Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[Soundproof]

Has anyone here used this DAC with an LG OLED C-series TV via optical? I'm wondering if there are any dropout issues caused by jitter from the LG OLED TV's optical output.

Not the oled ones, but I had no trouble with optical in for my oledfree year+ old LG 65".

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

Je vois où tout cela va mener...

View attachment 540906

As long as they don't release a model like that ->

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

People hi

I installed the latest firmware V15.92.22.92 (V2.92 in Topping USB Audio Device Control Panel) ->

And the last Driver (v6.16.0) too ->

In the menus, a new setting ( adjustable settings = d-5 or d-U), the third one starting from A-O, is now available ->

What is it?

Have a nice day

 

[ɢǟɨƈɦʊ]

huh? UAC1 and UAC2 sound identical on PC. However, in general I noticed that the DX1 II, after testing all day, sounds different vs 3 other audio outputs I own. (another dac/amp, a portable dongle dac, and an Audio interface.) all 3 of those sound the same on PS5 and on PC. the DX1 II Sounds different. It doesn't sound bad as in quality, it just sounds like it has a slight 3D spatial audio upmixer applied that makes stereo sound like kind of virtual surround sound. I'm wondering if I somehow got a bad unit. I'm not too familiar with how amp power relates to loudness, but using my Sennheiser HD490 Pro Headphones, the DX1 II does not get loud enough at 0dB on low gain. on High gain it gets loud enough around -18dB (single ended btw).

if they are all solid state then what you might be getting is just a slight difference in volume, its hard to compare if they aren't perfectly volume matched

 

[JeffGB]

People hi

I installed the latest firmware V15.92.22.92 (V2.92 in Topping USB Audio Device Control Panel) ->

View attachment 551194

And the last Driver (v6.16.0) too ->

View attachment 551309

In the menus, a new setting ( adjustable settings = d-5 or d-U), the third one starting from A-O, is now available ->

View attachment 551305

View attachment 551306

What is it?

Have a nice day

d-U is having the display give volume in db by default and d-5 displays the sample rate by default.

 

[JeffGB]

I've been getting some pretty loud pops when I restart my PC with the dx1 ii connected through RCA to a Crown XLS1500 power amp. Most other clicks and pops were resolved but not that one. Last evening I recieved an adapter cable for the 4.4 to dual XLR and connected it up. No noises now, no pops or clicks. I just did an update of Windows 11 and rebooted several times with no pop. It seems, for my use anyway, it is now completely fine. I love the sound, the features (I'm using the PEQ) and it's tiny. It's a wonderful device for a bargain price!

 

[Henreid]

I'd like to buy the Topping DX1 II for one purpose alone: to utilize its PEQ function purely through the optical-in to optical-out digital signal path. Since I don't plan to use the analog outputs at all, will I be able to avoid the intermittent pops, clicks, and distortion that have frequently been mentioned in this thread by owners of this DAC/Amp? Or will the noise problems persist even if I'm using NO digital to analog conversion and NO amplification from the DX1 II? Thanks for any insights you can provide...

 

[dagon99]

hey guys, does this amp have enough juice to drive the Edition XS dynamically? I ordered both to test it but would like to ask for some advice

 

[Janox]

The loud popping sound on the RCA output of the Topping DX1 II when changing functions is still present even in the latest firmware update 2.92. The popping sound is also transmitted to the optical output. This is apparently a hardware feature of the DX1 II that cannot be solved by firmware.

Has anyone compared the DX1 II with another cheap DAC? My SMSL 200 PRO sounds a little better than the Topping, the SMSL has a better spatial scene and more accurate localization of musical instruments.

I have the Topping connected as a preamplifier, connected by optical cable to the SMSL and from there by cinch cable to the Technics SA-TX50 power amplifier and it sounds great.

The Topping is very sensitive to interference from the power supply, I recommend powering it from a battery power bank.

 

[Matias]

hey guys, does this amp have enough juice to drive the Edition XS dynamically? I ordered both to test it but would like to ask for some advice

Welcome to ASR. It should have enough power. If not directly from the computer's USB port, then add a Y dongle and external phone power supply to get the full power.

 

[pier25]

hey guys, does this amp have enough juice to drive the Edition XS dynamically? I ordered both to test it but would like to ask for some advice

You will probably need a 4.4mm balanced cable. The balanced output has more power than the 3.5mm output.

 

[john61ct]

Does it still pop when sample rate changes?

or only when the user is making changes solution can be, just turn down or mute the volume?

Still clean at 48kHz and its multiples, 96 / 192kHz?

Other workarounds if it turns out to not be fixable via firmware updates?

Looking for feedback from actual owners – other than Janox, whose opinions have been fully expressed here LOL

 

[Mike123]

Looking for feedback from actual owners

I can't write a review on every page . The previous pages are full of reviews. I don't know what else you're looking for. DAC mode, balanced line output. It operates at 48 kHz via optical and 96 kHz via USB. Using different inputs for different 44.1/48 kHz bases is not recommended, and I've described why elsewhere. Nothing clicks, everything works, nothing glitches, the PEQ works too. The DAC is the main one and there are no complaints about it.

