Topping DX5 II

[Mocie]

Arya on XLR and Elegia on 6.35 when it started to malfunction

Generally shouldn't do this, even though the DX5II has all outputs running at once by default and should have the power to. Suspect it had something to do with it.

Pics of the torched insides probably would help smarter people than us diagnose.

 

[woodbar]

That is bad news - 3 sets of phones.

Did you happen to have a Balance control adjusted in the DX5 II at all and PEQ enabled?

Yet another reason it is disappointing that the Headphone outputs are not individually selectable/switchable. Not sure about any other Topping amps but I had got used to my L70 being set to "Individual" XLR or 4.4mm or 6.35mm, alternatively "All" where all 3 were outputting simultaneously with an increased volume, strangely. Only used it to try and then ensured I was always set to "Individual" so I could leave 3 phones lugged in and switch between each one. I have contacted Topping about this, whether it could be fixed in a firmware/menu update or maybe the hardware is not capable of performing that function?

 

[rafaunivega]

I have two profiles saved: C1 with only HPA BAL output active and C2 only HPA SE output active, each one with different PEQ, gain and volume associated.
When switching between C1 and C2 Dx5ii disconnects from USB, it sounds a relee click and connects again.
Today I have lost all confidence in the brand and its products (I don't think they'll take responsibility for the broken headphones)

 

[woodbar]

I sympathise.

Confused how you damaged the Focals, were they plugged in the 4.4mm at the same time as you had the XLR plugged in or did you try them after the initial failure?

 

[rafaunivega]

I sympathise.

Confused how you damaged the Focals, were they plugged in the 4.4mm at the same time as you had the XLR plugged in or did you try them after the initial failure?

I usually have Hifiman Arya SE connected via XLR and Focal Elegia via 6.35, although sometimes I use a combination of Sennheiser HD58X JUBILEE via 4.4 and B&W P7 via 6.35 (open and closed back combos).
For Hifiman Arya SE and Focal Elegia, I have several cables with different connectors.
I thought it might be the cable, and when I tried the Focal Elegia on 4.4, the left channel immediately started to fail.
I'm not going to try connecting the Sennheiser HD58X JUBILEE, which work perfectly with the Qudelix 5k.

 

[woodbar]

I see, very wise not to plug HD58X in then.

It sounds like the DX5 II may have been stuffing some significant level of DC out of the ports then even though it is supposed to have DC protection.

 

[Bauhaus]

What are your thoughts on new the Luxsin X8? It appears to be a direct competitor to the DX5 II. I never tried the X9, but it seems to be a great device.
It seems to be a baby version of X9
Retail price for X8 in Euro market is 699 EUR

Luxsin X8, DAC and Headphone Amplifier, AI Assisted EQ Tuning

Luxsin X8, DAC and Headphone Amplifier, AI Assisted EQ Tuning, Support PCM 768kHz/32bit；DSD512(Native), Bluetooth 5.1, wireless control, OTA upgrade

luxsinaudio.com

 

[rafaunivega]

What are your thoughts on the Luxsin X8? It appears to be a direct competitor to the DX5 II.

Luxsin X8, DAC and Headphone Amplifier, AI Assisted EQ Tuning

Luxsin X8, DAC and Headphone Amplifier, AI Assisted EQ Tuning, Support PCM 768kHz/32bit；DSD512(Native), Bluetooth 5.1, wireless control, OTA upgrade

luxsinaudio.com

I have ordered the Luxsin X9 to replace my faulty Topping DX5 II.
I have asked several stores about the Luxsin X8, but they have no information on availability.
The Luxsin X9 was on sale, and I couldn't resist, as it was my first choice before I opted for the Topping DX5 II because of the price (big mistake).

 

[woodbar]

I have had a look at the Luxsin X8, seems very interesting and several improvements over X9 in some respects and although it is double the cost of the DX5 II it is starting to look tempting if I do decide to return the DX5.

I understand they are an offshoot of Eversolo and I already have the DMP-A6 Streamer/DAC/HP Amp but firmware updates can be problematic (cure one but generate 2 new bugs) and the UI is very disjointed and can be confusing, but the main criticism I have is with the PEQ which can be very confusing and only has fixed frequency points. So I will need to see some intelligent reviews on the X5 and maybe the manual before taking the plunge.

I have had a reply from Topping regarding the blast of high volume output in the phones after setting a balance control offset and then selecting a different PEQ profile - they will test and update accordingly.

Regarding the other question on the individual selection of the two balanced HP outputs - they replied that due to circuit limitations it is not possible to set the volumes separately on these outputs - NOT what I asked really, so I have replied asking for clarification - I don't care about separate volume settings, I was asking about switching them on or off independently.

