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Topping DX3 Pro USB input is no longer recognized after firmware update

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GB223

Member
Joined
May 2, 2022
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Hey guys would really appreciate any help here.
I own the DX3 Pro and I accidently updated the firmware using the newer model DX3 Pro+ firmware.
Now my PC no longer recognizes the usb connection. I've tried other usb ports, another pc, I tried resetting to factory setting by turning counter-clockwise the volume nob and nothing seem to work. The unit itself works perfectly fine with all the other inputs such as optic fiber, bluetooth its just the usb connection that is no longer working.
Does someone have any suggestion? I'm assuming installing an older firmware might fix the issue however I am unable to attempt this because the pc and the Topping control panel doesn't even recognize that the unit is plugged in as shown is the screenshot so I cant install firmware using this method.
Any help is highly appreciated.
Screenshot 2022-05-02 095438.png
 
From what I can tell, the DX3 Pro+ has a newer version of the USB chip (XMOS XU208 Gen2) than the older non-plus unit. This may explain why you can no longer access the unit after flashing. Have you tried to contact Topping?

...and welcome to ASR (sorry it had to be for this reason).
 
jp4573 said:
This firmware is only for DX3Pro+ and is NOT applicable to any other models including DX3Pro. If this firmware is flashed to other models, it will immediately cause the product to be unusable and unable to repair by yourself.
Click to expand...
Good thing they so clearly signaled the different versions with the “+”. Hard to see how anyone could mistake that.
 
Berwhale said:
From what I can tell, the DX3 Pro+ has a newer version of the USB chip (XMOS XU208 Gen2) than the older non-plus unit. This may explain why you can no longer access the unit after flashing. Have you tried to contact Topping?

...and welcome to ASR (sorry it had to be for this reason).
Click to expand...
Yes it was completely my mistake for not noticing that the firmware was for the "+" model. Until yesterday I wasn't even aware they made a newer model to the DX3. I contacted Topping and got a reply that they are on a holiday and contact me back when they come back but tbh I don't have high hopes getting helpful support from them.
Seems ridiculous to me that if you install a wrong/faulty firmware there is no way to revert to an older one.

And thanks:) seems like an excellent forum, I'm glad I encountered this even if it was for unfortunate reasons.
 
GB223 said:
Hey guys would really appreciate any help here.
I own the DX3 Pro and I accidently updated the firmware using the newer model DX3 Pro+ firmware.
Now my PC no longer recognizes the usb connection. I've tried other usb ports, another pc, I tried resetting to factory setting by turning counter-clockwise the volume nob and nothing seem to work. The unit itself works perfectly fine with all the other inputs such as optic fiber, bluetooth its just the usb connection that is no longer working.
Does someone have any suggestion? I'm assuming installing an older firmware might fix the issue however I am unable to attempt this because the pc and the Topping control panel doesn't even recognize that the unit is plugged in as shown is the screenshot so I cant install firmware using this method.
Any help is highly appreciated.
Click to expand...
what firmware version did it have? ..... do you remember?
firmware 2.44 for the d30-pro can be downloaded here
ask in topping (or here on ASR if they know) if you can install this firmware.

 
GB223 said:
...
Seems ridiculous to me that if you install a wrong/faulty firmware there is no way to revert to an older one.

...
Click to expand...
No offense, but I wouldn't consider it ridiculous. You literally killed the USB communication that is used to update the firmware - by accident, but it's still dead. Unless there's a basic bootloader still present, the only way to bring this back to life is to connect to a different serial interface like SPI on the device for re-programming the USB firmware. For this, you would need a serial programmer and the device needs to have a connector for you to "talk" to the SPI bus (or you need a special clamp to attach directly to the microntroller). And of course you need the firmware file. In the end, I'd guess that this is only practical for Topping to do themselves.

I would still say this is badly designed by Topping: It's trivially easy to have the flashing tool check, which device and version number is attached to the PC and if that device is compatible with the firmware file to-be-flashed. Such checks are standard practice for every type of consumer electronics I have ever encountered. From cameras over TVs to smartphones - no device I have ever seen allowed you to accidentally flash an incorrect firmware. Often, the tools even prevented flashing older versions and you could only upgrade to more recent ones.
 
RandomEar said:
No offense, but I wouldn't consider it ridiculous. You literally killed the USB communication that is used to update the firmware - by accident, but it's still dead. Unless there's a basic bootloader still present, the only way to bring this back to life is to connect to a different serial interface like SPI on the device for re-programming the USB firmware. For this, you would need a serial programmer and the device needs to have a connector for you to "talk" to the SPI bus (or you need a special clamp to attach directly to the microntroller). And of course you need the firmware file. In the end, I'd guess that this is only practical for Topping to do themselves.

