Topping DX1 mini desktop DAC & AMP

[frha]

I know it's common wisdom now to say a DAC in a laptop is just as good as say the DX1, but in some back and forth testing I noticed some difference between the two and I'm wondering why. The DAC is at 32 bit 384khz mode and the laptop is at 24 bit 48khz if that makes a difference (although I've seen stuff which suggests that it doesn't). In some ways the DAC sounds different (but not necessarily better). It's as if it's adjusting the audio somehow but I can't figure out how. Perhaps this is due to DAC design?

 

[sansenri]

Gooday all,

I have just registered! I am an old time music and hifi lover.
Straight to the point, despite I am aware this is a somewhat old thread, should anyone like to further comment.
I currently use an Audioengine D1 as my desktop dac, connected to my Asus portable PC.

With age, I have developed hearing problems (otosclerosis), which is bilateral, which lowers my hearing threshold, although luckily does not alter too much my hearing response (essentially response is flat, but lower than normal, for both ears).
In everyday life I use hearing aids (Oticon), but when I listen to music they are a nuisance (they do not deliver soundstage so well), so I take them off and just turn up the volume!
Since I do not live alone, I usually use headphones to do that (my ProAC towers are sadly very often silent...).
The volume from my Audioengine D1 (which is usb power driven) is usually insufficient for immersive listening, so I boost it up via a headphone amp (an old Trigon Exxpert, a German brand) which does its work.
Headphones used differ, very often for ordinary use, I use low impedance (16 ohms) Sennheiser MX470 ear buds (I am very fond of my MX470, which are no longer made), but other times also over ear headphones (Fidelio, Bose).

I now need a second dac, for a very small (space limited) set up in my country house. Essentially I use an old portable PC (updated to win 10), dedicated just to listening to music or whatching videos (Netflix, prime video, etc.), and audio through headphones.
I was looking for a dac/headphone amp with decent volume, to allow me to avoid an additional headphone amp, and I will be using mostly a second pair of MX470s.
After reading up a lot on this forum (Amir's work cannot be commended more) I have decided to give Topping DX1 a go. I know it is usb driven, so amp cannot be high power, but actually avoiding a further power lead would be a godsend.

So the DX1 has arrived today, currently I have tested it at home vs my Audioengine D1. In low gain the DX1 and D1 (both at max volume) sound identical both in volume and other sound characteristics (which makes me assume the D1 is a properly designed piece of kit, despite it dates back some 10 years ago...).
As mentioned however, that level of volume is just slightly insufficient for me.
The high gain on the DX1 is however a game changer! Volume increases sufficiently to allow me to turn the volume knob at 3 o'clock and loose no detail in the music/speech!

The Dx1 and D1 look very similar in terms of size and features (very small, which is good), the DX1 shows other nice advantages (besides the high gain setting), it's heavier, which helps avoiding cables dragging it around, it's made of what looks like durable metal outside (the D1 is lighter and the front and back panels are made of a sort of rubber that with time tends to become sticky - my D1 has been treated with talcum powder to reduce the stickiness!)

I am really happy with the DX1 solution, I am sure there could have been other options, but this one seems to work fine for me.

 

[Jimster480]

Gooday all,

I have just registered! I am an old time music and hifi lover.
Straight to the point, despite I am aware this is a somewhat old thread, should anyone like to further comment.
I currently use an Audioengine D1 as my desktop dac, connected to my Asus portable PC.

With age, I have developed hearing problems (otosclerosis), which is bilateral, which lowers my hearing threshold, although luckily does not alter too much my hearing response (essentially response is flat, but lower than normal, for both ears).
In everyday life I use hearing aids (Oticon), but when I listen to music they are a nuisance (they do not deliver soundstage so well), so I take them off and just turn up the volume!
Since I do not live alone, I usually use headphones to do that (my ProAC towers are sadly very often silent...).
The volume from my Audioengine D1 (which is usb power driven) is usually insufficient for immersive listening, so I boost it up via a headphone amp (an old Trigon Exxpert, a German brand) which does its work.
Headphones used differ, very often for ordinary use, I use low impedance (16 ohms) Sennheiser MX470 ear buds (I am very fond of my MX470, which are no longer made), but other times also over ear headphones (Fidelio, Bose).

