Topping D50 III optical input bug with 44.1kHz files

[VientoB]

Just wondering how many people here have the Topping D50 III DAC and whether you have noticed drop-outs when listening to music from the optical input. It seems to happen with 44.1kHz sample rate files, can be 16 bit or 24 bit it's the sample rate that seems to cause the problem. Also it happens most often (but not exclusively) in quieter passages of music eg: song intros and outros.

If you own a D50 III and haven't used the optical input yet could you test it and let us know in the comments here then vote accordingly. Someone has said they emailed Topping about this problem and they couldn't replicate it.

You can change your vote in this poll so if you haven't tried optical yet vote that you haven't tried it and then when you do test the optical input you can change your vote.

 

[gvl]

You’re not alone, use the search function.

 

[VientoB]

You’re not alone, use the search function.

I've started a thread to research this properly since Topping say they cannot reproduce the problem.

 

[gvl]

I've started a thread to research this properly since Topping say they cannot reproduce the problem.

SOL is the summary, they blame the sources but other DACs work fine. You may have to find another DAC that works with your source.

 

[VientoB]

SOL is the summary, they blame the sources but other DACs work fine. You may have to find another DAC that works with your source.

What is SOL? Can you stop ruining my thread please.

 

[antcollinet]

What is SOL? Can you stop ruining my thread please.

What is your source? If it is an LG TV (or some other brands) this is common.

 

[staticV3]

What is your source? If it is an LG TV (or some other brands) this is common.

This seems to be a separate issue from the usual DPLL stutter, unaffected by the DPLL Bandwidth setting in the DAC's menu.

 

[Rja4000]

Just wondering how many people here have the Topping D50 III DAC and whether you have noticed drop-outs when listening to music from the optical input. It seems to happen with 44.1kHz sample rate files, can be 16 bit or 24 bit it's the sample rate that seems to cause the problem. Also it happens most often (but not exclusively) in quieter passages of music eg: song intros and outros.

If you own a D50 III and haven't used the optical input yet could you test it and let us know in the comments here then vote accordingly. Someone has said they emailed Topping about this problem and they couldn't replicate it.

You can change your vote in this poll so if you haven't tried optical yet vote that you haven't tried it and then when you do test the optical input you can change your vote.

Do YOU own a D50 III and have the issue ?
Why don't you answer your poll yourself first?

 

[Rja4000]

This seems to be a separate issue from the usual DPLL stutter, unaffected by the DPLL Bandwidth setting in the DAC's menu.

If there is any issue at all...

Personnaly, I own the D50 III but I don't use it for listening to music. I own several RME and other DACs that I'm using to listen to music.

I keep the D50 III as measurement source so far.
And I never experienced special dropouts.
But I would probably be less likely to notice them if they occurred.

I tested it with Toslink and low level 44.1kHz signal for several minutes without issue.
So this issue is a question mark for me.

Next, I'll give it a try as a listening source for a few hours (still need to find a few hours slot to do that).
If I don't experiment issue this way, I'll report here and I'll stop seeking further.

EDIT: Listening for several hours now at various music through a (long) TosLink cable at 44.1kHz (Qobuz, through an old Bluesound Node N100) and
NO drop out.

I tried with DAC output level at 0dB and -20dB, without any difference.
I can not force 16 bits output, though, but it doesn't seem to be the issue.

Firmware is as mentioned in my review of the D50 III.

 

[gvl]

What is SOL? Can you stop ruining my thread please.

Short on luck.

 

[VientoB]

Do YOU own a D50 III and have the issue ?
Why don't you answer your poll yourself first?

I have. What a silly reply.

 

[frgmnt]

Do YOU own a D50 III and have the issue ?
Why don't you answer your poll yourself first?

I think what he wants to achieve with the poll is to see if it happens with every D50 III, or if it is just a certain percentage of them.

I'd test my D50 III but I don't own any optical cables.

 

[Roland68]

Just wondering how many people here have the Topping D50 III DAC and whether you have noticed drop-outs when listening to music from the optical input. It seems to happen with 44.1kHz sample rate files, can be 16 bit or 24 bit it's the sample rate that seems to cause the problem. Also it happens most often (but not exclusively) in quieter passages of music eg: song intros and outros.

If you own a D50 III and haven't used the optical input yet could you test it and let us know in the comments here then vote accordingly. Someone has said they emailed Topping about this problem and they couldn't replicate it.

You can change your vote in this poll so if you haven't tried optical yet vote that you haven't tried it and then when you do test the optical input you can change your vote.

You're ruining your own thread.
Among other things, people asked about the source you used, but there was no answer.
If someone starts a thread like this, then it's appropriate that the OP provides all the necessary information in the first post so that everyone can get an idea of the problem. This includes a precise description of the chain with source and all details of the circumstances, as well as answering the questions asked. Otherwise, you can't take a thread like this seriously and the intentions aren't clear either.

 

[VientoB]

I think what he wants to achieve with the poll is to see if it happens with every D50 III, or if it is just a certain percentage of them.

I'd test my D50 III but I don't own any optical cables.

Exactly

 

[gvl]

This poll is pointless. It’s a known fact drop outs are source dependent, some sources work fine while others don’t, how is this accounted for in the poll? Not too mention that couple dozens votes here won’t have any statistical significance.

 

[VientoB]

This poll is pointless. It’s a known fact drop outs are source dependent, some sources work fine while others don’t, how is this accounted for in the poll? Not too mention that couple dozens votes here don’t have any statistical significance.

Do you know that for a fact? Do you understand how many drop-outs occur in quiet passages with the D50 III? If not do not make broad assumptions.

 

[antcollinet]

Do you know that for a fact? Do you understand how many drop-outs occur in quiet passages with the D50 III? If not do not make broad assumptions.

Quiet or loud can't make any difference to digital interface dropouts. The hardware / software of the interface has no knowledge of the music, level or otherwise, that the data bits are carrying.

 

[phofman]

Quiet or loud can't make any difference to digital interface dropouts. The hardware / software of the interface has no knowledge of the music, level or otherwise, that the data bits are carrying.

Well, just theoretically - it has been claimed that some FIFO reclockers avoid the inevitable buffer issues due to asynchronous I/O clocks by monitoring the audio stream and dropping/duplicating samples when the stream carries silence or very quiet passages, to keep the necessary adjustment inaudible. So theoretically such a "feature" could be present there too. But practically extremely unlikely, of course...

 

[antcollinet]

Well, just theoretically - it has been claimed that some FIFO reclockers avoid the inevitable buffer issues due to asynchronous I/O clocks by monitoring the audio stream and dropping/duplicating samples when the stream carries silence or very quiet passages, to keep the necessary adjustment inaudible. So theoretically such a "feature" could be present there too. But practically extremely unlikely, of course...

I'm certain the DAC chip in this device doesn't do that. And I doubt that any device would be able to function at all employing that strategy. I've heard what happens when a DAC loses the clock and starts dropping/duplicating samples - which is effectively what such a strategy is. It is not pretty.

 

[restorer-john]

Quiet or loud can't make any difference to digital interface dropouts. The hardware / software of the interface has no knowledge of the music, level or otherwise, that the data bits are carrying.

Not true.