Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[SnakeLord]

I tried other cables and USB ports but nothing worked.

Now when I plug the DAC to my PC, it just prompts me to format the disk.

View attachment 531195

4. How to update the firmware

1. Connect the power cable to the DX5 II and the power outlet.

2. Connect the device's USB interface to a PC/Mac via a usb cable.

3. Turn off the device with the power switch on the back. Press and hold the knob, then power on with the power switch. The screen will show the current software version.

4. A removable drive will show up in the explorer on PC/Mac. Open the drive.

5. Extract the downloaded compressed file, then copy the .Topping file to the root directory of the drive. The drive will then eject itself and reconnect

6. Reopen the drive. A new file will be showing the current firmware version as "Update successful(Version.Vx.xx)" of which the "XX" is the new firmware version that indicates the firmware is successfully upgraded.

7. Turn off and on the device again. The upgrade is complete.

DX5 II version V2.14 firmware update - Topping audio

TOPPING, born in 2008, has evolved into a beloved global HIFI brand favored by users worldwide. We firmly believe that higher-quality music playback devices are essential for truly showcasing the allure of music. By investing extensively in professional technology and exceptional industrial...

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Try to follow step 3 exactly as its described, it should allow you to see the device as drive again.
You need to hold the knob pressed while powering on the device by flipping the switch on the back. This should allow you to enter the service mode again.

I also had the latest update failed once, just redo the process.

Also you need to copy only 1 .topping file from the extracted folder which is the actual FW and keep in mind it takes a while to update and might not respond immediate.

 

[SnakeLord]

Is the 12V trigger always on when the Topping is powered/out of standby? I want to trigger some speaker with the trigger signal, but only when I play sound out of them. They will be connected to the RCA ports, but I will also be using headphones, where the speakers should optimally be off. Currently it looks like the 12V signal is always on, meaning the speakers will also be turned on, even though I am playing through headphones.

It would be a really nice feature to be able to select when the trigger should be ON.

What is the problem are you trying to solve?
I dont see how the trigger is connected to your use case.

You can perfectly listen to all line outs + all HPA outs, some of them, none of them, mix of them. Just use the according settings. This device is offering a bunch of nice feauters. You should read the manual before using it.

And be very careful with the "DAC mode" - it will bypass the preamp function and provide full power at RCA/XLR (0dB)

 

[jacobtc]

What is the problem are you trying to solve?
I dont see how the trigger is connected to your use case.

You can perfectly listen to all line outs + all HPA outs, some of them, none of them, mix of them. Just use the according settings. This device is offering a bunch of nice feauters. You should read the manual before setting it up.
View attachment 531208

My speakers (Beolab 3) has a standby function, so if a trigger signal is connected with 0V, it is in standby, if 12V is connected, it wakes up. If I connect the trigger out from the Topping to the speakers, the speakers will never go in standby when the Topping is turned on, meaning they will be awake, even when I am listening with headphones. The best solution to this, would be that the trigger out on the Topping could be turned on and off, depending on what output channel is chosen, so if I choose RCA, it would turn on the trigger and thus turn on the speakers, if I go back to the 6.35mm output, it would turn off the trigger, and my speaker would go to standby.

 

[SnakeLord]

My speakers (Beolab 3) has a standby function, so if a trigger signal is connected with 0V, it is in standby, if 12V is connected, it wakes up. If I connect the trigger out from the Topping to the speakers, the speakers will never go in standby when the Topping is turned on, meaning they will be awake, even when I am listening with headphones. The best solution to this, would be that the trigger out on the Topping could be turned on and off, depending on what output channel is chosen, so if I choose RCA, it would turn on the trigger and thus turn on the speakers, if I go back to the 6.35mm output, it would turn off the trigger, and my speaker would go to standby.

