Topping DX5 II

[Bow_Wazoo]

 

[Palladium]

There's still a bug I found with LDAC playback on the latest v1.57 firmware: A short crackling noise that occurs if a source is played that immediately has sonic content.

Doesn't happen on SBC or AptX mode, weirdly enough.

Already emailed Topping support about this.

This happened on the D50 III before it got fixed in a update, so this should be an easy fix for them. (Crosses fingers)

I found a workaround for this by forcing 44.1KHz sample rate on LDAC with "Bluetooth Codec Changer" Android app.

From what I can see the DAC aggressively defaults back to 44.1KHz but the default LDAC client rate is 96KHz so this constant sample rate switching is probably the culprit. SBC and AptX only supports 44.1 so that's why both are unaffected.

 

[evanft]

Hey everyone. Now that this has been out for a bit, are there any big gotchas or reason not to get this? My plan is to use this as just a DAC being output to my Midgard amp. I'll be applying EQ to every digital input. Do these features fully work now?

 

[yorkieaudio]

Hey everyone. Now that this has been out for a bit, are there any big gotchas or reason not to get this? My plan is to use this as just a DAC being output to my Midgard amp. I'll be applying EQ to every digital input. Do these features fully work now?

Has been faultless here, everything has worked perfectly since the day it arrived - which was the same day as the new firmware was released which fixed the bugs. Honestly only thing that's bugging me is that it looks so different (and better) than other small separates, makes other kit look 'old', but I have a white version, might not be such a visual change with the black or silver versions.

 

[museguy]

Hi All,
Is anyone using a Raspberry Pi and Volumio as their music source with the Topping DX5 II? Are you pleased with the results?
Thank you!

 

[magor34]

Hey everyone. Now that this has been out for a bit, are there any big gotchas or reason not to get this? My plan is to use this as just a DAC being output to my Midgard amp. I'll be applying EQ to every digital input. Do these features fully work now?

I got mine a few days ago. I love it!

It was delivered with a slightly older firmware (1.49), so I quickly updated it to Version 1.57 before I started using it.

The FFT display mode showing which frequencies are playing and how much, is so satisfying to look at.

The only thing I've got an issue with is changing presets on the remote - Going from C1 (LO ALL) to C2 (HPA BAL), the DX5 II seems to quickly disconnect from the PC and reconnect. Which is a little bit annoying if you like me have a lot of apps running at the same time. Some apps in particular (mostly games), need to be closed and relaunched to even output audio again.
I have however not installed the driver but that shouldn't change anything. This DAC like most other DACs, is using the UAC2 standard. If anyone has had similar issues and installing the driver somehow fixed this, please do let me know.

EDIT: I have chosen to simply not use the Custom Preset buttons and simply change output with the knob itself. This causes no disconnect/reconnect issues and since the DAC remembers volume levels for each output regardless, this is essentially what I was using the presets for anyway.

 

[ziggurcat]

I got mine a few days ago. I love it!

The only thing I've got an issue with is changing presets on the remote - Going from C1 (LO ALL) to C2 (HPA BAL), the DX5 II seems to quickly disconnect from the PC and reconnect.

That seems normal behaviour. I'm not sure of any device that will switch between outputs without some kind of interruption during the handshake.

 

[Nezil]

The only thing I've got an issue with is changing presets on the remote - Going from C1 (LO ALL) to C2 (HPA BAL), the DX5 II seems to quickly disconnect from the PC and reconnect. Which is a little bit annoying if you like me have a lot of apps running at the same time. Some apps in particular (mostly games), need to be closed and relaunched to even output audio again.

I'm not seeing this with my unit, but I am a) connecting to a macOS computer, not Windows, and b) I'm using a press of the volume knob to switch between HPA BAL and LO ALL, not C1 / C2.

It's possible that the C1 and C2 presets do the disconnect because they're able to switch input as well as output and cause a brief disconnect because of this, even though you're not changing the input. Is there some other reason you're using C1 / C2 rather than a different button like A / B?

 

[magor34]

That seems normal behaviour. I'm not sure of any device that will switch between outputs without some kind of interruption during the handshake.

I have chosen to simply not use the Custom Preset buttons and simply change output with the knob itself. This causes no disconnect/reconnect issues and since the DAC remembers volume levels for each output regardless, this is essentially what I was using the presets for anyway.

I wanted to always have it start at X volume setting not the last used setting, just so I'm not shocked by how loud it is if I for example have watched a movie/TV show where the volume usually is a little bit lower, at least with the services I use.

I honestly forgot about the A/B settings. I haven't read through all the documentation to figure out which is best for me.

