Topping DX5 II

[BigTy120]

I had this error on my A70 pro and Topping said this to me in very broken English email, " your unit broke. we fix for usd. no amount listed... send unit to China pay $60 to ship it here leave phone and email and we will call you when ready to send to you. you pay $60 plus cost of new part and labor we send back to you."
When i asked them for the total repair price .......... I haven't heard back from them.

 

[Captain Thunderpants]

Could you check the serial number on the right side of the case, below the QR code?
I’d like to understand whether it’s from a recent production run or from the same batch that had this issue.
I’ve already noted all the other ones, and as soon as I can I’ll put together a list.

s/n 2604573679 no idea about the production date, bought on jan. 31st, but started to use feb 1st, after few swaps (no sound playing at the moment of swap) left channel started crackling, but not immediately. Will try to contact retail store today for a swap or refund.

 

[satanicek666]

s/n 2604573679 no idea about the production date, bought on jan. 31st, but started to use feb 1st, after few swaps (no sound playing at the moment of swap) left channel started crackling, but not immediately. Will try to contact retail store today for a swap or refund.

What FW did you have since production??? and did you install the latest FW 2.07??

 

[Captain Thunderpants]

What FW did you have since production??? and did you install the latest FW 2.07??

I don't recall which version it was, 1.67 maybe? And yes, i updated to 2.07 as soon as i tested if the device ever works.

 

[satanicek666]

I had FW 1.8x or so since production... so I think I probably have a newer product than you. My dx5 II is still working perfectly.

 

[Dk33145]

s/n 2604573679 no idea about the production date, bought on jan. 31st, but started to use feb 1st, after few swaps (no sound playing at the moment of swap) left channel started crackling, but not immediately. Will try to contact retail store today for a swap or refund.

Be careful with live swaps on the 4.4mm, it isn't good for any amp though it is somewhat better that you didn't have anything playing. I have a 260 and it has tolerated a few live swaps and some XLR related problems (related to how my headphones are wired), and I heard the relay protection switch go off a few times and the amp reset itself as it should. Working flawlessly.

 

[LGD_]

I haven't read this whole thread, so sorry if this is already discussed....

Very nice DAC, with one vital (for me) thing missing - a DSD direct input.
That alone keeps me away from ESS based DACs. I prefer AKM and Rohm DACs, which have this feature that I use exclusively.

YMMV.

 

[staticV3]

Very nice DAC, with one vital (for me) thing missing - a DSD direct input.
That alone keeps me away from ESS based DACs. I prefer AKM and Rohm DACs, which have this feature that I use exclusively.

Not that that would make any difference to sound quality, but I get it.

It scratches that irrational itch.

 

[ziggurcat]

Serial Number	Status	Issue / Notes	Date (Prod./Purch.)	Seller / Source
2504xxxxx	Fine	—	06/25	—
2506572090	Fine	Swapped headphones a lot	—	—
2506573188	Burned	Headphone left distortion	07/25	Topping Store (Rafa)
2507xxxxx	Fine	—	08/25	—
25075730XX	Fine	—	—	—
2510xxxxx	Fine	—	08/25	—
2510xxxxx	Fine	—	09/25?	—
251157xxxx	Burned / Cooked / Bricked	—	—	—
2512574050	Fine	Socket flaky, coax socket undersize	???	Amazon UK / Topping Audio
2602573**	Fine	—	11/25	HiFiGo
2602573434	Fine	—	10–11/25	—
2602573762	Fine	Multi headphone	10/25	ShenzhenAudio
26025745XX	Fine	—	12/25	Amazon Ireland
2603****	Burned / Cooked / Bricked	(NkHz)	—	—
2604573098	Fine	Intersample cracking (NP)	11/25–01/26	Hifistudio79 (Holland)
260xxxxxxx	Fine	Socks jiggle	11–12/25	Audiophonics

I'm not entirely sure of the date of production of my unit. It was ordered pretty much right at launch, but I chose a delivery date that was a few months out of launch because I anticipated some initial software bugs. I received my unit in August, so it's an earlier production model, but likely not an OG.

