Topping DX5 II

[Berwhale]

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

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

It's not in the latest manual. You linked to v1.1 hosted by a retailer. v1.2 is on the Topping website (pg. 14): https://dl.topping.audio/um/TOPPING Tune使用指南 v1.1 .pdf

(I note that Topping still have the file named 1.1, but it says 1.2 on the front page).

 

[ziggurcat]

@JOCoin So I realized that VMWare was made free for personal use, so I downloaded that, and installed windows through that. Got Topping Tune running, and applied my headphone EQ settings. I now have presets for speakers and headphones (though I have yet to run REW, and measure my speakers to apply EQ to them). I don't think there's much, if any, difference between the EQ through the DAC vs. the EQ through the eqMac app I was using for my headphones.

As it relates to the DX5 II - to try to stay on topic - I hope they don't limit its application to 32-bit 192kHz. I was only slightly disappointed that I couldn't keep my D50 III DAC set to 32-bit 384kHz.

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?

I certainly understand the want to have aesthetically-pleasing cables; it's how I came to build my own speaker cables. The last build for my system are made with Mogami 3103, which are comically thick at a 3/4" diameter. I know they don't sound any better than the ones I made out of Canare 4S11, Monoprice or even Amazon Basics, but I enjoy the aesthetics of having something so ridiculously thick. For reference, these are the cables:

FWIW, I rarely use the stock USB cables myself because I can't stand having all of that (unnecessary) extra length, and with so many cables being run everywhere behind the computer, DAC, HPA and power amp, I usually replace them with ones that have enough slack to pull things forward without being too long. That is not to say that there's something wrong with the stock cables, but I certainly get the desire to use different cables for practical and/or aesthetic reasons.

EDIT:

Does anyone know when Topping plans on releasing the DX5 II? I know end of March, but will it be, like, next week or the last week of March?

 

[Berwhale]

@JOCoin So I realized that VMWare was made free for personal use, so I downloaded that, and installed windows through that. Got Topping Tune running, and applied my headphone EQ settings. I now have presets for speakers and headphones (though I have yet to run REW, and measure my speakers to apply EQ to them). I don't think there's much, if any, difference between the EQ through the DAC vs. the EQ through the eqMac app I was using for my headphones.

As it relates to the DX5 II - to try to stay on topic - I hope they don't limit its application to 32-bit 192kHz. I was only slightly disappointed that I couldn't keep my D50 III DAC set to 32-bit 384kHz.



I certainly understand the want to have aesthetically-pleasing cables; it's how I came to build my own speaker cables. The last build for my system are made with Mogami 3103, which are comically thick at a 3/4" diameter. I know they don't sound any better than the ones I made out of Canare 4S11, Monoprice or even Amazon Basics, but I enjoy the aesthetics of having something so ridiculously thick. For reference, these are the cables:

FWIW, I rarely use the stock USB cables myself because I can't stand having all of that (unnecessary) extra length, and with so many cables being run everywhere behind the computer, DAC, HPA and power amp, I usually replace them with ones that have enough slack to pull things forward without being too long. That is not to say that there's something wrong with the stock cables, but I certainly get the desire to use different cables for practical and/or aesthetic reasons.

EDIT:

Does anyone know when Topping plans on releasing the DX5 II? I know end of March, but will it be, like, next week or the last week of March?

I like my cables thin and flexible, so they are easier to route and hide. I recently made XLR to 2x TRS Y-cables with 4mm x 8mm Sommer Cable Peacock to simplify the cabling for my standing desk; one leg of each 'y' runs through an articulated cable snake to my sub on the floor...

I have a 2M Ugreen USB A to B cable running from the Topping EX5 on my desk to my PC on the floor. This runs through another cable snake, the cable it just long enough

 

[ziggurcat]

I like my cables thin and flexible, so they are easier to route and hide. I recently made XLR to 2x TRS Y-cables with 4mm x 8mm Sommer Cable Peacock to simplify the cabling for my standing desk; one leg of each 'y' runs through an articulated cable snake to my sub on the floor...

View attachment 436751

I have a 2M Ugreen USB A to B cable running from the Topping EX5 on my desk to my PC on the floor. This runs through another cable snake, the cable it just long enough

I don't have the luxury of being able to route/hide cables like that, so I put in the effort to make them look nice, and complementary to the space. I have a plan to make some new ones for my desktop system. The ones I have now are a bit too long, so I need to make some shorter ones. One thing I wish I had the skills to do is make my own interconnects. Because I don't have a soldering machine or any experience soldering,

Anyways - sorry, I don't mean to take the thread off-topic.

As the DX5 II nears its release date, I think I'm seriously considering getting one, but I would also like to see it reviewed/measured. I know I'm probably repeating myself, but even if the performance is the same or negligibly better, if I can reduce my system by one component without losing any of the functionality I have right now, that's worth it to me. Given that the D50 III I am using now has the same dual 9038Q2M chip configuration, I think I will have a good enough idea of how it will sound. After that, I think I am done with this system as far as "upgrading."

 

[evanft]

Bruh is this a cable thread or a thread about the DX5 II?

 

[Berwhale]

Bruh is this a cable thread or a thread about the DX5 II?

