Topping DX5 II

[ziggurcat]

So any product relying on the Topping Tune app for full functionality is probably not right for you at the moment. It takes time and money to develop software and Topping is only a small company, so I'm not surprised that they are initially focusing on a version of the app for one OS. You could try messaging them and asking what their plans are for supporting other OSes.

I did back in November/December and basically the response was eventually, yes.

I was excited about being able to apply some form of DSP on my desktop system, but when I found out that the EQ function on D50 III is (for all intents and purposes) only for PC, and only allows for one EQ profile, I chose to forego that feature for now. I'm hoping the DX5 II allows for multiple EQ profiles, then I can have one for my headphones, and my speakers. If it doesn't, then I will stick with what I have for the time being.

 

[JOCoin]

I did back in November/December and basically the response was eventually, yes.

I was excited about being able to apply some form of DSP on my desktop system, but when I found out that the EQ function on D50 III is (for all intents and purposes) only for PC, and only allows for one EQ profile, I chose to forego that feature for now. I'm hoping the DX5 II allows for multiple EQ profiles, then I can have one for my headphones, and my speakers. If it doesn't, then I will stick with what I have for the time being.

You can store up to 5 different EQs on D50 iii and select through them in the menu, or you can save two presets to access through the buttons on the remote where you can set RCA or TRS output with a specific EQ profile assigned. So you could in theory assign one button for speakers and one button for headphones.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

You can store up to 5 different EQs on D50 iii and select through them in the menu, or you can save two presets to access through the buttons on the remote where you can set RCA or TRS output with a specific EQ profile assigned. So you could in theory assign one button for speakers and one button for headphones.

On the WiiM Ultra you can have multiple custom presets - I think at least 12.

For each one you can name it, set a custom volume, select input, output, whether you want the sub on or off, and choose which EQ profile to use.

At the moment I only have two set up, the first for my speakers (analogue out and sub on) and the second for my main headphones.

But in future, when i get a little time, I'm going to set a preset up for each of my headphones (I have the EQ saved already), and two more for my speakers - they're Wharfedale Diamond 12.1s, which are flat, except a 'BBC dip', which I've EQ'd out. I'll also have an EQ for them with the dip left in, and another with the dip half EQ'd out. All speaker EQs also correct the room.

This really is a golden age of hi-fi. What a time to be alive.

 

[ziggurcat]

You can store up to 5 different EQs on D50 iii and select through them in the menu, or you can save two presets to access through the buttons on the remote where you can set RCA or TRS output with a specific EQ profile assigned. So you could in theory assign one button for speakers and one button for headphones.

My understanding was that you can only have one EQ profile installed at any given time, even with the two presets available. If I'm mistaken, then that's good news for me.

If someone can confirm that different EQ profiles can be used for each preset, I encourage the correction.

 

[JOCoin]

My understanding was that you can only have one EQ profile installed at any given time, even with the two presets available. If I'm mistaken, then that's good news for me.

If someone can confirm that different EQ profiles can be used for each preset, I encourage the correction.

I have a d50iii can confirm, haha. You can have 5 stored and can set two different presets with various option settings including eq on the remote. Not sure about setting preset volume as I only use mine in Dac mode so volume is always full output.

 

[ziggurcat]

I have a d50iii can confirm, haha. You can have 5 stored and can set two different presets with various option settings including eq on the remote. Not sure about setting preset volume as I only use mine in Dac mode so volume is always full output.

Well, then... I thankfully stand corrected. Not sure where I read that only one profile can be saved at any given time, but it's possible I mistook someone talking about the PEQ only being with a USB connection for that. Thank you for the confirmation.

I might still consider the DX5 II anyway because it would mean one less device in the chain, less of a cable mess, and one less wall outlet being used.

 

[JOCoin]

Well, then... I thankfully stand corrected. Not sure where I read that only one profile can be saved at any given time, but it's possible I mistook someone talking about the PEQ only being with a USB connection for that. Thank you for the confirmation.

I might still consider the DX5 II anyway because it would mean one less device in the chain, less of a cable mess, and one less wall outlet being used.

If I had to pick one I'd buy the DX5 ii over a D50 iii and A50 iii. I love the stack but cabling takes up more space than the stack itself. And the screen on DX5 ii looks much more usable. The screen is too small on D50iii and if you have the stack with the warmer running A50iii on top makes the screen is basically useless if you have headphones plugged in. Plus DX5 ii has eq for all inputs vs just USB for D50iii.

 

[Berwhale]

If I had to pick one I'd buy the DX5 ii over a D50 iii and A50 iii. I love the stack but cabling takes up more space than the stack itself. And the screen on DX5 ii looks much more usable. The screen is too small on D50iii and if you have the stack with the warmer running A50iii on top makes the screen is basically useless if you have headphones plugged in. Plus DX5 ii has eq for all inputs vs just USB for D50iii.

I moved from an D50s/A50s/P50 stack to an EX5 for similar reasons (plus the EX5's balanced output). I could never keep the x50 stack lined up when changing headphones or even when adjusting the volume. I still use the x50 stack (sans the P50) with a Raspberry Pi running Pi-Plexamp by my bedside, I keep the whole lot together with some black elastic bands I bought from Amazon (I tried other approaches like sticking them together, but the bands work best)

 

[sansenri]

any preview of the back panel yet?
I'm in search of a good quality dac/headphone amp, similar performance to DX3 pro+, but I absolutely need on board power supply, I have no space for one of those bulky external power supplies... The product must have blootooth (for ease of use when needed) and good performance from coaxial (an old Rotel CD player needs new life).
USB B would be good (I hate the idea of needing to buy a new cable).
And it must be black to go with the rest of the kit... budget $400 max (approx).
The DX5 itself could have worked, but it is currently mostly discontinued here in EU. Anyway, now that it's announced (not showing on Topping's site yet though) it's worth waiting to see what the DX5ii will be like; the simple shoebox form factor appeals to me more, too.

