• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 1.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 13 3.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 55 13.6%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 328 81.4%

  • Total voters
    403
In this case the death of the D50 was my fault - I got distracted while rerouting wiring and holding power cables I thought were very different, which it turned out were only different in their polarity, so I basically fed a 12V 1.5A center negative into the Topping which used a 5V 1A center positive.
I see, at least it did not happen out of nowhere in this case. It still should not have affected the amp.

I don't know what changed, but as of now the 789 is working; maybe it had some protection that reset
This is fortunate, but we don't know what would happen with a different amp, and would you be as lucky next time. Still, it's very concerning.

I'd look at the JDS Labs products or, ideally, at the RME ADI-2 lineup.
 
Apos had an open box unit and I was able to find a decent discount code, so I have a Topping D50 III on the way to sit between my Macbook and 8030c.

Let’s see if I can get the eq to notch out the narrow 10 dB room mode I have at 52 hz.

I have Monoprice RCA to XLR, I think they are XLR cables internally so I may reterminate with Neutrik 1/4” TRS NP3X.
 
Fyi, the software for configuring the D50III EQ only runs on Windows: https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/topping-tune-2
Yes, an annoyance but I have a Windows PC. I have REW measurements on the mac, then I will need to save down the filter values and email them to myself, connect the DAC to the PC in the other room, upload the filters, then bring the DAC back to the office with the Macbook.

Hopefully only need to do it once. I also have a 2x4 HD and I like that MiniDSP device console is on both platforms, but the weakness of the MiniDSP approach is you need to wipe the filter settings when connecting to a different computer and opening Device Console.

If the filters in fact compute the biquads wrong and don’t hit the peak of the room mode, then this might get quite annoying.
 
Last edited:
i tried installing APO but got an error message .
cant remember the exact message but i think my pc's processor is not compatible. was definitely a hardware issue.
it was several weeks ago now and my memory has faded a bit.
Try downloading to a different location on your PC then open and give it go.
 
If I use Qobuz exclusive mode from the PC (USB), will the PEQ still apply?
 
Can anyone who may know both this DAC PEQ features and Fiio KA17 PEQ features tell me which one has a better implementation please?
To be honest I'm only buying a DAC for PEQ as my room isn't treated.
 
I've currently got the WiiM Ultra and the PEQ slots per channel are an essential feature that I need. Have Topping updated the firmware to make the PEQ slots on this per channel or is it still mono? And are there any other new releases from Topping or SMSL that have 2 channel PEQ?
 
I've currently got the WiiM Ultra and the PEQ slots per channel are an essential feature that I need. Have Topping updated the firmware to make the PEQ slots on this per channel or is it still mono? And are there any other new releases from Topping or SMSL that have 2 channel PEQ?
The Topping software/firmware currently only offers one set of EQ parameters for both L/R channels.

*For comparison, the RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE has all the separate PEQ sets for each channel and output.*
 
For comparison, the RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE has all the separate PEQ sets for each channel and output
Why are you singling out the ADI-2/4 Pro SE? All DSP-based ADI-2-series converters (the ADI-2 DAC FS, the ADI-2 Pro (FS/FS R), and the ADI-2/4 Pro SE) feature per-channel PEQ for each output channel and also for each analog input channel.
 
Hi, I've received D50 III this week as a replacement of Gustard X26Pro. Both DAC are Sabre DACs, measuring exceptionally and I've not awaited complications, but sound of D50 bothers me :( It is very aggressive and fatiguing. I'm listening at the same volume (voltage matched) with the same chain XLR (5V) connected as before. I wanted to have good PEQ implementation for some small sound adjustments.

I'm aware this shouldn't exist but I'm fighting with this 3 day already and can't enjoy my music like before and can't find way out.
 

Attachments

  • signal-2025-01-09-174507_003.jpeg
    signal-2025-01-09-174507_003.jpeg
    112 KB · Views: 68
sound of D50 bothers me. It is very aggressive and fatiguing.
Have you already used EQs or not?

Assuming the music source (homemade Raspberry Pi streamer?) is the same for both DACs, the main source of the harshness is harmonic and intermodulation distortion. There can be many reasons for their occurrence. For example, amplitude overload or strong impedance mismatch of the connected devices, insufficient power supply of the DAC (try powering it from an external power source of at least 5V 1A, not from the USB port of the streamer), and many others.

It would be nice to know what kind of speaker or headphone amplifier you have to understand the match.
But first try to reduce the output level of D50 III: switch to 4V output level mode, or turn the volume knob to -2 dB.
 