No problem at all. You can save 2 separate configurations on the device and switch between those with the remote C1 and C2 buttons.
So C1 would have the LO settings and C2 HPA settings, thats how i use my device. Also having 2 different PEQs applyed - 1 for your room (Beolab) and 2 for HPA (HD700)

 

[jacobtc]

View attachment 531214
No problem at all. You can save 2 separate configurations on the device and switch between those with the remote C1 and C2 buttons.
So C1 would have the LO settings and C2 HPA settings, thats how i use my device. Also having 2 different PEQs applyed - 1 for your room (Beolab) and 2 for HPA (HD700)

So C1 could be LO SE (RCA) with Signal ON (12V coming out of Trigger out) and C2 could be HPA SE with trigger off (0V coming out of Trigger out)? And I hate remotes (I loose them) would the knob be able to just switch between these two with a click, etc?

 

[SnakeLord]

So C1 could be LO SE (RCA) with Signal ON (12V coming out of Trigger out) and C2 could be HPA SE with trigger off (0V coming out of Trigger out)? And I hate remotes (I loose them) would the knob be able to just switch between these two with a click, etc?

Im not aware of any other ways of switching between the C1 and C2 settings without the remote.
Thats where you would think the software would come into play (Topping Tune) but its not the case. In fact its very simple, basically only allowing you to set up the PEQs.

 

[jacobtc]

View attachment 531219
Im not aware of any other ways of switching between the C1 and C2 settings without the remote.
Thats where you would think the software would come into play (Topping Tune) but its not the case. In fact its very simple, basically only allowing you to set up the PEQs.

Alright, I can probably live with that. But being able to turn on and off the 12V signal out is nice!

 

[ziggurcat]

Thank you! If it is always on, which I suspect, it would be nice if Topping could implement this feature. Worst case, it is just a hardwired 12V buck that creates that 12V signal, in which case it can't be controlled.

I connected a 12v cable from the DAC to my amp, and it turned the amp on regardless of the output set on the DAC (HPA or LO).

 

[VuhoaphanX]

So with that format disk pop-up you are getting, is that just after connecting a USB cable or is that what shows up when you put the unit into the mode to update FW (i.e. pressing down the front knob while flipping the power switch on the back)?

It shows up right after I connect the USB cable now.

Try to follow step 3 exactly as its described, it should allow you to see the device as drive again.
You need to hold the knob pressed while powering on the device by flipping the switch on the back. This should allow you to enter the service mode again.

I also had the latest update failed once, just redo the process.

Also you need to copy only 1 .topping file from the extracted folder which is the actual FW and keep in mind it takes a while to update and might not respond immediate.

I tried exactly this multiple times without success. The format pop-up just keeps appearing, and windows can't format it by the way.

I suspect that the memory chip storing the firmware somehow fried during the update process.

 

[Eric Larson]

From this review:

"The two balanced outputs from the dx 5, the 4.4mm and XLR sounds a little bit crisper and a little bit more detailed than the 6.3mm socket. The sound from the 6.3mm socket is not at all bad, but you can hear that the circuit has been optimized for the balanced outputs so that's the circuit I would use if you can."

Soooo.... Is this actually true or a load of bollocks? Using a 32 ohm headset (Empyrean) so it's already more than loud enough even on low gain so extra power from balanced won't matter I think....

I suspect a giant steaming load of BULLOCKS.

Most of the audio related stuff on YouTube seems to be in this category.

What is most disturbing is that this YouTube channel has 77 thousand subscribers, which is more than the 59 thousand ASR has.

 

[jacobtc]

I connected a 12v cable from the DAC to my amp, and it turned the amp on regardless of the output set on the DAC (HPA or LO).

Also if Trigger is turned off as discussed right above?

 

[Berwhale]

The On/Off trigger setting in the menu applies to the Trigger In on the DX5 II. It appears that the state of Trigger Out is dependent only on DX5 II power state....

 

[jacobtc]

The On/Off trigger setting in the menu applies to the Trigger In on the DX5 II. It appears that the state of Trigger Out is dependent only on DX5 II power state....

