Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

[Hal Rockwell]

I have the SMSL SP400 connected to the balanced outputs of the D50III. What voltage should the D50III output - 4V or 5V?

 

[AudioNoobie]

Mine seems to have issues now.

it seems to go into a coma when it enters sleep on rare occasions(not that rare) and not wake back up, I have to unplug the power leads and plug them back in.

still works fine other than that so far though...

I think it''s about a year old, I could probably "fix it" by not having the power USB connected to my monitor, which switches of when I turn the monitor off..
but it's not something that happened any time till recently, mines probably 1+ years old now.

been in the same setup the whole time...

anyone else had issues? maybe 1.39 started it but I never noticed till now.

The USB-only PEQ on the D50 II is pretty much useless regardless of the bugs, but that doesn't discount this DAC was and still is the cheapest balanced DAC for perfect objective performance, a perfect BT implementation and incredible build quality.

Perfect for desktop pc users though,, and has a nice remote to change the volume.

 

[guyboisvert]

The USB-only PEQ on the D50 II is pretty much useless regardless of the bugs, but that doesn't discount this DAC was and still is the cheapest balanced DAC for perfect objective performance, a perfect BT implementation and incredible build quality.

Why "useless" ? USB is by far the best interface for a DAC...

 

[staticV3]

Why "useless" ? USB is by far the best interface for a DAC...

Useless because most USB Host devices can apply PEQ internally already.

Hardware PEQ like what's built into the D50III has the most value with SPDIF input since SPDIF sources like CD Players, TVs, consoles have basic 3-band GEQ at most, more frequently nothing at all.

 

[guyboisvert]

Useless because most USB Host devices can apply PEQ internally already.

Hardware PEQ like what's built into the D50III has the most value with SPDIF input since SPDIF sources like CD Players, TVs, consoles have basic 3-band GEQ at most, more frequently nothing at all.

PEQ doesn't have a great value whatever the input anyway. DSP for room EQ'ing (after measurement with REW or similar) would be great.

 

[staticV3]

PEQ doesn't have a great value whatever the input anyway. DSP for room EQ'ing (after measurement with REW or similar) would be great.

PEQ is perfectly fine for room EQ.

PEQ is what WiiM use for RoomFit on the WiiM Amp/WiiM Ultra.

 

[TurtlePaul]

PEQ doesn't have a great value whatever the input anyway. DSP for room EQ'ing (after measurement with REW or similar) would be great.

Parametric equalization (PEQ) is digital signal processing (DSP). It can be used for room correction. I do this on my D50 III with REW.

 

[gvl]

Useless because most USB Host devices can apply PEQ internally already.

Quantify most. None of the i-devices can, and there are quite a few of them out there.

 

[staticV3]

Quantify most. None of the i-devices can, and there are quite a few of them out there.

I'd wager that <5% of USB hosts plugged into D50III's worldwide are iDevices.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Quantify most. None of the i-devices can, and there are quite a few of them out there.

Yes, I got mine for use with a Macbook. I would also point out that the gaming consoles also have USB output without parametric EQ.

 

[staticV3]

Yes, I got mine for use with a Macbook. I would also point out that the gaming consoles also have USB output without parametric EQ.

PEQ is readily available on macOS.

For example SoundSource or eqMac.

 

[salmo]

I totally have no luck this week... First I bought Hifiman headphones with non-working left channel. Today arrived a package with the D50 III... which is dead. Only the backlight turns on slightly, and that's it.

 

[JOCoin]

I totally have no luck this week... First I bought Hifiman headphones with non-working left channel. Today arrived a package with the D50 III... which is dead. Only the backlight turns on slightly, and that's it.
View attachment 472941

Dumb question but did you try the power button after plugging it in? Only saying this as that screen is always lit when the DAC is connected to power, even when the unit is off or in standby.

 

[VientoB]

Dumb question but did you try the power button after plugging it in? Only saying this as that screen is always lit when the DAC is connected to power, even when the unit is off or in standby.

In standby it has a small dot in one corner.

 

[salmo]

Dumb question but did you try the power button after plugging it in? Only saying this as that screen is always lit when the DAC is connected to power, even when the unit is off or in standby.

Sure With a button, with a remote and I try to power it with 3 different cables and power supplies and still nothing ;D

EDIT:
OK, it turns out that the screen just isn't working, because through trial and error I managed to set the correct source and the sound is working. However, I'll still replace it.

 

[CedarX]

Sure With a button, with a remote and I try to power it with 3 different cables and power supplies and still nothing ;D

EDIT:
OK, it turns out that the screen just isn't working, because through trial and error I managed to set the correct source and the sound is working. However, I'll still replace it.

Maybe you’ve received by error the prototype of a new pure-audio, screenless, D50-III-Lite?

 

[JOCoin]

In standby it has a small dot in one corner.

But the whole backlight stays lit up.

 

[ziggurcat]

Sure With a button, with a remote and I try to power it with 3 different cables and power supplies and still nothing ;D

EDIT:
OK, it turns out that the screen just isn't working, because through trial and error I managed to set the correct source and the sound is working. However, I'll still replace it.

Sorry to hear that you got a defective unit -- hopefully the retailer will replace it without any trouble. It's really quite a good DAC, FWiW.

 

[guyboisvert]

Parametric equalization (PEQ) is digital signal processing (DSP). It can be used for room correction. I do this on my D50 III with REW.

I know, it was just to say that very basic implementation like PEQ isn't very valuable...

 

[guyboisvert]

PEQ is perfectly fine for room EQ.

PEQ is what WiiM use for RoomFit on the WiiM Amp/WiiM Ultra.

Well, it's better than nothing and it depends on how much available filters it has. Full blow DSP is what really makes the job for room EQ.