Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[NTTY]

Am some guy in question; DSDTECH converter has 6ns RMS jitter, was so bad I actually had to change the frequency scaling setting on the AP to get a stable reading in the audio analysis mode..

View attachment 541884

This unit doesn't have an oscillator in it and is slaved to the USB signal which might explain the poor performance.

For reference an SMSL PO100 has 266ps RMS jitter (typical for spdif), and the Douk U2 (non Pro) has 86ps under same test conditions. PO100 has a single oscillator inside and Douk has three of them.

Interesting.
I recall performing test on USB input and saw the clock stabilizing only after 2hours. I think I kept some measurements but the deviation increased with time and temperature to a max after 2 hours.
I did not suffer issues with USB, besides switching sampling rate.
I focused more on optical input, and saw that the latest firmware improved things with option d-1 synchronizing to the SPDIF clock (standard) and option d-2 obviously performing a resync on the internal clock, making the incoming signal having the same deviation as from USB. But I did not perform USB in to optical out tests with firmware 2.69.
There should be an internal Xtal/oscillator, but like with optical input with firmware 2.54, there might be subsequent issues with synchronization (slave/master mode). I guess it would explain why people have a different experience from their PCs.

 

[nate]

Bought it before the review was published. So far it's great. Currently using with iem. Will be using with studio monitors. Since there was irregularities reported on thr rca measurements i have already ordered a custom pentaconn to trs cable. It's cheap, measures well, has parametric eq. It's very good for my needs. So far no pops, no clicks, no hum, nothing, used it for hours on end. Just clean audio.

 

[ATTI]

By far, the most common application for a desktop DAC is to listen to CD rate music.

In case of USB desktop DAC with PC as source the most common applications for it are Youtube/Youtube music, Spotify, Apple music and so on, games. Mostly 48K content or a multiple of 48K.

 

[Astray]

TOPPING B4T6-150 (4.4 Balanced to 6.35 TRS 150cm)
View attachment 542141View attachment 542143View attachment 542144View attachment 542145View attachment 542146View attachment 542147View attachment 542148View attachment 542149View attachment 542150

TOPPING B4XM-150 (4.4 Balanced to XLR 150cm)
View attachment 542151View attachment 542152View attachment 542153View attachment 542154View attachment 542155View attachment 542156View attachment 542157View attachment 542158View attachment 542159

Didn't even know speakers could take in XLR inputs until I saw this. How would you even use something like this on most normal passive speakers that only have a negative + positive terminal?

@amirm I've been using a DX3 Pro for a long time. Not the Pro+. I mostly use it as a DAC for my speaker amplifier (SMSL DA-8) using the RCA connections to fairly near field computer desktop speakers. Currently looking into upgrading my setup a bit since I want to buy nicer speakers (HiVi-Swans D3.1 MKII or maybe Ascilab of some kind if I can justify the budget lol). You mentioned there being some kind of grounding issue with the RCA outputs on this device but I didn't quite understand what you were talking about. Could you clarify?

 

[formdissolve]

Didn't even know speakers could take in XLR inputs until I saw this. How would you even use something like this on most normal passive speakers that only have a negative + positive terminal?

Those are for active speakers that have an amp inside, like studio monitors.

 

[ting ting]

So, the Pink Panther is still playing golf or he jumped off the cliff already?

 

[SlowLife]

TOPPING TC-OTG-Y20
USB-C OTG cable with separate data and power lines, 22cm

TC-OTG-Y20 - - Topping audio

TOPPING, born in 2008, has evolved into a beloved global HIFI brand favored by users worldwide. We firmly believe that higher-quality music playback devices are essential for truly showcasing the allure of music. By investing extensively in professional technology and exceptional industrial...

www.toppingaudio.com

 

[Rocky2019]

Hi amirm, is Price vs Performance Chat still available？Just can't find it after looking for a while.

 

[sphenicstands]

After using FW V15.69.22.69 + Driver V6.16.0 via USB at 32/192kHz for 4 days, the number of times I experienced distortion was 0 during normal daily use, over 10 hours a day, using Foobar2000, Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and various program notifications.
I also switched between speaker and multiple headphones.
Everything worked normally.

With all previous FW versions, I would have experienced distortion 1-2 times a day.

It's ironic the 2.69 change log doesn't explicitly mention any fixes for noise whereas 2.46, 2.53 and 2.54 did but they didn't actually seem to fix the issue based on the user reports. The catch all "* Fixed: Several other known issues." in every change log is really uninformative. It would be good if it really is fixed, though.

 

[sikamikaniko]

I am not defending a product.

That's for an uncommon sample rate. For everyday usage of 44.1 kHz, it is not a problem. It should still be fixed but it is not what you state.

It really feels like you're just defending the product here. I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but that's how it comes across. And reading the other comments, I'm clearly not alone.
In the ASR FAQs, it literally says, 'I am measuring enough to determine if a product is well engineered.' Clock issues, distortion after hours of use, and DC pops on the RCA outputs seem like clear symptoms of poor engineering, regardless of the price.

 

[Mike123]

It really feels like you're just defending the product here.

But I get the feeling you're deliberately denigrating the product. I honestly can't remember a device that has attracted so many haters. They absolutely need to be told why they'll never buy it. And also that no one should ever buy it. It already feels like something special.