View attachment 531309

Well... Then that is useless in my case

 

[Berwhale]

Well... Then that is useless in my case

Agreed, it may be worth asking Topping to add the switching capability to Trigger out. I think your use case (turning off amp or speakers, whilst using internal HP amp) is a reasonable thing to ask for, although I think it's also fair to say that most powered monitors/speakers use input signal, rather than a dedicated 12v line, for their sleep function.

Also, there are ways to generate 12V trigger for your Beolabs' from the signal... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-a-12v-trigger-where-none-is-provided.48116/

 

[SnakeLord]

The On/Off trigger setting in the menu applies to the Trigger In on the DX5 II. It appears that the state of Trigger Out is dependent only on DX5 II power state....

View attachment 531309

Indeed, I just did some testing with my ZA3. It seems like the trigger out function of the DX5II is simply bound to the on/off state so its always 0V or 12V out depending on the current state of the device and i assume you cant fix this thru FW since its hard wired?

And even after reading again and again the describtion its not obvious to me, that the "Off" wont turn the 12V functionality completly off and not only the triggering of the DX5II itself.
Huge opportunity missed here, - rating for Topping.

@jacobtc
Im sorry for the confusion.

 

[jacobtc]

Agreed, it may be worth asking Topping to add the switching capability to Trigger out. I think your use case (turning off amp or speakers, whilst using internal HP amp) is a reasonable thing to ask for, although I think it's also fair to say that most powered monitors/speakers use input signal, rather than a dedicated 12v line, for their sleep function.

Also, there are ways to generate 12V trigger for your Beolabs' from the signal... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-a-12v-trigger-where-none-is-provided.48116/

Yeah, I sent them an email asking.
I'm guessing my use case also extends to preamp only turning on with the trigger when that output is selected etc. I see multiple use cases where this would be nice to have.
Also, the speakers do have a sense on the input, but it is spotty, so low volume has a tendence to make them go in standby.

Yeah, but many of those solutions are big boxes that cost almost the same as the Topping itself, or they use power strips, which I can't use, as the amp will be on all the time.

 

[jacobtc]

Indeed, I just did some testing with my ZA3. It seems like the trigger out function of the DX5II is simply bound to the on/off state so its always 0V or 12V out depending on the current state of the device and i assume you cant fix this thru FW since its hard wired?

And even after reading again and again the describtion its not obvious to me, that the "Off" wont turn the 12V functionality completly off and not only the triggering of the DX5II itself.
Huge opportunity missed here, - rating for Topping.

@jacobtc
Im sorry for the confusion.

Hope it isn't hardwired, but probably is.

 

[ziggurcat]

It shows up right after I connect the USB cable now.


I tried exactly this multiple times without success. The format pop-up just keeps appearing, and windows can't format it by the way.

I suspect that the memory chip storing the firmware somehow fried during the update process.

So the pop-up shows up even when attemptng to put the DX5 II into FW update mode (i.e. pressing the knob down while flipping the switch on the back of the unit)?

And if you dismiss that pop-up, does your PC see it as a separate HDD? And if so, are you not able to drag the FW file over? Or does pop-up, as you've said, just keep popping up again the moment you dismiss?

 

[DaaDaa]

All 3 just unboxed, let’s see which one up ends up work for the next 10 years. For the small dac only I’ll use my lake people headphone amp

 

[VuhoaphanX]

So the pop-up shows up even when attemptng to put the DX5 II into FW update mode (i.e. pressing the knob down while flipping the switch on the back of the unit)?

And if you dismiss that pop-up, does your PC see it as a separate HDD? And if so, are you not able to drag the FW file over? Or does pop-up, as you've said, just keep popping up again the moment you dismiss?

Yes, it appears whenever I plug in the DAC, even in DFU mode.

When I dismiss the formar pop-up, the DAC does up as a HDD but I can't do anything with it, no copy nor browsing. Windows prompts me to format it before use but it just doesn't work.

Anyway, I've sent the DAC back to the seller. They said that they would try to contact Topping to see if they can replace or fix it.

Hope they're kind enough to replace it with a newer version (perhaps from a later batch) of the DAC with hardware-related issues ironed out.