 

[magor34]

I'm not seeing this with my unit, but I am a) connecting to a macOS computer, not Windows, and b) I'm using a press of the volume knob to switch between HPA BAL and LO ALL, not C1 / C2.

It's possible that the C1 and C2 presets do the disconnect because they're able to switch input as well as output and cause a brief disconnect because of this, even though you're not changing the input. Is there some other reason you're using C1 / C2 rather than a different button like A / B?

Yes, using presets seems to be different. I'm getting no disconnect/reconnects only using the knob to change outputs.

 

[ziggurcat]

I have chosen to simply not use the Custom Preset buttons and simply change output with the knob itself. This causes no disconnect/reconnect issues and since the DAC remembers volume levels for each output regardless, this is essentially what I was using the presets for anyway.

I wanted to always have it start at X volume setting not the last used setting, just so I'm not shocked by how loud it is if I for example have watched a movie/TV show where the volume usually is a little bit lower, at least with the services I use.

I'll try to save things using the C1/C2 buttons then test it out later on this evening to see if there's any difference on my unit.

 

[magor34]

I'll try to save things using the C1/C2 buttons then test it out later on this evening to see if there's any difference on my unit.

Yes, it will be interesting to see if you have the same experience.

Either way, I have now selected A to be my input button and B to be my output button. Providing roughly the same benefit other than the specific volume settings of the C buttons.

 

[ziggurcat]

Yes, it will be interesting to see if you have the same experience.

Either way, I have now selected A to be my input button and B to be my output button. Providing roughly the same benefit other than the specific volume settings of the C buttons.

What is the connection chain in your system?

EDIT:

I set LO BAL as C1, and HPA BAL as C2, and swapped back and forth while music was playing, and there was no difference in the amount of delay switching between the two outputs doing that vs. using the knob to switch outputs or the remote's output selection button (not the C button). I had my Mac's Audio MIDI setup app open, and I did notice that the DX5 II greyed out for a second using the C buttons, though (it did not when using any other method of switching outputs). That is all done with the DX5 II connected to my Mac via USB, and the DX5 II selected as the audio device in the Audio MIDI setup app.

Since I have to use a USB DDC to eliminate a popping issue caused by my Mac, I tested the C buttons using that connection as well (D10s selected as the audio device in the Audio MIDI setup app, and connected to the DX5 II via Optical, so Optical input is selected on the DX5 II) -- in that scenario, the DX5 II disappears from the list of devices for a moment (rather than grey out), and reappears. No difference in the handshake delay switching between outputs compared to the DX5 II's USB connection.

I did not have to restart anything for the sound to resume after any method of switching outputs in either of those connection scenarios. The music kept playing without requiring any restarts.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

For stealth or Unveiled?

Btw. the best headphone I've ever heard:

View attachment 468961

I'm thinking about trying these at some point.
What about treble? Much smoother than it is in other eggshaped hifimans?

 

[magor34]

What is the connection chain in your system?

EDIT:

I set LO BAL as C1, and HPA BAL as C2, and swapped back and forth while music was playing, and there was no difference in the amount of delay switching between the two outputs doing that vs. using the knob to switch outputs or the remote's output selection button (not the C button). I had my Mac's Audio MIDI setup app open, and I did notice that the DX5 II greyed out for a second using the C buttons, though (it did not when using any other method of switching outputs). That is all done with the DX5 II connected to my Mac via USB, and the DX5 II selected as the audio device in the Audio MIDI setup app.

Since I have to use a USB DDC to eliminate a popping issue caused by my Mac, I tested the C buttons using that connection as well (D10s selected as the audio device in the Audio MIDI setup app, and connected to the DX5 II via Optical, so Optical input is selected on the DX5 II) -- in that scenario, the DX5 II disappears from the list of devices for a moment (rather than grey out), and reappears. No difference in the handshake delay switching between outputs compared to the DX5 II's USB connection.

I did not have to restart anything for the sound to resume after any method of switching outputs in either of those connection scenarios. The music kept playing without requiring any restarts.

Windows PC (USB)>DX5 II>LO SE/HPA BAL. Like I have mentioned above... I have not installed the driver, I feel that there is no point to if you are not using the PEQ, which I'm currently not doing.

My active speakers only have RCA inputs but I have thought about getting an adapter so that I can run it from the XLR output, seeing as XLR to RCA cables can be hit or miss with wiring.
This Emotiva adapter hasn't been in stock at any point when I have checked over the course of several months after seeing it being mentioned on here.

 

[Viper780]

It makes no sense to use the XLR outputs when you converting it back to single ended RCA

 

[Nezil]

I have not installed the driver, I feel that there is no point to if you are not using the PEQ, which I'm currently not doing.