Thank you for your input!
Have you already used EQs or not?
Yes, I've used exactly the same PEQ setting using RPi Moode PEQ.
Assuming the music source (homemade Raspberry Pi streamer?) is the same for both DACs, the main source of the harshness is harmonic and intermodulation distortion. There can be many reasons for their occurrence. For example, amplitude overload or strong impedance mismatch of the connected devices, insufficient power supply of the DAC (try powering it from an external power source of at least 5V 1A, not from the USB port of the streamer), and many others.
I've not tried another PS. I'll connect usb port labeled power with another cable to second port on power-bank that is powering RPi.
It would be nice to know what kind of speaker or headphone amplifier you have to understand the match.
D50 III is connected to DYI build of CFA3 amp with 10k Alps RK27 pot. and powering Susvara HP.
But first try to reduce the output level of D50 III: switch to 4V output level mode, or turn the volume knob to -2 dB.
I'm running -10dB all the time. Gustard was used with 5V setting too, but I can try lowering output voltage 4V too.
 
I'm running -10dB all the time.
Operating a DAC with an output level of -10 dB is not the optimal way to utilize its Dynamic Range (DR) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) characteristics.
-10 dB gain * 5Vrms = 1.58Vrms of the actual DAC output amplitude.

I'm guessing that 1.5Vrms is the optimal input amplitude for your DIY headphone amp (I'm not familiar with this model).

Are you using the D50 III's TRS (balanced) output?
Topping suggested pairing the D50 III with the A50 III headphone amp, which has an input range of up to 7.8Vrms at Medium gain mode. This stack works great with the 5V output mode and 0 dB output volume of the DAC, so it utilizes the full range of DR, SNR, and THD characteristics without overloading the headphone amp and introducing unwanted distortion.
 
Topping suggested pairing the D50 III with the A50 III headphone amp, which has an input range of up to 7.8Vrms at Medium gain mode. This stack works great with the 5V output mode and 0 dB output volume of the DAC, so it utilizes the full range of DR, SNR, and THD characteristics without overloading the headphone amp and introducing unwanted distortion.
I always run the volume of my DACs at -10 to -20. The primary limitations of these systems is really always going to be the channel balance of the analog volume pots on the amp. They usually have no more than 20-30 dB of usable attenuation range before mismatch sets in. Therefore, you should turn down the volume of the DAC so that your highest and lowest volume settings are between noon and full volume on the amps dial. For a device that measures a noise floor at the limit of what the analyzer can measure, throwing away 20 dB isn’t a big deal. I don’t have an A50 III, but the volume dial on my amp skews a little left below 11:00 and is horrible at 9:00 and below.
 
I always run the volume of my DACs at -10 to -20. The primary limitations of these systems is really always going to be the channel balance of the analog volume pots on the amp. They usually have no more than 20-30 dB of usable attenuation range before mismatch sets in. Therefore, you should turn down the volume of the DAC so that your highest and lowest volume settings are between noon and full volume on the amps dial. For a device that measures a noise floor at the limit of what the analyzer can measure, throwing away 20 dB isn’t a big deal. I don’t have an A50 III, but the volume dial on my amp skews a little left below 11:00 and is horrible at 9:00 and below.
The Topping A50 III uses digital volume control circuits. The A50 scans the position of the volume knob (essentially a rotary encoder) and transmits the data to the JRC1195 controller for a precise adjustment of the volume level. This chip also provides a perfect volume balance between the left and right channels.

This is a fairly popular chip in the latest devices I've come across.
Maximum attenuation up to -95 dB in 0.5 dB steps.
Maximum gain error is 0.5 dB at maximum volume (0 dB), 1 dB at low volume (-60 dB), with a typical error of 0 dB.

1736731316907.png
 
The Topping A50 III uses digital volume control circuits. The A50 scans the position of the volume knob (essentially a rotary encoder) and transmits the data to the JRC1195 controller for a precise adjustment of the volume level. This chip also provides a perfect volume balance between the left and right channels.

This is a fairly popular chip in the latest devices I've come across.
Maximum attenuation up to -95 dB in 0.5 dB steps.
Maximum gain error is 0.5 dB at maximum volume (0 dB), 1 dB at low volume (-60 dB), with a typical error of 0 dB.
Hmm, didn't know that. The guy before said he is using a Alps RK27, which is a stereo pot. So he, like me, has this limitation and use the D50 III to have some digital volume control.
 
Back
Top Bottom