Jimster480
Major Contributor
Very cool!
I hope it performs well like the original DX1 and doesn't come with a huge price increase that makes it irrelevant...
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Topping DX1 mini desktop DAC & AMP
- Thread starter Matias
- Start date
I hope it performs well like the original DX1 and doesn't come with a huge price increase that makes it irrelevant...
Hi everyone,
I’m currently using Realtek ALC1200 onboard audio. If I move to a Topping DX1, will I actually notice an improvement in sound quality?
An AI told me the difference would be quite noticeable, but I’m a bit skeptical and wanted to hear from people with real experience. I use my PC for both music listening and FPS gaming.
I’m currently using the HD560S, Game One, Crinacle Zero Blue, and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. I didn’t really like the IEMs, so I’ll mostly be using the HD560S.
I’m currently using Realtek ALC1200 onboard audio. If I move to a Topping DX1, will I actually notice an improvement in sound quality?
An AI told me the difference would be quite noticeable, but I’m a bit skeptical and wanted to hear from people with real experience. I use my PC for both music listening and FPS gaming.
I’m currently using the HD560S, Game One, Crinacle Zero Blue, and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. I didn’t really like the IEMs, so I’ll mostly be using the HD560S.
NgtFlyer
Active Member
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You may notice an improvement in sound. Specifically, less noise and what feels like a more immersive listening experience with good quality headphones. Onboard audio is perfectly fine for most non-critical listeners in most systems. However, you might find that money spent on something like a DX-1 or the upcoming DX-1 II would be a good investment if you like great sound and want to continue experimenting with better headphones.
staticV3
Grand Contributor
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Hi @bugis! Welcome to ASR.
You're most likely to hear a difference with IEMs, which due to their high sensitivity and low and often quite variable impedance response, have a habit of exposing low quality headphone outputs in the way of audible hiss and unintended tonality changes due to low damping factor.
Furthermore, Motherboard outputs tend to come with strange Windows APOs preinstalled, which can definitely mess with the sound quality, see here.
Besides all this, as long as your motherboard plays loud enough for you, you should not hear any difference.
You're most likely to hear a difference with IEMs, which due to their high sensitivity and low and often quite variable impedance response, have a habit of exposing low quality headphone outputs in the way of audible hiss and unintended tonality changes due to low damping factor.
Furthermore, Motherboard outputs tend to come with strange Windows APOs preinstalled, which can definitely mess with the sound quality, see here.
Besides all this, as long as your motherboard plays loud enough for you, you should not hear any difference.
Tom's Hardware couldn't tell a difference blind between Realtek with expensive standalone DACs once it was level matched.
Even if your motherboard's analog implementation of the ALCxxxx sucks, the solution may simply be as cheap as a $5 JM20 dongle.
Nay16
Member
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- Nov 22, 2024
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Welcome to ASR!
I use the Topping DX1 with IEMs and open backs such like Senns 560s. I got more volume headroom, exclusive mode, volume knob and peace of mind that your media is being handled by your dac directly.
thanks for the answer. what's the exclusive mode ?
also thanks for the answer too @Palladium @staticV3 @NgtFlyer
Nay16
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It's a setting within Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon music and others that takes direct control of your dac so windows doesn't upsample/downsample. "it goes as intended"
@staticV3 linked you a post that explains what happens when you don't have this setting
Boobisha Chodhankar
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Does it exibit any clicks or pops when going into the standby mode when the playback stops?
Nay16
Member
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No, it doesn't have a "standby" mode, it's more like an on and off since it's being powered by the USB type B. Once plugged, if the feeder (laptop, pc, etc) device is on, the topping will be on as well
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