Thanks for commenting. It sounded like that out of the box and after many factory resets stayed the same. It was obviously a fault state because it sounds absolutely fine now. One thing I’ve done is to change the USB cable. It’s thinner and longer but doesn’t move at either plug now. GPT tells me USB errors can cause such things and audio disable should safeguard but seems not in my case. Maybe that’s where the main fault lies, in the lack of protection.
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Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review
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Krillin
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Can the DX5 II’s 10-band PEQ be fully configured using the built-in 2" display, or does it require Topping Tune on a PC?
I recently purchased an E50 II, but I’m not a fan of the Topping Home iOS app—especially since it requires installing software outside the iOS App Store, which I try to avoid for security reasons. If the DX5 II’s PEQ can be configured directly on the unit (without needing a PC app), I’m considering returning the E50 II and switching to the DX5 II.
I recently purchased an E50 II, but I’m not a fan of the Topping Home iOS app—especially since it requires installing software outside the iOS App Store, which I try to avoid for security reasons. If the DX5 II’s PEQ can be configured directly on the unit (without needing a PC app), I’m considering returning the E50 II and switching to the DX5 II.
Topping Tune is required.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
You're likely right, yes.
The one thing I am noticing as far as patterns go is that the popping does disappear after I've been listening to some music for a while (like, maybe 15 minutes). I think it did come back again after there'd been no content playing for some time (not sure how long), though -- this is without any sort of disconnection.
Sokel
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Has anyone actually, physically measured these pops, voltage-wise?
I mean, it's not trivial to take out a monitor with a single pop, it has to be a substantial one to cause such a catastrophic failure.
The +20dB issue sounds a lot (and it is! ) but only if the output can support it voltage-wise.
Do the math.
I mean, it's not trivial to take out a monitor with a single pop, it has to be a substantial one to cause such a catastrophic failure.
The +20dB issue sounds a lot (and it is! ) but only if the output can support it voltage-wise.
Do the math.
Bauhaus
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Topping Home iOS app is not compatible with the DX5 II, yet.
Krillin
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That's good to know regarding the DX5 II. Also, the E50 II isn't listed as compatible with Topping Tune either but it may work.
I’m fine using Topping Tune since I have a spare PC, so I can test whether it connects to and configures the E50 II that way. That said, it would be better if the Topping Home iOS app were available through the App Store. I rely on my phone for pretty much everything, including work, so I prefer sticking with the standard app distribution and update path when possible. Using the App Store isn’t perfect security, but it does add a layer of screening for malware, deceptive behavior, and privacy/permission practices, plus a more controlled update path.
Same. Knowing that it's written in Python, they should just release a Linux version of it or make it open source.
I have been using my new DX5 II for 2 weeks now. It is even better than expected. However I am also having some issues.
Issue 1 which is repeatable.
I use the device to replace a dbx equalizer. This means I use it primarily to equalize out a bass resonance in my Quad Esl electrostatics. Works like a charm. But of course I also exploit the extra option to use and equalize my HD 600 headphones in one go.
The strange issue occurs when I connect or disconnect the headphones while playing music over the loudspeakers (LO SE output). The second I pull the headphone plug the speaker sound drops away for a second or so. The other way around I when connect the headphones the speaker sound drops away for a second just when the headphone plug touches the metal of the 6,35 mm to 3.5 mm converter I use.
I suspect there must be something inside the DX5 II that is very sensitive to stray electric charges.
Issue 2 is not easily repeatable.
I have the Topping connected to a Maranz Streamer / Cd player via spdif. The Maranz is used a a digital selector, my record player plays over the Maranz via a minidsp pocketadc, my computer is connected via a 15 m ssnake optical spdif and when I need another input it is also connected via an ADC. The Maranz itself is a streamer / internet radio spotify endpoint etc. (This chain went from mostly analog into a digital system, only the power amp still is analog).
After this long preambule, the issue. When playing through the Topping every now and again suddenly the volume increases or drops by quite a margin for just one or two seconds. Not unlike the dropout in the headphone scenario, but it doesn't only drop out, the volume increases as well on occasions. There is no difference in connecting the Topping through coax or optical. I stress that this never happened with the amp connected to analog outputs of the Maranz itself. It's unique with the signal path through the Topping.
I suspect that both phenomena have a common origin, that might even have a connection with the usb issues
Could anyone shed a light on this behavior of the DX5 II., or even offer a solution.
It is too good a device to write off already.
Issue 1 which is repeatable.
I use the device to replace a dbx equalizer. This means I use it primarily to equalize out a bass resonance in my Quad Esl electrostatics. Works like a charm. But of course I also exploit the extra option to use and equalize my HD 600 headphones in one go.
The strange issue occurs when I connect or disconnect the headphones while playing music over the loudspeakers (LO SE output). The second I pull the headphone plug the speaker sound drops away for a second or so. The other way around I when connect the headphones the speaker sound drops away for a second just when the headphone plug touches the metal of the 6,35 mm to 3.5 mm converter I use.
