Topping DX1 II DAC & HP Amp Review

[Soundproof]

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

Would kind of distance it from it's intended purpose for what appears to be their target users and usage in my opinion. The way I picture it, the DX1 II is very specifically purposed towards consumer desktop/laptop computers and head-fi. Omitting bluetooth because that's available straight from the computer, no additional USB C because the DX1 II will drain the battery of cellphones, tablets and DAP's fast, toslink in because it connects a wide variety of sources, and toslink++ out for active speakers and so on. They have covered their bases well for how I understand the DX1 II in my opinion.

If they remove/add or replace one or some of these features for coax, it will reduce it's versatility and/or add caveats for the rather specific usage they seem to have with DX1 II. Sure it will be hit for some and miss for others, but it does seem to me they have nailed it pretty good.

 

[memopro]

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.

What you noticed applies to the low gain of the Topping DX3 Pro. He did not measure the unbalanced 6.35mm headphone output on Topping DX1 II.

EDIT: 3.5mm output

 

[Sergey198]

What you noticed applies to the low gain of the Topping DX3 Pro. He did not measure the unbalanced 6.35mm headphone output on Topping DX1 II.

As far as I can see, Topping DX1 II has no 6.3 mm output

 

[Matias]

Would kind of distance it from it's intended purpose for what appears to be their target users and usage in my opinion. The way I picture it, the DX1 II is very specifically purposed towards consumer desktop/laptop computers and head-fi. Omitting bluetooth because that's available straight from the computer, no additional USB C because the DX1 II will drain the battery of cellphones, tablets and DAP's fast, toslink in because it connects a wide variety of sources, and toslink++ out for active speakers and so on. They have covered their bases well for how I understand the DX1 II in my opinion.

If they remove/add or replace one or some of these features for coax, it will reduce it's versatility and/or add caveats for the rather specific usage they seem to have with DX1 II. Sure it will be hit for some and miss for others, but it does seem to me they have nailed it pretty good.

I agree that toslink is the preferred input/output for TVs and games.
I was thinking about my Neumann KH 120 II spdif input by apparently that is very uncommon on studio monitors, most use aes/ebu instead, and they are not directly compatible.
Never mind then, too small market to make it worth it.

 

[memopro]

As far as I can see, Topping DX1 II has no 6.3 mm output

Yes, 3.5mm unbalanced output.

 

[Soundproof]

I agree that toslink is the preferred input/output for TVs and games.
I was thinking about my Neumann KH 120 II spdif input by apparently that is very uncommon on studio monitors, most use aes/ebu instead, and they are not directly compatible.
Never mind then, too small market to make it worth it.

Unfortunate but probable....

Personally I make an effort to standardize the best I can - Platform independent software, USB C for computing devices, USB C for low power supply devices rather than bricks with fixed cables and so on. Not always possible, but when it is, I will go for standards I expect to be future proof.

 

[Matias]

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.

I see that you mean now. I think using USB powered only limits the total power? Topping's specifications has an observation saying that they measured "under 5V DC power supply".

 

[Soundproof]

Seems to me like Mac M4 Thunderbolt 4 does at least 15 w out, trust that will be more than sufficient....

 

[memopro]

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).

Absolutely, I think so too, he must have got the description wrong.

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.

The values are very close to those of the manufacturer, but to the unbalanced 3.5 mm headphone output.
@amirm , can you confirm this?

 

[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

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!

Tested too and no glitches as well (tested with the Teac VRDS 25x).

This is an overlay of the analog output of the Topping vs the original digital WAV file directly analyzed by the computer:

The two traces nearly overlay perfectly, as if I was comparing twice the digital file. Actually I get the same type of differences between two runs from the WAV file.

If you wanted analog conversion perfection from a CD Transport, here you go. It'll be my pleasure to add a full review from a CD Player (tomorrow).

By the way, I now get 1ppm clock precision from my Teac via the Topping, as I had from the SMSL PL200T clocked by the GPS DO.

 

[JDS]

I'm trying to figure out if I can use this with my Raspberry Pi 4 as a Roon endpoint. This device seems to have 2 inputs -- Toslink (which the RP4 doesn't have) and USB. But I'm guessing the RP4 won't supply enough juice if I connect it to the Topping via USB, and that looks like the only way to power the Topping. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[JamesYeomans]

I agree that toslink is the preferred input/output for TVs and games.
I was thinking about my Neumann KH 120 II spdif input by apparently that is very uncommon on studio monitors, most use aes/ebu instead, and they are not directly compatible.
Never mind then, too small market to make it worth it.

To add to this, I have had no issues connecting SPDIF direct to my Genelec SAM 8341A and 8340A monitors using these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153984454508?var=454080427691

Granted, I haven't tried cables longer than 2 meters.

More info here: https://support.genelec.com/hc/en-u...gital-SAM-monitors-to-S-PDIF-coaxial-directly

 

[Pierun]

at first thought: ridiculous value for money, "high SINAD!1", nice featureset.
at second thought: it's a Topping device, so it'll have some rather bizzare bugs/issues at launch (if not later)

I might be ridiculed for this, but as much as it looks good on paper, it's a pass imo, considering Topping's history.

 

[Power Pop 23]

at first thought: ridiculous value for money, "high SINAD!1", nice featureset.
at second thought: it's a Topping device, so it'll have some rather bizzare bugs/issues at launch (if not later)

I might be ridiculed for this, but as much as it looks good on paper, it's a pass imo, considering Topping's history.

I'd pass for now and consider a Topping DX1 II in 6 to 12 months

 

[Matias]

To add to this, I have had no issues connecting SPDIF direct to my Genelec SAM 8341A and 8340A monitors using these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153984454508?var=454080427691

Granted, I haven't tried cables longer than 2 meters.

More info here: https://support.genelec.com/hc/en-u...gital-SAM-monitors-to-S-PDIF-coaxial-directly

If only there was a firmware update to add a feature to convert the RCA analog line outs to SPDIF line outs it would be magical.

 

[Mike123]

But I'm guessing the RP4 won't supply enough juice if I connect it to the Topping via USB

I have the DX1-II connected to the RPI5. The DAC didn't start by default. After specifying in the config file to increase the USB current, the DAC started working. This command is only for the RPI5. I don't know if it's possible to control the USB current on the RPI4. But I assume it is.

 

[Mike123]

I might be ridiculed for this, but as much as it looks good on paper, it's a pass imo, considering Topping's history.

It's a good imo. After today's firmware update, all the bugs that were significant to me were fixed. This is a wonderful device that does everything I need with excellent performance. I don't really understand why Topping took such a risk and released it at $120. Perhaps because the DAC market is already over, and there's no one left to offer anything higher and better.

 

[NTTY]

It's a good imo. After today's firmware update, all the bugs that were significant to me were fixed. This is a wonderful device that does everything I need with excellent performance. I don't really understand why Topping took such a risk and released it at $120. Perhaps because the DAC market is already over, and there's no one left to offer anything higher and better.

Need to run some regression tests though

 

[JamesYeomans]

If only there was a firmware update to add a feature to convert the RCA analog line outs to SPDIF line outs it would be magical.

Toslink to Coax converters are pretty cheap though mind

 

[Mike123]

Need to run some regression tests though

I'm already doing this, the DX1-II is my main DAC . Today I moved the speakers, reconfigured the room correction, and compared the Camilla DSP equalizer with the DAC's equalizer multiple times. Everything is practically identical.