 

[ziggurcat]

any preview of the back panel yet?
I'm in search of a good quality dac/headphone amp, similar performance to DX3 pro+, but I absolutely need on board power supply, I have no space for one of those bulky external power supplies... The product must have blootooth (for ease of use when needed) and good performance from coaxial (an old Rotel CD player needs new life).
USB B would be good (I hate the idea of needing to buy a new cable).
And it must be black to go with the rest of the kit... budget $400 max (approx).
The DX5 itself could have worked, but it is currently mostly discontinued here in EU. Anyway, now that it's announced (not showing on Topping's site yet though) it's worth waiting to see what the DX5ii will be like; the simple shoebox form factor appeals to me more, too.

I suspect it will have the usual RCA/TRS/SPDIF/TOSLINK outputs and USB input. I would put money on the USB input being USB-C (the USB connectors for the D50III are both USB-C for its input and power output). You can definitely find a cheap USB-C cable online or just use one you might already have. Just about all devices these days use a USB-C connector, so it's worth it to have a few of the cables on hand.

It'll most likely have BT, and I think the announced price was $299 USD(?).

 

[sansenri]

you may be right, now that I checked, I am seeing a lot of USB C inputs on recent dacs (except on the Centaurus). Also, now that I think about it, from 28 December 2024, rechargeable devices must be equipped with a USB Type-C port when placed on the EU market (oh, well, there goes my existing USB B cable...).

 

[ziggurcat]

you may be right, now that I checked, I am seeing a lot of USB C inputs on recent dacs (except on the Centaurus). Also, now that I think about it, from 28 December 2024, rechargeable devices must be equipped with a USB Type-C port when placed on the EU market (oh, well, there goes my existing USB B cable...).

USB-C cables are quite readily available everywhere, and you don't have to spend more than a few bucks on one. The trick is to find one that isn't comically longer than what you need, but even Amazon has shorter lengths available (1.5ft or less). Just make sure it's USB 3.0 or above to be safe.

 

[LearningToSmile]

I have a d50iii can confirm, haha. You can have 5 stored and can set two different presets with various option settings including eq on the remote. Not sure about setting preset volume as I only use mine in Dac mode so volume is always full output.

that sounds great, so looks like there's good chance DX5 II will be able to do the same for different outputs
if it also had separate presets for the different headphone outputs(even just two for balanced/unbalanced) that would be ideal, but I'm assuming not physically possible

 

[sansenri]

USB-C cables are quite readily available everywhere, and you don't have to spend more than a few bucks on one. The trick is to find one that isn't comically longer than what you need, but even Amazon has shorter lengths available (1.5ft or less). Just make sure it's USB 3.0 or above to be safe.

yes, I'm sure... just a pity, as I had a "nice looking" USB B

 

[ziggurcat]

that sounds great, so looks like there's good chance DX5 II will be able to do the same for different outputs
if it also had separate presets for the different headphone outputs(even just two for balanced/unbalanced) that would be ideal, but I'm assuming not physically possible

I suspect that if the D50 III can store up to 5 different EQ profiles with the ability to have two different presets then you can probably have two presets for two different headphones with the DX5 II?

 

[ziggurcat]

yes, I'm sure... just a pity, as I had a "nice looking" USB B

I'm sure a search around would yield a thicker USB-C cable - I searched Temu, and there's one there for $3 CAD.

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[LearningToSmile]

I suspect that if the D50 III can store up to 5 different EQ profiles with the ability to have two different presets then you can probably have two presets for two different headphones with the DX5 II?

Depends on how the presets work, since all headphone outputs are technically one output - so if you can set two presets for same output with different EQs that would work(though I'd need three in total for speakers EQ for RCA out, headphones EQ for one front panel jack, and IEMs with EQ off for other front panel jack). Guess we'll see when it releases, but even if it's not exactly perfect one button switching it will probably still be good enough for me.

 

[ziggurcat]

Depends on how the presets work, since all headphone outputs are technically one output - so if you can set two presets for same output with different EQs that would work(though I'd need three in total for speakers EQ for RCA out, headphones EQ for one front panel jack, and IEMs with EQ off for other front panel jack). Guess we'll see when it releases, but even if it's not exactly perfect one button switching it will probably still be good enough for me.

Two presets for the same HPA output would still work unless you were wanting to run both headphones at the same time, but if you also have speakers, then the ability to set a third preset would definitely be required for single-button switching. We'll find out more in a few weeks, I guess!

 

[ziggurcat]

So any product relying on the Topping Tune app for full functionality is probably not right for you at the moment. It takes time and money to develop software and Topping is only a small company, so I'm not surprised that they are initially focusing on a version of the app for one OS. You could try messaging them and asking what their plans are for supporting other OSes.

To make things even more confusing, the Topping Tune manual has Mac spec requirements:

https://www.hifisentralen.com/hfsstilart/topping-tune.pdf

 

[Berwhale]

yes, I'm sure... just a pity, as I had a "nice looking" USB B

I would stick with the USB cable provided by Topping unless you have a need for something longer. When it comes to audio cables, 'nicer looking' will at best have the same performance as the stock cable and can often lead to worse performance. Why spend any money on this?