I suspect there must be something inside the DX5 II that is very sensitive to stray electric charges.
Issue 2 is not easily repeatable.
I have the Topping connected to a Maranz Streamer / Cd player via spdif. The Maranz is used a a digital selector, my record player plays over the Maranz via a minidsp pocketadc, my computer is connected via a 15 m ssnake optical spdif and when I need another input it is also connected via an ADC. The Maranz itself is a streamer / internet radio spotify endpoint etc. (This chain went from mostly analog into a digital system, only the power amp still is analog).
After this long preambule, the issue. When playing through the Topping every now and again suddenly the volume increases or drops by quite a margin for just one or two seconds. Not unlike the dropout in the headphone scenario, but it doesn't only drop out, the volume increases as well on occasions. There is no difference in connecting the Topping through coax or optical. I stress that this never happened with the amp connected to analog outputs of the Maranz itself. It's unique with the signal path through the Topping.
I suspect that both phenomena have a common origin, that might even have a connection with the usb issues
Could anyone shed a light on this behavior of the DX5 II., or even offer a solution.
It is too good a device to write off already.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
I do not think that the data streaming pops are what caused the demise of that person's monitor (unless you're referring to something else?). A loud crack to me sounds like something shorted out.
I'm waiting for it to become available for iOS. When I asked them last month, they said it should be out a month from then (which should be this month)
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
Topping has put FW v1.93 back up on the website, btw. I have no idea why it was removed. They still haven't put up TT v1.14 for ,acOS yet even though it's the latest version.
Bleib
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They redesigned the download page
With the sensitivity of my speakers currently at 73 dB SPL at 0 dBu at 1 m placed at around 1 m listening distance, I can just about notice it most times. Sometimes I miss it though. With the 16 dBu output of the DAC, listening to some test tones, around -85 dBFS is about noticeable for me, so it is around -70 dBu or 0.3 mV. It is more annoying than concerning to me.
Are you using the 'All' output option? (Menu/Output Settings/Output Option) This setting enables all outputs (HPA SE, HPA BAL, LO SE & LO BAL) and may explain why removing the headphones is temporarily muting the other outputs.
I only have HPA BAL and LO BAL enabled (and use the volume press button to switch between them with PEQ memory set to follow output). I tried enabling the 'All' output option, but I was unable to replicate your issue (maybe because I am using both BAL outputs?).
I only activated the HPA BAL (unconnected at the moment) , Low SE connected to the amp and HPA SE connected to the headphone.
I 'm not really surprised you couldn't reproduce it. It doesn't happen all the time here either ,its repeatable but not deterministic. And it is a very small nuisance I can live with.
However I really suspect the DX5 II has some issue with it's mechanism that senses what devices are connected, that reflects into state changes which cause the interruptions.
As a precaution I lowered the preamp setttings for each peq filter with 4 dB to be sure it cannot be caused by clipping events.
Thanks for trying to reproduce the event. Gives me some hope there will some configuration that will function properly
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
What FW is the DX5 II on?
I will try the first issue when I get home, but I have not encountered the 2nd one at all. Both of these things would be worth reporting to Topping if they're repeatable on other units.
The current firmware on the device is 1.76 as delivered. It still seems to count as the current stable version if I follow this thread, so I didn't try to update it, the reports on the newer versions gave no indication that they addressed my problem.
As to the possible causes I still have no idea. I a not really bothered by the dropout when inserting or removing the headphone, as it happens during a intervention from myself.
As far as the drop/stutter., This only happens once or twice in a day and this combination sounds that good that I will keep it even if the issue is never solved.
It may even be caused by a hick-up in the upstream buffers of the Marantz ND8006 even though it has functioned without a hitch for the past 5 years. But this is the first time I am using it's SPDIF output employing the unit as a transport.
The phenomenon however each time seemed to coincide with a expected strong raise in volume of the music played at that moment.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
I would still update the FW regardless because there are issues (some serious) that have been fixed since that FW was released.
I picked this up the other day and have unfortunately been running into issues with the optical input. USB is perfect, but for some reason optical produces popping sounds, which renders it unusable for me. Changing the SPDIF mode to 2 helps in that it reduces the pops to every few minutes, but it's still far too distracting. Tried different toslink cables of all kinds of different lengths to no avail. Very odd.
No issues with my Schiit stack so I guess it's a firmware issue? I see many posts about pops here, but I'm unclear if my experience is largely similar to what I'm reading about. I'm not really an expert with audio stuff so I just wanted to a bit of reassurance this isn't some issue with my purchase. Thanks!
No issues with my Schiit stack so I guess it's a firmware issue? I see many posts about pops here, but I'm unclear if my experience is largely similar to what I'm reading about. I'm not really an expert with audio stuff so I just wanted to a bit of reassurance this isn't some issue with my purchase. Thanks!
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