Mine just had poor contacts in gain switch when switched to hi gain mode so i bypassed it by soldering and is now in permanent hi gain mode. No noise otherwise.
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Topping DX1 mini desktop DAC & AMP
- Thread starter Matias
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Mine just had poor contacts in gain switch when switched to hi gain mode so i bypassed it by soldering and is now in permanent hi gain mode. No noise otherwise.
NgtFlyer
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I just bought and received my DX1 today, replacing a 5 year old Schiit Modi/Magni stack - the Modi developed the problem that so many have where it has to be plugged in to USB for 3+ hours for it to start working and it's been getting more flaky.
I'm honestly quite impressed! The sound quality is far better than I expected, driving a pair of Drop/Hifiman HE-X4 cans. Honestly sounds a bit more rich and full than the Magni when the pair worked properly.
I don't plan on touching the gain switch now that I have it set. (I have it set on Low). The volume control is very smooth and even down to near nothing, I don't detect a channel imbalance.
The great thing is, of course, it's USB powered and it doesn't get warm. I can see myself taking it with me on the occasional trip or convention.
I'm honestly quite impressed! The sound quality is far better than I expected, driving a pair of Drop/Hifiman HE-X4 cans. Honestly sounds a bit more rich and full than the Magni when the pair worked properly.
I don't plan on touching the gain switch now that I have it set. (I have it set on Low). The volume control is very smooth and even down to near nothing, I don't detect a channel imbalance.
The great thing is, of course, it's USB powered and it doesn't get warm. I can see myself taking it with me on the occasional trip or convention.
80sAudioFan
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Anyhow I don't know or understand if the chinese page in the first post did recommend the thing or not. Anybody can say anything about that?
staticV3
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hello
What do you think of the DX1 to replace my scalett solo 4th gen? (the scalett measures badly on the ASR test and I don't need to make music anymore)
my headphones are an HD800S
Merci
@staticV3 @solderdude
What do you think of the DX1 to replace my scalett solo 4th gen? (the scalett measures badly on the ASR test and I don't need to make music anymore)
my headphones are an HD800S
Merci
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staticV3
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Use the lowest gain that still allows you to reach your desired playback levels. This applies to all Amps.
This inconvenience has kept me away from this DAC. I still want to keep using it. Sometimes it runs for hours before it stops playing. Sometimes less time. I think it's going to be overheating, I just wouldn't know which part to replace. I live in a warm environment, I can usually use it longer at night.
My unit has subtle but annoying hum, sounds like 50 Hz (the mains frequency here). The hum can get slightly louder or quieter as I move on my chair, and it disappears if I put my finger on the DX1's case, or on any metal part of my PC case. I don't have the third earth wire in my apartment, only L+N. Would this be solved by a USB isolation device? And do you think this could be a defect? I think it developed slowly over time and wasn't an issue for the 1st year of using the DX1. Now it's at ~2.5 years. But it's also possible, even if unlikely, that I just haven't noticed it before.
This happens with any PC or laptop that's plugged into the outlet, doesn't have to be turned on. No hum on battery power.
This happens with any PC or laptop that's plugged into the outlet, doesn't have to be turned on. No hum on battery power.
staticV3
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Yes.
No, merely leakage current from the USB Host device. Happens a lot.
staticV3
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It's EMI, so not part of the audio signal.
The USB isolator reduced the hum, it's a lot better, but didn't remove it completely. Very annoying defect. Guess I'm not buying Topping hardware anymore.
It doesn't depend on the volume level, and it probably should never be an issue if your home's electric wiring has the 3rd grounded wire.
It doesn't depend on the volume level, and it probably should never be an issue if your home's electric wiring has the 3rd grounded wire.
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My setup is also dead silent - HP laptop + DX1. I don't think it is Topping DAC issue. It could be the USB or RCA cables. I replaced few of them before ended up with this setup.
just a quick update on my DX1, bought in february this year: so far it's working fine, connected with my PC. Due to my described hearing loss I usually use it in high gain, volume knob about 2 o'clock, no unwanted noise, no distortion, except rarely in bass heavy video scenes, but that is due to my ear buds that cannot take such power, not the dac itself!
There is something really weird happening with my DX1 recently, or rather with the IEMs connected to it, but I feel it's the DX1.
First, a few months ago (maybe half a year) I noticed that changing volume with the pot sometimes produces a rustling sound/noise. This only happened very rarely. Right now there's a bit of a similar sound only at the very top of the pot's range, but it's a lot quieter and not continuous - crackling, not rustling. Might be the same cause, might not be. What I do know is the rustling sound I heard rarely at my usual listening volume is associated with DC voltage on the pot. Didn't think much of it then, but now I have some IEMs where one channel (usually right) goes quiet after a while of being plugged in/playing. After 5-10 minutes the channel imbalance becomes noticeable, after that in another 10-20 minutes one channel goes really quiet. If I unplug the IEM and test with my phone, that unit (either left or right) is still very quiet. But after some time, dozens of minutes to an hour, it recovers. This is SO WEIRD. I took one of those IEMs that go bad and left playing from another device for over an hour, and no imbalance, it's singing as it should. With the DX1, this IEM goes quiet every time in minutes. I got two sets where it's always the right channel, and a 3rd where it's the left.
I also have a different IEM that is unaffected, it's pretty cheap so listening only to that for now (annoying as hell, got some new IEMs that go bad so I'm afraid to use them with the DX1 now).
I measured DC offset twice on different occasions, in an open loop it's 2-5 mV in normal conditions, max. 10-20 at high gain at max volume (and that might not even be a true DC offset). Can't measure with a load unfortunately, don't have a harness for that.
What in the devil's name is going on? At first I thought my IEM died, but the more I tried different things and observed, the more I think by process of elimination that it is in fact the DX1 causing it. But measurements don't show a problem either.
First, a few months ago (maybe half a year) I noticed that changing volume with the pot sometimes produces a rustling sound/noise. This only happened very rarely. Right now there's a bit of a similar sound only at the very top of the pot's range, but it's a lot quieter and not continuous - crackling, not rustling. Might be the same cause, might not be. What I do know is the rustling sound I heard rarely at my usual listening volume is associated with DC voltage on the pot. Didn't think much of it then, but now I have some IEMs where one channel (usually right) goes quiet after a while of being plugged in/playing. After 5-10 minutes the channel imbalance becomes noticeable, after that in another 10-20 minutes one channel goes really quiet. If I unplug the IEM and test with my phone, that unit (either left or right) is still very quiet. But after some time, dozens of minutes to an hour, it recovers. This is SO WEIRD. I took one of those IEMs that go bad and left playing from another device for over an hour, and no imbalance, it's singing as it should. With the DX1, this IEM goes quiet every time in minutes. I got two sets where it's always the right channel, and a 3rd where it's the left.
I also have a different IEM that is unaffected, it's pretty cheap so listening only to that for now (annoying as hell, got some new IEMs that go bad so I'm afraid to use them with the DX1 now).
I measured DC offset twice on different occasions, in an open loop it's 2-5 mV in normal conditions, max. 10-20 at high gain at max volume (and that might not even be a true DC offset). Can't measure with a load unfortunately, don't have a harness for that.
What in the devil's name is going on? At first I thought my IEM died, but the more I tried different things and observed, the more I think by process of elimination that it is in fact the DX1 causing it. But measurements don't show a problem either.
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