Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[Calypso1]

You were right!
I loaded the HD650's raw frequency response curve into the 'Source FR' tab and it showed up on the graph with the Source FR slider enabled.
This also changed the shape of the Filtered FR curve to a "Raw headphones + Combined filter" curve.
View attachment 393427

Can you share the file containing the raw FR? I have tried to upload a raw FR file for my Hifiman Arya Organic but the format must not be compatible. Thanks.

 

[johny_2000]

Can you share the file containing the raw FR? I have tried to upload a raw FR file for my Hifiman Arya Organic but the format must not be compatible. Thanks.

Here you go.
I took it from the AutoEq/results/oratory1990/over-ear/ database and removed all other columns except frequency - raw in the CSV table.

 

[staticV3]

Here you go.
I took it from the AutoEq/results/oratory1990/over-ear/ database and removed all other columns except frequency - raw in the CSV table.

No need to edit the file if you take it straight out of the AutoEQ "Measurements" folder: AutoEQ/measurements/oratory1990/data/over-ear/Sennheiser HD 650.csv

 

[Calypso1]

No need to edit the file if you take it straight out of the AutoEQ "Measurements" folder: AutoEQ/measurements/oratory1990/data/over-ear/Sennheiser HD 650.csv

I checked the database and the Arya Organic is not measured yet. Are you aware of any other sources? Thanks in advance.

 

[johny_2000]

I checked the database and the Arya Organic is not measured yet. Are you aware of any other sources? Thanks in advance.

AutoEq/measurements/kr0mka/data/over-ear/HIFIMAN Arya Organic.csv at master · jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses - jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

github.com

AutoEq/measurements/Kuulokenurkka/data/over-ear/HIFIMAN Arya Organic.csv at master · jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses - jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

github.com

 

[Calypso1]

AutoEq/measurements/kr0mka/data/over-ear/HIFIMAN Arya Organic.csv at master · jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses - jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

github.com

AutoEq/measurements/Kuulokenurkka/data/over-ear/HIFIMAN Arya Organic.csv at master · jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses - jaakkopasanen/AutoEq

github.com

Nice, thanks.

 

[staticV3]

I checked the database and the Arya Organic is not measured yet. Are you aware of any other sources? Thanks in advance.

Proper GRAS and B&K5128 measurements here:

HiFIMAN Arya Organic - Official Thread

This is the place to discuss all things to do with the HiFiMAN Arya Organic. Here are HiFiMAN Arya Organic measurements. B&K Default (this is going to be the the new normal for representing data, which is compensated to flat DF and represented as a tilt, because nobody likes flat DF)...

forum.headphones.com

Can be digitized using WebPlotDigitizer or UsyTrace.

 

[johny_2000]

JDS Labs 3.5mm Interconnect Cable
Length = 3in (8cm)

I hope it's not too short. I'll let everyone know when I get it.

Ok, got it today and it is perfect in length, flexibility, durability and functionality.
Works great and there's nothing more to wish for!

 

[johny_2000]

The A50 III's input/output capabilities are higher than the D50 III's output specifications.
The A50 III specs provided by Topping used a higher input voltage of 7.8 Vrms to achieve a specified maximum output power of 760 mW @ 300 Ohms THD+N<0.1%.
When the D50 III is paired with the A50 III, the maximum input voltage is 5 Vrms and the maximum output power is 290 mW @ 300 ohms THD+N<0.00006%.
And the total combo SINAD is 125 dB!

Not that this is not enough for normal listening SPL with most headphones. For example, on Sennheiser HD650, 290 mW will correspond to 122 dB SPL.
The human deafening level is 120 dB SPL.

 

[Palladium]

Ok, got it today and it is perfect in length, flexibility, durability and functionality.
Works great and there's nothing more to wish for!

One reason I prefer all-in-one DAC/HPs: The extra cables add too much bulk and mess.

 

[staticV3]

When the D50 III is paired with the A50 III, the maximum input voltage is 5 Vrms and the maximum output power is 290 mW @ 300 ohms

That is true only if you limit the A50 III to Medium gain.

In High gain, the D50 III+A50 III can output 760mW per channel.

 

[johny_2000]

In High gain, the D50 III+A50 III can output 760mW per channel.

I'll check it tomorrow, but I suspect the THD+N will be much lower then.

