Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[ziggurcat]

Hi
Iam interested to buy a Dac with eq.
Are still topping D50 iii and wiim pro plus the best option?
Do they need dedicated drivers to work as usb dacs?
Can the eq be applied to all inputs in both?
I ve read few months ago that eq is availiable only on usb input in d50iii. Have they fixed it in any firmware update?
Are there better options under 300 than those 2?I may y be to go a little higher if there is a good reason...

Topping just released the DX5 II and the D900, which both have EQ as well. The D50 III and Centaurus DACs were the only ones Topping released that had PEQ functionality prior to the release of those two devices. The DX5 II is only $300 USD, so it is the more affordable option.

If you are on Mac, you do not need any drivers for any Topping DAC. Drivers for the D50 III are available on the Topping website for PC.

On the D50 III, PEQ is only available with the USB input, and there is no plan to add the functionality with any other input for that DAC. With the DX5 II, it is available for all inputs. It is also limited to 32-bit/192kHz (same with the D50 III).

 

[Musictech77]

Topping just released the DX5 II and the D900, which both have EQ as well. The D50 III and Centaurus DACs were the only ones Topping released that had PEQ functionality prior to the release of those two devices. The DX5 II is only $300 USD, so it is the more affordable option.

If you are on Mac, you do not need any drivers for any Topping DAC. Drivers for the D50 III are available on the Topping website for PC.

On the D50 III, PEQ is only available with the USB input, and there is no plan to add the functionality with any other input for that DAC. With the DX5 II, it is available for all inputs. It is also limited to 32-bit/192kHz (same with the D50 III).

Thank you.. Dx5ii looks really interesting
Can wiim pro plus work as usb dac? Iam not sure about this..Wiim ultra seems capable of this function though...

 

[unpluggged]

Thank you.. Dx5ii looks really interesting
Can wiim pro plus work as usb dac? Iam not sure about this..Wiim ultra seems capable of this function though...

I know this is a review thread, but if you want to have peace of mind, have also a look at an RME ADI-2[/4] DAC/Pro, an RME Fireface UCX II/UFX II/UFX III, or the JDS Element IV.

 

[staticV3]

Can wiim pro plus work as usb dac?

No. To use the WiiM Pro Plus as a USB DAC, you'd have to purchase an additional USB to SPDIF converter, something like the Hifime UT23 or SMSL PO100 2024.

Wiim ultra seems capable of this function though...

Afaik, also no.

Keep in mind as well that the EQ on Topping DACs can only be configured via Windows.

Best hardware EQ solution for use with macOS IMO is
Qudelix (USB only)
miniDSP (all inputs)
RME ADI-2 DAC/Pro (all inputs)
JDS Element IV (all inputs)

 

[Roland68]

Topping just released the DX5 II and the D900, which both have EQ as well. The D50 III and Centaurus DACs were the only ones Topping released that had PEQ functionality prior to the release of those two devices. The DX5 II is only $300 USD, so it is the more affordable option.

If you are on Mac, you do not need any drivers for any Topping DAC. Drivers for the D50 III are available on the Topping website for PC.

On the D50 III, PEQ is only available with the USB input, and there is no plan to add the functionality with any other input for that DAC. With the DX5 II, it is available for all inputs. It is also limited to 32-bit/192kHz (same with the D50 III).

May I ask why you keep harping on about the "alleged" 32-bit/192 kHz PEQ limitation on topping devices?
That sounds like a downgrade or limitation of these topping devices, for which I see no real basis. What exactly is this limitation?

Especially considering the following points:
1. How much music is actually recorded above 32-bit/192 kHz?
2. What other DSP devices, whether audio or pro audio, are there that operate above 32-bit/192 kHz?
3. Most devices only operate up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
4. And what would be the real advantage above 32-bit/192 kHz?

One of the few exceptions is the RME ADI series, which can map up to 32-bit/768 kHz via USB to its PEQ, but at the cost of only 5 bands compared to the Topping's 10. That's a real limitation for me.

 

[Musictech77]

No. To use the WiiM Pro Plus as a USB DAC, you'd have to purchase an additional USB to SPDIF converter, something like the Hifime UT23 or SMSL PO100 2024.


Afaik, also no.

Keep in mind as well that the EQ on Topping DACs can only be configured via Windows.

Best hardware EQ solution for use with macOS IMO is
Qudelix (USB only)
miniDSP (all inputs)
RME ADI-2 DAC/Pro (all inputs)
JDS Element IV (all inputs)

Windows is not a problem, I ll use windows.
Are you sure that wiim ultra cannot stream audio over USB? In their site I see that wiim pro plus and ultra are different in that function. Do I understand something wrong?

