Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[Sokel]

Why DX5 II if you listen at low levels?

• Qudelix 5K has even more ingenious volume control.
• In fact, thanks to its volume control scheme, Q5K boasts state-of-the-art noise at low signal levels, not properly measured in Amir's review.
• Concerned about apparently mediocre SINAD from Q5K measured by Amir? There is a caveat in that SINAD result.
• Also, the PEQ software in DX5 II's DSP should have the same quantization noise issue as in D50 III. Q5K has no such problem (will post my measurements soon).

In my view, unless one needs to drive very insensitive headphones (i.e., low volume issue), I see no reason to consider any other DAC/HP amp. In fact, Q5K's nearly 3 Vrms max balanced output into 32 ohm load can handle quite a few headphones.

Attention to detail in the engineering of Q5K is simply astounding. An example many Chinese brands should follow...

It was certainly NOT for DX5II, the comment was about RME's volume control and its Auto Ref Level.
These two are miles apart.

 

[jkim]

It was certainly NOT for DX5II, the comment was about RME's volume control and its Auto Ref Level.
These two are miles apart.

I meant RME, too, actually. See my post again. I made it clear there.

 

[Sokel]

I meant RME, too, actually. See my post again. I made it clear there.

It always depends on use-case on top of all the factors one values about gear.
No objection at all about 5K and I'm glad they shorted things out.

Just not the kind of gear I use.

 

[jkim]

It always depends on use-case on top of all the factors one values about gear.
No objection at all about 5K and I'm glad they shorted things out.

My tests were not about any aspects Qudelix have fixed based on user/reviewer input. Those features have long been there. We simply have not been aware of those due to limited test conditions/results.

Just not the kind of gear I use.

Understood. I have both Q5K and RME DAC Fs in front of me. Other than RME looks and feels better , I do not hear any quality difference b/w these two. Only one headphone model---Hifiman HE-560 V4---in my collection is sometimes not adequately driven by Q5K with PEQ applied, though.

 

[teleblaze]

Why DX5 II or RME if you listen at low levels?

• Qudelix 5K has even more ingenious volume control.
• In fact, thanks to its volume control scheme, Q5K boasts state-of-the-art noise at low signal levels, not properly measured in Amir's review.
• Concerned about apparently mediocre SINAD from Q5K measured by Amir? There is a caveat in that SINAD result.
• Also, the PEQ software in DX5 II's DSP should have the same quantization noise issue as in D50 III. Q5K has no such problem (will post my measurements soon).
• Of course, unlike RME, Q5K does not provide volume-adaptive loudness compensation. But instead, it supports more PEQ bands. I also own an RME ADI-2 DAC Fs. To me, a fixed amount of loudness compensation, saved as a separate PEQ profile for each headphone, works better because each music album has a different recording level and I naturally adjust volume to my prefered "low listening level" depending on music. It works better this way than RME's volume-adaptive loudness control.

In my view, unless one needs to drive very insensitive headphones (i.e., low volume issue), I see no reason to consider any other DAC/HP amp. In fact, Q5K's nearly 3 Vrms max balanced output into 32 ohm load can handle quite a few headphones.

Attention to detail in the engineering of Q5K is simply astounding. An example many Chinese brands should follow...

Thanks for that brother.

The T71 fits my use case better mostly because my headphones are running balanced using a 4.4mm, and I can’t be bothered with 2.5.

It’s small enough for me. It’s just unfortunate that it doesn’t have Bluetooth, but oh well.

I think it’s a good purchase and with the extra money I can buy the Arya Organics… sounds like a good deal. I wonder if it’s a good complement to the Hd800. It currently sells for 760usd which is kinda nice.

 

[jkim]

Thanks for that brother.

The T71 fits my use case better mostly because my headphones are running balanced using a 4.4mm, and I can’t be bothered with 2.5.

It’s small enough for me. It’s just unfortunate that it doesn’t have Bluetooth, but oh well.

I think it’s a good purchase and with the extra money I can buy the Arya Organics… sounds like a good deal. I wonder if it’s a good complement to the Hd800. It currently sells for 760usd which is kinda nice.

Nothing wrong with using a 2.5 to 4.4mm adapter---a short cable type is preferable. Unless in need for the very high output of T71, I would choose the 5K which is a mature product from an engineering point of view. Both the Arya (stealth or organic) and HD800 can be driven by 5K.

B/w Arya and HD 800S, my preference goes to the Arya. You need to EQ them. You can't go wrong with either if you EQ, though.

 

[Berwhale]

Thanks for that brother.

