Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[dcolak]

Has anyone contacted Topping about it so far? Someone must have?

I did. No help, "could not reproduce, send it back."

 

[bachatero]

Anybody else only rating this "fine" because EQ only works over USB?

 

[VientoB]

I did. No help, "could not reproduce, send it back."

I'll be contacting them then. What is the best way to contact them?

Did they send you a replacement unit?

 

[VientoB]

Anybody else only rating this "fine" because EQ only works over USB?

Is it "fine" when optical input causes dropouts with 44.1kHz material?

 

[dcolak]

I'll be contacting them then. What is the best way to contact them?

Did they send you a replacement unit?

You can send them email:

[email protected]

No, they said I should send it back to Amazon.

I´ve accepted the loss. It never sounded right in the first place, really dark, boring, disconnected sound it created anyway.

Benchmark DAC1 HDR, the good old one is far above it with nice, musical, lively, interesting sound, nice soundstage.

I´m starting to doubt the saying that "all DAC's sound the same, it's all in SINAD."

Same thing with amplifiers.

I bought two Topping LA90 and use them as mono-blocks. Those things HAVE NO BASS, at all!

I compared the sound to my NAD M3 and it BLEW THEM OUT OF THE WATER, with sound stage, imaging, bass, everything.

Again, I am starting to doubt the "all amplifiers sound the same, it's all in SINAD."

 

[VientoB]

You can send them email:

[email protected]

No, they said I should send it back to Amazon.

I´ve accepted the loss. It never sounded right in the first place, really dark, boring, disconnected sound it created anyway.

Benchmark DAC1 HDR, the good old one is far above it with nice, musical, lively, interesting sound, nice soundstage.

I´m starting to doubt the saying that "all DAC's sound the same, it's all in SINAD."

Same thing with amplifiers.

I bought two Topping LA90 and use them as mono-blocks. Those things HAVE NO BASS, at all!

I compared the sound to my NAD M3 and it BLEW THEM OUT OF THE WATER, with sound stage, imaging, bass, everything.

Again, I am starting to doubt the "all amplifiers sound the same, it's all in SINAD."

I like the sound of the D50 III. Sounds like other DACs I've used. The optical input problem is my only issue with it.

 

[dcolak]

I like the sound of the D50 III. Sounds like other DACs I've used. The optical input problem is my only issue with it.

You should try Topping E50II <- much better, much more open, live sound

Yup, I bought them all :-D

 

[VientoB]

You should try Topping E50II <- much better, much more open, live sound

Yup, I bought them all :-D

No, they measure very similar. There's no reason for one to have a more "open" sound.

 

[dcolak]

No, they measure very similar. There's no reason for one to have a more "open" sound.

Haha, that's what I thought too. And then I listented to them

 

[unpluggged]

Haha, that's what I thought too. And then I listented to them

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Audio Blind Tests and Listener Training (video)

I see so many people claiming to have done blind tests in youtube videos recently without knowing what it means to perform one. Also, the topic of training comes up with many abusing the term. So I decided on a whim to create a video on it. It is rather long at 44 minutes but you can speed it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dcolak]

Audio Blind Tests and Listener Training (video)

I see so many people claiming to have done blind tests in youtube videos recently without knowing what it means to perform one. Also, the topic of training comes up with many abusing the term. So I decided on a whim to create a video on it. It is rather long at 44 minutes but you can speed it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Right...

 

[pve]

Can someone please confirm if the D50 III in pre-amp mode actually changes volume on both XLR and RCA outputs at the same time? I'd like to connect my subwoofer to the RCAs and powered speakers to the XLR. I assume it does but I can't seem to find anyone commenting on this.

 

[frgmnt]

Can someone please confirm if the D50 III in pre-amp mode actually changes volume on both XLR and RCA outputs at the same time? I'd like to connect my subwoofer to the RCAs and powered speakers to the XLR. I assume it does but I can't seem to find anyone commenting on this.

It does, but they will both be adjusted with the same volume, meaning you don't get two separate volume controls for the pre-amp.

 

[pve]

It does, but they will both be adjusted with the same volume, meaning you don't get two separate volume controls for the pre-amp.

Great! That would be perfect for my use case. I would like to be able to sometimes not use the subwoofer to keep peace with my neighbors

 

[dcolak]

Just know this, remote control uses bluetooth, most of the times it's sleeping, you try to adjust the volume and it does nothing, so you keep pressing, there is a button to activate the bluetooth, so... most of the times it's: click on volume, nothing, click click click, nothing, hardpress and hold button to establish bluetooth connection and wake up the remote, go back to volume buttons... :-D

 

[pve]

Just know this, remote control uses bluetooth, most of the times it's sleeping, you try to adjust the volume and it does nothing, so you keep pressing, there is a button to activate the bluetooth, so... most of the times it's: click on volume, nothing, click click click, nothing, hardpress and hold button to establish bluetooth connection and wake up the remote, go back to volume buttons... :-D

Thanks for letting me know! That sounds like a pain in the butt… It sounds like huge step backward as opposed to an IR remote. Ok you get the extra range, but responsiveness takes such a hit. In the meantime your ears are bleeding and you can't get the volume down I ordered it, it's for desktop use mostly so I think I could keep it at arm's length.

 

[AudioNoobie]

I literally have 0 problems with my remote, It's only sitting about 14inches from the dac, but it never seems to "sleep" and stop working

Everyone has BC-15A remotes? I don't see any button to activate the Bluetooth

 

[DomPaj]

It's worth to mention that EQ is only working with USB input!

An this is a pity! Really

 

[DantonIzzo]

I've been trying to get get my PEQ to work, but Topping Tune doesn't seem to recognize my device. I followed the instructions and had my device disconnected when I installed it. After I reconnected the D50 III and open Topping Tune, the bottom of the app says it is connected, but doesn't indicate it recognizes the D50 III. Tried connecting not through the HS02 and various other USB ports, but it doesn't help. If I try to click the + sign next to "Device Config", I get a pop up that says "Machine is not connected".

EDIT: It seems to work now randomly after reconnecting it multiple times. Is it just software/driver that caused this and nothing wrong with the device itself?

Likely the device (or usb cord). I have no problem with this.

 

[HendersonD]

Am I correct that this Topping DAC might be a perfect solution for my situation:

• Mac Mini M4 with 600 albums all ripped lossless from CD and another 100 SACDs ripped lossless and DSD encoded
• DAC hooked to Mac Mini via USB
• DAC hooked to Outlaw Audio stereo receiver via RCA cables

It seems the Topping has problems with inputs other than USB, I only use USB. Am I missing anything?
I currently use an 11 year old Meridian Explorer DAC and am thinking the Topping might be a nice upgrade