 

[john61ct]

I can't write a review on every page . The previous pages are full of reviews. I don't know what else you're looking for.

I'm only asking about the "problems" he keeps going on about, making it seem no one should buy this unit.

I thought my questions were specific enough, sorry if you answered all of them and my ignorance prevents me from extrapolating.


Does it still pop when sample rate changes?

or only when the user is making changes solution can be, just turn down or mute the volume?

Still clean at 48kHz and its multiples, 96 / 192kHz?

Other workarounds if it turns out to not be fixable via firmware updates?

...

So, are you saying "DAC mode" or fixed volume affects the problem? It only shows up when output level is adjustable?

And it only shows up on SE RCA output? DAC mode + balanced out are enough to prevent it?

And keep a fixed 48/96kHZ, cannot just let the input feed the files' or streaming native resolution without muting in between changes?

All three of these are required together to prevent the problem?

> The DAC is the main one and there are no complaints about it.

I don't understand what you're trying to say with that.

 

[Mike123]

Does it still pop when sample rate changes?

I don't know what it's doing on the RCA DAC outputs. I don't use them. It never clicks on the balanced outputs. I don't use headphones. Perhaps there are clicks there, or they're really annoying. I don't hear them on the amplifier outputs.

Still clean at 48kHz and its multiples, 96 / 192kHz?

Topping fixed this bug a long time ago, and it no longer exists.

Other workarounds if it turns out to not be fixable via firmware updates?

I don't understand how it's possible that you can't use a firmware update. If you can't update firmware, you shouldn't buy any modern equipment.

So, are you saying "DAC mode" or fixed volume affects the problem? It only shows up when output level is adjustable?

I have no idea. I'm not a tester and I don't check all DAC modes daily. I'm talking about my usage scenario and how it works in my mode.

And keep a fixed 48/96kHZ, cannot just let the input feed the files' or streaming native resolution without muting in between changes?

You can change the bitrate as much as you like if you're using a single input. If you have a 48-bit baseband on one input and a 44.1-bit baseband on the other, you'll get clicks when you switch between the two inputs on the fly.

I don't understand what you're trying to say with that.

The DAC runs for 5 to 15 hours daily. And if he had any problems, I would have seen or heard them.

And please use quotations. Replying to a text thread is very inconvenient.

 

[Janox]

I will put the information about the loud popping sound in perspective, because I do not want to overly criticize an otherwise interesting device based on one error. To illustrate MY problem vith MY device, I will provide a link to the videos.

1. I emphasize that the error can only be with MY DX1 II and MY method of use (optical input, RCA output directly to the power amplifier). In other uses, for example as a headphone amplifier or DAC, the DX1 II works fine.
I am interested in the experiences of other users to know if this error is only my DX1 II.

2. Loud popping sounds appear when using the DX1 II as a preamplifier on the RCA output when connected directly to the power amplifier. When using the DX II as a DAC and connecting to another preamplifier, the popping sounds are limited by the preamplifier volume setting.

3. Popping and hum appear when turning off the DX1 II, when turning on and off the signal source, and when changing the sampling frequency. Previously, a clicking sound was heard even when switching PEQ presets, with the new firmware 2.92 PEQ switches without a clicking sound.

4. The DX1 II volume setting has no effect on the loud clicking sound.

 

[whazzup]

I will put the information about the loud popping sound in perspective, because I do not want to overly criticize an otherwise interesting device based on one error. To illustrate MY problem vith MY device, I will provide a link to the videos.

1. I emphasize that the error can only be with MY DX1 II and MY method of use (optical input, RCA output directly to the power amplifier). In other uses, for example as a headphone amplifier or DAC, the DX1 II works fine.
I am interested in the experiences of other users to know if this error is only my DX1 II.

2. Loud popping sounds appear when using the DX1 II as a preamplifier on the RCA output when connected directly to the power amplifier. When using the DX II as a DAC and connecting to another preamplifier, the popping sounds are limited by the preamplifier volume setting.

3. Popping and hum appear when turning off the DX1 II, when turning on and off the signal source, and when changing the sampling frequency. Previously, a clicking sound was heard even when switching PEQ presets, with the new firmware 2.92 PEQ switches without a clicking sound.

4. The DX1 II volume setting has no effect on the loud clicking sound.

Thanks for the videos, guess the problem's still very much alive and kicking. Have you referred this to Topping?

 

[Janox]

Thanks for the videos, guess the problem's still very much alive and kicking. Have you referred this to Topping?

Topping wrote to me that I should return the DX1 II. From this I conclude that it is a fault of (my) hardware, not the firmware. On the other hand, the loud clicking when switching PEQ was removed by the new firmware. So I don't know if the other loud clicking will eventually be removed by the new firmware or if it is a hardware fault...

 

[john61ct]

I don't understand how it's possible that you can't use a firmware update. If you can't update firmware, you shouldn't buy any modern equipment.

I meant, in case Topping CANNOT FIX the faults that remain through firmware updates

 

[Mike123]

I meant, in case Topping CANNOT FIX the faults that remain through firmware updates

Sorry, I misunderstood you.