Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[staticV3]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. That's the exact situation I'm describing. I'm listening using the ASIO plugin in Foobar, and it's not exclusive.

There are USB DACs with so-called hardware mixer capability which means that they can receive two audio streams simultaneously (one va ASIO, the other via DirectSound), then mix them internally.

I was not aware that the D50III is one such device though. I'm still not entirely convinced TBH.

 

[beaker152]

has anyone been able to use the remote in IR mode? i'm continually frustrated with how long it takes for the remote to wake up in bluetooth mode that i want to use IR, but after following the instructuons in the manual (as well as suggestions from Topping tech support) my DAC remains unresponsive to the remote in IR mode (yes, the remote light is flashing twice with each button press, which i believe inicates that it's in IR mode)...

is there some secret incantation i need to utter to get the DAC into IR mode?

 

[ziggurcat]

has anyone been able to use the remote in IR mode? i'm continually frustrated with how long it takes for the remote to wake up in bluetooth mode that i want to use IR, but after following the instructuons in the manual (as well as suggestions from Topping tech support) my DAC remains unresponsive to the remote in IR mode (yes, the remote light is flashing twice with each button press, which i believe inicates that it's in IR mode)...

is there some secret incantation i need to utter to get the DAC into IR mode?

I believe I'm using it in IR mode. I have to check my settings, but I probably turned off the BT in the menu since I don't even have the antennae connected.

 

[beaker152]

I believe I'm using it in IR mode. I have to check my settings, but I probably turned off the BT in the menu since I don't even have the antennae connected.

i believe turning off BT in the menu only affects pairing to audio sources...

my instructions indicate pressing the center button and C2 button on the remote until it starts flashing, then wait for the flashing to stop, then turn the DAC off then back on. i have never seen the flashing stop on its own. tech support suggested: "After holding down the middle button and C2, wait for the light to flash for one minute. If it still doesn't turn off, you can restart the unit and then randomly operate the remote control buttons until the light goes out. Check to see if it is successful." and that stopped the flashing, but the remote still didn't work, so they then suggested "After the light stops flashing, remove the remote control battery and put it back, and then restart the unit to try." which also didn't work... then they suggested to make sure i was pointing the remote at the IR sensor, which i was, but with no success...

 

[ziggurcat]

i believe turning off BT in the menu only affects pairing to audio sources...

my instructions indicate pressing the center button and C2 button on the remote until it starts flashing, then wait for the flashing to stop, then turn the DAC off then back on. i have never seen the flashing stop on its own. tech support suggested: "After holding down the middle button and C2, wait for the light to flash for one minute. If it still doesn't turn off, you can restart the unit and then randomly operate the remote control buttons until the light goes out. Check to see if it is successful." and that stopped the flashing, but the remote still didn't work, so they then suggested "After the light stops flashing, remove the remote control battery and put it back, and then restart the unit to try." which also didn't work... then they suggested to make sure i was pointing the remote at the IR sensor, which i was, but with no success...

You are correct, now that I've verified in the manual, it does say that disabling BT doesn't affect the remote's BT mode. Because I haven't done anything with the remote, really, I think I can assume it's in BT mode, then. Personally haven't had any issues with my own - I have my screen brightness set to Auto, so it will just revert to displaying the input (i.e. USB in my case), and I have to press any button on the remote once for the screen to fully display, and pressing, say, preset C2 works immediately.

 

[t1337dude]

There are USB DACs with so-called hardware mixer capability which means that they can receive two audio streams simultaneously (one va ASIO, the other via DirectSound), then mix them internally.

I was not aware that the D50III is one such device though. I'm still not entirely convinced TBH.

Interesting. I wish I knew anything about it. What I do know is that when using the very same ASIO plugin for Foobar, the DSD audio comes through exclusively. PCM, on the other hand, isn't exclusive. I was just worried it was a bug indicating that something isn't working properly (which I still suspect could be the case).

 

[zql9843]

Why did you set the DAC to -1.5dB and not 0dB for the test?

 

[johny_2000]

Why did you set the DAC to -1.5dB and not 0dB for the test?