The cables above are plugged into my EX5 and might get plugged into a DX5 II if the price is right

 

[Lupin]

Given that the D50 III I am using now has the same dual 9038Q2M chip configuration, I think I will have a good enough idea of how it will sound.

The 9038Q2M doesn't have a sound. The implementation of the chip with the circuitry around it, if done improperly (or purposely), might/could have a "sound".
You don't listen to the DAC chip, you listen to the output of a DAC which has a ton more going on than just the DAC chip. Again, when done properly, should not have a "sound signature" as that is simply not the function of a DAC.

 

[Jimster480]

I had the original DX5 and it was almost perfect for me, but I wish it had a S/PDIF output for digital speakers.

There seems to be a lack of such a feature on pretty much all DAC/Headphone amps like this whereas streamers seem to feature it like Wiim: pro plus & ultra, Bluesound Node.
*I think Fiio K19 has s/pdif and optical out - so some companies are starting to add such a feature.

I prefer the USB function of this with ASIO over a streamer as you can easily playback audio in pro tools/etc like a normal sound card. It also had much less latency than the WIIM Ultra.

S/PDIF OUT PUT is not a DAC function as S/PDIF is a digital interface. So digital in digital out?
What would be the purpose of the box then? You might as well get a SMSL PO100.

 

[ziggurcat]

S/PDIF OUT PUT is not a DAC function as S/PDIF is a digital interface. So digital in digital out?
What would be the purpose of the box then? You might as well get a SMSL PO100.

The D10s has S/PDIF out.

 

[Jimster480]

The D10s has S/PDIF out.

Yes but I'm saying it isn't a DAC function. My DX7 has S/PDIF out.
You can't expect it to EQ and then output lol

 

[ziggurcat]

Yes but I'm saying it isn't a DAC function. My DX7 has S/PDIF out.
You can't expect it to EQ and then output lol

Explain what you mean by that. If a DAC has a PEQ feature, how would it not be able to apply EQ if you use its S/PDIF output?

 

[Jimster480]

Explain what you mean by that. If a DAC has a PEQ feature, how would it not be able to apply EQ if you use its S/PDIF output?

It would depend on where the PEQ is implemented?

 

[ziggurcat]

It would depend on where the PEQ is implemented?

The DAC, since the argument is that the DAC can't be expected to EQ then output to S/PDIF (provided it has S/PDIF output capabilities, and provided the DAC supports the PEQ feature to work with any input like the DX5 II).

 

[Jimster480]

The DAC, since the argument is that the DAC can't be expected to EQ then output to S/PDIF (provided it has S/PDIF output capabilities, and provided the DAC supports the PEQ feature to work with any input like the DX5 II).

Well the DAC supporting PEQ on any INPUT doesn't mean it supports PEQ on every output.
This is what I was saying.

Digital speakers: For example Neumann or Genelecs and other speakers with digital inputs where you simply want sound to go into them digitally and have a nice volume control or remote control for them and headphone output. For example TC BMC-2 digital volume control. RME ADI 2 Pro, Neumann MT-48, Avid Mbox Studio, Wii Ultra have volume control of digital output. Would be a useful feature for anyone with speakers with digital inputs.

Sure I suppose, but having digital audio output with volume is again another totally different function.... I think we are going past what a "DAC" is and instead to a mixer, Pre-Amp, etc
I mean we can all ask for new features to be on DAC's.... but it is really a whole other category entirely. Especially when you are asking about something like PEQ in the digital domain being output again with volume control...

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Yes but I'm saying it isn't a DAC function. My DX7 has S/PDIF out.
You can't expect it to EQ and then output lol

The WiiM Ultra does just that.

The eq happens in the digital realm, so that’s before the signal is converted to analogue.

 

[Jimster480]

The WiiM Ultra does just that.

The eq happens in the digital realm, so that’s before the signal is converted to analogue.

That makes more sense for a streamer than a desktop DAC though.
I do understand it happens in the digital realm.... I was just saying it isn't really a DAC feature per say.
Streamer or Receiver, yes.
It is cool though that some DAC's are adding these features now.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

That makes more sense for a streamer than a desktop DAC though.
I do understand it happens in the digital realm.... I was just saying it isn't really a DAC feature per say.
Streamer or Receiver, yes.
It is cool though that some DAC's are adding these features now.

On the contrary, I’ve been wanting a DAC to do this (and have a sub out) for W-A-A-A-Y before I wanted a streamer.

If you have a DAC which changes your 0s and 1s to analogue sound, and you want EQ to either correct errors in the frequency of your speakers/headphones or caused by your room, why wouldn’t you want to do that in your DAC?

 

[WondrousHippo]

Yes but I'm saying it isn't a DAC function. My DX7 has S/PDIF out.
You can't expect it to EQ and then output lol

Fiio KA15 has that feature.

 

[Jimster480]

Fiio KA15 has that feature.

Wow it does, that is quite cool especially for portable listening.
Not sure what the COAX would be used for in a portable sense but the PEQ in a portable unit is cool.

 

[ziggurcat]

Well the DAC supporting PEQ on any INPUT doesn't mean it supports PEQ on every output.

It might limit its capacity - like the D50 III outputs a max 32-bit 192kHz if PEQ in enabled - but it won't limit it to specific outputs. I will be happy to be proven wrong if you are able to provide an example of a DAC with PEQ functionality limiting what outputs it applies its PEQ filters.