Topping DX5 II

[Berwhale]

This has been their business MO for a while now - shit that measures well, but is functionally e-waste so you have a reason to buy again every year or two.

Maybe its the PSU? Have you tried using a different power source yet, I'd do that first to be safe before concluding it's the unit. The fact you can run the firmware through it fine makes me think the unit may not be the issue.

What PSU would you recommend for a Topping DX5 II?

 

[Mutex]

When I power it on, the TOPPING logo flutters, then seems to shut down and restart. I get the topping logo over and over every few seconds.

Sounds like some faulty component.

When you boot into FW update mode, does it flicker as well or is it stable then?

 

[de grave]

I am reading this thread for a while now, and you are making me worried. I bought my Topping DX5 II in December, it came with the 1.78 firmware, I updated it to the latest version, and it works fine, but now I am worried that over time it might fail and take my headphone with it. How likely is that?

As far as I understand, if your unit has a defect, it's related to the components responsible for the current and is most likely to manifest itself on planar headphones.

I've red about few similar cases from people online, but I was still hoping it was a software issue, not a hardware one. Yesterday, I took my DX5 II to a third-party repair shop; I want to know what they say.

 

[Interstellar]

This has been their business MO for a while now - shit that measures well, but is functionally e-waste so you have a reason to buy again every year or two.

Maybe its the PSU? Have you tried using a different power source yet, I'd do that first to be safe before concluding it's the unit. The fact you can run the firmware through it fine makes me think the unit may not be the issue.

I did try a different power outlet. Hard to imagine the simple power cable is the problem but I'll try it just to say I did.

Sounds like some faulty component.

When you boot into FW update mode, does it flicker as well or is it stable then?

It is stable in DFU mode. However, I hear a soft click when it tries to get past that TOPPING screen and then it reboots.

 

[Mutex]

It is stable in DFU mode. However, I hear a soft click when it tries to get past that TOPPING screen and then it reboots.

The soft click is normal. It's the actual amp turning on. Maybe there is some fault on the amp then.

 

[Deleted member 93967]

The soft click is normal. It's the actual amp turning on. Maybe there is some fault on the amp then.

Maybe can be the protection relay engaging and rebooting the device to prevent further damage before a short circuit.. As previous statement, looks like a PSU related problem.
The protection don't engage in the DFU mode since the output relays and the high-voltage isn't engaged.

 

[Mocie]

What PSU would you recommend for a Topping DX5 II?

In that case I meant wall wart oops, I should have been clearer my bad there.

I did try a different power outlet. Hard to imagine the simple power cable is the problem but I'll try it just to say I did.

If that rules it out then rip. If it's the internal stuff I wouldn't dare DIY it, just ship it back and make sure your customs paperwork is tight so it actually gets to China I guess!

 

[xmagicalmasterman]

Not sure if this is exactly right place to post this but doing it anyway.

I just got the the DX5 II and don't find the sound to be anything special whatsoever. It actually feels boring as hell. Thin bass, slightly boosted mids and highs that aren't extremely detailed. There's no sense of 'air' and the soundstage is pretty narrow. Everything just feels plain, bland and uninteresting - across all genres too. It feels like a slight upgrade from a phone or motherboard dac from my impressions.

The PEQ doesn't really help, although it does a bit. I found the 'Dynamic' preset to be the most enjoyable - it boosts the bass by +3.0db and highs by +2db. This adds air and more punch. Still, not liking the results on planars.

I have Sundara's and the Edition XS btw.

When I had the DX3 Pro+ the bass felt snappier, more dynamic and punchy and defined. Almost like even small bass hits kicked your head(which was awesome). Mids weren't so pushed forward but still very present, highs were more detailed with a sense of airy-ness and the soundstage was wider. Just more sense of space.

It really feels to me like you're paying for the build quality, connectors and features on the DX5 II. I just do not enjoy it at all so far, really - and I wish I did or that I'm doing something wrong. Haven't tried balanced cables yet(going to soon) but I don't think it will matter.

Has anyone else experienced this with this with the DX5II/DX3P+? Just wondering what's happening.

 

[xmagicalmasterman]

Now, something worse.

I was listening and everything was normal, came back a few hours later and started listening again - but now there is distortion, rattling...whatever you want to call it. Happens on every song, gets worse the louder the volume. It's mostly in the right ear.

