Topping DX5 II

[luxethereal]

This is the sound that happens when the DAC is effectively "going to sleep" when no more data is being detected by the device. Because there are no drivers for MacOS (or Linux), there is no way to set the device to have the data streaming be always on. PC users have the luxury of setting it up that way in the audio control app that comes with the driver, so they don't have to deal with it so much. It is something that has been brought up with Topping several times, I think. It is also not something that is specific to this device, it will happen with most DACs that use the XMOS chip. As it has been mentioned, this only affects the USB input.

On MacOS (and I also suspect Linux), one workaround is to use a separate USB DDC (like a Topping D10s or the SMSL PO100 or PO100 Pro). That is how I have it set up with my desktop system. Alternatively, you can boot Qobuz, and leave it running in the background since it keeps sending a constant stream of data to the DAC, preventing it from going to sleep (or search the forum for the KeepMyMacAudioAlive for a user-built app that does the same thing).

I don't really understand why it's not audible through the HP output.

 

[Johnkeizer]

I have one of these, fed by an SMSL cd transport via rca digital.
Runs my Audeze LCD2 and Sennheiser 800s without the slightest problem.
My alternative is a topping raw 1 dac fed via I2S to an SMSL SU9 amp in balanced mode. It sounds subtly different but not sure about better despite having double the money sunk into it.

 

[ziggurcat]

I don't really understand why it's not audible through the HP output.

It's definitely audible through headphones.

 

[momentum_m]

My Topping DX 5 II arrived yesterday. Listening with Audeze LCD 2C, and it sounds clean and a bit dry. Let's see how it will sound after burn-in. Compared with my Fiio K9 AKM, it sounds more linear, but it seems to have a smaller soundstage, and the overall sound scale is lower. Even if Fiio has a sweeter sound with a bigger scale, its tonality feels fake in comparison with Topping. Topping has a true tonality, and I guess it will be better for critical listening, less engaging, but natural. Noticed a real difference in the bass when switched from low to high gain mode.

 

[luxethereal]

My Topping DX 5 II arrived yesterday. Listening with Audeze LCD 2C, and it sounds clean and a bit dry. Let's see how it will sound after burn-in. Compared with my Fiio K9 AKM, it sounds more linear, but it seems to have a smaller soundstage, and the overall sound scale is lower. Even if Fiio has a sweeter sound with a bigger scale, its tonality feels fake in comparison with Topping. Topping has a true tonality, and I guess it will be better for critical listening, less engaging, but natural. Noticed a real difference in the bass when switched from low to high gain mode.

LCD2 is kinda muffled and dead sounding, not really an issue with the DAC. My Edition XV sounds very wide and spacious with it.

 

[Berwhale]

My Topping DX 5 II arrived yesterday. Listening with Audeze LCD 2C, and it sounds clean and a bit dry. Let's see how it will sound after burn-in. Compared with my Fiio K9 AKM, it sounds more linear, but it seems to have a smaller soundstage, and the overall sound scale is lower. Even if Fiio has a sweeter sound with a bigger scale, its tonality feels fake in comparison with Topping. Topping has a true tonality, and I guess it will be better for critical listening, less engaging, but natural. Noticed a real difference in the bass when switched from low to high gain mode.

Welcome to Audio Science Review. My DX5 II...

Doesn't 'sound' like anything (unless I apply PEQ).
Did not require any burn in.
Has a completely flat frequency response in the audible band and hence has no 'tonality' (unless I choose to apply PEQ).
Doesn't have a 'soundstage' which is typically a property of transducers and their placement.

Have you read the FAQ? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/audio-science-review-faq-1.65328/

 

[DazST]

Hi folks, I've recently started experiencing my first issue with the dx5ii, whereby the screen won't stay on the desired setting (eg. spectrum analyser) and after about 10 seconds, switches to a black screen with just the input selection at the top (in my case, optical). I've not really been keeping up with the various bugs reported in this thread, but would appreciate if anyone can let me know if this is a known issue and if there is a fix.
Cheers.

Edit: never mind, after a bit more searching online I found the problem and fix. Somehow the display brightness was set to 'auto' and changing this fixed the problem.

