Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[amirm]

@amirm I'm assuming that filter measurement is filter 3?

It was the default. Not home so can't check.

 

[mash]

Neat device at a GREAT price. Very tempting but I would need some flexibility on The DSP functions for it to make sense for my setup.

questions on the DSP/PEQ capabilities:

1) Does the DSP/PEQ work with all inputs (USB and Optical)?
2) Can it play to all outputs simultaneously?
3) Can you apply different PEQ profiles (including a pass thru option) for different outputs? (balanced for mains, RCA for subs, with Optical pass thru)

If it can do all three of those things (especially 3) than I am a buyer and only would need one device. If it can do 1 and 2 and it only supports pass thru for 3 (with the same PEQ for the RCA/Balanced outs), then I would consider it but would need to buy 2 devices.

 

[formdissolve]

3) Can you apply different PEQ profiles (including a pass thru option) for different outputs? (balanced for mains, RCA for subs, with Optical pass thru)

If it can do all three of those things (especially 3) than I am a buyer and only would need one device. If it can do 1 and 2 and it only supports pass thru for 3 (with the same PEQ for the RCA/Balanced outs), then I would consider it but would need to buy 2 devices.

I hightly doubt the DSP chip inside can do this amount of processing power.

 

[Janox]

Maybe one of them will work fine, but obviously not all indeed.

Only DVD players work well at 48kHz and multiples. The same players have sound dropouts at 44.1kHz and multiples. Why does 48kHz on the optical input work fine but 44.1kHz on the same optical input does not work?

 

[memopro]

Am I the only one who noticed that the manufacturer claims 1000mW for the balanced 4.4mm headphone output at 32 ohms, while Amir measured 467mW. For 300 ohms, the manufacturer claims 230mW, while Amir measured 57mW. This is a big discrepancy.

 

[DazST]

Wow, even the DX5 II at almost triple the price had this for USB input only.

I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. I have a dx5ii and dsp applied to optical

 

[mash]

I hightly doubt the DSP chip inside can do this amount of processing power.

Reading the manual and playing with the Tune software, I would think....

1, No indication, maybe yes?
2, Answer is yes
3, Answer appears to be no support for separate output profiles but yes to pass thru on the optical out.

If those are correct, I could support my configuration with 2 devices.

 

[formdissolve]

Reading the manual and playing with the Tune software, I would think....

1, No indication, maybe yes?
2, Answer is yes
3, Answer appears to be no support for separate output profiles but yes to pass thru on the optical out.

If those are correct, I could support my configuration with 2 devices.

Number 1 is a yes. But for your number 3, I don't think even my RME can do that many PEQ adjustments at once for all the outputs. Are you going to buy one to try it out?

 

[amirm]

3) Can you apply different PEQ profiles (including a pass thru option) for different outputs? (balanced for mains, RCA for subs, with Optical pass thru)

Pretty sure the answer to this is NO. At this price, as you indicated, you could buy two and use the separately, assuming your playback software allows that.

 

[dr.diesel]

Without Ethernet/Wifi how does the web interface work? As a Linux guy if I can get this to work this will be a quick purchase.

 

[mash]

Number 1 is a yes. But for your number 3, I don't think even my RME can do that many PEQ adjustments at once for all the outputs. Are you going to buy one to try it out?

I may but probably not right away. Have some other projects that are taking precedence now.

 

[formdissolve]

Without Ethernet/Wifi how does the web interface work? As a Linux guy if I can get this to work this will be a quick purchase.

Looks like it uses some app via USB bridge or something.. pretty sure it works fine using Chromium or Firefox etc https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/topping-home-web-web-control-center

I know their Topping Tune app is Windows/Mac only.. but I'd be curious if it works under Bottles or some other WINE interface.

 

[Soundproof]

Without Ethernet/Wifi how does the web interface work? As a Linux guy if I can get this to work this will be a quick purchase.

I'll see if I can have a go at it when the DX1 II arrives, but I never messed about a lot with sound in Linux (not at all in this machine), and I do suspect USB (3.0) power will be a challenge. Museum ThinkPad and Arch. Archwiki and a wrench tend to fix anything

Having said that, my understanding is that Topping PEQ is accessible by native linux sound system / applications.

 

[olieb]

Without Ethernet/Wifi how does the web interface work? As a Linux guy if I can get this to work this will be a quick purchase.

It works over USB.
You use the web address “https://home.toppingaudio.com/“ and

Connect your device to get started
Steps: Connect device -> Authorize WebHID -> Start controlling immediately

It does not work in Safari on MacOs, so I had to use Chrome (I hate that), but it seems to work much better than Topping Tune.
No idea what browser on Linux does WebHID - Opera?
EDIT: And I do not know whether the driver, that is loaded from the topping page, is platform specific.

 

[Soundproof]

It works over USB.
You use the web address “https://home.toppingaudio.com/“ and

It does not work in Safari on MacOs, so I had to use Chrome (I hate that), but it seems to work much better than Topping Tune.
No idea what browser on Linux does WebHID - Opera?

Haven't even heard about anyone voluntarily using Opera. 2 options for any platform including Linux would be Vivaldi and Mullvad Browser. I mainly use the latter...

 

[Bleib]

I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. I have a dx5ii and dsp applied to optical

Yes. D50 III has only PEQ through USB. DX5 II is on everything. Same with DX1 II (no coaxial input)

 

[Soundproof]

EDIT: And I do not know whether the driver, that is loaded from the topping page, is platform specific.

That would be for Windows only I believe. Should be no need for MacOS, possibly one has to grant permissions. For Linux any driver or whatever would likely be a part of a core installation, and if not, in the distro repos. Will use mine with MacOS, thus expect to figure that out.

 

[beeface]

I believe Brave is a browser option other than Chrome that can be used on just about every OS for WebHID.

Edit: Edge, too? But if you hate Chrome I assume you probably hate Edge also

 

[Bleib]

I believe Brave is a browser option other than Chrome that can be used on just about every OS for WebHID.

Edit: Edge, too? But if you hate Chrome I assume you probably hate Edge also

They're all based on Chromium, so yes, they all work

 

[Enthusiastic Amateur]

1) Does the DSP/PEQ work with all inputs (USB and Optical)?

Yes

3) Can you apply different PEQ profiles (including a pass thru option) for different outputs? (balanced for mains, RCA for subs, with Optical pass thru)

That would require a four-channel DAC. The DX1 II is only stereo.