Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[johny_2000]

Low gain is probably the same performance as Medium gain at same power/voltage output similar to other Topping products.

I suspect it is similar for the A50 III as well. So there should really be no downsides for using low gain.

I matched the output voltage/power when measuring the Mid and Low gain modes. And the Mid gain still had a better SINAD by a few dB. Definitely not audible in any case. Toppings own specs are also provided exclusively for the Mid gain level.

 

[DeDovla]

I matched the output voltage/power when measuring the Mid and Low gain modes. And the Mid gain still had a better SINAD by a few dB. Definitely not audible in any case.

Ah, okay, if you matched it to the same level and it shows a difference then all is fine. It just wasn’t specified in the original comment.

EDIT: In that case it's more similar to L30 II which exhibits similar behaviour (not power-wise but in the Low Gain giving a bit worse SINAD than Medium gain, however inaudible).

 

[gianluk]

With the D50III, I've recently purchased, I’m experiencing a lot of trouble with the COAX and Optical inputs when connected to my source Marantz SACD Player SA7001KIS digital outputs. The signal is continuously interrupted while on the DAC display appears the indication “unlocking”; this also provokes a lot of noise like clicks and bumps on the loudspeakers.
I argued that the problem could be caused by the source signal clock instability/jitter, so I tried to modify the setting related to the DPLL Bandwidth of the D50III (menu “Bandwidth setting”). Unfortunately changing the “Bandwidth setting” to any value has not any effect at all. Are we sure that the firmware is actually commanding the proper register in the ES9039Q2M device modifying the internal DPLL bandwidth?
This situation is very upsetting especially considering that the others two my DACs, both DX3Pro+ and E70Velvet, work very fine with exactly the same SACD Player source. In addition, the D50III works good with many other sources connected on Coax/Optical inputs (for example the coax and tosling output both from WiiM Pro and from Panasonic Blu-ray player output perform ok). So it seems a sort of very specific incompatibility between D50III and Marantz SACD Player. It seems by comparing ES9038 (PRO and Q2M) with ES9039 (PRO and Q2M) data sheets that ESS removed in the latest ES9039 the Jitter Eliminator function; this probably made the device less tolerant to source jitter. In fact the DX3Pro+ housing the ES9038Q2M managed flawlessly the digital input incoming from SACD player.
Do you think that the my D50III could be in any way failed and should be replaced or is an intrinsic low tolerance of the device by design?
Thank you for your opinion

 

[johny_2000]

Do you think that the my D50III could be in any way failed and should be replaced or is an intrinsic low tolerance of the device by design?

What firmware is on your D50 III?

 

[gianluk]

What firmware is on your D50 III?

Latest available from Topping : V1.37

 

[johny_2000]

I’m experiencing a lot of trouble with the COAX and Optical inputs when connected to my source Marantz SACD Player SA7001KIS digital outputs.

Do you use Coaxial and Optical cables at the same time?

the others two my DACs, both DX3Pro+ and E70Velvet, work very fine with exactly the same SACD Player source.

Do you use the same cables to connect all DACs to your SACD player?

 

[johny_2000]

Latest available from Topping : V1.37

There was information about a similar problem in the previous firmware update:
V1.21 (2024-03-26):
- Fix audio cutting out with Coax and Toslink input.
- The EQ config screen is no longer shown with Coax and Toslink input.
- On the device, the EQ setting is disabled when using Coax and Toslink input.

The issue may not have been resolved completely. You may try contacting Topping support via email.

 

[gianluk]

Do you use Coaxial and Optical cables at the same time?


Do you use the same cables to connect all DACs to your SACD player?

I use Coaxial or the Optical not both at the same time.
Yes, I use the same cables

 

[gianluk]

There was information about a similar problem in the previous firmware update:
V1.21 (2024-03-26):
- Fix audio cutting out with Coax and Toslink input.
- The EQ config screen is no longer shown with Coax and Toslink input.
- On the device, the EQ setting is disabled when using Coax and Toslink input.

The issue may not have been resolved completely. You may try contacting Topping support via email.

I contacted Topping support, they replied to me few hours ago, asking for more details.

 

[shaffenmeister]

Hi all,

does anyone know about the current rating of the trigger output?
Its specification only talks about 12 V but does tell nothing about
the maximum load attached to the output.

Thank you,

Chris

 

[johny_2000]

does anyone know about the current rating of the trigger output?

Should be about 100 mA.
What do you connect to it?

 

[shaffenmeister]

Should be about 100 mA.
What do you connect to it?