 

[ziggurcat]

Hi folks, I've recently started experiencing my first issue with the dx5ii, whereby the screen won't stay on the desired setting (eg. spectrum analyser) and after about 10 seconds, switches to a black screen with just the input selection at the top (in my case, optical). I've not really been keeping up with the various bugs reported in this thread, but would appreciate if anyone can let me know if this is a known issue and if there is a fix.
Cheers.

Edit: never mind, after a bit more searching online I found the problem and fix. Somehow the display brightness was set to 'auto' and changing this fixed the problem.

Go to Setup Menu > Display >Brightness

Check the settings to make sure you don't have it set to "Auto." Under that setting, after some time it will go black, and only display the input.

Never mind, my eyes missed your edit.

 

[Madragon]

Guys, my DX5 II is dead.
I bought it 7 months ago on AliExpress, and it had been working without any issues until early this morning. I shut down my PC like I do every day, and a few hours later when I got up and turned the PC back on, the Topping would no longer power on. I disconnected all the cables, changed the power cable, and tried a different power outlet, but nothing it’s completely dead.

 

[Mutex]

Guys, my DX5 II is dead.
I bought it 7 months ago on AliExpress, and it had been working without any issues until early this morning. I shut down my PC like I do every day, and a few hours later when I got up and turned the PC back on, the Topping would no longer power on. I disconnected all the cables, changed the power cable, and tried a different power outlet, but nothing it’s completely dead.

Maybe this helps, as I had a similar experience.

 

[Madragon]

Maybe this helps, as I had a similar experience.

Thank you very much for the help, but unfortunately it didn’t work. I did everything you indicated and it’s still dead. I doubt that in my case it was a firmware issue since I updated it months ago and it has been working with the same version all this time. During the last few months I didn’t change any settings or update anything. I used it for the last time yesterday as usual, and it worked perfectly until I turned it off at night.

When I try to turn it on using the rear switch, there is no sound, the screen stays black, and a Windows notification says: “The USB device is not recognized. The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.” I follow the steps to update the firmware, but nothing happens.

 

[Bleib]

When I try to turn it on using the rear switch, there is no sound, the screen stays black, and a Windows notification says: “The USB device is not recognized. The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize

This type of error is quite normal with windows even without problems.
But obviously if the screen is dead to you are likely out of luck..

On one occasion I've had a similar experience with completely other technology. Completely dead but for some reason it worked many months later.. I just tried it again.
Some Nvidia GPU I've fixed in the oven, the weak points have been the soldering and if done right the oven trick might fix it. But basically have to take it apart with only the part with the electronics so nothing melts.

 

[tamtam]

Guys, my DX5 II is dead.
I bought it 7 months ago on AliExpress, and it had been working without any issues until early this morning. I shut down my PC like I do every day, and a few hours later when I got up and turned the PC back on, the Topping would no longer power on. I disconnected all the cables, changed the power cable, and tried a different power outlet, but nothing it’s completely dead.

That might happen due to an electric surge.
If it doesn't power up at all it might be due to the power supply failure.

 

[Madragon]

That might happen due to an electric surge.
If it doesn't power up at all it might be due to the power supply failure.

Yes, it does seem like the internal power supply is dead, but I don’t understand how it could have been damaged. All the devices in my setup are connected to a voltage regulator, the rest of the devices are working perfectly, and the Topping was working perfectly until the last time I turned it off.

 

[Johnkeizer]

Had that happen in my ht system, all good on turn off ( including turning off the power outlets) , then a few days later when I went to turn everything back on, my Sony X800 4k player was dead.
Took it into the repair shop and had to replace the power supply, apparently a very common problem.

 

[Budgie]

My DX5 II did the same thing. Unplugged it to move it and it bricked. Dead. I went as far as to open it up and test. The power supply is outputing to the main PC board but nothing works. No fuse apparent anywere. Kaput.

 

[Bleib]

Sheesh, starts to sound like I shouldn't recommend this DAC anymore

 

[Budgie]

Sheesh, starts to sound like I shouldn't recommend this DAC anymore

I own a D70 octo dac and a A70 amp and I am afraid to plug them in and use them at this point.
I won't be buying any more Topping.

 

[Bleib]

I own a D70 pro octo dac and a A70 pro amp and I am afraid to plug them in and use them at this point.
I won't be buying any more Topping.

Well, I won't quit using my DX5 II. If it dies then I'll look for another brand.
My TP RA3 amp has worked well for ages

 

[MustafaMir555]

Oh crap, I just ordered this unit 3 days ago