Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[hestejoe]

No Bluetooth, right? I would say these specs at this price with BT plus perhaps a pair of 1/4" TRS (though we can get it via a cable and that's enough) would top my list as a Swiss Army buy and forget recommendation for the vast majority of listeners.

 

[pavuol]

What power rating ( like 5V 1A ) would you recommend for this unit?

user guide states: POWER INPUT USB Type-C (DC 5V / 1.0A), which is lower than all "USB Type-C" from Rev. 1.0 (7.5 W 5 V, 1.5 A), but higher than USB 1.0-2.0 (HPD: 2.5 W (5 V, 500 mA) and USB 3.0-3.2 (HPD: 4.5 W (5 V, 900 mA)) - wiki USB

So I guess it should be confirmed by someone if the real power draw at max output fits to 5V 900mA limit.. right?

 

[NTTY]

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

The plot suggests filter 3 indeed.

And note for self: run again the THD+N sweep with filter 1, 3, 4 and 5.

 

[Soundproof]

No Bluetooth, right? I would say these specs at this price with BT plus perhaps a pair of 1/4" TRS (though we can get it via a cable and that's enough) would top my list as a Swiss Army buy and forget recommendation for the vast majority of listeners.

There is a genereous outbid of competing devices providing BT, both for head-fi and regular stereo. Kind of prefer this one because it don't. Beyond sound quality that's a good reason for cabled head-fi.

Further, Topping is one of few specifically mentioning Linux accessibility (i.e DX5 II) to PEQ. I try to avoid pherperials and software which is restricting free movement between platforms. If you get the "best option" EQ software for MacOS, that's where you can use it, can't bring it with you, Apple's own is for Apple software and hardware. and for the latter you'd loose features with Android/derivates and Sailfish.

On MacOS it saves me from EQ subscriptions (or for one time only 40 $ from being cuffed to Apple). I'd argue Topping PEQ iterations are no brainers both in terms of measurements, sound quality, money AND freedom. Tough ones to beat from a good many perspectives.

 

[Bleib]

V15.69.22.69 Firmware Release Notes​

• Improved: OPT input compatibility, now supports a wider range of CD players
• Improved: UAC 1.0 compatibility, now supports Switch 2, PS5, and other devices
• New: UAC 1.0 microphone input
• Fixed: Several other known issues.

Topping Home - Preset Cloud

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home.toppingaudio.com

Edit: Update through this link, there are some driver updates before the new firmware can be installed

Can confirm that Fosi Merak Cd-player now works!

 

[Matias]

Thank you, that is great news, how many filters per channel are then available?

Still 10 PEQ filters independent per channel.

 

[Soundproof]

V15.69.22.69 Firmware Release Notes​

• Improved: OPT input compatibility, now supports a wider range of CD players
• Improved: UAC 1.0 compatibility, now supports Switch 2, PS5, and other devices
• New: UAC 1.0 microphone input
• Fixed: Several other known issues.

Topping Home - Preset Cloud

Explore and share audio presets with the Topping Home community

home.toppingaudio.com

Can confirm that Fosi Merak Cd-player now works!

Believe Topping is doing a great job absorbing feedback from community members when providing devices for testing. Might have been advantageous for Topping to mark the firmware installed on the early production with "beta" as early adopters are in effect beta testers. Would turn the feedback to more of a collaborate thing (which it is), and help the debates linked to the tests. Anyway, most early adopters would know this, when to pull the trigger or hold, depending upon acceptance of risk and willingness to participate in "the beta stage".

With the testing by NTTY and Amir and the following scrutiny by the community, the DX1 II would be a better product and more successful.

I will get a better product because of NTTY, Amir and you guys. Thanks.

 

[NTTY]

V15.69.22.69 Firmware Release Notes​

• Improved: OPT input compatibility, now supports a wider range of CD players
• Improved: UAC 1.0 compatibility, now supports Switch 2, PS5, and other devices
• New: UAC 1.0 microphone input
• Fixed: Several other known issues.

Topping Home - Preset Cloud

Explore and share audio presets with the Topping Home community

home.toppingaudio.com

Can confirm that Fosi Merak Cd-player now works!