 

[Captain Thunderpants]

Be careful with live swaps on the 4.4mm, it isn't good for any amp though it is somewhat better that you didn't have anything playing. I have a 260 and it has tolerated a few live swaps and some XLR related problems (related to how my headphones are wired), and I heard the relay protection switch go off a few times and the amp reset itself as it should. Working flawlessly.

Yeah I usually at least stop the signal, or switch to other output. Never had any issues with any other device so far. Looks like this one has no protection whatsoever. Neither from DC nor from short circuit. This time it didn't play anything but was set to balanced headphone output. I guess never having any issue before and now having this overly sensitive hardware is partially on me.

 

[ziggurcat]

Yeah I usually at least stop the signal, or switch to other output. Never had any issues with any other device so far. Looks like this one has no protection whatsoever. Neither from DC nor from short circuit. This time it didn't play anything but was set to balanced headphone output. I guess never having any issue before and now having this overly sensitive hardware is partially on me.

I never have any content playing while I'm unplugging/plugging in headphones.

One thing about the 4.4mm jack is that the very first time I plugged a cable into that specific connection, I thought it was defective because here was only sound coming out of one channel, and I also think there was some crackling in the other channel. It was resolved by pushing the connector in a little bit more, so I'm almost half-wondering if some of these cases could be that the connector isn't fully inserted? I'm absolutely not saying people don't know what they're doing or anything like that, but it was not obvious because at the time I thought I had fully pushed it in, but apparently I hadn't -- it's something like <1mm/1/32" of extra movement, so truly it's not much.

 

[Berwhale]

I never have any content playing while I'm unplugging/plugging in headphones.

One thing about the 4.4mm jack is that the very first time I plugged a cable into that specific connection, I thought it was defective because here was only sound coming out of one channel, and I also think there was some crackling in the other channel. It was resolved by pushing the connector in a little bit more, so I'm almost half-wondering if some of these cases could be that the connector isn't fully inserted? I'm absolutely not saying people don't know what they're doing or anything like that, but it was not obvious because at the time I thought I had fully pushed it in, but apparently I hadn't -- it's something like <1mm/1/32" of extra movement, so truly it's not much.

There is at least one example in this thread (or maybe the other DX5 II thread) of a pair of headphones using a 4.4mm Pentacon plug with a fat barrel that would not fully engage in the DX5 II 4.4mm socket. The problem is that the 4.4mm socket is slightly recessed from the fascia. The diameter of the recess matches the 6.35mm socket, so it appears that Topping have done this for aesthetic reasons without fully considering the potential impact on the function of the socket.

The plug on the stock cable for my Sennheiser HD 660S fits snuggly within the recess, so this has not been an issue for me, but I can see how others would have problem with the design.

 

[ziggurcat]

There is at least one example in this thread (or maybe the other DX5 II thread) of a pair of headphones using a 4.4mm Pentacon plug with a fat barrel that would not fully engage in the DX5 II 4.4mm socket. The problem is that the 4.4mm socket is slightly recessed from the fascia. The diameter of the recess matches the 6.35mm socket, so it appears that Topping have done this for aesthetic reasons without fully considering the potential impact on the function of the socket.

The plug on the stock cable for my Sennheiser HD 660S fits snuggly within the recess, so this has not been an issue for me, but I can see how others would have problem with the design.

I was sort of thinking this because of the one example of the person reporting that the 6.35mm and 4-pin XLR connections work fine, and if there was a short somewhere, then the 4-pin XLR (at the very least) would exhibit the same malfunctioned behaviour since it's functionally not separate from the 4.4mm.

 

[Berwhale]

I was sort of thinking this because of the one example of the person reporting that the 6.35mm and 4-pin XLR connections work fine, and if there was a short somewhere, then the 4-pin XLR (at the very least) would exhibit the same malfunctioned behaviour since it's functionally not separate from the 4.4mm.