So I went to troubleshooting:

Tried different headphones and a different dac/amp, and the issue was gone.
Tried other sources(Spotify, Youtube etc) - issue persisted.
Updated the firmware.
Factory Reset multiple times.
Unplugged the device, tried different USB ports, different PCM(khz) settings etc.
Uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers(shouldn't matter as it works without drivers)


I cannot make a budge on this issue at this point. I wasn't liking the sound that much but now another even worse issue has arisen - seemingly a defective unit. This whole processing is annoying and a huge waste of time. I'm getting a DX3Pro+ again but Topping is already rubbing me the wrong way. The first DX3Pro+ had a loose headphone jack so I returned it. Hoping to have better luck with this one, although 3.5mm is pretty terrible and a stupid design decision.

It looks like I'll also be returning the DX5 II, as I believe it to be defective at this point as well. The sound(when it was working and I don't think had any real technical issues) wasn't for me anyway, so I guess it was meant to be.

It's just all unfortunate.

 

[rafaunivega]

I just received an email from Topping telling me that the person who helped me the first time made a mistake.

They won't pay for the repair of the headphones unless I send the Topping DX5 II to China, have it checked, and they decide that it's a fault with their wonderful device.

Now it turns out that there are no problems with the first batches and that I'm the only person in the world this has happened to.

Obviously, I will never buy anything from this brand again.

 

[Mocie]

I just received an email from Topping telling me that the person who helped me the first time made a mistake.

They won't pay for the repair of the headphones unless I send the Topping DX5 II to China, have it checked, and they decide that it's a fault with their wonderful device.

Now it turns out that there are no problems with the first batches and that I'm the only person in the world this has happened to.

Obviously, I will never buy anything from this brand again.

Was surprised they gave you that first reply. Getting them to acknowledge the L30s were faulty years ago was like pulling teeth.

 

[Sokel]

Ok, a small guide is needed here as it seems.

So>
First get a DMM, even a cheap one will do.
Set it to measure DC, like this:

If it has ranges first set it to the highest and go lower until you have a good reading or else leave it to Auto.
Make sure you never short the probes!

And start measuring stuff.
If you have nice headphones you will absolutely want to do it, not only with this amp, with everything.

 

[TheEman]

Just got this unit. But I cannot figure out how to enable crossfeed. It’s advertised on the product page. There is nothing in the manual about this. Any help? Apologies if I missed something obvious. Thanks.

 

[Bleib]

Just got this unit. But I cannot figure out how to enable crossfeed. It’s advertised on the product page. There is nothing in the manual about this. Any help? Apologies if I missed something obvious. Thanks.

Crossfeed? Where? This is a quite rare feature these days

 

[JOCoin]

Just got this unit. But I cannot figure out how to enable crossfeed. It’s advertised on the product page. There is nothing in the manual about this. Any help? Apologies if I missed something obvious. Thanks.

Had mine since launch, I've never seen anything about crossfeed on this unit. That is until today when I rechecked the product page on their website. That must've been updated recently but could be an error. I think some of the new units like D900 and DX9 discrete have this feature but not DX5 ii. I've just emailed support to ask if it's an error on the website. Will update upon receiving a response.

 

[Segfault]

Not sure if this is exactly right place to post this but doing it anyway.

I just got the the DX5 II and don't find the sound to be anything special whatsoever. It actually feels boring as hell. Thin bass, slightly boosted mids and highs that aren't extremely detailed. There's no sense of 'air' and the soundstage is pretty narrow. Everything just feels plain, bland and uninteresting - across all genres too. It feels like a slight upgrade from a phone or motherboard dac from my impressions.

The PEQ doesn't really help, although it does a bit. I found the 'Dynamic' preset to be the most enjoyable - it boosts the bass by +3.0db and highs by +2db. This adds air and more punch. Still, not liking the results on planars.

I have Sundara's and the Edition XS btw.

When I had the DX3 Pro+ the bass felt snappier, more dynamic and punchy and defined. Almost like even small bass hits kicked your head(which was awesome). Mids weren't so pushed forward but still very present, highs were more detailed with a sense of airy-ness and the soundstage was wider. Just more sense of space.

It really feels to me like you're paying for the build quality, connectors and features on the DX5 II. I just do not enjoy it at all so far, really - and I wish I did or that I'm doing something wrong. Haven't tried balanced cables yet(going to soon) but I don't think it will matter.