 

[User2007]

Can anybody help:

I do not get any sound to the DX5II out of the usb from IPad or iphone

Any other usb source is fine. But IPad and IPhone recognise the DX5 but no sound whatsoever.

I tried hours including changing cables and all sort of setting… :/

 

[Ahmonge]

But IPad and IPhone recognise the DX5 but no sound whatsoever.

Do they have lightning or USB-C ports?

 

[User2007]

Do they have lightning or USB-C ports?

UsbC

I just figured out that it’s working but it’s not possible to bypass the IPad/iPhones internal sound mixer. Although I set up device in roon as fixed volume, the sound went through the iPad/iPhone sound mixer which is less quality and also routes systems sounds to the Topping.

Never experienced such issue with other Headphone AMP/DAC (for example FiiO K9) They all bypass the IPads system sound module to give bitperfect through usbc.

With de DX5II that’s not possible

 

[staticV3]

UsbC

I just figured out that it’s working but it’s not possible to bypass the IPad/iPhones internal sound mixer. Although I set up device in roon as fixed volume, the sound went through the iPad/iPhone sound mixer which is less quality and also routes systems sounds to the Topping.

Never experienced such issue with other Headphone AMP/DAC (for example FiiO K9) They all bypass the IPads system sound module to give bitperfect through usbc.

With de DX5II that’s not possible

What gives you the impression that the FiiO is bypassing but the Topping is not?

If it's because with the Topping you can control volume with the iPhone/iPad buttons where with the FiiO you couldn't, then please know that this has nothing to do with the sound mixer/sound path.

If the attached DAC supports UAC2 hardware volume control, then you can control the DAC's internal volume using the buttons.

If the DAC doesn't support UAC2, then the volume buttons don't do anything.

In both cases, the signal path and signal fidelity is the same. The signal is never attenuated inside iOS.

 

[Ahmonge]

UsbC

I just figured out that it’s working but it’s not possible to bypass the IPad/iPhones internal sound mixer. Although I set up device in roon as fixed volume, the sound went through the iPad/iPhone sound mixer which is less quality and also routes systems sounds to the Topping.

Never experienced such issue with other Headphone AMP/DAC (for example FiiO K9) They all bypass the IPads system sound module to give bitperfect through usbc.

With de DX5II that’s not possible

So you dind't hear anything because the iOS volume was set to 0?

My iPad is USB-C connected to the Topping DX30 Pro, set in DAC (fixed volume) mode, with Qobuz and FlacBox as player apps. iOS control volume is active, so it's set at 100%. However, both applications are capable of setting and changing the sampling frequency to follow the one set in the sound files, so apparently there is no resampling within the iOS sound stack. The sound quality is indistinguishable from what I get with a Windows PC playing with Foobar2000, USB port and the ASIO protocol, which completely bypasses the Windows sound stack.

 

[Dk33145]

Arya on XLR and Elegia on 6.35 when it started to malfunction.
Then I turned off the device, factory reset it, and when I connected the P7 on 6.35 to check, the same thing happened.
After another factory reset Dx5ii left channel stop sounding

Topping needs to have a safety to turn off 6.35 or 4.4 when both are connected. Single ended 6.35 has a ground and 4.4mm negative can short into it. Essentially it's the equivalent of plugging in a single ended cable into a balanced outlet. No good. Could have been something internal or external causing that short and it would fry your amp and damage your headphones.

 

[rafaunivega]

Topping needs to have a safety to turn off 6.35 or 4.4 when both are connected. Single ended 6.35 has a ground and 4.4mm negative can short into it. Essentially it's the equivalent of plugging in a single ended cable into a balanced outlet. No good. Could have been something internal or external causing that short and it would fry your amp and damage your headphones.

I made the mistake of thinking that something so basic would be taken care of with simple protection to prevent short circuits.

 

[rafaunivega]

Topping tells me that the earlier batches had issues, including the one that affected me, and that they will repair the faulty headphones.

Be careful if you bought yours when it was launched or shortly after launch.

 

[Morla]

Topping tells me that the earlier batches had issues, including the one that affected me, and that they will repair the faulty headphones.

Be careful if you bought yours when it was launched or shortly after launch.

can you check for the hw revision number please? I'm curious .. someone said before that it is the same for everybody

 

[rafaunivega]

can you check for the hw revision number please? I'm curious .. someone said before that it is the same for everybody

Hardware version: V0.15
Batch number: 2BDXM-TP742

 

[ohezeba]

Hardware version: V0.15
Batch number: 2BDXM-TP742

Please also the code printed on the side of the case under the QR code. Mine starts with 2602573***. It’s a recent unit, Black Friday preorder