Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[audiofun]

Well this is my first DAC with crossfeed and I don't know how a "correct" crossfeed should sound and I don't know how Topping have implemented it. But the two crossfeed types available are "Simple" with configs/choices "Improved", "bs2b-default", "bs2b-ChuMoy", "bs2b-JanMeier" and "Convolution" with configs "Small Room" and "Studio Room". The "Simple" type generally sounds good on everything and seems to just feed some audio from both channels together a bit and fixes heavily stereo panned tracks and makes my headphones maybe sound a bit more speaker like. The Convolution type sounds like things are playing at a distance with Studio Room seemingly placing them a bit further away compared to Small Room, but that might be placebo.

does bs2b work above 48khz?

 

[Timbo2]

does bs2b work above 48khz?

That's a "no"!

 

[jodrim]

I thought so too, but at least on my Nvidia Shield TV if you change the LDAC sample rate below 96kHz in developer mode it seems to switch to aptX HD.

The way I confirmed this was to go into the DX5II settings and disable aptX. Once I did that I could only get a 96kHz connection with LDAC. Maybe your Android source works better.

With only the Bluetooth option enabled, not Bluetooth aptX enabled, I can still connect to it and choose different sample rates with the normal page showing the correct value. And I don't think there's another codec for it to default to at those sample rates so I guess it's still LDAC? If I deselect the "LDAC: Sound with high quality option" on the DX5 II device on the Bluetooth page I cannot choose anything other than 44.1 kHz. This is on a S22 Ultra with Android 16

 

[Timbo2]

With only the Bluetooth option enabled, not Bluetooth aptX enabled, I can still connect to it and choose different sample rates with the normal page showing the correct value. And I don't think there's another codec for it to default to at those sample rates so I guess it's still LDAC? If I deselect the "LDAC: Sound with high quality option" on the DX5 II device on the Bluetooth page I cannot choose anything other than 44.1 kHz. This is on a S22 Ultra with Android 16

Looks like your source has better granularity in developer mode. If I recall SBC - is 44.1kHz - the Bluetooth default.

I'll try again later. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Dk33145]

So could someone who has knowledge of the latest firmware update - is it still flawed as every version before it has been? Do peq settings disappear, change gain by their own etc?

I've got the unit for a few months now but I'm afraid to use the built in peq because of the way Topping handles these situations. I do not want to destroy my speakers.

Last time I'll buy anything from Topping for sure.. Sad, as the physical build quality has been top notch. But the software/firmware side.. basically it seems that their modus operandi is to outsource the QC and testing to customers.

By the way - does the gain setting affect line outputs on the back? In my Dx5II it doesn't and knowing Topping this could be a flaw or a designed feature.

No issues with PEQ (other than being defaulted to off) or gain as far as I can tell. Also the LO with BAL confusion is annoying but it won't destroy anything. Main bug is the volume issue with crossfeed.

 

[Mutex]

Updated to 2.07. Works like a charm. Had to re-configure everything and re-upload my PEQ profile, but otherwise all good.

I took the opportunity to test the Topping Tune issue again, switching between PEQ profiles while playing something, to see if the +20dB volume happened on one side. Didn't happen. The sound goes mute for a second and then comes back once the new profile is loaded. So that issue seems to be fixed (or successfully circumvented).

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Good news at last. Maybe. Perhaps.

 

[ziggurcat]

So could someone who has knowledge of the latest firmware update - is it still flawed as every version before it has been? Do peq settings disappear, change gain by their own etc?

I've got the unit for a few months now but I'm afraid to use the built in peq because of the way Topping handles these situations. I do not want to destroy my speakers.

Last time I'll buy anything from Topping for sure.. Sad, as the physical build quality has been top notch. But the software/firmware side.. basically it seems that their modus operandi is to outsource the QC and testing to customers.

By the way - does the gain setting affect line outputs on the back? In my Dx5II it doesn't and knowing Topping this could be a flaw or a designed feature.

PEQ settings was addressed months ago, and there was nothing about the issue you've cited that would have destroyed your speakers.

What do you mean by, "the way Topping handles these situations"? They handle the situation by fixing the problem, which they do when they are informed of a problem.

That's not their "modus operandi." Not all bugs are going to be evident to them.

The gain setting is only applicable to the HPA outputs (page 13 in the manual):

It seems that you may not "know" Topping as well as you think.