From Amirm: "Max output defaulted to 5 volts so I used -1.5 dB of attenuation to get it down to nominal 4 volts".

But there is actually a better way to do this. In the settings menu, there is an option to set the maximum output to 4V or 5V. The default is 5V. But switching to 4V allows you to set the volume to 0.0dB, and maximize digital headroom.

 

[staticV3]

From Amirm: "Max output defaulted to 5 volts so I used -1.5 dB of attenuation to get it down to nominal 4 volts".

But there is actually a better way to do this. In the settings menu, there is an option to set the maximum output to 4V or 5V. The default is 5V. But switching to 4V allows you to set the volume to 0.0dB, and maximize digital headroom.

Setting the DAC to 4V achieves the same thing in the same way as keeping the DAC on 5V and using the volume control to get down to 4V. With identical results.

The 4V mode simply applies -1.5dB volume and calls it 0dB on screen.

 

[Bleib]

hmm, why is that I've read in some DAC topics that lowering from 5v to 4v requires -3dB?

 

[Roland68]

hmm, why is that I've read in some DAC topics that lowering from 5v to 4v requires -3dB?

Presumably because the dB readings aren't realistic and consistent across all DACs when lowering from 5 to 4 volts.

Does it surprise you if some companies are unable to correctly assign the filters in the firmware even after months or over a year?

 

[Bleib]

Presumably because the dB readings aren't realistic and consistent across all DACs when lowering from 5 to 4 volts.

Does it surprise you if some companies are unable to correctly assign the filters in the firmware even after months or over a year?

No, not anymore. SMSL could also easily add a 4v function in the firmware, but doesn't seem all too interested.

Upgrading the firmware on the PL100 CD-player was not exactly easy either.

Topping on the other hand doesn't fix their software so the pop-sounds are suppressed.

 

[staticV3]

hmm, why is that I've read in some DAC topics that lowering from 5v to 4v requires -3dB?

5V->4V is exactly 20*log10(4/5)=-1.938dB

However, in practice "5V" rarely means 5.00Vrms and ditto for "4V".

It's usually somewhere between 4.0-4.5Vrms and 5.0-6.0Vrms, so there is some wiggle room.

 

[Bleib]

5V->4V is exactly 20*log10(4/5)=-1.938dB

However, in practice "5V" rarely means 5.00Vrms and ditto for "4V".

It's usually somewhere between 4.0-4.5Vrms and 5.0-6.0Vrms, so there is some wiggle room.

Yeah. Well, if they're too lazy to add 4v and 5v output levels in the firmware they could add a bit information in the manual. Shouldn't take lots of space and not a lot of time either.

 

[ziggurcat]

What would be the advantage/disadvantage to using the 4v instead of the default 5v setting?

 

[Bleib]

What would be the advantage/disadvantage to using the 4v instead of the default 5v setting?

Some gear are not made for 5v input. They'll clip.

 

[xevman]

Just replaced my OG D90 with this as I wanted a smaller footprint on my desk. Having this sort of performance and feature set (balanced) in a form factor this tiny is a luxury.

 

[NoXiGER]

There's a new update to version 1.04 for the Tune EQ software.

You can now configure the gain in 0.1 dB increments.

Filter settings can now also be imported from AutoEQ.

Installation notes:

A direct update in the software didn't work for me. I had to completely uninstall version 1.03 and then install version 1.04 from the website.

Topping Tune V1.04

 

[xevman]

There's a new update to version 1.04 for the Tune EQ software.

You can now configure the gain in 0.1 dB increments.

Filter settings can now also be imported from AutoEQ.

Installation notes:

A direct update in the software didn't work for me. I had to completely uninstall version 1.03 and then install version 1.04 from the website.

Topping Tune V1.04

Handy but i've had issues even getting the program to run on my Windows 11 PC, I had to downgrade back to 1.03 and it seems to be fine

 

[NoXiGER]

Praktisch, aber ich hatte sogar Probleme, das Programm auf meinem Windows 11-PC auszuführen. Ich musste auf 1.03 herabstufen und es scheint in Ordnung zu sein

I had problems with it, too. It's important that you uninstall 1.03 first and then install 1.04.
After that, it worked perfectly for me without any problems.