I now need a second dac, for a very small (space limited) set up in my country house. Essentially I use an old portable PC (updated to win 10), dedicated just to listening to music or whatching videos (Netflix, prime video, etc.), and audio through headphones.
I was looking for a dac/headphone amp with decent volume, to allow me to avoid an additional headphone amp, and I will be using mostly a second pair of MX470s.
After reading up a lot on this forum (Amir's work cannot be commended more) I have decided to give Topping DX1 a go. I know it is usb driven, so amp cannot be high power, but actually avoiding a further power lead would be a godsend.

So the DX1 has arrived today, currently I have tested it at home vs my Audioengine D1. In low gain the DX1 and D1 (both at max volume) sound identical both in volume and other sound characteristics (which makes me assume the D1 is a properly designed piece of kit, despite it dates back some 10 years ago...).
As mentioned however, that level of volume is just slightly insufficient for me.
The high gain on the DX1 is however a game changer! Volume increases sufficiently to allow me to turn the volume knob at 3 o'clock and loose no detail in the music/speech!

The Dx1 and D1 look very similar in terms of size and features (very small, which is good), the DX1 shows other nice advantages (besides the high gain setting), it's heavier, which helps avoiding cables dragging it around, it's made of what looks like durable metal outside (the D1 is lighter and the front and back panels are made of a sort of rubber that with time tends to become sticky - my D1 has been treated with talcum powder to reduce the stickiness!)

I am really happy with the DX1 solution, I am sure there could have been other options, but this one seems to work fine for me.

Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm glad that you have used our information here to find a product that you like so that you can continue to enjoy listening to music. After all, this is what the whole forum is about!

Newer products are way more efficient in terms of power draw on the chip side so they can allow for higher gain levels while not needing external power.

 

[sansenri]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm glad that you have used our information here to find a product that you like so that you can continue to enjoy listening to music. After all, this is what the whole forum is about!

Newer products are way more efficient in terms of power draw on the chip side so they can allow for higher gain levels while not needing external power.

thank you for your comment. I will certainly be looking for more advice for a dac for my current home hifi set up

 

[3alfa3]

Hello,

As a new user of DX1 I have a question.

I use DT770PRO 80 Ohm and volume is OK even with low gain, but, at or near maximum in some cases. I could use high gain without need to go even near max, but....
Do i compromise sound (amp distortion?) if at low gain setting i crank volume pot fully vs "at or near 12h" on high gain for the same volume?

Btw, soundstage is noticeable narrower (to exaggerate, something between stereo and mono ) than on laptop headphone out, but sound is MUCH better/tighter with DX1, on Laptop it is dispersed, not defined, muffled etc, although I didn't notice it before because I had nothing to compare it to.

Tnx


EDIT:
just installed Topping driver for DX1 (Windows 11, version 24H2) - cant hear differences in sound except i dont hear click/noise anymore when pausing and play again music (both from audio players or Youtube via Browser) which i did not have from Headphone output from Latpop. Click/noise was present no matter what setting was set in Windows for DX1 (44.100, 48.000 etc), but with Topping drivers no more click/noise when i "unpause" music

 

[staticV3]

Do i compromise sound (amp distortion?) if at low gain setting i crank volume pot fully vs "at or near 12h" on high gain for the same volume?

You can safely max out Low gain without compromising sound quality.

 

[3alfa3]

You can safely max out Low gain without compromising sound quality.

Thanks

 

[sansenri]

in my post above (#462) I was commenting exactly on use of high gain. The increase in volume I need from high gain (due to my hearing contition) is more than 12h (actually 3h) but I do not hear distortion.
High fequencies are slightly more forward, but not to an extent they become uncomfortable, you very quickly get accustomed to the slightly different "sound".

I am using low impedance earbuds, but in contrast I do need more volume. So it works for me.
Probably my best solution would have been a DAC with headphone amp and external power supply, but for my use in limited space, and mostly audio from streaming video, I find this is a very good compromise.

 

[3alfa3]

in my post above (#462) I was commenting exactly on use of high gain. The increase in volume I need from high gain (due to my hearing contition) is more than 12h (actually 3h) but I do not hear distortion.
High fequencies are slightly more forward, but not to an extent they become uncomfortable, you very quickly get accustomed to the slightly different "sound".

