Topping DX5 II

[Babs776]

The only reason I was even trying those high levels is because the IEM were audibly quiter with the DX5 II vs even 70% volume on the the Mac.

With the IEM quieter compared to the laptop, I would start hearing distortion in the Xenns when connected to the DX5 II.

Having owned the A30Pro in the past (for a few years + multiple headphones like the HD800S, Arya Organic, etc.) I know what you guys mean by too much power causing audio distortion.

Which is why it was so weird for me to even understand what was happening ... and couldnt believe what I was hearing. As to why I was hearing distortion with the IEMs sounding so quite.

Even my 4 year old Quedelix 5K gets the IEM louder without any distortion.

What is the DB value of the DX5 II at the volume you want to listen to the IEMs at? You said they begin distorting at -25db. Using the DX5 at that setting with those IEMs results in 104db+ volume. That is egregiously loud. Normal safe listening volume is well below this. I plugged a pair of Odysseys into mine and played it at -25, I could hear it in my kitchen when I walked away. -35 to -40db on the DX5 II puts the Xenns at 85-90db.

The problem is that when you use this high powered headphone amplifier to drive IEMs to dangerous levels of volume, the audio sounds distorted? When you play it at normal safe listening levels below -25db, the distortion is gone?

When using your Qudelix on 3.5mm 1v, what volume are you listening to the IEMs at per the Qudelix power output at your desired level of loudness?

 

[Berwhale]

Unfortunately I do not have the 4.4 mm plug for the Xenns with me atm. But the 6.35 mm should also be pristine right?

It should be if the cable is wired correctly and there are no mechanical issues with the tips and adapters. Testing with the 4.4mm tip would exclude these potential sources of a problem. I just tested my CrinEar Daybreak with both the 4.4mm tip and 3.5mm tip + 6.35mm and it sounded great with both connections (test track = Gosh by Jamie xx)

 

[kidoman]

It should be if the cable is wired correctly and there are no mechanical issues with the tips and adapters. Testing with the 4.4mm tip would exclude these potential sources of a problem. I just tested my CrinEar Daybreak with both the 4.4mm tip and 3.5mm tip + 6.35mm and it sounded great with both connections (test track = Gosh by Jamie xx)

What was your digital audio volume set to? And on the DAC? Any other settings changed?

I tried two different known-to-be-good (worked perfectly with the 6.35mm port on the A30 Pro) adapters.

While i would be open to trying the 4.4mm balanced port ... its not ok for the 6.35mm port to be fubared.

 

[Berwhale]

What was your digital audio volume set to? And on the DAC? Any other settings changed?

I tried two different known-to-be-good (worked perfectly with the 6.35mm port on the A30 Pro) adapters.

While i would be open to trying the 4.4mm balanced port ... its not ok for the 6.35mm port to be fubared.

Sorry, I don't recall exactly, but both tests were down in the -30 to -40dB range.

 

[kidoman]

Sorry, I don't recall exactly, but both tests were down in the -30 to -40dB range.

Oh i didnt even it went down so low.

 

[Berwhale]

Oh i didnt even it went down so low.

It goes all the way down to -99.0dB

 

[kidoman]

What is the DB value of the DX5 II at the volume you want to listen to the IEMs at? You said they begin distorting at -25db. Using the DX5 at that setting with those IEMs results in 104db+ volume. That is egregiously loud. Normal safe listening volume is well below this. I plugged a pair of Odysseys into mine and played it at -25, I could hear it in my kitchen when I walked away. -35 to -40db on the DX5 II puts the Xenns at 85-90db.

The problem is that when you use this high powered headphone amplifier to drive IEMs to dangerous levels of volume, the audio sounds distorted? When you play it at normal safe listening levels below -25db, the distortion is gone?

When using your Qudelix on 3.5mm 1v, what volume are you listening to the IEMs at per the Qudelix power output at your desired level of loudness?

I am not trying to play it at such dangerously loud levels. I am saying that I cant even hear anything on the IEM at -30db. Its dead quite. Almost equivalent to 5% volume when directly connected to my Mac.

The distortion is heard via the DX5 II at a volume level (again i dont have anything to measure this with) much lower than what i can easily (without distortion) drive the IEM to using my Mac alone.

Sorry if i am not articulating properly.

 

[kidoman]

Just to make sure i was not doing something idiotic, I unpacked the DX5II and retested.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keys/noire/ (scroll down the the NOIRE Audio Demos, track 1/10)

At around at 75% mark (-0:17), when the bass comes in, the DX5II, at -35.5 db (USB, PCM 48khz, HPA SE, low gain, PEQ is disabled, and everything else is factory reset state, on latest f/w) is audibly distorting on my IEM.

Without changing anything else, I took the IEM out, connected it to the Mac 3.5mm jack, and no distortion is heard, even if i raise the volume to uncomfortable level (around 50% on the Mac)

FWIW, my hardware revision is 0.15. I contacted Topping and they have agreed to repair it under warranty, and have not asked me to submit any proof of the distortion.