The T71 fits my use case better mostly because my headphones are running balanced using a 4.4mm, and I can’t be bothered with 2.5.

It’s small enough for me. It’s just unfortunate that it doesn’t have Bluetooth, but oh well.

I think it’s a good purchase and with the extra money I can buy the Arya Organics… sounds like a good deal. I wonder if it’s a good complement to the Hd800. It currently sells for 760usd which is kinda nice.

You could always 'merge' the Q5K and HD800S

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

Isn't it possible with a solution like this? Using the 3.5mm as GND? Yes, it is possible to wire these correctly so that GND is taken from the 3.5 mm jack, and other poles from 2.5 mm. For safe operation, 3.5 mm has to be plugged in first (GND makes contact first).

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[evanft]

Why DX5 II or RME if you listen at low levels?

• Qudelix 5K has even more ingenious volume control.
• In fact, thanks to its volume control scheme, Q5K boasts state-of-the-art noise at low signal levels, not properly measured in Amir's review.
• Concerned about apparently mediocre SINAD from Q5K measured by Amir? There is a caveat in that SINAD result.
• Also, the PEQ software in DX5 II's DSP should have the same quantization noise issue as in D50 III. Q5K has no such problem (will post my measurements soon).
• Of course, unlike RME, Q5K does not provide volume-adaptive loudness compensation. But instead, it supports more PEQ bands. I also own an RME ADI-2 DAC Fs. To me, a fixed amount of loudness compensation, saved as a separate PEQ profile for each headphone, works better because each music album has a different recording level and I naturally adjust volume to my prefered "low listening level" depending on music. It works better this way than RME's volume-adaptive loudness control.

In my view, unless one needs to drive very insensitive headphones (i.e., low volume issue), I see no reason to consider any other DAC/HP amp. In fact, Q5K's nearly 3 Vrms max balanced output into 32 ohm load can handle quite a few headphones.

Attention to detail in the engineering of Q5K is simply astounding. An example many Chinese brands should follow...

Have you considered the following?

K N O B

 

[Kevin.Cluse]

Thank you for the detailed review.
I just got my DX5ii with the PEQ loaded and am very pleased with the sound from my Ether CX!

 

[Bleib]

Another new firmware

DX5 II version V1.78 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com

6. What's updated​

• Fixed: The issue that the gain may be amplified by 20dB when switching EQ.

• Fixed: Several other known issues.

 

[AGT]

Another new firmware

DX5 II version V1.78 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com

6. What's updated​

• Fixed: The issue that the gain may be amplified by 20dB when switching EQ.

• Fixed: Several other known issues.

Updated from 1.76 - PEQ gain no longer screws up as mentioned above, although mine would do it when using the power off/on switch at rear.

Had this random one-off where it would not power on from standby when short-pressing the volume knob (had to power off/on using rear switch) -- which (as per above sentence) screwed the PEQ profiles on FW 1.76.

Hope it stays the way it is now, lol.

 

[ziggurcat]

Another new firmware

DX5 II version V1.78 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com

6. What's updated​

• Fixed: The issue that the gain may be amplified by 20dB when switching EQ.

• Fixed: Several other known issues.

I wish they would at least identify some of the "other known issues" they've fixed.

I've also noticed that the Topping Tune version for Mac is now v1.09 (though it did not prompt me for an update when I opened the v1.06 that was installed on my Mac).

 

[Bleib]

I wish they would at least identify some of the "other known issues" they've fixed.

Yes, because it seems to have endless issues

 

[ziggurcat]

Installed v1.78, and since the review for my FiiO FT1 headphones has been added here, I'm testing out the EQ settings that Amir has posted (and the settings another user posted in the comments). So far no issues at all. I've switched back and forth between the two EQ profiles a whole bunch of times, and there's been no 20dB jump, and nothing has changed in Topping Tune (all dB values have remained to the nearest 0.1dB, nothing has disappeared, etc...). I should note that all EQ values for both profiles were entered manually in the UserConfig section, I did not import anything.

I'm still a little miffed that Topping refuses to recognize that when the DX5 II is set to Manual in the Input Option menu that it does not stay on OPT -- it will auto switch to USB when waking my Mac up from sleep (I need to keep the USB input available for FW updates, and Topping Tune) -- rendering that Manual setting virtually useless, but other than that, the current state of things seem to be functioning perfectly for me.

 

[ziggurcat]

Found another bug, but I think it's pretty minor.

