is only 6db but if the amp goes into clipping it could damage the speakers. I was thinking of inserting a balanced pad on both inputs of the Amp. Can the D10B drive a 3 kΩ load? I was thinking of using these values:

View attachment 142670

Easy.

 

[usern]

Is there a picture of the supplied adapters ? ... forgive me if this has been posted before.

https://nwzimg.wezhan.net/contents/sitefiles3604/18020413/images/4615184.jpg
it's TRS to male XLR adapter

 

[phoenixsong]

https://nwzimg.wezhan.net/contents/sitefiles3604/18020413/images/4615184.jpg
it's TRS to male XLR adapter

Oops missed your post! I hope there won't be jack strain

 

[JohnYang1997]

Oops missed your post! I hope there won't be jack strain

Using TRS cable is still the preferred and recommended solution.

 

[SEKLEM]

Those are outputs not inputs. Keep that in mind.

Correct, hence my confusion.

 

[Labjr]

Oops missed your post! I hope there won't be jack strain

I wouldn't want the weight or the bulk of the adapters plugged into the DAC.

 

[raif71]

https://nwzimg.wezhan.net/contents/sitefiles3604/18020413/images/4615184.jpg
it's TRS to male XLR adapter

I think I'll just keep the adapters and purchase the cables that I linked in my previous post.

 

[Lupin]

I sense an influx of adapters being sold on various marketplaces

 

[brandall10]

As an engineer, I absolutely adore this company. They're committed to sh*tting excellence every step of the way. You just know implicitly any product they put out will be *that bit more* instrument grade than the last.

 

[sam_adams]

No matter how I will not recommend it. All the needed information is published in the spec. I did my part. After that you have to be on your own.

This is a rather cryptic answer that does not instill confidence in the design choices that you seem to have made with this device.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

@JohnYang1997

This is now available at Amazon U.K., but only to import from China, which takes a while and, I suspect, will cost a tad more.

Do you know if Amazon U.K. will be selling these direct?

Many thanks.

 

[sam_adams]

If you haven't seen this, it is noted the D10 balanced does not support any adapter to single ended.
https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/666141.html

I don't know about the D10. In general going RCA to XLR inputs isn't a problem. There is a small chance of problems going XLR outputs to RCA inputs. The adapter may short one side to ground and if both sides are active that may not be good for the device. I'm thinking with the D10 that is the case. So listen to the guy who makes the D10 and don't use it unbalanced.

The "small chance" of shorting the outputs could arise if one was to be connecting or disconnecting cables from the balanced device while the device is powered on. This issue 'should' be handled by the output opamp's ability to survive a momentary short to ground condition. Many audio opamps as-well-as other general purpose and specialized devices that are readily available have the capability to survive indefinite output short conditions. What design choice in this device makes it unwise to use a balanced to unbalanced cable? How do you prevent someone who has just enough 'knowledge' to be dangerous from making the choice to run with B-to-U cables to connect this to their equipment? One has to realize that, right now at this moment, someone is ordering this device from Amazon with just that intention.

 

[Ranton]

For USA types, I spent some time looking around yesterday, and found that Monoprice sells TRS to male or female XLR Cables with gold-plated pins for less than $10, depending on length. Use their Cable Finder to locate them. If you want higher-end, one of my go-to cable houses, Blue Jeans Cable, sells balanced cables based on Belden 1800F or Canare L4E6S wire. If my prior experience with BJC is any indication they will be of first-rate quality, but will set you back $30 or more each.