Topping DX5 II

[staticV3]

Does connecting the topping dx5 ii to the tv using toslink cables improve the tv audio?

Improve over which alternative?

And also would you guys recommend using a balanced cable over the standard 6.35mm cable that came with the arya stealth?

Only if the 6.35mm port doesn't get loud enough.

And if yes, I cant decide using the xlr or 4.4mm

There's no difference in sound quality between them.

 

[Terrox]

Improve over which alternative?

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Sometimes I watch media content without headphones and just use the tv audio. Im guessing the topping dx5 ii is a headphone amp and there will not be any improvement to the tv audio. Should I even bother hooking up the tv to the topping dx5 ii?

 

[staticV3]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Sometimes I watch media content without headphones and just use the tv audio. Im guessing the topping dx5 ii is a headphone amp and there will not be any improvement to the tv audio. Should I even bother hooking up the tv to the topping dx5 ii?

There's no point in hooking up the DX5 II to your TV, if you're only ever going to use the TV's built-in speakers anyway.

That's because the DX5 II cannot affect the TV speakers in any way.

Connecting the DX5 II to your TV would only make sense if you:

A: watch content that isn't coming from your PC (e.g. Apple TV or a streaming app running directly on your TV) and

B: use your headphones or external speakers for audio.

But if your PC is the exclusive audio and video source for the TV, then no matter what audio device you use (TV speakers, headphones, external speakers), there would never be a point in connecting the DX5 II to anything other than your PC.

 

[Terrox]

There's no point in hooking up the DX5 II to your TV, if you're only ever going to use the TV's built-in speakers anyway.

That's because the DX5 II cannot affect the TV speakers in any way.

Connecting the DX5 II to your TV would only make sense if you:

A: watch content that isn't coming from your PC (e.g. Apple TV or a streaming app running directly on your TV) and

B: use your headphones or external speakers for audio.

But if your PC is the exclusive audio and video source for the TV, then no matter what audio device you use (TV speakers, headphones, external speakers), there would never be a point in connecting the DX5 II to anything other than your PC.

I get it now. Thank you for the clear and concise explanation

 

[TheSwagRobber]

Just got my DX5 II. Anyone else wish TOPPING would open up the display for custom themes?


Love everything about this unit so far. Sounds fantastic, looks great on the desk, the Aurora display is genuinely impressive for this price point. No complaints on the audio side.


But every time I look at that screen I think about how much potential is sitting there untapped. We've got nine background colors and three display modes, which is fine, but the screen hardware and the Topping Tune infrastructure are already in place. Why not let users upload custom wallpapers or themes?


With how easy it is to build things with modern tools, people would absolutely start making and sharing their own display themes. You'd get a whole little community around it for free. Even just a custom background image option through Topping Tune would be a great first step.


Already sent TOPPING an email about it, but figured I'd see if anyone else here feels the same way.

 

[wildekek]

Feature request for Topping: USB master volume control
(I don't know if Topping reads this, but one can dream.)

I love my DX5 II and I use the USB input almost exclusively. The current USB volume control is not great however, since it is a separate mixer and it is decoupled from the main volume control.
This implementation has a couple of disadvantages:
- The USB volume control does not work when playing DSD content
- When you set the volume over USB you're now attenuating twice (in series), which is not a great user experience. I use Airplay over USB and it would be nice if the volume set via Airplay would just be the main volume. Now I have to juggle two volumes.
- If I can set the main volume via USB, this unlocks a whole bunch of home automation scenarios for me. My Arcam does allow this, which makes for a really nice setup.

 

[ziggurcat]

Feature request for Topping: USB master volume control
(I don't know if Topping reads this, but one can dream.)

I love my DX5 II and I use the USB input almost exclusively. The current USB volume control is not great however, since it is a separate mixer and it is decoupled from the main volume control.
This implementation has a couple of disadvantages:
- The USB volume control does not work when playing DSD content
- When you set the volume over USB you're now attenuating twice (in series), which is not a great user experience. I use Airplay over USB and it would be nice if the volume set via Airplay would just be the main volume. Now I have to juggle two volumes.
- If I can set the main volume via USB, this unlocks a whole bunch of home automation scenarios for me. My Arcam does allow this, which makes for a really nice setup.

Just set the DX5 II to DAC mode.

 

[wildekek]

Just set the DX5 II to DAC mode.

Yes, I see your point but in my case that would not work:
- I actually use the DX5 II as a pre-amp for my monoblocks. When I switch source to a non-USB source, I would lose all attenuation.
- I would still have the double mixer problem when using the headphone out
- I like to see the dB meter in the display and use the physical volume knob in tandem with software controls

 

[Jcrow]

Just got my DX5 II. Anyone else wish TOPPING would open up the display for custom themes?


Love everything about this unit so far. Sounds fantastic, looks great on the desk, the Aurora display is genuinely impressive for this price point. No complaints on the audio side.


But every time I look at that screen I think about how much potential is sitting there untapped. We've got nine background colors and three display modes, which is fine, but the screen hardware and the Topping Tune infrastructure are already in place. Why not let users upload custom wallpapers or themes?


With how easy it is to build things with modern tools, people would absolutely start making and sharing their own display themes. You'd get a whole little community around it for free. Even just a custom background image option through Topping Tune would be a great first step.


Already sent TOPPING an email about it, but figured I'd see if anyone else here feels the same way.

