Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[Pausi]

They just add features to camouflage the hardware problem with line out and sample rates. I have given up on the DX1 II and now we'll search for a new device that give us everything in a small package to a reasonable price. Will we find it?

 

[Soundproof]

New firmware
View attachment 553159

Believe the firmware (and Topping home web) are approaching maturity by this release. In my book they have to do a bit of work to get it right with the wrap app (MacOS), which basically is a shortcut and possibly a "firmware helper".

Thing is, it opens the default browser the user have defined in system settings, which may very well not be googlebased. Might be an idea to let users choose a specific browser in the wrap settings during install, if OS permits. I get the advantages for developers and coding, but that stuff needs sorted out. Other software vendors are using clean chromium and own UX for their apps without this kind of wrap/shortcut "thing".

Certain they will get there, they probably want to develop the functionality - the dac controls - fully before handling the present awkwardness. That makes sense to me, and I believe the rest i progressing well, evidenced by the 23.01 release.

The DX1 II proper works flawlessly for my basic setup.

 

[Janox]

The unpleasant popping sound from the RCA output is still present on my DX1 II...

 

[Pausi]

The unpleasant popping sound from the RCA output is still present on my DX1 II...

You’re not alone. Topping doesn’t seem to able to fix this, indicating a serious hardware failure that’s not going to be solved.

 

[ATTI]

everything in a small package to a reasonable price. Will we find it?

If the main new feature of this DAC-AMP is PEQ, there will be many devices with it soon. This is hardware capabilities of XMOS XU316 processor and I think many vendors will look at DX1 II sucsess and add PEQ to their devices. For example from Fosi DS3 description:

With gain adjustment, 8 PCM filter options, and an upcoming 32-band hardware EQ tuning feature, the DS3 can be tailored to meet the needs of both music enthusiasts and gamers.

 

[Edward PR]

You’re not alone. Topping doesn’t seem to able to fix this, indicating a serious hardware failure that’s not going to be solved.

I bought it to have a minimal chain, DAC -> AMP, but right now the only way is: DAC (Pure Dac mode or high volume) -> Preamp (low - moderate volume) -> AMP.

 

[Pausi]

Yeah, it’s a pity. I said this from the beginning. Most likely a serious manufacturing fault that could not be fixed by software. If Topping had been a company from EU, instead of China, they would have been forced to recall the product and refund the buyers. Since this is a Chinese company, this will never happen and they will never admit any mistake.

 

[Pausi]

Just look at SMSL launching many small and cheap CD-players with lackluster features like no gapsless playback and problems with power. Instead of fixing the former model they launch a new one that might fix some of the former flaws but at the same time introduce new ones. A very common story in Chinese manufacturing industry.

(The PL200/PL200T are exempted from this and are also more expensive)

 

[Matias]

I bought it to have a minimal chain, DAC -> AMP, but right now the only way is: DAC (Pure Dac mode or high volume) -> Preamp (low - moderate volume) -> AMP.

If your amp has gain setting, you can try using as low as you can to minimize the popping on the speakers.
If not, then preamp indeed... Or in line attenuators.

 

[whazzup]

Yeah, it’s a pity. I said this from the beginning. Most likely a serious manufacturing fault that could not be fixed by software. If Topping had been a company from EU, instead of China, they would have been forced to recall the product and refund the buyers. Since this is a Chinese company, this will never happen and they will never admit any mistake.

Unfortunately that's the nature of the business. If Topping had been a company from EU instead of China, their products would probably have cost multiple times their current prices. Thankfully they're not.

 

[Pausi]

Sure, but the product would work like advertised, have two year of warranty and you could sent it back for repair or a refund.

 

[sm5]

They actually added the feature I requested and more! - Having the digital output volume be controllable separate from the headphone outputs!
Now I don't have to power down my speakers to switch to headphones!

I hope they have digital outputs w/volume control on all their future releases as it's really nice for speakers like Neumann or Palmer Orbits/etc. I'm sure there will be more digital inputs in speakers in the future too.

I tried plugging this into the OTG output on my M62 to see if there was some way to get audio out of the M62 digitally into this, but no luck. A combo of that and this would be almost perfect.

 

[Soundproof]

Sure, but the product would work like advertised, have two year of warranty and you could sent it back for repair or a refund.

Somehow believe you are wrong in assuming this is a Chinese problem, be it quality or sorting out warranties. Had issues with my DX1 II, and the response from Topping was way better than I reasonably could expect. They offered refund or shipping a new one, pragmatically without having to return the DX1 II as neither they nor I could solve the issue. Just before I was going to wrap it up I decided to have another go as new firmware was released - and the new firmware solved it. Naturally I asked them not to ship the replacement.