The insertion depth tolerances for a 4.4mm connection are much finer than those for a 6.35mm and even a 3.5mm plug. Only the 2.5mm connection is finer...

 

[TheEman]

Bought this, happy with the sound, but the more I read this thread the more apprehensive I become about powering headphones with this DX5 II. Yes, there is the concern of having this Topping unit destroying expensive headphones. And then there is the much more pressing concern of having it destroy my eardrums (and the headphones in the process).

As of the latest firmware revision, what are the unresolved problems with the DX5 II? Is DC protection correctly implemented (as in the RME ADI-2 DAC fs)? Has the 20 db volume spike with EQ been fixed?

I only use the XLR out, never have more than one headphone plugged in at once, and always stop the audio signal and turn down the volume before unplugging headphones. Will I be safe with this protocol?

Thanks.

 

[Berwhale]

Bought this, happy with the sound, but the more I read this thread the more apprehensive I become about powering headphones with this DX5 II. Yes, there is the concern of having this Topping unit destroying expensive headphones. And then there is the much more pressing concern of having it destroy my eardrums (and the headphones in the process).

As of the latest firmware revision, what are the unresolved problems with the DX5 II? Is DC protection correctly implemented (as in the RME ADI-2 DAC fs)? Has the 20 db volume spike with EQ been fixed?

I only use the XLR out, never have more than one headphone plugged in at once, and always stop the audio signal and turn down the volume before unplugging headphones. Will I be safe with this protocol?

Thanks.

For what it is worth, my Sennheiser HD 660 S have been plugged into the 4.4mm socket on the DX5 II for 6 months without issue. I'm not suggesting that the issues encountered by other members on this thread are not genuine, but my experience of the DX5 II in this respect has been flawless. I have had issues with the DX5 II losing PEQ settings, but that's not in the same league as damaging your headphones or hearing.

 

[ziggurcat]

Bought this, happy with the sound, but the more I read this thread the more apprehensive I become about powering headphones with this DX5 II. Yes, there is the concern of having this Topping unit destroying expensive headphones. And then there is the much more pressing concern of having it destroy my eardrums (and the headphones in the process).

As of the latest firmware revision, what are the unresolved problems with the DX5 II? Is DC protection correctly implemented (as in the RME ADI-2 DAC fs)? Has the 20 db volume spike with EQ been fixed?

I only use the XLR out, never have more than one headphone plugged in at once, and always stop the audio signal and turn down the volume before unplugging headphones. Will I be safe with this protocol?

Thanks.

You can read the FW change log. DC protection was fixed almost a year ago back in August/September, and the 20dB spike was addressed in FW v1.78 that was release 4 months ago.

 

[Nismo93]

Hello, I'm new to the world of Hi-Fi and to your forum. My first device was the Fosi Audio DS2. I listened to it through Fiio FT1 headphones, but quickly sold that DAC and bought a Fiio KA17, which I was very impressed with. Then I got carried away and decided to add the Hifiman Edition XS to my collection, but I sold the KA17 and bought the Fiio K7. The XS headphones sound excellent, with a very wide soundstage, but with the FT1, I clearly feel that the K7's soundstage is significantly narrower; instruments sound much closer and lack the same detail, although they are much warmer. Ultimately, I realized that I prefer an analytical sound with more micro-detail.
Do you think the Topping DX5 II will provide even greater soundstage resolution and detail than the Fiio KA17?

 

[tccalvin]

@Nismo93 Based on the measurements I've found online, the sound will likely be the same between the K7, KA17 and the DX5 II. The difference will be in features and form factor.

 

[Nicosea]

@Nismo93 Based on the measurements I've found online, the sound will likely be the same between the K7, KA17 and the DX5 II. The difference will be in features and form factor.

Can you share the link with the measurements of the KA17?