I am using low impedance earbuds, but in contrast I do need more volume. So it works for me.
Probably my best solution would have been a DAC with headphone amp and external power supply, but for my use in limited space, and mostly audio from streaming video, I find this is a very good compromise.

My last few days (5-6-7 Hours constant use per day) has been at low gain with pot at 11-12h position. Not loud, pleasant volume for hours and hours, much better sound than from Laptop which output impedance is probably arround 100 Ohm and bass is much tighter and defined because of that on Topping DX1. One of my better purchases ever, just what i needed - simple DAC/AMP for headphone use on laptop and nothing more (dont need other inputs, outputs, display etc). It compliments DT 770 PRO 80 OHM very well which i use for other purposes also ("studio" tracking/playing bass guitar over Focusrite 6i6 gen2 interface).

I'm 52 Years old, hearing is "OK", 15000-16000 Hz is what i hear on right ear, 4000-5000Hz on left (left is detected when i was 15-16 and confirmed last Year along with almost 16kHz for the right ear which is great), but, stereo image - i dont hear differecens in frequencies in my left ear when listening headphones - It must be a matter of habit over the decades.

Except for tinnitus that i'm used to (sounds like constant 10kHz to me) from numerous concerts, clubbing etc (which i still go to) + motorcycle rides for decades, i'm pleased with 15-16 kHz i hear in right ear. Never used hearing protection - my fault and i "enjoy" tinnitus because of that, but, it's bearable and part of me

 

[CedarX]

My last few days (5-6-7 Hours constant use per day) has been at low gain with pot at 11-12h position. Not loud, pleasant volume for hours and hours, much better sound than from Laptop which output impedance is probably arround 100 Ohm and bass is much tighter and defined because of that on Topping DX1. One of my better purchases ever, just what i needed - simple DAC/AMP for headphone use on laptop and nothing more (dont need other inputs, outputs, display etc). It compliments DT 770 PRO 80 OHM very well which i use for other purposes also ("studio" tracking/playing bass guitar over Focusrite 6i6 gen2 interface).

I'm 52 Years old, hearing is "OK", 15000-16000 Hz is what i hear on right ear, 4000-5000Hz on left (left is detected when i was 15-16 and confirmed last Year along with almost 16kHz for the right ear which is great), but, stereo image - i dont hear differecens in frequencies in my left ear when listening headphones - It must be a matter of habit over the decades.

Except for tinnitus that i'm used to (sounds like constant 10kHz to me) from numerous concerts, clubbing etc (which i still go to) + motorcycle rides for decades, i'm pleased with 15-16 kHz i hear in right ear. Never used hearing protection - my fault and i "enjoy" tinnitus because of that, but, it's bearable and part of me

You don’t know how refreshing it is to read one own admission that their hearing is far from “perfect”.
So many audiophiles believe they have super-powers in their ears…

 

[3alfa3]

So, now, after 2 weeks, 2 problems with my DX1.....

1.
low/hi gain switch is loose, no problem when in low mode, but in high mode - right channel got noise/crackling and could be "fixed" if i wiggle the switch left/right or up/down - clearly, loose contacts inside the switch, so it could get only worse as times go by. No problem in low gain - every time i swich to low gain, i get same voltage (i have relatively good DMM with 20000 counts).

2.
Channel balance..... Could not not to hear that left driver inside my DT770PRO 80 Ohm is louder (on laptop, desktop PC or Scarlet 6i6 gen2 not an issue) - not much, but, noticable. I measured output voltage in 5-6 stages between volume pot from 10-100%. Variations are from 2 to 6 percent which i hear without doubt. Only at 95% oputput voltage is equal, at 100%, right channel gives higher level than left, but not much - dont hear difference. At cca. 90-95% of volume potentiometer position, voltage is equal, but in very narrow range. What is strange, most differencies are at "noon", about 2% at "9 o clock" and under 1% at full.


So, since i cannot return DX1 and given that low gain is loud enough for me, i settled at 95% volume at DX1 which i wont change ever, and i use Widnows system volume.

It is 100$ unit, but, event at that price unit should not have that problems (at least, my unit bought new).

As for sound and loudness after setting it to lo gain and cca 95% pot position, it works for me, but.......

 

[mc.god]

So, now, after 2 weeks, 2 problems with my DX1.....

