Topping DX1 II - Really disappointing

[Sparky]

Hi all.

After Amir's review of the Topping DX1 II, I thought I would take a punt and order one.
What a mistake that was! This unit is buggy as hell and is not fit for purpose in any way, shape or form.

There are regular drop-outs that last only a millisecond yet are audible on both USB and Optical inputs.
I get a really horrible, fast paced popping sound on USB input which occurs at random intervals and is only cured by switching to Optical.
Popping sounds after coming back on from standby, popping sounds when listening to different tracks on ROON.
Popping sounds when changing EQ and PEQ settings.
I am using the single ended outputs via RCA to 3.5mm jack to a pair of Creative Pebble V3.

It doesn't seem to do the above on my Zero:2 IEM's though.....

I have tried powering the unit via USB from a USB plug and using just optical and powering via computer using USB audio/power and the result is the same.

I have tried changing the settings in my PC for the Topping to just simple 44.1k (CD quality) right through to the max 32 bit with no change in behaviour.

Am I doing something wrong here or have I got a duff unit? I am only the latest firmware and do not listen at high volumes.
Is it the Pebbles or the RCA's maybe??

 

[heraldo_jones]

Am I doing something wrong here or have I got a duff unit? I am only the latest firmware and do not listen at high volumes.
Is it the Pebbles or the RCA's maybe??

No, it happens to me and so many other users. Looks like they have done very little to no test with this model. Also lot of other issues with other Topping dacs. I guess my first and last dac from Topping.

 

[Sparky]

No, it happens to me and so many other users. Looks like they have done very little to no test with this model. Also lot of other issues with other Topping dacs. I guess my first and last dac from Topping.

I'm not even going to bother returning it.
It'll go back in the box and not see the light of day again until it's confirmed the many issues have been resolved.

Like you, I'll not buy a Topping product again that's for sure.

Sorry to hear you're having problems too mate!

 

[Hapo]

...IMHO you should return it...

 

[Bleib]

Keep writing Topping emails so they work on fixing the problems, a short email can help many users even if you choose to return the units
[email protected]

 

[Redacted]

"I have tried changing the settings in my PC for the Topping to just simple 44.1k (CD quality) right through to the max 32 bit with no change in behaviour.

Am I doing something wrong here or have I got a duff unit? I am only the latest firmware..."

I don't have a MK2, only the original DX1, and it works brilliantly on my PC, but I always use "exclusive mode", event-driven with FB2K in order to get bit-perfect output.... As a test, how well does your MK2 work playing music via FB2K in exclusive mode? If that's OK, the problem is not necessarily an issue with the Topping....

 

[Sparky]

Keep writing Topping emails so they work on fixing the problems, a short email can help many users even if you choose to return the units
[email protected]

Thanks for this......you're right of course

 

[Sparky]

"I have tried changing the settings in my PC for the Topping to just simple 44.1k (CD quality) right through to the max 32 bit with no change in behaviour.

Am I doing something wrong here or have I got a duff unit? I am only the latest firmware..."

I don't have a MK2, only the original DX1, and it works brilliantly on my PC, but I always use "exclusive mode", event-driven with FB2K in order to get bit-perfect output.... As a test, how well does your MK2 work playing music via FB2K in exclusive mode? If that's OK, the problem is not necessarily an issue with the Topping....

I'll be completly honest, I'm a complete novice with this sort of thing.

I think you mean Foobar?
I've never used it and wouldn't know how to. I'm willing to give it a try though for sure.

I not bashing the Topping brand here eirher, I'm just disappointed that's all (add my inexperience to the mix and it makes it all seem much worse).

 

[respice finem]

...IMHO you should return it...

This. If customers let manufacturers throw "green bananas" at them, it will soon become the new normal.

 

[Redacted]

I'll be completly honest, I'm a complete novice with this sort of thing.

I think you mean Foobar?
I've never used it and wouldn't know how to. I'm willing to give it a try though for sure.

I not bashing the Topping brand here eirher, I'm just disappointed that's all (add my inexperience to the mix and it makes it all seem much worse).

Yes Foobar2000... Just as a test. There are many media players you could try. FB2K is well known.

Download and install it on your PC.
Set its output to the Topping, using Wasapi exclusive mode, and drop a track on it.

 

[Sparky]

Yes Foobar2000... Just as a test. There are many media players you could try. FB2K is well known.

Download and install it on your PC.
Set its output to the Topping, using Wasapi exclusive mode, and drop a track on it.

How do I set its output to the Topping and what is Wasapi exclusive mode? (told you I knew nothing) LOL

 

[Redacted]

How do I set its output to the Topping and what is Wasapi exclusive mode? (told you I knew nothing) LOL

File->preferences. Select output. If your device is not the list, look under 'devices'.

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[Redacted]

You will also need https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapi

I forgot. download the component and double-click on it.

And note that clicking on playback on any device could be down to buffer size being too small.

 

[Sparky]

Installed FB2K though and followed a youtube video to set it up initially

File->preferences. Select output. If your device is not the list, look under 'devices'.

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View attachment 544288

Well colour me impressed! Thank you so much bud. Installing Foobar and the necessary plug-ins seems to have solved my problem.
No more popping or cracking noises. I just need to learn how to get the best out of the DX1 II (and learn more about FB2K too)!

Really appreciate the help with this.

 

[Redacted]

Installed FB2K though and followed a youtube video to set it up initially

Well colour me impressed! Thank you so much bud. Installing Foobar and the necessary plug-ins seems to have solved my problem.
No more popping or cracking noises. I just need to learn how to get the best out of the DX1 II (and learn more about FB2K too)!

Really appreciate the help with this.

It was a valid test, and I'm glad something worthwhile was found out. I am thinking that whatever media player you last used, it's probably just a matter of playing with the buffer size to get it working.

Most negativity about FB2K is about the default UI (can be changed!), and the fact that there are so many components to choose from, it gets confusing..

I keep mine simple like this:
.

 

[Keith_W]

Well done, @Redacted. Don't blame the hardware when the problem may lie somewhere else ... i.e. Windows.

 

[krumpol]

No, it happens to me and so many other users. Looks like they have done very little to no test with this model. Also lot of other issues with other Topping dacs. I guess my first and last dac from Topping.

Folks are not used to read manuals anymore.
There's link to driver package on page four of Topping DX1 II manual with couple of tutorials for exclusive ASIO and DSD mode linked too, and you'll find all *.fb2k components for Foobar with *.pdf guides in driver package.

 

[Sparky]

It was a valid test, and I'm glad something worthwhile was found out. I am thinking that whatever media player you last used, it's probably just a matter of playing with the buffer size to get it working.

Most negativity about FB2K is about the default UI (can be changed!), and the fact that there are so many components to choose from, it gets confusing..

I keep mine simple like this:
.


View attachment 544365

Thanks again. Can you explain why this works? What did I actually do here? Again, apologies but I am really late to the game when it comes to things like this.

 

[Sparky]

Folks are not used to read manuals anymore.
There's link to driver package on page four of Topping DX1 II manual with couple of tutorials for exclusive ASIO and DSD mode linked too, and you'll find all *.fb2k components for Foobar with *.pdf guides in driver package.

Fair comment bud. Can't deny that I didn't read the manual. I skimmed the quick-start guide.

 

[Redacted]

Well done, @Redacted. Don't blame the hardware when the problem may lie somewhere else ... i.e. Windows.

I did not not blame the hardware. Nor windows.