Topping DM7 8-Channel DAC Review

[magreen]

Thank you, very informative review. It seems the volume/output knob only controls channels 1 and 2, not 3 and 4. I don't think that will work for my application.

I'm looking for a way to implement software crossover using EAPO, output over USB to DAC, then channels 1-2 to stereo power amp and 3 (and 4) to one (or two) subwoofer amps. 4 channel DAC with volume control with a physical control would be preferable, rather than relying on software only for volume control (which scares me with power amps). Any ideas on a way to do this without breaking the bank?

 

[ppataki]

Thank you, very informative review. It seems the volume/output knob only controls channels 1 and 2, not 3 and 4. I don't think that will work for my application.

I'm looking for a way to implement software crossover using EAPO, output over USB to DAC, then channels 1-2 to stereo power amp and 3 (and 4) to one (or two) subwoofer amps. 4 channel DAC with volume control with a physical control would be preferable, rather than relying on software only for volume control (which scares me with power amps). Any ideas on a way to do this without breaking the bank?

Apologies but not really, maybe others here know better
The only way I could think of is to use an audio interface that can control all channels with the front volume knob

This is the list of 4 and 4+ channel USB audio interfaces but I don't know which are the ones with a volume knob that controls all the channels:

Thomann Buy USB Audio Interfaces at Thomann

Buy USB Audio Interfaces + accessories online from Europe's largest music retailer ✔ Fast shipping ✔ 30 days money-back ✔ 3-year Thomann warranty

www.thomann.co.uk

btw. I have been using software volume control for 10+ years (Jriver's 64-bit internal volume control with Volume Protection on)

 

[magreen]

Thanks, will look through that list!

Does anyone make a simple 4 channel DDC that accepts USB input and 2 x TOSLINK out? Then one could connect optically to two different DACs, which would be synchronized to the same clock. The computer would see 4 channels.

 

[levimax]

Motu Ultralite Mk5 has been tested here and it has a volume control that can control all 10 channels. It has a lot of other connections and other features as well. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...u-ultralite-mk5-review-audio-interface.24777/

 

[ppataki]

Does anyone make a simple 4 channel DDC that accepts USB input and 2 x TOSLINK out?

miniDSP nanoDIGI but it has been discontinued
There are others too but those are 8 channel devices:
- miniDSP U-DIO8 (discontinued, but I happen to have one for sale)
- RME Digiface USB

 

[DWPress]

Sorry for the shameless plug but I have Motu AVB Ultralite listed here on ASR for sale that has front volume control for 6ch. US only though....

 

[jeffaegrim]

this thing slaps, I love mine, RIP topping dm7. Pour one out for the homie, truly a case of

The little guy is my whole front end:

 

[dartinbout]

this thing slaps, I love mine, RIP topping dm7. Pour one out for the homie, truly a case of

View attachment 523203

The little guy is my whole front end:

View attachment 523204

It slaps harder then a hopped up hooker on a holiday in a cheap hotel in Ho Chih Minh city!

 

[Music1969]

RIP topping dm7.

Why RIP ? No longer in production?

 

[dartinbout]

Why RIP ? No longer in production?

Sadly no. Many unqualified people trashed it for not being a do it all "magic carpet". They complained it didn't have optical, RCA, ARC, a phone stage or any other impossible feature. Many complained just because it was Topping. I had a Okto DAC 8 Pro that cost twice as much, I sold that and got a DM7. I am living my best audio life ever. They rarely come up on Ebay. I'd set an search alert there, if I was looking for one (or order an Okto and a large helping of patience, as the orders get filled slooooowly).

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I had a Okto DAC 8 Pro that cost twice as much, I sold that and got a DM7.

I had both. Kept the Okto because of the balanced connections and the AES input.

 

[dartinbout]

I had both. Kept the Okto because of the balanced connections and the AES input.

I am hesitant to disagree with the guru of surround but the DM7 does have balanced output through the 8 fat TRRS ports. Heck, Topping even sells interconnects but there are many sources for these types of cables. The AES is bonus on the Okto, but I don't have any devices with that matching audio "genital".