 

[ziggurcat]

From DX9 Discrete

I think more specific information on what each mode does, and what the different settings in those modes mean (particularly the BS2B ones under Simple mode).

 

[ziggurcat]

does bs2b work above 48khz?

The Crossfeed entry in the manual says: "Note: This is valid for all input and output interfaces (44.1kHz-48kHz/24bit-32bit)"

 

[Timbo2]

I think more specific information on what each mode does, and what the different settings in those modes mean (particularly the BS2B ones under Simple mode).

Bauer stereophonic-to-binaural DSP

Subjectively the one that colored female vocals the least to me was the one using "Chu Moy". It's digital recreation of an analog filter.

An Enhanced-Bass Natural Crossfeed Filter.

by Jan Meier [Editor: This article is a follow-up to A DIY Headphone Amplifier with Natural Crossfeed by Jan Meier and resulted from an e-mail discussion with Chu Moy – the author of An Acous…

headwizememorial.wordpress.com

Initially, I was really intrigued with Convolution filter, but I suggest people listen to a stereo track with just a single centered voice. There are two options a Room and Studio. The Room option is too live for my taste. If you add the reverb that already mixed into most recordings to the Room setting has too much echo for my taste. The Studio cuts down on this significantly, but still colors female vocals on more than I like on a number of tracks.

Good news is if you like it great and if not you can turn it off. I'm currently experimenting if "Simple" is going to remain on or off for general listening.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

PEQ settings was addressed months ago, and there was nothing about the issue you've cited that would have destroyed your speakers.

What do you mean by, "the way Topping handles these situations"? They handle the situation by fixing the problem, which they do when they are informed of a problem.

That's not their "modus operandi." Not all bugs are going to be evident to them.

The gain setting is only applicable to the HPA outputs (page 13 in the manual):

View attachment 507462

It seems that you may not "know" Topping as well as you think.

Oh come on. +20dB boost unknowingly to user cannot destroy speakers? And how could a user customer know that this time the things have been done as they should have, and tested thoroughly. Just read through this thread for example, the complaints of broken firmware and software issues are not rare.

I've owned several Topping products, and as I said the overall build quality has been pretty good (oh well.. the old L30 destroying headphones "mishap", A70 pro DC protection issues, and the quality issues of their amps, et cetera) but no-one can say that they've done good job with the QC of their software/firmware with a straight face. Dx5 II is just a prime example of it.

Thanks for the info about gain and have a nice day!

 

[ziggurcat]

I think I may have found a very minor UI issue (if anyone else can verify):

Using the DX5 II's remote control do the following:

1. Press the Menu button to enter the Settings menu
2. Navigate to, and select DSP config
3. Select Crossfeed, and enable Crossfeed with either Convolution or Simple modes/types (it doesn't matter which one, these two modes/types just have more than the Return option when you progress to the Crossfeed config menu level)
4. Navigate to Crossfeed config, then press right on the remote's navigation buttons

You will notice that you cannot navigate the Crossfeed config options, or select anything. Pressing the B button on the remote or pressing the Menu button on the DX5 II three times does bring you back to the Home screen. Pressing the Home button once on the DX5 II does also bring you back to the Home screen. If you select Crossfeed config with the Menu button on the remote, the issue does not occur. Crossfeed config is the only Settings menu option where you can press right on the remote's navigation button to progress to the next menu level.

And if you are stuck, things can get worse depending on the button combinations you press while you try to get out of being stuck, particularly if you leave Crossfeed set to Off, then press right on Crossfeed config. When it goes completely awry, a power cycle using the switch on the back returns everything back to normal.

 

[ziggurcat]

Oh come on. +20dB boost unknowingly to user cannot destroy speakers?

I was mainly referring to the settings disappearing. I had seen reports, but had never experienced the volume spiking +20dB, and I have cycled between PEQ profiles countless times (either in the DX5 II's menu or in Topping Tune), all while content was playing. That is in no way denying that that issue isn't/wasn't there, but it is likely specific to the platform being used (i.e. Windows vs. Mac, for example). I'm on Mac.

And FTR, the change log says that the 20dB spike was addressed in FW v1.76 (which also would have been months ago -- October 10, to be precise).

And how could a user customer know that this time the things have been done as they should have, and tested thoroughly.