I discovered that even if the USB input is disabled in the Input Options menu, but a USB cable is connected from the DX5 II to my computer, Topping Tune still sees the DX5 II -- which is great because that eliminates the issue I have where the input switches to USB when my Mac wakes up, and that means I can just leave OPT as the only active input, so it won't switch to USB -- but I have discovered a small issue either with the DX5 II or Topping Tune (or both) because of this.

I currently have two profiles saved with the C1 and C2 buttons (C1 is HPA with EQ enabled, C2 LO with EQ disabled). The sample rate I have selected is 192kHz (the max allowable for PEQ to function). If I select either profile with the C1 button, then open Topping Tune, there is a discrepancy between the sample rate shown in Topping Tune, and what's shown on the DX5 II's display. On the DX5 II display, it shows the correct 192kHz, but in Topping Tune, it shows 176.4kHz.

This can be corrected three ways:

1. Put my Mac to sleep, and wake it up (edit: after both the D10s and DX5 II have gone completely into standby mode)
2. Turn off the DX5 II via the power switch on the back
3. In the DX5 II Input Option settings, I enable the USB input, exit the settings entirely, and switch to that input

It does not correct itself if I turn the DX5 II off using the power button on the remote. Quitting out of Topping Tune also does not correct the issue.

 

[Matias]

Please report the bug to Topping so they can fix it.

 

[ziggurcat]

Please report the bug to Topping so they can fix it.

I just sent the e-mail a minute ago. I needed to get the steps/conditions straight first.

Edit:

And I'm pretty sure the reason this issue happens is because when you press the C1/C2 buttons, the DAC briefly disconnects from the computer (you can see it watching the Audio MIDI app). It does not disconnect in any way when selecting anything else on the remote.

 

[ziggurcat]

So something else weird happened. I could not tell you the cause because it would have happened sometime between about 3am, and only about 5 minutes ago (the amount of time I've technically been away from the computer at home).

I noticed that even though my computer was going to sleep, it wasn't putting my D10s or DX5 II to sleep, so they have been on, almost constantly, since 3am. I say almost because I manually put the DX5 II into standby mode using the remote before leaving for work this morning because I noticed it was warmer than normal, and clearly hadn't turned off in 7 hours.

Anyway, I sat down, put on my headphones, and there was a low hiss in the right channel of my headphones. Switching outputs did not correct it (I didn't turn on my power amp to see if the hiss kept going, so I don't know if it's related to the HPA), unplugging the headphones also didn't, but turning the unit off from the switch on the back did. Yesterday was also the first day where I had been using the PEQ feature, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it or if it's the latest FW. I also disabled the USB input on the DX5 II as I discovered that I didn't need it to be an active input to be able to use Topping Tune or update the FW (a USB cable from the DX5 II is connected to my Mac, though). Prior to that, my D10s, and DX5 II were going to sleep regularly, but it's generally been inconsistent (and I attribute it to the Mac more than the Topping devices).

I'll try to keep tabs on this to see if I can figure it out. I can't submit anything to Topping without knowing what caused the problem. For now, I have disabled the PEQ in the DX5 II (the unit has cooled down a bit even in the time it's taken to write this post -- not that it was hot, it was definitely warmer than usual). If it happens again with it off, then it could be a HW issue.

Funny how I have these issues shortly after saying that the current state is functioning perfect...

Edit:

The only thing to maybe note is that when I put the DX5 II into standby this morning before going to work, my computer, and D10s were still on. I also couldn't tell you how long the DX5 II stayed in standby mode before something woke it up.

 

[Mario1969]

I noticed that even though my computer was going to sleep, it wasn't putting my D10s or DX5 II to sleep, so they have been on, almost constantly, since 3am. I say almost because I manually put the DX5 II into standby mode using the remote before leaving for work this morning because I noticed it was warmer than normal, and clearly hadn't turned off in 7 hours.

When you turn off the DX5 II with the remote control, you are not actually turning it off. In standby mode, it consumes a significant amount of power. The display works even though looks black, the device itself never gets cold, but remains slightly warm.

 

[ziggurcat]

When you turn off the DX5 II with the remote control, you are not actually turning it off. In standby mode, it consumes a significant amount of power. The display works even though looks black, the device itself never gets cold, but remains slightly warm.

At any rate, it was a concerning thing to have happen, and I wish the cause wasn't such a mystery. If I hadn't been in freak out mode, I should have turned on my external amp to see if the hiss carried over into the line output.

I'll continue to keep an eye on things, and hopefully I'll be able to pinpoint the cause. In order to try to trigger it again, I turned PEQ back on, and manually put the device into standby before going to bed last night. I didn't hear anything when I checked my headphones before heading out to work this morning.