Has anyone else experienced this with this with the DX5II/DX3P+? Just wondering what's happening.

I too upgraded from DX3P+ to the DX5II and listened to the Edition XS. Both of these DAC sound exactly the same to me (they both measure completely transparent). Adding a custom bass shelf using PEQ definitely made an audible difference though and is the reason I upgraded. Maybe play with custom PEQ profiles and see if you like the DX5II better or return it.

 

[woodbar]

Well following on from my concerns regarding the hit or miss 4.4mm output socket, the blast of high power signal from the HP when changing PEQ profile IF you had the balance at anything other than 0dB, a multitude of other problems/failures reported on here as well as numerous firmware updates - which seem to maybe cure one anomaly but introduce another I decided to think seriously about returning my unit.

Listening last week (with only one HP plugged in!) having updated to V1.93 I was convinced it did not sound so good - a bit "muddy" and distorted especially vocals? At first I just thought it was due to my aged ears or one of those days that your psyche just can't tune in on the music - happens when you get older! Anyway I reverted to my Topping L70 to check - an absolute revelation - back to normal service!

Just for information both "tests" were from my Eversolo DMP 6A - the DX5 ii via USB (using the DAC in the DX5 ii) and the L70 via analogue phono (using the DAC in the DMP 6A) - Hmm?

Right, the DX5 ii is going back. I raised a return with Amazon UK for the unit which was sold and despatched from Toppingaudio (China) so I was a bit concerned about how this would work. I got an acceptance of return from Amazon stating that Topping would send me a returns label within 4 days and they would provide my refund when it was received - seemed an odd way of expressing it because I paid Amazon NOT Topping?

I have not received a label from Topping but today I just received a refund notification from Amazon saying that the money is going back on my card! Nothing about returning the unit, labels or anything?

So, I am glad that I seem to have extricated myself from what was a bad choice of device and will repack it all in the box ready for Amazon/Topping to realise they have not had it returned yet!

So, I will start my search again, maybe get tempted by the Luxsin 8 but I will wait for some sensible/believable reviews to appear plus (not the WOW, this is as good as units costing 20K ones!) or even just a decent HP amp to replace my L70/E70 stack?

 

[woodbar]

I just got the the DX5 II and don't find the sound to be anything special whatsoever. It actually feels boring as hell. Thin bass, slightly boosted mids and highs that aren't extremely detailed. There's no sense of 'air' and the soundstage is pretty narrow. Everything just feels plain, bland and uninteresting - across all genres too. It feels like a slight upgrade from a phone or motherboard dac from my impressions.

I tend to agree with you but it seems only after I installed the latest firmware -V1.93. What version is yours. Also use the Editiion XS as well as the Fiio FT5 and FT1 depending what I am listening to and my mood.

Do you have the option of returning it?

 

[xmagicalmasterman]

I tend to agree with you but it seems only after I installed the latest firmware -V1.93. What version is yours. Also use the Editiion XS as well as the Fiio FT5 and FT1 depending what I am listening to and my mood.

Do you have the option of returning it?

It's already been returned since it starting having some weird distortion/rattle issue that I couldn't get rid of. That's why I said it's not a great sign for reliability.

That said, I got the DX3 Pro+ again and same thing, the sound is better to me. Tighter, snappier bass with more impact, mids are present but not pushed forward, highs are detailed but not harsh and there's a bigger sense of air. Soundstage seems wider and I can clearly hear small details within the stage more easily.

I really like the sound on this thing. I don't think I'll be trying a DX5 II again - even when it was working normally, the sound was incredibly boring and dull to me.

 

[xmagicalmasterman]

I too upgraded from DX3P+ to the DX5II and listened to the Edition XS. Both of these DAC sound exactly the same to me (they both measure completely transparent). Adding a custom bass shelf using PEQ definitely made an audible difference though and is the reason I upgraded. Maybe play with custom PEQ profiles and see if you like the DX5II better or return it.

I don't find they sound the same at all, oddly, as I mentioned. I actually find the DX3 Pro+ to sound better on my Sundara/Edition XS. The amount of detail it can portray is insane and the extra kick in the bass is very nice to have. I played around with EQ on the DX5II and the Dynamic setting was the best for my music and was an improvement, but I still like the DX3Pro+ sound more.