Topping DX5 II

[Skolsj]

peq is entirely personalized, people can give you guidelines in the form of targets like the Harman or Crinacle/IEF targets, but really, you just have to find things out yourself. It's easy to go onto squig.link or hangout.audio to find out your own iem first and then using the autoeq feature on a target. Then make adjustments to your preference.

No one can really tell you what you like/will like, the same as with music genres. I could recommend you metal whereas you could be completely averse to it, you just have to try it out yourself to see what you like

Thanks for mentioning the squig.link, it helps a lot!

 

[marco_iol]

And just to remind - if you'd use EQapo for making room corrections, it needs to have fixed ampling frequency and bit depth, so no exclusive mode for the player app (Tidal for example). I've locked them to 24/96

With Musicbee, which I use for FLAC files and CD, I have set WASAPI exclusive in the preferences/player and I have installed the VST Effect Support plugin for headphone equalisation.
For all other windows applications and Spotify I use Equalizer APO + Peace. In this case frequency and bit depth have been locked to 24/192.

 

[Berwhale]

With Musicbee, which I use for FLAC files and CD, I have set WASAPI exclusive in the preferences/player and I have installed the VST Effect Support plugin for headphone equalisation.
For all other windows applications and Spotify I use Equalizer APO + Peace. In this case frequency and bit depth have been locked to 24/192.

Why not use DirectSound or WASAPI (Shared) in MusicBee and let eAPO + PEACE do their thing? This was my setup for several years before acquiring the DX5 II and moving PEQ to the DAC (I almost wish I hadn't given my on-going issues with it forgetting my PEQ settings).

 

[marco_iol]

Why not use DirectSound or WASAPI (Shared) in MusicBee and let eAPO + PEACE do their thing? This was my setup for several years before acquiring the DX5 II and moving PEQ to the DAC (I almost wish I hadn't given my on-going issues with it forgetting my PEQ settings).

Because with WASAPI exclusive in Musicbee W11 does not resemple anything.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

With Musicbee, which I use for FLAC files and CD, I have set WASAPI exclusive in the preferences/player and I have installed the VST Effect Support plugin for headphone equalisation.
For all other windows applications and Spotify I use Equalizer APO + Peace. In this case frequency and bit depth have been locked to 24/192.

Maybe I should lock it to 192kHz also. Btw what is that Peace?

 

[Berwhale]

Maybe I should lock it to 192kHz also. Btw what is that Peace?

PEACE is a front end for EqualizerAPO that makes it easier to use. https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/

 

[Berwhale]

Because with WASAPI exclusive in Musicbee W11 does not resemple anything.

That is true (although your DAC is still going to oversample), but what is wrong with Windows resampling? Particularly resampling to 24/192 which is likely to be a higher bit depth and sample rate than your source media?

Have a look through the first few pages of this thread... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...nding-the-windows-audio-quality-debate.19438/

 

[Esuess]

My Topping DX5 II (FW V1.78) is clipping and has prominent left-side bass imbalance when volume goes past -20dB.

I've tested three different IEMs, both 3.5mm/4.4mm outputs, and both USB/BT inputs. All EQ is OFF. A known-good USB-C DAC works fine at the same volume. Is this normal or is the unit faulty?

 

[Mario1969]

My Topping DX5 II (FW V1.78) is clipping and has prominent left-side bass imbalance when volume goes past -20dB.

I've tested three different IEMs, both 3.5mm/4.4mm outputs, and both USB/BT inputs. All EQ is OFF. A known-good USB-C DAC works fine at the same volume. Is this normal or is the unit faulty?

I checked it using ZERO:RED IEM, and everything works fine . I only used the USB input. HPA SE 6.3mm output

 

[Esuess]

I checked it using ZERO:RED IEM, and everything works fine . I only used the USB input. HPA SE 6.3mm output

So this might really be a faulty unit. I'm not sure why I can't get past -20db for the front outputs. the RCA output doesn't clip my speakers even at 0db

bought the unit in Japan and I'm in the Philippines.

*edit: with the 4.4 jack not plugged all the way in there is no clipping. but the right signal get's mixed to the left.

 

[Bauhaus]

@Esuess Is it not extremely dangerous to listen to at around -20dB? My Alba in HPA SE past -40dB start to be really loud.
I’m not rejecting your potential faulty unit at all; I’m just curious
I hope it is just a cable related issue.