 

[Haskil]

Yes, but all these give me more the impression of a "marketing gimmick" than a really useful addition which is also not clearly communicated and might lead to disappointed buyers.

Of course, we would prefer separate correction per channel, but imagine the following scenario: use this Dac topping to correct the speakers themselves, the corrections being identical for each of the speakers, then apply a correction after measuring the corrected speakers in the room in Roon, Audirvana, Jriver, Foobar or other?
Is this stupid?

 

[johny_2000]

I'm going to try this once it arrives in a couple of days:
View attachment 393370
The only thing is that the maximum current might be an issue.
One source mentioned that it can only provide 200mA to devices.
Let's see if it's enough for the D50 III, otherwise I'll return it.

Just so everyone knows, this USB isolator and the Topping HS02 work great with the D50 III.
Both provide enough current for the device.
And both improve SINAD by 3 dB (122 dB without vs 125 dB with).

 

[Revolver]

Hey everyone, I have a question about the volume control on this DAC for those with some experience. I'm considering purchasing it to use with some small speakers in my office at work, but I like having a volume knob so I can quickly lower the volume if needed. Does the volume on this work by tilting the knob up and down, and if that's the case, how quickly can the volume be lowered (to inaudible)?

 

[johny_2000]

Hey everyone, I have a question about the volume control on this DAC for those with some experience. I'm considering purchasing it to use with some small speakers in my office at work, but I like having a volume knob so I can quickly lower the volume if needed. Does the volume on this work by tilting the knob up and down, and if that's the case, how quickly can the volume be lowered (to inaudible)?

If you want a real volume knob, I would recommend getting a D50 III + A50 III stack. That way you can quickly turn the volume down at any time.
Otherwise, only the D50 III joystick (and remote) is a digital volume control, which takes quite a while, about 5 seconds, to reach that inaudible level.

 

[herr.jemine]

D50 III + L30 II (RCA) + PA5 II (BAL) works also nice, D50 is in "DAC-Mode"

 

[DLS79]

If you want a real volume knob, I would recommend getting a D50 III + A50 III stack.

This is the way.

I do the exact same thing with my D50s & A50s.

 

[Revolver]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think I'll use the headphone amp at work, and adding the A50 III would put me into a different price class, so I may need to look at other options.

 

[davmol]

I figured I would add a quick note here about Topping Tune. Amir mentioned in the review about how adjustments can't be made with music playing. This is indeed correct but for me it causes more problems than that, even if the music is subsequently paused. If any audio is playing when Topping Tune is launched, the following occurs on my D50 III:

• The existing bands within each Device Config (DC), which is the name for a custom pre-set stored on the DAC itself, are immediately disabled. The DC still exists on the device and can be seen in the Topping Tune GUI but all the individual bands / filters become unticked (and greyed out so they can't be ticked / made active again). This is also confirmed by the count of active EQ bands in the GUI going from 10 (for example) to 0.
• The DC selection directly within the D50 III device menu will freeze and can no longer be changed. The different DCs can still be selected in Topping Tune and this selection shows on the D50 screen, but all the bands are now disabled as per previous comment, so selection makes no difference anyway.
• DCs can still be added or modified in Topping Tune but the individual PEQ bands can't be set to active (ticked), other than the pre-amp value.

To fix this, I would each time need to unplug the USB from the D50 (and unplug USB power, as I use this separately) and then, making sure no audio is playing in Windows, plug it back in again. At this point the individual PEQ band tick boxes in the GUI are no longer greyed out, so they can be set active again and sent to the D50. It's quite frustrating (understatement) when I'm playing music on USB and forget about this issue, because just by launching the Topping Tune app, all the active bands are immediately disabled.

Hopefully this will be fixed in a future Topping Tune release but for now this is my process to make the PEQ Device Configs "stick":

• Ensure Topping Tune application is closed, not just minimised to tray.
• Change the Windows audio output to something other than Topping DAC (best bet in case any Windows sounds occur and freeze things)
• Open Topping Tune application and make DC changes as required (they are automatically sent to the D50 as per Amir's review)
• Shut down Topping Tune once done (again, fully close it, do not minimise to tray)
• Switch audio device back to Topping DAC and carry on listening.

Hope this helps anyone who has the same issue, or maybe has been sat there for weeks saying "weird how this EQ sounds the same as no EQ at all" ;-)