Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[dcolak]

i

So, these are on sale on Apos and Shenzhenaudio this week ($365 USD for the dac/amp combo). What's the verdict? Should I get these, or is there anything better in the price range? Coming from DX3+ driving HD800s.
Also, is there any difference in RCA vs balance interconnect? Which cables to get?

If you plan on using optical input do not buy D50III, it is cutting out 44khz 16bit songs on quiet passages. It simply does not work.

 

[alfalfa001]

Probably stupid question, How do you guys compare this combo to the RME ADI FS DAC if one can get it used for $700?

 

[VientoB]

i

If you plan on using optical input do not buy D50III, it is cutting out 44khz 16bit songs on quiet passages. It simply does not work.

That's a bit of a tragic bug.

 

[yourmom210]

Anybody know if setting an EQ profile via USB will keep while using optical? I'm looking for a cheap PEQ for my TV setup

 

[staticV3]

Anybody know if setting an EQ profile via USB will keep while using optical? I'm looking for a cheap PEQ for my TV setup

Just read the product page:

 

[Calypso1]

Anybody know if setting an EQ profile via USB will keep while using optical? I'm looking for a cheap PEQ for my TV setup

*The PEQ function supports up to PCM 192kHz/32bit. This function is supported only for USB input.

 

[johny_2000]

Probably stupid question, How do you guys compare this combo to the RME ADI FS DAC if one can get it used for $700?

Advice Requested: Topping D50 III + A50 III vs. JDS Labs Element III MK2 vs. RME ADI-2 DAC FS

Title says it all. Looking for advice/input on which of these to buy for desktop use with 80% headphone (NOT IEM) use: Topping D50 III + A50 III (cheapest + separates) JDS Labs Element III MK2 (best looks, all-in-one, USA-built) or splurge and call it endgame with... RME ADI-2 DAC FS (best...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[unpluggged]

RME ADI FS DAC

What is that?

 

[staticV3]

What is that?

RME ADI-2 FS Version 2 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the updated version 2 of the RME ADI-2 FS DAC and headphone amplifier. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The cost us US $1,149. The ADI-2 looks very nice in black with a bright, super responsive display (doesn't come out as well in the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It has built-in PEQ, like the D50III.

 

[unpluggged]

RME ADI-2 FS Version 2 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the updated version 2 of the RME ADI-2 FS DAC and headphone amplifier. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The cost us US $1,149. The ADI-2 looks very nice in black with a bright, super responsive display (doesn't come out as well in the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It has built-in PEQ, like the D50III.

I was talking about that nonsensical "RME ADI FS DAC". There is no such thing. And how could we know they meant the ADI-2 DAC FS specifically?

Of course I know what the ADI-2 series are, as can bee seen by looking at my signature And there are also other audio converters in RME range with the ADI designation, now legacy, starting with ADI-1 and including several variants of the ADI-8. It's just to be said that one has to be precise and specific when referring to some product, especially when it's just one product in a wide range.

 

[staticV3]

And how could we know they meant the ADI-2 DAC FS specifically?

What other RME product is there with "ADI", "FS", and "DAC" in the name?

 

[unpluggged]

What other RME product is there with "ADI", "FS", and "DAC" in the name?

"RME ADI FS DAC" is not a product name, so @overlord001 could have referenced any of the RME digital converters by using the term DAC as a descriptor. That's why I asked for clarification. There are many instances where the ADI-2 Pro and ADI-2 converters (not the ADI-2 DAC FS model) were called a DAC. And, for the sake of accuracy, it's important to note that ADI-2 FS and ADI-2 DAC FS are two completely different devices with dramatically different feature sets, though they both could be called "ADI FS DAC".

Having said that, I think I made my point clear enough and suggest not to go off topic any further

 

[Southernsounds]

I'm impressed with the clamorous reception among the most classically audiophile influencers of the D90 III Discrete. It's all praise and compliments about the "soundstage", "the warmth", "the image", etc. They are the same ones who are not able to see anything particularly good in the D50 III. The reality is that, if we trust the manufacturer, who does not usually deceive much with his measurements, the numbers of the D50 III are better in practically everything than the D90 III Discrete:

https://www.toppingaudio.com/product-item/d50-iii (specs tab)

https://www.toppingaudio.com/product-item/d90-iii-discrete (specs tab)

I see that we always come to this dark mystery where some ears seem to turn away from physics. The world where the worst sounds the best. A place where perhaps everything has to do with price and magic words like "discrete".

We know, of course, that the D90IIId's worst numbers are not audible, but that in no way could its measurements improve its sound over the D50III. What physical parameters produce all those magnificent sonic qualities that audiophile reviews perceive in the D90IIId? Sometimes I think that audiophiles perceive the greatest sonic quality as soon as the highs begin to fall a little on the decibel curve and the upper mids come forward. What they call "warmth."
I don't want to open a debate here about this, which is already debated in multiple threads on the forum. I'm just coming to a place where I'm really just as interested in understanding how our minds work in front of music equipment as in the quality of music equipment.

 

[alfalfa001]

"RME ADI FS DAC" is not a product name, so @overlord001 could have referenced any of the RME digital converters by using the term DAC as a descriptor. That's why I asked for clarification. There are many instances where the ADI-2 Pro and ADI-2 converters (not the ADI-2 DAC FS model) were called a DAC. And, for the sake of accuracy, it's important to note that ADI-2 FS and ADI-2 DAC FS are two completely different devices with dramatically different feature sets, though they both could be called "ADI FS DAC".

Having said that, I think I made my point clear enough and suggest not to go off topic any further

Sheesh dude..... I'm sorry my phone autocorrected some things or that I didn't type it correctly. Instead of "RME ADI FS DAC", I meant to type "ADI-2 DAC FS" Here's a link for reference: https://rme-audio.de/adi-2-dac.html
I hope this passes your scrutiny..... I'll go give myself 50 lashes for punishment....

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Is this Topping D50 III the better DAC against most build-in DAC's in integrated amps like the CXA81MKII, Arcam A15, Roksan Attessa, Musical Fidelity M3Si, Rotel A12/14, ...

 

[somebodyelse]

Is this Topping D50 III the better DAC against most build-in DAC's in integrated amps like the CXA81MKII, Arcam A15, Roksan Attessa, Musical Fidelity M3Si, Rotel A12/14, ...

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../cambridge-audio-cxa81-review-sample-2.34724/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...san-attessa-streaming-amplifier-review.46208/
I don't think we've seen the others measured yet.

 

[jmz]

What USB speed is required for this DAC?

I will have separate power supply. So I'm asking for data transfer speed only.

 

[staticV3]

What USB speed is required for this DAC?

The D50III supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480Mbps) at the most, but will likely still function at USB 1.1 Full-Speed (12Mbps).

 

[JOCoin]

The D50III supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480Mbps) at the most, but will likely still function at USB 1.1 Full-Speed (12Mbps).

You can actually change the usb speed setting in the menus. This is great as d50 iii can be connected via usb to game consoles that only use the old usb speed.

 

[VientoB]

I just ordered one on Aliexpress. Are there firmware updates it will need?