Great news! Will test that one too.

 

[Matias]

Just updated mine, which was already working fine for simple USB => IEMs, but still everything working fine here.

I had not tested the Topping Home website interface yet, I had to create my account, update driver and finally the firmware, but 10 minutes later all set.

 

[Mike123]

So I guess it should be confirmed by someone if the real power draw at max output fits to 5V 900mA limit.. right?

This forum has long been interested in this wonderful device, and there are several threads discussing it.
This
And This
In another thread, I reported the actual power consumption of this DAC.

 

[Mike123]

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)

There are three equalizer profiles. They are switched with a separate button on the remote. You can select any one for each input. Two cannot be active simultaneously. Buttons C1-C3 on the remote theoretically allow for one-click switching. In practice, we've encountered issues with this, and I haven't used these buttons yet. Perhaps the firmware released today has already fixed the issue.

 

[Sergey198]

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.

If Amir's measurements are correct, it is a device with very modest power, especially at an unbalanced output. About 100 mW at 32 ohms and about 15 mW at 300 ohms.

 

[Gibsonian]

If there was a Coax input on this I'd be buying one of these. Poop.

 

[Matias]

If there was a Coax input on this I'd be buying one of these. Poop.

I would also like to see an alternate coax RCA SPDIF input/output keeping everything else the same.

 

[solderdude]

Is the RCA problem a hardware issue or something that can be fixed by a firmware update?

Can not be resolved with firmware updates.

Whether this may or may not lead to an audible issue IRL in every home situation is not guaranteed. It might and might not lead to audible issues when using RCA.
There do not seem to be issues with Pentaconn balanced out but will require amplification with balanced input and fully wired conversion cables if needed.

The reported sync issues with TOSLINK input (output from USB-C in is fine) may or may not be improved with firmware. If the issue is hardware related (receiver) then FW updates may not fully resolve this issue.
When one plans to use the DAC with TOSLINK be warned (or SPDIF AES-EBU converted to TOSLINK).

Also make sure when using it with USB-A outputs to USB-C cables that some USB sources may not deliver enough power (5V).

So great performing and cheap little device with that comes with some limitations in certain areas.
I can see a recommendation is in order except when the primary goal is to use TOSLINK input or, in certain cases, when used with RCA out (possible groundloop sensitivity) and when used with low 5V output power USB devices.

One would be hard pressed to find a USB-C DAC that has this level of performance and output power when only connected using USB-C input for this price.
I get the impression the launch was a bit rushed and customers were being used as beta testers as a result of that.

4V out (TRS headphone out) and 8V (Pentaconn out) is quite a substantial output voltage, certainly when this is also reached in 32ohm. Of course with USB-C outputs that can supply enough power.

 

[Matias]

If Amir's measurements are correct, it is a device with very modest power, especially at an unbalanced output. About 100 mW at 32 ohms and about 15 mW at 300 ohms.

Welcome to ASR. If one needs high power then should be using the 4.4mm balanced HP outs anyway. The 3.5mm is complementary, for those with no need for power (IEMs) where extra low noise is important.

 

[Sergey198]

Welcome to ASR. If one needs high power then should be using the 4.4mm balanced HP outs anyway. The 3.5mm is complementary, for those with no need for power (IEMs) where extra low noise is important.

The question is the significant differences between Amir's measurements and the manufacturer's data. NTTY measured 8 V RMS on a balanced output for headphones without load, which at a load of 300 ohms will give 213 mW of power.

 

[Matias]

At what % of THD+N? ASR uses knee, Topping uses 1% AFAIK. Big difference there.

 

[Sergey198]

At what % of THD+N? ASR uses knee, Topping uses 1% AFAIK. Big difference there.

Amir's measurements show that the device is not cut under load and 1% THD simply cannot be there.

 

[solderdude]

Amir's measurements show that the device is not cut under load and 1% THD simply cannot be there.

It looks like only the SE headphone output was measured (tops out at 4V > 32ohm) and not the balanced HP out which would top out at 8V (also > 32ohm).