On the other hand, I had a warranty issue with an European product through a Danish store, obvious fabrication failure, and they made a proper s**tshow out of it.

Topping was way more decent than anyone I ever had to deal with for product issues and warranties. Then again, I was just as polite and solution minded as they were.

I have no conserns whatsoever shopping directly from Topping again.

 

[john61ct]

Still the clicking noise when sample rate changes through RCA line out, cmon Topping!!!

The unpleasant popping sound from the RCA output is still present on my DX1 II...

So, with balanced out, it never happens, ever?

...

 

[Pausi]

Somehow believe you are wrong in assuming this is a Chinese problem, be it quality or sorting out warranties. Had issues with my DX1 II, and the response from Topping was way better than I reasonably could expect. They offered refund or shipping a new one, pragmatically without having to return the DX1 II as neither they nor I could solve the issue. Just before I was going to wrap it up I decided to have another go as new firmware was released - and the new firmware solved it. Naturally I asked them not to ship the replacement.

On the other hand, I had a warranty issue with an European product through a Danish store, obvious fabrication failure, and they made a proper s**tshow out of it.

Topping was way more decent than anyone I ever had to deal with for product issues and warranties. Then again, I was just as polite and solution minded as they were.

I have no conserns whatsoever shopping directly from Topping again.

Are you telling me that you’ve got a working DX1 II without bitrate pops from line out?

 

[kitsura]

Anyone having success using the DX1 II with a Nintendo Switch 1 or 2? Mine doesn't power on no matter which port I try, USB-A or C both!

 

[VientoB]

Sure, but the product would work like advertised, have two year of warranty and you could sent it back for repair or a refund.

That's not actually guaranteed at all, and it probably wouldn't have got so many updates. To me the pop is a minor thing which happens occasionally when music is not playing.

Whilst the popping can be annoying it doesn't happen very often and hasn't ruined the device for me. I still find it excellent value, with a better screen than the D50 III which I also have.

I would have liked an orange screen rather that white, but that's just personal preference.

 

[Pausi]

That's not actually guaranteed at all, and it probably wouldn't have got so many updates. To me the pop is a minor thing which happens occasionally when music is not playing.

Whilst the popping can be annoying it doesn't happen very often and hasn't ruined the device for me. I still find it excellent value, with a better screen than the D50 III which I also have.

I would have liked an orange screen rather that white, but that's just personal preference.

"...the pop is a minor thing". Talk about post-purchase rationalization. I have never experienced, or accepted, a digital audio device since the '80s with clicks and pops from line out with simple bitrate change. Not even in low-fi products. How could this most basic functionality of a digital converter just be ignored. This is totally incomprehensible for me, but I guess I'm alone thinking this in the audio world.

 

[VientoB]

"...the pop is a minor thing". Talk about post-purchase rationalization. I have never experienced, or accepted, a digital audio device since the '80s with clicks and pops from line out with simple bitrate change. Not even in low-fi products. How could this most basic functionality of a digital converter just be ignored. This is totally incomprehensible for me, but I guess I'm alone thinking this in the audio world.

It's not a common problem, you probably haven't had a device with this problem before. That doesn't make it a major problem. Obviously I'd prefer if it didn't do it, but so far I've noticed it twice in 2 weeks of use. To me it is very minor, and I'd rather keep[ it and keep using it than reject it because overall I like the device.

 

[Soundproof]

Are you telling me that you’ve got a working DX1 II without bitrate pops from line out?

I have never argued anyone's issue with something isn't real. Obviously it is an issue of the greatest magnitude judging by the ongoing bickering.

My issue with the DX1 II was getting no sound out of it at all - from any source to any device. I commented on it, but I didn't keep at it on and on and on. I'd argue my problem with the unit at the time was a way bigger issue than the technical issue with yours.

I had a FRIENDLY and constructive dialogue with Topping support which is the right approach, leaving you guys out of it, and only commented without complaint on it when it had reached it's conclusion.

If you don't want it and they agree to take it back, send it back if that's what you want. You chose to purchace from China for whatever reason. I did because I wanted it asap and I wanted to test the purchase process which went very well indeed.

As I prefer to do a little homework before purchasing anything (to me that's part of the fun, thanks ASR and community), I had read all the stuff about DX5 II (a real alternative to me) thus very well aware of this being very early days for the DX1 II AND the software. Was well aware of the risk and prepared for issues. The guineapig risk was obvious to anyone, and my take on that is that Topping has delivered continious progress both for firmware and software. I find it to be a very good product.

So: Either return it, sell it or live with it, but by jove we are all aware of the issue you are magnifying.

....or simply get a 4.4mm balanced to RCA adapter cable which I somehow believe could work (I don't use RCA and have no intention whatsoever to do so).