I would still say this is badly designed by Topping: It's trivially easy to have the flashing tool check, which device and version number is attached to the PC and if that device is compatible with the firmware file to-be-flashed. Such checks are standard practice for every type of consumer electronics I have ever encountered. From cameras over TVs to smartphones - no device I have ever seen allowed you to accidentally flash an incorrect firmware. Often, the tools even prevented flashing older versions and you could only upgrade to more recent ones.
Click to expand...
yea I meant its ridiculous that they don't have a compatible check like you mentioned to prevent these accidents
 
Glad it didn't completely brick the unit, at least that's something
 
Just to wanted to update that Topping support had contacted me back and even though my device is no longer under warranty, they are willing to repair it as long as I pay for the shipping which I think is more than fair.
 
I have the same problem, and tried a variety of strategies in loading the drivers. Before it was somewhat challenging, but now using win 11, I can't even get BT to work consistently. I guess no recourse but to seek assistance. It's too bad that such nuisances are present in arguably one of the great bangs for a buck.

Edit: So I went and did the firmware update--now I get USB fine and BT but not if the Topping is still connected via USB. Has it always been this way, or is Windows just making it increasingly difficult to share media? In any even t a very happy camper as I wasted several hours last night trying to get anything to communicate.




If it isn't double blind, likely is double talk.
 
Last edited:
I would still say this is badly designed by Topping.
Click to expand...
I agree. I believe every computer motherboard has the original BIOS stored in "permanent memory" (or memory that can't be accidentally altered by the user). Then there is either a jumper on the board or keystroke combination to revert to the original BIOS if something goes-wrong when updating.

And of course most consumer products are not intended for user-updating... "You get what you get" and it's only updated if there is a recall.

The company I work for attempted to do that with some of our products but for some reason it was never implemented (I don't work in engineering so I don't know what happened). The units are field-updatable but in our case firmware updates are rare and the customer can return it to us for updating or if they brick it, even if it's out of warranty. (These are not consumer products.)
 
GB223 said:
Just to wanted to update that Topping support had contacted me back and even though my device is no longer under warranty, they are willing to repair it as long as I pay for the shipping which I think is more than fair.
Click to expand...
Edit: So I went and did the firmware update--now I get USB fine and BT but not if the Topping is still connected via USB. Has it always been this way, or is Windows just making it increasingly difficult to share media? In any even t a very happy camper as I wasted several hours last night trying to get anything to communicate.
 
Just a quick question--I cannot find the "include:" file that one of the members had found to be a best fit for the Harmon curve, I swear it used to be somewhere in the first few pages of the review. If someone could post in here I'd be eternally grateful--it was a better fit than the Oratory's.
 
JRS said:
I have the same problem, and tried a variety of strategies in loading the drivers. Before it was somewhat challenging, but now using win 11, I can't even get BT to work consistently. I guess no recourse but to seek assistance. It's too bad that such nuisances are present in arguably one of the great bangs for a buck.

Edit: So I went and did the firmware update--now I get USB fine and BT but not if the Topping is still connected via USB. Has it always been this way, or is Windows just making it increasingly difficult to share media? In any even t a very happy camper as I wasted several hours last night trying to get anything to communicate.




If it isn't double blind, likely is double talk.
Click to expand...
Hi JSR,
Please could you explain to me how you have resolved this issue. After the wrong firmware update you can connect to my DX3Pro only by BT.
I'm a Mac user, but I tried to connect the DX3Pro via USB throught my Win10 laptop, but the issues persist.

Thanks a lot,
Roberto
 
Hi everyone.. has anyone solved it? after the wrong update, the usb is no longer recognised by the mac, win10/11 and raspberry with volumio which i used as music streamer. i tried resetting to factory settings by turning the volume counterclockwise but nothing changed except the loss of settings.. :(
 
Wait, so it's possible to flash an incompatible firmware without even receiving a warning message? Bravo, Guangzhou TOPPING Electronics & Technology co., LTD! :facepalm:
 
Thought to add my misery. I emailed Topping: DX3 Pro (not Pro+) firmware update needed, informing them it is not on the website.

Their reply:

Thank you for contacting TOPPING support. We are happy to assist.
You can download the latest firmware now. It will include the content of previous updates.

DX3 Pro+ version V1.28 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com www.toppingaudio.com

Downloaded, installed, and the DAC is now bricked.

I think the link was for the DX3Pro+ firmware, and now waiting to hear back to resolve.

What a sh%$show.

Edit1: The link Topping provided in the email was typed out as: https://toppingaudio.com/download/dx3pro-version-V1-28-firmware-update, did not include Pro+ in the link, and was in response to requesting the DX3 Pro (not Pro+) file. Silly me. assumed it would work since described correctly.

Edit2: Topping apologized, said the firmware chip will need to be replaced, and is sending me a chip to solder myself, or take to a shop. Pic of the firmware chip is below.
 

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