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I am hesitant to disagree with the guru of surround but the DM7 does have balanced output through the 8 fat TRRS ports. Heck, Topping even sells interconnects but there are many sources for these types of cables. The AES is bonus on the Okto, but I don't have any devices with that matching audio "genital".

Yup. Brain fart. I remember the TRRS cables; I gave them away with the DM7. XLR is the lingua franca around here.

 

[chelgrian]

Why RIP ? No longer in production?

No longer in production because topping mistook a vocal minority online as evidence of a market and thus didn’t sell enough of them to justify additional production runs.

 

[dartinbout]

No longer in production because topping mistook a vocal minority online as evidence of a market and thus didn’t sell enough of them to justify additional production runs.

Is that why Okto Research is out of business too? Oh wait a minute, they're on back order. I'm so glad you added your input to this discussion as your expertise is obviously so evident in your insights. /s

 

[chelgrian]

Is that why Okto Research is out of business too? Oh wait a minute, they're on back order. I'm so glad you added your input to this discussion as your expertise is obviously so evident in your insights. /s

Okto research has a very different business model and are selling a different product at a very different price point.

In this case there is a market for a more premium product, simply the larger casework and the panel mount XLRs make quite a difference in the bill of materials and each $1 on the BOM adds at least $2 to the sale price.

For many in the market for this kind of 8 channel DAC then as a proportion of the total system cost the difference in price between the DM7 and the Okto 8 is not that relevant as it’s small compared to the cost of amplification and speakers.

So the product topping made did not have a very large addressable market. Now they could have made a follow up with a full 1u case and XLR but the price would have been closer to the Okto 8 and the Okto 8 had already sold in to much of the total addressable market.

 

[MWC]

I would have bought a DM7. Those that casused this sad situation might try thinking about the consequences of their actions. Simply demanding more & more add-ons to the device to try to suit all scenarios was very short sighted of them. They were, in effect, asking Topping to make a completely different DAC that probably would have cost at least 3 times that of the really nice & elegantly simple DM7.

 

[dartinbout]

Okto research has a very different business model and are selling a different product at a very different price point.

In this case there is a market for a more premium product, simply the larger casework and the panel mount XLRs make quite a difference in the bill of materials and each $1 on the BOM adds at least $2 to the sale price.

For many in the market for this kind of 8 channel DAC then as a proportion of the total system cost the difference in price between the DM7 and the Okto 8 is not that relevant as it’s small compared to the cost of amplification and speakers.

So the product topping made did not have a very large addressable market. Now they could have made a follow up with a full 1u case and XLR but the price would have been closer to the Okto 8 and the Okto 8 had already sold in to much of the total addressable market.

Exasound is 4x what the Okto costs. Exactly how are you arriving at these pronouncements as to what Topping management decisions are made? Do you have market analysis figures on what Okto sales are? My guess is these opinions are just pronouncements from the other end of your digestive system.

 

[chelgrian]

Exasound is 4x what the Okto costs. Exactly how are you arriving at these pronouncements as to what Topping management decisions are made? Do you have market analysis figures on what Okto sales are? My guess is these opinions are just pronouncements from the other end of your digestive system.

*shrug* there is literally no point in me trying to explain the likely cause of events if all you can do is insult people.

ExaSound S88 a full streaming product which does not have to be connected to a computer and has additional value add features such as being Roon Ready it’s not a comparable product from the addressable market point of view.

The fact remains that higher value consumer products such as Okto 8 and a bunch of even higher priced multichannel professional audio interfaces remain in production and the DM7 does not.

 

[manisandher]

I still have my Okto dac8 Pro, Topping DM7, and MOTU UltraLite-mk5 units, even though I've dismantled my 3 active systems now, and don't think I'll be returning - way too much gear/clutter for my liking.

I simply can't bring myself to let go of them though... they performed duties in their respective systems perfectly.

Mani.