This might be important.

The driver has nothing to do with PEQ, but as I understand it, and keep in mind that I'm a Mac user and have not tried the DX5 II on a Windows machine for anything other than using Topping Tune, the driver has an impact on the link bandwidth between the PC and DAC, as well as an impact on when the USB chip in the DAC sleeps and wakes.

@ziggurcat and I both have no issue on Mac, but the Mac obviously uses a different driver than Windows (it's part of macOS), and therefore has different characteristics to what you're seeing....

If I were you, installing the driver would be the first thing I tried.

 

[ziggurcat]

@ziggurcat and I both have no issue on Mac, but the Mac obviously uses a different driver than Windows (it's part of macOS), and therefore has different characteristics to what you're seeing....

If I were you, installing the driver would be the first thing I tried.

My test does confirm that the DX5 II is disconnecting using the C buttons vs. any other method of switching outputs, though, so I think there is something to what they reported. There is definitely a difference in the behaviour of the handshake using the C buttons vs. the other output selection methods. One thing I did not notice yesterday is that when using the C buttons is that there's a brief moment where audio comes out of my Mac's internal speakers before switching completely over to either output. That also does not happen using the output select button on the remote or the knob on the unit to switch outputs.

That being said -- for me, none of it falls outside of the realm of being "normal" behaviour, but not everyone is okay with that, and that's completely fine. I am playing music while I am switching, so there's an expected interruption with the handshake, IMO, but nothing has stopped working nor have I had to restart the Music app or reboot the DX5 II, etc...

I would definitely install the driver on PC because it may correct the issue of them having to restart their apps to regain sound output. I did try through the Windows 11 VM on my Mac as well, and it was mostly the same except on the PC side it would also show "PEQ disabled" in the screen as well (does not do this on the Mac side), which added to the delay in switching outputs. It did not show that when using the output button on the remote or the knob.

I should also note that because my Windows 11 VM is ARM-based, I cannot install the proper driver because I get a "current system is not supported" error message as the drivers are not compatible (I have asked Topping about releasing a driver compatible with ARM-based Windows VMs). The Windows 11 VM uses a generic Thesycon driver (probably something similar to what is used on Mac) that might not have the same functionality, and probably why the behaviour wasn't much different. I know that by not being able to install the v5.72 driver, I do not have access to the audio control panel that comes with that.

 

[magor34]

This might be important.

The driver has nothing to do with PEQ, but as I understand it, and keep in mind that I'm a Mac user and have not tried the DX5 II on a Windows machine for anything other than using Topping Tune, the driver has an impact on the link bandwidth between the PC and DAC, as well as an impact on when the USB chip in the DAC sleeps and wakes.

@ziggurcat and I both have no issue on Mac, but the Mac obviously uses a different driver than Windows (it's part of macOS), and therefore has different characteristics to what you're seeing....

If I were you, installing the driver would be the first thing I tried.

There's no difference with using the driver vs not. However like I mentioned this is only the case for the C-buttons

 

[magor34]

My test does confirm that the DX5 II is disconnecting using the C buttons vs. any other method of switching outputs, though, so I think there is something to what they reported. There is definitely a difference in the behaviour of the handshake using the C buttons vs. the other output selection methods. One thing I did not notice yesterday is that when using the C buttons is that there's a brief moment where audio comes out of my Mac's internal speakers before switching completely over to either output. That also does not happen using the output select button on the remote or the knob on the unit to switch outputs.

That being said -- for me, none of it falls outside of the realm of being "normal" behaviour, but not everyone is okay with that, and that's completely fine. I am playing music while I am switching, so there's an expected interruption with the handshake, IMO, but nothing has stopped working nor have I had to restart the Music app or reboot the DX5 II, etc...

I would definitely install the driver on PC because it may correct the issue of them having to restart their apps to regain sound output. I did try through the Windows 11 VM on my Mac as well, and it was mostly the same except on the PC side it would also show "PEQ disabled" in the screen as well (does not do this on the Mac side), which added to the delay in switching outputs. It did not show that when using the output button on the remote or the knob.

I should also note that because my Windows 11 VM is ARM-based, I cannot install the proper driver because I get a "current system is not supported" error message as the drivers are not compatible (I have asked Topping about releasing a driver compatible with ARM-based Windows VMs). The Windows 11 VM uses a generic Thesycon driver (probably something similar to what is used on Mac) that might not have the same functionality, and probably why the behaviour wasn't much different. I know that by not being able to install the v5.72 driver, I do not have access to the audio control panel that comes with that.

I installed the driver but there was no change with disconnect/reconnects using both the C1 and C2 preset buttons.