Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[Takura]

That sounds incredible - just like the experience I'd want to have!

Do you know if level matching / adjustments are also available - i.e., if in addition to the 5 EQ bands, high/low shelf, can you also set a Pre Amplifying level adjustment?

Not sure I understand your question, but the Volume and many other settings like e.g. cross feed are I believe separate for each of the 3 outputs and will switch automatically to the last used setting for that output, simultaneously with PEQ. After switching outputs, volume also start from zero and fades in slowly - very convenient and saves my ear drums, but I am getting so used to this, that I sometimes forget to dial down volume in other amp setups. ;-)

(Some settings like for DSD are I believe shared between outputs. Also, if you set it up for simultaneous phone/line output, one setting will be shared for both due to DSP limitation.)

 

[beaker152]

And if it does get an update, expect significant reduction in battery life.

I'd take a reduction in battery life over the continual annoyance of having to wait for it to wake up when I want to use it...

Is anyone else unhappy with it?

 

[Brianc]

I would like one of these but tempted to wait a couple of generations for the EQ system to become more developed

Same. USB only isn't of much use (to me anyway).

 

[johny_2000]

It will be interesting to see the results of measurements of the D50 III DAC paired with the A50 III headphone amp, as Topping intended. What confuses me is the inconsistency between the XLR and RCA characteristics of these units. The D50 III performs better with balanced output (expected), but the A50 III performs better with unbalanced input (unexpected). So how do we combine them then to achieve the best performance?

 

[VientoB]

It will be interesting to see the results of measurements of the D50 III DAC paired with the A50 III headphone amp, as Topping intended. What confuses me is the inconsistency between the XLR and RCA characteristics of these units. The D50 III performs better with balanced output (expected), but the A50 III performs better with unbalanced input (unexpected). So how do we combine them then to achieve the best performance?

Sounds like the A50 III needs updated.

 

[staticV3]

It will be interesting to see the results of measurements of the D50 III DAC paired with the A50 III headphone amp, as Topping intended. What confuses me is the inconsistency between the XLR and RCA characteristics of these units. The D50 III performs better with balanced output (expected), but the A50 III performs better with unbalanced input (unexpected). So how do we combine them then to achieve the best performance?

The performance differences between XLR and RCA input are miniscule and completely inconsequential.

No, the A50 III does not need updated.

 

[johny_2000]

The performance differences between XLR and RCA input are miniscule and completely inconsequential.

Well, the balanced input signal causes worse THD+N than the unbalanced one? -118 dB (0.0012%) vs -123 dB (0.00007%) respectively. And SNR/DR is also 7 dB worse. Something fishy about the A50 III's input stages.

Shouldn't it be the other way around?

 

[staticV3]

Well, the balanced input signal causes worse THD+N than the unbalanced one? -118.4dB (0.0012%) vs -123.1dB (0.00007%) respectively. Something fishy about the A50 III's input stages.

Not the first time this has happened with Topping Amps.

I'm guessing that the preamp is single-ended internally and so using Bal input there's an additional Bal->SE conversion step that adds some noise and distortion.

But again: the differences are tiny and inconsequential.

 

[johny_2000]

I'm guessing that the preamp is single-ended internally and so using Bal input there's an additional Bal->SE conversion step that adds some noise and distortion.

Oh, that makes sense. I'll have to look at the PCB to confirm that. And in that case, there would be no reason to use a balanced input at all.

 

[staticV3]

Oh, that makes sense. I'll have to look at the PCB to confirm that. And in that case, there would be no reason to use a balanced input at all.

Except that you'll still get the mains hum and EMI immunity of balanced interconnects.

 

[robertospeed]

Topping D50 III version V1.37 firmware update
September 5, 2024

Link: https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/d50-iii-v1-37gu-jian-sheng-ji-2

 

[johny_2000]

Topping D50 III version V1.37 firmware update
September 5, 2024

Link: https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/d50-iii-v1-37gu-jian-sheng-ji-2

The description in the changelog is messed up.

V1.37 HV:2.5 (June 21, 2024)
---------------------------------------------------
1. Fixed a bug where DSD playback was abnormal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
V1.30 HV:2.5 (June 21, 2024)
---------------------------------------------------
1. Fixed the bug where playing DSD sound abnormally

I hope the firmware file is not screwed up. It was modified on August 22nd. Two weeks ago. Probably, they tested it for stability at that time.

 

[John89]

Hi,
can someone confirm that the DAC display is always on (there is an dot in the lower right corner) even when turned off?

Thanks to everyone!

 

[Calypso1]

Hi,
can someone confirm that the DAC display is always on (there is an dot in the lower right corner) even when turned off?

Thanks to everyone!

Confirmed same behaviour.

 

[John89]

Confirmed same behaviour.

that's bad... I wonder why do that. Just a waste of electricity.

 

[Bleib]

that's bad... I wonder why do that. Just a waste of electricity.

Probably uses quite little (USB provides enough juice for it even with XLR output) but I'd be concerned about its longevity
SMSL raw mda1 turns it off completely, also has LCD

 

[robertospeed]

The description in the changelog is messed up.

V1.37 HV:2.5 (June 21, 2024)
---------------------------------------------------
1. Fixed a bug where DSD playback was abnormal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
V1.30 HV:2.5 (June 21, 2024)
---------------------------------------------------
1. Fixed the bug where playing DSD sound abnormally

I hope the firmware file is not screwed up. It was modified on August 22nd. Two weeks ago. Probably, they tested it for stability at that time.

Topping D50 III must get to me today, so I don't know what firmware I get to, you have already tried this new firmware V1.37 ?

 

[robertospeed]

But does this Topping D50 III turn on even if I don't plug the cable into the POWER input ? because I see that it turns on even if I only plug the cable into USB-C input only , how come ?

 

[audiojack]

Topping D50 III version V1.37 firmware update
September 5, 2024

Link: https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/d50-iii-v1-37gu-jian-sheng-ji-2

Did they add PEQ support for other inputs?

 

[Bleib]

Did they add PEQ support for other inputs?

Won't happen, chip limitations