 

[Roland68]

So this might really be a faulty unit. I'm not sure why I can't get past -20db for the front outputs. the RCA output doesn't clip my speakers even at 0db

bought the unit in Japan and I'm in the Philippines.

*edit: with the 4.4 jack not plugged all the way in there is no clipping. but the right signal get's mixed to the left.

There might be something wrong with the headphone cable.
Do you have a multimeter to test it?

Have you tried other headphones with different plugs?

 

[Esuess]

@Esuess Is it not extremely dangerous to listen to at around -20dB? My Alba in HPA SE past -40dB start to be really loud.
I’m not rejecting your potential faulty unit at all; I’m just curious
I hope it is just a cable related issue.

At High gain it starts clipping at -30. I've tried my sisters bose quiet comforts and it still clips at -20

 

[Esuess]

There might be something wrong with the headphone cable.
Do you have a multimeter to test it?

Have you tried other headphones with different plugs?

Yes, I do have a multimeter. What number should I look for?

Yes my crinear has a balanced 4.4 while the others i tried with both the stock cables from Hexa and the Tripowin cable that I have.

 

[Roland68]

Yes, I do have a multimeter. What number should I look for?

Yes my crinear has a balanced 4.4 while the others i tried with both the stock cables from Hexa and the Tripowin cable that I have.

You need to measure the resistance or continuity (continuity test with tone).
When you disconnect the cable from the headphones, you should measure each contact on the 4.4mm jack plug against every other contact (only at the plug). There should be no connection.
That would be the first test.

 

[Bauhaus]

So, Topping engineers sent me a new firmware (1.88) related to the Gain problem. Unfortunately it did not resolve the problem :/
Anyway I sent my feedback, and hopefully they can resolve it.

here is my issue:

The issue arises when I switch between the two headphones. If I’m listening to my Alba (low gain) and then switch to my Sundara (high gain), the gain on the screen under dBD is actually low gain. Similarly, if I start listening to my Sundara and then switch to my Alba, the gain is actually high gain. It seems like the device doesn’t remember the exact gain setting. I suspect there might be an issue with the gain mode.

 

[Esuess]

You need to measure the resistance or continuity (continuity test with tone).
When you disconnect the cable from the headphones, you should measure each contact on the 4.4mm jack plug against every other contact (only at the plug). There should be no connection.
That would be the first test.

Cable is all good, tested jack and there is no beeps. I also tested the connection to left and right and it seems to be right.

If I'm looking for voltages what numbers should I look for?

*edit:
I also tested at a single frequency and found the clipping at -20db on high gain 100hz.

I used the video below for testing:

Using a multimeter one of the outputs is registering as .34v and the other is at .54v

 

[Esuess]

Another update as well.

Topping has replied to my email and also gave me the 1.88 firmware. It "improved" the clipping/distortions but now it is at a higher Db.

4.4 Balanced output:
There is still distortion and clipping on one of the outputs at -20db low gain.
At High gain Clipping starts at -30db.

on 6.3 output with included adapter:
At Low gain clipping starts at -15db
at High gain clipping starts at -26db

 

[Mario1969]

Another update as well.

Topping has replied to my email and also gave me the 1.88 firmware. It "improved" the clipping/distortions but now it is at a higher Db.

Have you checked the input level? The DXII can distort the input signal. Some time ago, I was listening to Spotify and I heard distortion. I checked the input level, it was too high, the EQ was off... strange because it's a digital signal, so it doesn't exceed digital "0." However, I could definitely hear distortion. I lowered the input signal... and everything went back to normal. you can check this using a DXII CLASSIC VU meter set to +10dBu

 

[magor34]

Have you checked the input level? The DXII can distort the input signal. Some time ago, I was listening to Spotify and I heard distortion. I checked the input level, it was too high, the EQ was off... strange because it's a digital signal, so it doesn't exceed digital "0." However, I could definitely hear distortion. I lowered the input signal... and everything went back to normal. you can check this using a DXII CLASSIC VU meter set to +10dBu

Indeed, Spotify and other sources like YouTube can indeed clip your DAC internally if the signal is strong enough.
Tidal has not had this issue for years now but did clip on occasion in the past.