 

[Pausi]

It really feels like you're just defending the product here. I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but that's how it comes across. And reading the other comments, I'm clearly not alone.
In the ASR FAQs, it literally says, 'I am measuring enough to determine if a product is well engineered.' Clock issues, distortion after hours of use, and DC pops on the RCA outputs seem like clear symptoms of poor engineering, regardless of the price.

I concur. Cheap product or not. How this product could clear Amir’s test bench so easily and him defending it so zealously in retrospect is noteworthy. Topping has, more or less, confirmed that the pop and click when changing presets can’t be fixed by software and is by hardware design. Golfing panther should lose its head. If you design a product with many functions, those functions must be evaluated. It you don’t design them well, or don’t intend to ensure good quality control, skip the extra functions.

 

[snadge]

I'm one of the people who has reported issues with this DAC, so I don't want to minimise the bugs. The 48 kHz distortion issue on the latest firmware is real and needs fixing, and the small clicks/pops at stream start or parameter changes are also worth discussing.

That said, I also want to be fair: when the DX1 II is behaving normally, my headphones have never sounded this good. I currently have it plugged into a pair of Creative Pebble speakers, and even they sound better than they ever have. The measurements are impressive, but actually listening to it has been a bit of a “oh, now I get it” experience for me.

For my use, a small click at the start of a stream or when changing settings is a minor annoyance compared with the overall performance, assuming the serious firmware bug is fixed. TOPPING support have acknowledged the random noise/distortion issue to me and said it has been reported to their engineers.

As far as I’m aware, there isn’t much else at this price point with this combination of features, output options, headphone performance, and measured DAC performance. If there is, I’d genuinely like to know about it.

 

[Pausi]

I'm one of the people who has reported issues with this DAC, so I don't want to minimise the bugs. The 48 kHz distortion issue on the latest firmware is real and needs fixing, and the small clicks/pops at stream start or parameter changes are also worth discussing.

That said, I also want to be fair: when the DX1 II is behaving normally, my headphones have never sounded this good. I currently have it plugged into a pair of Creative Pebble speakers, and even they sound better than they ever have. The measurements are impressive, but actually listening to it has been a bit of a “oh, now I get it” experience for me.

For my use, a small click at the start of a stream or when changing settings is a minor annoyance compared with the overall performance, assuming the serious firmware bug is fixed. TOPPING support have acknowledged the random noise/distortion issue to me and said it has been reported to their engineers.

As far as I’m aware, there isn’t much else at this price point with this combination of features, output options, headphone performance, and measured DAC performance. If there is, I’d genuinely like to know about it.

So since it’s so cheap you’ll accept loud clicking and humming sound into the RCA output when switching off, switching PEQ, changing the sample rate and when turning off the signal source? If the price was $50 to $100 higher would you ever accept this?

 

[mdmower]

Plenty of devices are not usable for my use. That doesn't mean I say they are alpha products and people should avoid them.

If by now you have not understood what I am saying, please move on and refrain from complaining about the same thing over and over.

I hope there is also something you (@amirm) can take away from this exchange: because your review focuses on the positives without disclosing problems that have been reproduced by multiple people on these forums, Topping has no incentive to improve their quality control process in the future. Your review says that Topping sent you a unit for testing... that's because they know a lot of people trust your opinions. Very few potential buyers have the motivation to dig through threads like Some info about Topping's incoming DX1 II that are more than 20 pages long. Early purchasers invested time identifying problems, considering workarounds, and sharing the information with this community. When your review (which is all that many potential purchasers will read when they search the web for "dx1 ii review") failed to disclose many of the problems we've encountered, it was a let down.

 

[Janox]

Takže když je to tak levné, budete akceptovat hlasité cvakání a hučení do RCA výstupu při vypínání, přepínání PEQ, změně vzorkovací frekvence a při vypínání zdroje signálu? Kdyby cena byla o 50 až 100 dolarů vyšší, akceptovali byste to někdy?

Topping wrote to me to reduce the popping and hum coming from the DX1 II using the amplifier volume. The DX1 II should not actually be used as a preamplifier for the RCA output. Funny approach to the repair...

 

[Pausi]

I agree. The DX1 II is launched and marketed as a product aimed at gaming. The fact that @amirm did not do any measurements via RCA-out, which many will use, is a mistake that should be corrected with some new RCA-measurements. The current review is highly misleading and reduces Amir's credibility as a reviewer based on facts and scientific measurements. Several of Topping's responses to buyers already indicate that there are hardware/design errors that will not be corrected by any firmware updates. "You're holding it wrong"

 

[Janox]

I agree. The DX1 II is launched and marketed as a product aimed at gaming. The fact that @amirm did not do any measurements via RCA-out, which many will use, is a mistake that should be corrected with some new RCA-measurements. The current review is highly misleading and reduces Amir's credibility as a reviewer based on facts and scientific measurements. Several of Topping's responses to buyers already indicate that there are hardware/design errors that will not be corrected by any firmware updates. "You're holding it wrong"

DX1 II has a Muting function on the RCA output. What could be the problem with the Muting function being applied when switching functions and turning off the device? Maybe Topping will fix it in the next firmware...

 

[JamesYeomans]

Something like this could work with it, if power is an issue for anyone: https://amzn.eu/d/0i0sFtOV

Or this: https://www.toppingaudio.com/product-item/tc-otg-y20?tab=specs

 

[Demmers]

Fine, but can't find anywhere to actually buy them lol?!

EDIT: Links to buy them from Toppings own store don't work
However.... https://hifigo.com/products/topping-tc-otg-y20 £3.77?!..... Ignore once shipping to UK is added!