1.
low/hi gain switch is loose, no problem when in low mode, but in high mode - right channel got noise/crackling and could be "fixed" if i wiggle the switch left/right or up/down - clearly, loose contacts inside the switch, so it could get only worse as times go by. No problem in low gain - every time i swich to low gain, i get same voltage (i have relatively good DMM with 20000 counts).

2.
Channel balance..... Could not not to hear that left driver inside my DT770PRO 80 Ohm is louder (on laptop, desktop PC or Scarlet 6i6 gen2 not an issue) - not much, but, noticable. I measured output voltage in 5-6 stages between volume pot from 10-100%. Variations are from 2 to 6 percent which i hear without doubt. Only at 95% oputput voltage is equal, at 100%, right channel gives higher level than left, but not much - dont hear difference. At cca. 90-95% of volume potentiometer position, voltage is equal, but in very narrow range. What is strange, most differencies are at "noon", about 2% at "9 o clock" and under 1% at full.


So, since i cannot return DX1 and given that low gain is loud enough for me, i settled at 95% volume at DX1 which i wont change ever, and i use Widnows system volume.

It is 100$ unit, but, event at that price unit should not have that problems (at least, my unit bought new).

As for sound and loudness after setting it to lo gain and cca 95% pot position, it works for me, but.......

Maybe the gain switch is just oxidized, you can try spraying some contact cleaner into it's receptacle and moving it back and forth a few times.
Maybe it helps, maybe not, it worked for me on several devices but sometimes not, if the switch is actually failing (like the crappy MM\MC selector on my old Denon PRA-1500).

 

[3alfa3]

Maybe the gain switch is just oxidized, you can try spraying some contact cleaner into it's receptacle and moving it back and forth a few times.
Maybe it helps, maybe not, it worked for me on several devices but sometimes not, if the switch is actually failing (like the crappy MM\MC selector on my old Denon PRA-1500).

Thanks for the advice, but I can feel under my fingers that the problem is mechanical - it is too loose and contacts inside are not secure in high gain.

 

[micard]

After my Topping DX3 Pro from 2019 gave up on me recently (doesn't power on anymore) and shipping it back and forth to China for repair would've cost as much as buying the DX1, i made the switch.
So after a week of intensely testing with my AKG K812 i gotta say i cannot possibly hear a difference to the DX3 Pro I got used to for such a long time (had used it almost daily). The DX1 powers the K812 with ease on low gain. Sound is awesome as it used to with my DX3 Pro, super clear and detailed as it could be. I would say it doesn't add any specific color, as the DX3 Pro did not.
In between I had to use the onboard sound (Realtek stuff) of my mainboard for a week and that was night and day difference (for music). It sounded like it came through a velvet curtain.
Astonishing how a 99$ piece of chi-fi can give me all i ever wanted as a DAC/AMP. Only I hope this one will last longer than a couple years. My intrinsic hope is that Topping has improved there

 

[3alfa3]

You can safely max out Low gain without compromising sound quality.

Hello,

One more question please....
Does that applies also for hi gain mode if Voltage output never exceed let's say 1-2V (DX1 can give 4V max in hi gain mode)?

DX1 Pot is fixed on max (i have perceivable Channel balance problem bellow max), BUT windows system volume would be MUCH bellow max?
In low gain (0,8V max at 0db for DX1) and Equalizer APO i started to use (-5db preamp), that is sometimes to low for me (DT770PRO 80 Ohm).

Please ignore higher noise floor in high gain mode in this scenario, distortion is what interests me.

P.S.
I would need to take out gain mode switch because it is faulty in high gain and "short" contacts on board permanently to hi gain mode, thats why im concerned.

Thanks

 

[staticV3]

Does that applies also for hi gain mode if Voltage output never exceed let's say 1-2V (DX1 can give 4V max in hi gain mode)?

Yes. The same would apply there.

 

[3alfa3]

Yes. The same would apply there.

Just did a mod: soldered switch pin 1-2 and 4-5 and high gain is now working like it should and output voltage is the same for L/R at max volume (was the same for low gain, but high gain was scratchy, sometimes only left channel was working and all inbetween).
No low gain for me anymore because of that mod, but hey, no volume trouble anymore no matter what negative preamp gain in EQ

One saved DX1