Thank you, this seems to be a 'standard'.
I currently plan to connect a diy PA03 Power amplifier module with an opto isolated trigger Input.

 

[johny_2000]

opto isolated trigger Input.

This circuit will require an absolute minimum of 5–10 mA to operate.

 

[shaffenmeister]

Has anyone had any problems connecting it to a PC and hear a hissing sound or interrupted sound while the DAC is connected via USB and the signal out via RCA into an integrated amp?

Yes, when connecting the DAC via USB to any of my PCs I see the following effects:

1. DAC powered via PC connection -> strong noise (ground loop?)
2. DAC powered via dedicated USB C connection -> medium noise

Problem is that the DAC automatically switches between power inputs so that I have to switch off the amp when putting the DAC into standby.

Best results for me with dedicated USB C power supply and toslink though the noise floor heavily depends on the USB power supply used.

 

[johny_2000]

Look back a few pages in this thread, I posted a couple of USB isolators that work well with this DAC and reduce ground loop noise.

 

[dcolak]

With the D50III, I've recently purchased, I’m experiencing a lot of trouble with the COAX and Optical inputs when connected to my source Marantz SACD Player SA7001KIS digital outputs. The signal is continuously interrupted while on the DAC display appears the indication “unlocking”; this also provokes a lot of noise like clicks and bumps on the loudspeakers.
I argued that the problem could be caused by the source signal clock instability/jitter, so I tried to modify the setting related to the DPLL Bandwidth of the D50III (menu “Bandwidth setting”). Unfortunately changing the “Bandwidth setting” to any value has not any effect at all. Are we sure that the firmware is actually commanding the proper register in the ES9039Q2M device modifying the internal DPLL bandwidth?
This situation is very upsetting especially considering that the others two my DACs, both DX3Pro+ and E70Velvet, work very fine with exactly the same SACD Player source. In addition, the D50III works good with many other sources connected on Coax/Optical inputs (for example the coax and tosling output both from WiiM Pro and from Panasonic Blu-ray player output perform ok). So it seems a sort of very specific incompatibility between D50III and Marantz SACD Player. It seems by comparing ES9038 (PRO and Q2M) with ES9039 (PRO and Q2M) data sheets that ESS removed in the latest ES9039 the Jitter Eliminator function; this probably made the device less tolerant to source jitter. In fact the DX3Pro+ housing the ES9038Q2M managed flawlessly the digital input incoming from SACD player.
Do you think that the my D50III could be in any way failed and should be replaced or is an intrinsic low tolerance of the device by design?
Thank you for your opinion

I have the same problem, with all the audio sources I have in home, chromecast audio and various cd-bluray players included. Useless via optical connection. Keeps cutting out. Running the latest firmware, did not help at all.

How can they sell a DAC that cannot play via optical input?!

This product should not be recommended.

 

[MWC]

I have the same problem, with all the audio sources I have in home, chromecast audio and various cd-bluray players included. Useless via optical connection. Keeps cutting out. Running the latest firmware, did not help at all.

How can they sell a DAC that cannot play via optical input?!

This product should not be recommended.

Maybe they expect most people to be using USB? I use USB and I have no issues like you describe. e.g. I can play DSD & DXD at very high rates, so I have no complaints on the quality of the music reproduction of the D50iii

 

[dcolak]

Maybe they expect most people to be using USB? I use USB and I have no issues like you describe. e.g. I can play DSD & DXD at very high rates, so I have no complaints on the quality of the music reproduction of the D50iii

I have no idea but a product with that kind of malfunction should not be sold.

I even know WHEN it's failing, of course, have no idea WHY.

If you feed it 24 bit depth it does not cut out. If you feed it 16 bit depth it cuts out on QUIET PASSAGES of a song.

 

[mackman]

I've got this stacked on top of a A30 Pro which runs quite warm and the feet don't add much separation. I'm concerned about blocking the vents on top of the A30 Pro and overheating one or both of the boxes. Thinking about putting some larger rubber adhesive feet under the D50 III to provide some breathing room. Anyone have opinions on whether that's a good idea or unnecessary?

 

[MWC]

I've got this stacked on top of a A30 Pro which runs quite warm and the feet don't add much separation. I'm concerned about blocking the vents on top of the A30 Pro and overheating one or both of the boxes. Thinking about putting some larger rubber adhesive feet under the D50 III to provide some breathing room. Anyone have opinions on whether that's a good idea or unnecessary?

I have created a 3cm breathing space between my D50iii and the headphone amp I'm using.