 

[ziggurcat]

I am not trying to play it at such dangerously loud levels. I am saying that I cant even hear anything on the IEM at -30db. Its dead quite. Almost equivalent to 5% volume when directly connected to my Mac.

The distortion is heard via the DX5 II at a volume level (again i dont have anything to measure this with) much lower than what i can easily (without distortion) drive the IEM to using my Mac alone.

Sorry if i am not articulating properly.

This is in no way meant to be condescending, but have you ensured that the headphone connector has been properly seated? I only say this because when I first used the 4.4mm connector, I thought there was a problem with the unit itself, and then I pushed the connector in -- quite literally -- less than 1mm, and it was fine.

Mine says v0.15 as well, and I know the newer iterations (v0.16, and likely v0.17) have slightly adjusted the jacks on the unit itself that stick out a little bit more than they do on mine (closeup photo seen here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...c-and-headphone-amp-review.64264/post-2641205), which probably makes it easier to seat the connector fully without any issues.

 

[kidoman]

This is in no way meant to be condescending, but have you ensured that the headphone connector has been properly seated? I only say this because when I first used the 4.4mm connector, I thought there was a problem with the unit itself, and then I pushed the connector in -- quite literally -- less than 1mm, and it was fine.

Mine says v0.15 as well, and I know the newer iterations (v0.16, and likely v0.17) have slightly adjusted the jacks on the unit itself that stick out a little bit more than they do on mine (closeup photo seen here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...c-and-headphone-amp-review.64264/post-2641205), which probably makes it easier to seat the connector fully without any issues.

Not at all ... i have pushed in the connectors as far in as they would go.

My h/w revision is 0.15 as well.

 

[Janfi67]

I had a "similar" problem with a brand new DX5 II, straight out of the box.
The HPA SE and BAL outputs were clipping at around 1.6 VRMS, or 80mW with 32Ω headphones.
There were no problems below this power level, nor with a very high load of several tens of kiloohms, nor with the line outputs.

I would like to thank Audiophonics' customer service, who quickly and free of charge sent me a perfectly functional replacement DX5 II.

 

[kidoman]

I had a "similar" problem with a brand new DX5 II, straight out of the box.
The HPA SE and BAL outputs were clipping at around 1.6 VRMS, or 80mW with 32Ω headphones.
There were no problems below this power level, nor with a very high load of several tens of kiloohms, nor with the line outputs.

I would like to thank Audiophonics' customer service, who quickly and free of charge sent me a perfectly functional replacement DX5 II.

View attachment 546888

Oh boy

Sounds similar to what I am experiencing

 

[kidoman]

XENNS Mangird Top Pro [Pre-order]

FULFILMENT TIME: 2-4 WEEKS Elevate your listening experience with the XENNS Mangird Top Pro, a premium 10-driver hybrid IEM meticulously crafted for audiophiles seeking high-resolution sound. Immerse yourself in its punchy yet controlled bass, clean vocals, and airy treble, all the while being...

hangout.audio

Is the Xenns Top Pro sensitivity 103 dB/Vrms? Would that explain why my eardrums are not bursting open at -25 dB volume?

 

[Janfi67]

Headphones sensitivity is usually expressed as dBSPL (Sound pressure level)/mWRMS.
But I wouldn't trust the manufacturer for the the exact value.

What you said is below a given SPL you don't hear any distorsion and above you hear it.

But ear is a bad measure instrument.
Do you "hear" 0.5, 1 or 2% of distortion ?
Above the given SPL, does distortion increase quickly like when there's clipping ?
Or does it increase gradually and continuously, and you only hear it once it reaches a certain threshold ?

Your problem could be clipping... or something else.

 

[Ahmonge]

Not at all ... i have pushed in the connectors as far in as they would go.

My h/w revision is 0.15 as well.

If you can, try this unit with another HP. If the problem persists, your unit is defective.

 

[kidoman]

If you can, try this unit with another HP. If the problem persists, your unit is defective.

Unfortunately I do not have access to another HP at this moment. They are in shipping.

I did a ear test to determine that the IEM is truly 103 db/mw sensitivity (set AirPod Pro 3 to 63 dB loudness, then confirmed that the IEM match the volume of the AirPods at -36 dB on my Qudelix 5K.)

I have now gone ahead and gotten a new DX5 II from Amazon and it has 0.17 h/w revision. So happy days I guess.

 

[Gradius]

It seems Topping DX1 II is mature now. How mature (stable) DX5 II is atm?

 

[ziggurcat]

How mature (stable) DX5 II is atm?

I haven't personally encountered any issues for a few FW updates, now. I would say it's pretty stable, and I can't imagine there being too many more updates.

 

[Claus_J]

Topping releases a new Firmware, supporting TOPPING Home WEB | Web Control Center.

https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/dx5-ii-version-v2-39-firmware-update

6. What's updated
*Added: Web Home support.

*Fixed: Several known issues

 

[lammic]

Topping releases a new Firmware, supporting TOPPING Home WEB | Web Control Center.

https://www.toppingaudio.com/download/dx5-ii-version-v2-39-firmware-update

6. What's updated
*Added: Web Home support.

*Fixed: Several known issues

Thanks, finally! First tests, playing a CD...