I agree with this! It would be great to be able to get some nicer looking screens. I use the basic Home Screen with the volume shown. The colour and font is pretty boring. Would be great to get a spruced up version

 

[TheSwagRobber]

I agree with this! It would be great to be able to get some nicer looking screens. I use the basic Home Screen with the volume shown. The colour and font is pretty boring. Would be great to get a spruced up version

Exactly, also imagine how easy it would be with modern AI vibe-coding to basically make any display theme you want

 

[rexbinary]

I finally joined the club. I ordered mine directly from Topping, and since I'm in the US, it shipped from Amazon. I picked the white model. Setting the display color to white makes it look very slick. In pictures, it can look a bit cheap, but it's really very nice in person. It’s a bit heavy and very solid. It makes my FiiO FT5 headphones sound amazing. It's really a huge upgrade from my FiiO K11. I didn't expect such a noticeable audible difference.

It shipped with firmware 2.10. I installed 2.14. I won't really be using the PEQ, so I don't know if it has issues saving settings like folks have been reporting. I might try it just out of curiosity. I have exclusively used the 4.4mm headphones out and the RCA line out. No issues so far. I'm quite happy with it.

 

[staticV3]

I won't really be using the PEQ, so I don't know if it has issues saving settings like folks have been reporting. I might try it just out of curiosity.

Here are correction presets that you can copy into Topping Tune:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ls4z....pdf?rlkey=2aaifgvg1eiyukqjubaq8no5d&e=1&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uomv....pdf?rlkey=dsxr647g44ubpnfbccy5wknbn&e=1&dl=0

Note the instructions at the bottom for adjusting the presets to preference.

These should make a drastic difference.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I finally joined the club. I ordered mine directly from Topping, and since I'm in the US, it shipped from Amazon. I picked the white model. Setting the display color to white makes it look very slick. In pictures, it can look a bit cheap, but it's really very nice in person. It’s a bit heavy and very solid. It makes my FiiO FT5 headphones sound amazing. It's really a huge upgrade from my FiiO K11. I didn't expect such a noticeable audible difference.

It shipped with firmware 2.10. I installed 2.14. I won't really be using the PEQ, so I don't know if it has issues saving settings like folks have been reporting. I might try it just out of curiosity. I have exclusively used the 4.4mm headphones out and the RCA line out. No issues so far. I'm quite happy with it.

Try EQ that @staticV3 has provided.
I'm pretty sure you will be happy. also remember to tune to the "taste".

 

[rexbinary]

Here are correction presets that you can copy into Topping Tune:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ls4z....pdf?rlkey=2aaifgvg1eiyukqjubaq8no5d&e=1&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uomv....pdf?rlkey=dsxr647g44ubpnfbccy5wknbn&e=1&dl=0

Note the instructions at the bottom for adjusting the presets to preference.

These should make a drastic difference.

Thank you! I'll try them out.

 

[Matias]

@rexbinary Or alternatively AutoEQ'ed to another target.

Squiglink - Headphones frequency response database by Super* Review

Compare hundreds of frequency response graphs between IEMs and earphones from manufacturers like Moondrop, Sony, 64 Audio, Fiio, and more.

squig.link

Preamp: -4.6786 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 21 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 0.6
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 61 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.6
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 240 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 0.4
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 320 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 2.8
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 390 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 8
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 490 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 5.6
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 980 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 9.9
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 2200 Hz Gain 3.9 dB Q 0.5
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3100 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 5.3
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4300 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 2.7

 

[jacobtc]

So would this be a good setup for my HD700's and a pair of active Beolab 3 speakers? I need something that is bulletproof when it comes to remembering volume between outputs as the Beolab 3 speakers are very sensitive and would get destroyed if played at 100%. I just needs something that is set and forget for those

Any other better options out there?
I'm currently running a V-DAC and a Lovely Cube (Lehmann Black Cube Linear clone).

Also, is the 12V trigger always on when the DX5 II is turned on, or can it be triggered when I select the RCA output for my speakers? The Beolab support a 5V trigger, so I will need to step down the 12V.

EDIT: Seems like the 12V trigger is always on? Sad, it would be nice to have it trigger with a specific output selection I would hate to have my speakers turned on, when using my headphones.
Any products on the market that does this?

 

[rexbinary]

For Trigger there are three options: 12v, Signal, Off.

 

[rvcjew]

I have a A50/D50iii stack but I needed something more AIO and basically side graded to the DX5ii and so far its been great. I heard complaints the PSU etc were not great parts and were gonna die because they are poorly cooled but in a 26.6c ambient room I don't really see it heating up much at all under XLR out. With at least the SE HP out it will finally heat up a bit but I find the temps not much more then ambient based on my thermal cam. My monitor is hotter. I am not using any of the peq stuff though. I was able to flash to 2.14FW no issue as well on 25H2.

I will say though when I took it out of the box I thought it was broken as I heard rattles that sounded like it was inside but it is just the 3 buttons on the front are wiggly when you hold the device lol. Scare averted.

 

[Dadde96]

Hello Guys i have a problem with my unit i can see random rebot with the display that shows peq disabled and i don't know What can be the issues i see it when i was playing on forza horizon 6 with active speaker so it was not a problem of heating because the dac was cold when i touch it.
Can u help me to solve? Searching i see also can there are many problem with 4.4 jack and i am using it from day 1 more than 12 months am i safe still using this port or i should do something?

 

[ziggurcat]

Hello Guys i have a problem with my unit i can see random rebot with the display that shows peq disabled and i don't know What can be the issues i see it when i was playing on forza horizon 6 with active speaker so it was not a problem of heating because the dac was cold when i touch it.
Can u help me to solve? Searching i see also can there are many problem with 4.4 jack and i am using it from day 1 more than 12 months am i safe still using this port or i should do something?

What FW are you on?

I wouldn't worry about the 4.4mm connection if you've been using it the whole time with no issues. Some of those reports are legitimate, but some could possibly be attributed to user error (i.e. as it was in my case, I hadn't fully seated the connector the very first time I plugged in my headphones into that jack -- and some of the issues described were exactly what I had experienced with the connection not being 100% seated).