Either by keeping up with things on a forum like this or reading the available FW change log to see which issues have been addressed.

Just read through this thread for example, the complaints of broken firmware and software issues are not rare.

You're going to get a higher concentration of people complaining about issues in an online forum (especially in a dedicated support forum), so the rarity of an issue is subjective IMO. The only issue I encountered on v1.93 was occasionally the DX5 II wouldn't come out of standby mode if it sat idle for a while when the USB input was being used (and even then, I couldn't quite figure out the specific timeframe).

I've owned several Topping products, and as I said the overall build quality has been pretty good (oh well.. the old L30 destroying headphones "mishap", A70 pro DC protection issues, and the quality issues of their amps, et cetera) but no-one can say that they've done good job with the QC of their software/firmware with a straight face. Dx5 II is just a prime example of it.

Thanks for the info about gain and have a nice day!

You're going to get those things regardless of the electronics manufacturer.

 

[satanicek666]

I can confirm the significant drop in volume with Convolution selected. You'll lose whatever headroom you have from regular PEQ plus a significant amount for the crossfeed.

If you select one of the "Simple" selections you'll get much of that headroom back.

I solved with the support of Topping the reduced volume when turning on Crossfeed and here is the answer:
ME:
the crossfeed function is great. but every time it is turned on it lowers the volume quite a lot. especially when turning on "Convolution" the volume goes down a lot. with "Simple" it is a lot less but you can still hear that it is quieter overall. can you fix it??

TOPPING:
Hi,

This is not a fault of the unit, but the mutual crossfeed function itself is designed in this way. If you feel that the sound is low after turning on the function, you can increase the volume of the unit appropriately.

 

[ziggurcat]

I solved with the support of Topping the reduced volume when turning on Crossfeed and here is the answer:
ME:
the crossfeed function is great. but every time it is turned on it lowers the volume quite a lot. especially when turning on "Convolution" the volume goes down a lot. with "Simple" it is a lot less but you can still hear that it is quieter overall. can you fix it??

TOPPING:
Hi,

This is not a fault of the unit, but the mutual crossfeed function itself is designed in this way. If you feel that the sound is low after turning on the function, you can increase the volume of the unit appropriately.

I've just been using the Simple type for now since it affects the volume levels the least (Improved is the least impactful on the volume, I found, but I am using the ChuMoy profile). For me, I've only bumped the volume up 3-5dB for it to be loud enough, but it obviously depends on preference and the sensitivity of the headphones.

Part of me, though, doesn't think that that's the normal behaviour for crossfeed, but I only found out this was a thing a few weeks ago.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Crossfade! When did this come in?

I've been looking forward to giving crossfad a go for quite some time, but never had the facility to do so. I'll be sure to give it a go soon.

A quick question or two. First, in which sub-sub-sub-menu can I find this? Second, any recommendations, hints, tips, etc. (including which tracks I might want to give it a go on)?

Many thanks.

 

[Bleib]

Crossfade! When did this come in?

I've been looking forward to giving crossfad a go for quite some time, but never had the facility to do so. I'll be sure to give it a go soon.

A quick question or two. First, in which sub-sub-sub-menu can I find this? Second, any recommendations, hints, tips, etc. (including which tracks I might want to give it a go on)?

Many thanks.

Menu / dsp config / type. I'd start with mixed

Additional settings is in crossfeed config

 

[JOCoin]

Crossfade! When did this come in?

I've been looking forward to giving crossfad a go for quite some time, but never had the facility to do so. I'll be sure to give it a go soon.

A quick question or two. First, in which sub-sub-sub-menu can I find this? Second, any recommendations, hints, tips, etc. (including which tracks I might want to give it a go on)?

Many thanks.

Crossfeed is under DSP config in the main menu as long as your firmware up to date. It's great for older music like Beatles tracks where everything is hard panned to left or right channels in the mix. But your source music will need to have a sampling rate of 48 kHz or lower for it to work. *edited to add note on sample rate.*

 

[ziggurcat]

Crossfade! When did this come in?

It's a brand new feature that they added into the latest FW update, so it's only been there for less than a week.

The only thing of note with the feature is when it's enabled, the SPL will drop -- quite significantly if you use Convolution, but less when using the Simple mode (Improved in the Simple mode has the least impact on the volume level).