Jds seems great but is more expensive. I already have some amps, dx5ii seems a great option(and wiim ultra if it is capable of audio over USB). Rme is much more expensive.

Which model of minidsp do you suggest? Is their dac in the same league as topping?



*yes, specs more than 192/32 bit is useless iny opinion.

Iam musician, producer and I ve done various tests with recordings, sample rates, etc.. . A good converter sounds great at 48khz/24 bit. .Bad converters, no.
I have a prism and a mytek in my studio and their performance in 48 kHz - 24 bit is great.
Bad converters have very different performance in various sample rates.

 

[staticV3]

Are you sure that wiim ultra cannot stream audio over USB? In their site I see that wiim pro plus and ultra are different in that function. Do I understand something wrong?

WiiM Pro Plus doesn't have USB in the first place.

The Ultra's USB port can be used to attach a hard drive, to send audio to an external USB DAC, but not to connect to a PC and use the Ultra itself as a USB DAC.

 

[ziggurcat]

May I ask why you keep harping on about the "alleged" 32-bit/192 kHz PEQ limitation on topping devices?

I'm not. I'm providing information about the product's feature. If you'd like, you can e-mail Topping, and ask them to stop mentioning it in their promotional materials: [email protected]

It is a limitation in so far as you cannot set the DAC higher than 32-bit/192kHz in the sound settings on your computer (if that's your use case), and setting it higher than that effectively disables the PEQ functionality (though it doesn't turn it off in the DAC's settings menu).

The rest is irrelevant because this isn't a debate about the practicality of using any setting beyond, say, 16-bit/44.1kHz.

 

[Musictech77]

WiiM Pro Plus doesn't have USB in the first place.

The Ultra's USB port can be used to attach a hard drive, to send audio to an external USB DAC, but not to connect to a PC and use the Ultra itself as a USB DAC.

Thanks!

 

[Musictech77]

How is the company's support? Do they respond immediately? Do they take care to fix any problems with updates?

 

[ziggurcat]

How is the company's support? Do they respond immediately? Do they take care to fix any problems with updates?

There hasn't been a FW update for the D50 III since May 12, 2024. I would be surprised if they released another update.

 

[Musictech77]

No. To use the WiiM Pro Plus as a USB DAC, you'd have to purchase an additional USB to SPDIF converter, something like the Hifime UT23 or SMSL PO100 2024.


Afaik, also no.

Keep in mind as well that the EQ on Topping DACs can only be configured via Windows.

Best hardware EQ solution for use with macOS IMO is
Qudelix (USB only)
miniDSP (all inputs)
RME ADI-2 DAC/Pro (all inputs)
JDS Element IV (all inputs)

Which model of minidsp do you suggest(is there any model under 400?)? Is their dac in the same league as topping?

 

[staticV3]

Which model of minidsp do you suggest?

Depends on your needs really. Just check out their product lineup and see what fits

is there any model under 400?

Yes, the 2x4HD/DDRC24

Is their dac in the same league as topping?

See here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...sp&c[title_only]=1&c[users]=amirm&o=relevance

 

[Musictech77]

There hasn't been a FW update for the D50 III since May 12, 2024. I would be surprised if they released another update.

Did they solve all the problems related with software with this update?

 

[ziggurcat]

Did they solve all the problems related with software with this update?

Any specific issues that come to mind?

 

[Musictech77]

Any specific issues that come to mind?

No, I just want to check if the company solves software-related problems, because I want to buy the dx5ii which currently has some. I want to understand the company's attitude and professionalism

 

[VientoB]

No, I just want to check if the company solves software-related problems, because I want to buy the dx5ii which currently has some. I want to understand the company's attitude and professionalism

What software related problems?

 

[Musictech77]

What software related problems?

If you read this thread, you ll see them.
They all can be solved with firmware updates though...

Topping DX5 II

I think filter 4 is aligned to my kind of taste, according to Gemini as the manual doesn't really describe each filter: Although filter 2 "Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off Apodizing" seems to control the sibilance that can feature in some songs especially on vocals, makes sense as that's what this is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[VientoB]

If you read this thread, you ll see them.
They all can be solved with firmware updates though...

Topping DX5 II

I think filter 4 is aligned to my kind of taste, according to Gemini as the manual doesn't really describe each filter: Although filter 2 "Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off Apodizing" seems to control the sibilance that can feature in some songs especially on vocals, makes sense as that's what this is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

That's a different DAC

 

[Musictech77]

That's a different DACyes I know that. I asked if this company finally solves probls related with software. I asked

That's a different DAC

Yes I k ow that! I just asked if this company finally solves all software related problems. I asked here cause the product in this thread is an older one, not a new one like the dx5ii.
If they care about solving such problems, I will buy the dx5ii without second thoughts