Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[AndreaT]

How are you getting Bluetooth lossless transmission from an iPhone?

I thought iPhone Bluetooth was AAC transmission only?

Well, no…. To source lossless I learned tonight I must use a corded connection between iPhone to DAC…and the Topping DX5II only has USB A input…

 

[Lambo1985]

You should not be doing it while the device is playing (under load). Otherwise its not a problem.
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I never heard of anything like this. Why should I ever be concerned with whether audio is playing or not before I plug or unplug headphones? - I can't believe this even has to be a consideration. Does this affect all HP outs or just specific ones (like the balanced 4.4)? - I ALWAYS swap headphones when having fun and comparing devices. I've never had to worry about destroying headphones or a device by plugging/unplugging HP's. Is this a joke?

 

[Bleib]

I never heard of anything like this. Why should I ever be concerned with whether audio is playing or not before I plug or unplug headphones? - I can't believe this even has to be a consideration. Does this affect all HP outs or just specific ones (like the balanced 4.4)? - I ALWAYS swap headphones when having fun and comparing devices. I've never had to worry about destroying headphones or a device by plugging/unplugging HP's. Is this a joke?

Some say be cautious with 4.4... I use the normal 3.5 and have changed many times during playback without any problems

 

[SnakeLord]

I never heard of anything like this. Why should I ever be concerned with whether audio is playing or not before I plug or unplug headphones? - I can't believe this even has to be a consideration. Does this affect all HP outs or just specific ones (like the balanced 4.4)? - I ALWAYS swap headphones when having fun and comparing devices. I've never had to worry about destroying headphones or a device by plugging/unplugging HP's. Is this a joke?

Well, if thats how the manufacturer is telling you to handle the device, then there are some reasons behind it. So you either stick to it or do whatever you think is right for you but then you cant blame the manufacturer in case something goes wrong with the device itself or whatever you are connecting to it.
I mean you cant just tank an F1 car with diesel and expect it to work fine only because thats how you have ALWAYS been tanking yor tracktor so far.

The DX5II is providing 7600mW x 2 @16Ω THD+N<1% over rather compact and fragile 4.4 balanced connector, this is huge amount of power which indeed can cause damage if you dont handle it with care.

 

[Lambo1985]

Well, if thats how the manufacturer is telling you to handle the device, then there are some reasons behind it. So you either stick to it or do whatever you think is right for you but then you cant blame the manufacturer in case something goes wrong with the device itself or whatever you are connecting to it.
I mean you cant just tank an F1 car with diesel and expect it to work fine only because thats how you have ALWAYS been tanking yor tracktor so far.

The DX5II is providing 7600mW x 2 @16Ω THD+N<1% over rather compact and fragile 4.4 balanced connector, this is huge amount of power which indeed can cause damage if you dont handle it with care.

I'm not disregarding safety measures. If its so powerful that it can be dangerous if not treated in an unconventional manner, then perhaps some design choices could have been considered. Like some sort of safety measure that protects the unit when HP's are plugged/unplugged. Most consumers would never consider having to pause audio when plugging/unplugging cans from a headphone amp. I've never had to consider this in 40 years of using amps and HP's. Having to read a manual to find this precautionary direction is vague & obtuse, and not consumer friendly. - I wouldn't be surprised if you defended this device if someone killed a unit by touching it barehanded after walking on a rug, (and a slight static charge brought it down). - Perhaps a hardware revision is in order.

 

[pacman]

I mean you cant just tank an F1 car with diesel and expect it to work fine only because thats how you have ALWAYS been tanking yor tracktor so far.

Analogies aren't your strong suit, are they?

 

[ziggurcat]

I never heard of anything like this. Why should I ever be concerned with whether audio is playing or not before I plug or unplug headphones? - I can't believe this even has to be a consideration. Does this affect all HP outs or just specific ones (like the balanced 4.4)? - I ALWAYS swap headphones when having fun and comparing devices. I've never had to worry about destroying headphones or a device by plugging/unplugging HP's. Is this a joke?

The same thing sort of applies to HDMI cables. You shouldn't really plug/unplug those cables while the devices are on -- when I worked in the video game industry, PS3 test units got fried because people were disconnecting the HDMI cables while things were on. I would also argue that you should only change interconnect cables while things are off, too. A static charge can do a lot of damage.

And for the DX5 II HPA, it's not like you have to turn the device off while you swap out headphones... as a precaution, just don't have any music/content playing. Or have headphones connected to the SE out, and another pair connected to the BAL out (either the 4-pin XLR, 4.4mm or both of you have a third pair), and you can freely switch between the two outputs (BAL or SE) as much as you want.

 

[ziggurcat]

I wouldn't be surprised if you defended this device if someone killed a unit by touching it barehanded after walking on a rug, (and a slight static charge brought it down). - Perhaps a hardware revision is in order.

Any electronic device can be taken down by this, it's not specific to Topping or this device.

 

[dmac6419]

Any electronic device can be taken down by this, it's not specific to Topping or this device.

This is a Topping problem, I never had anything fry by connecting or disconnecting it not in 62 years , why do you think Topping is damn quiet on this issue? They have no problems with Amir testing but they can't have a presence on this forum ,why is that ? what are they hiding.

 

[ziggurcat]

This is a Topping problem

No it's not.

 

[Berwhale]

why do you think Topping is damn quiet on this issue?

Topping added an instruction to the manual telling you explicitly not to plug/unplug headphones during playback. What else are you expecting them to do?

If you are really concerned about this, then use the XLR connector which does not suffer from this issue at all.

 

[dmac6419]

Topping added an instruction to the manual telling you explicitly not to plug/unplug headphones during playback. What else are you expecting them to do?

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If you are really concerned about this, then use the XLR connector which does not suffer from this issue at all.

I have a desktop florescent lamp that even trigger the DX5 II to restart, I refuse to plug anything into it

 

[SnakeLord]

Analogies aren't your strong suit, are they?

Im pretty sure you can come up with a much better one.

My point is to show the absurdity of the claims and blaims some people here have.
I also try to put things in perspective because many issues arnt simple black/white cases, there is normally much more behind it, often enough its simple mishandling of the device based on the "stupidity" of the user. For some reason many people seem to think if the device is compact and looks fancy then you can handle it as a childish toy, shutting off their brain and common sense. It often leads to what i call "audiophile issues" - bunch of unfounded manufacturer blames.

I doubt anybody in here on the forum (even @Lambo1985) would hold it for a good idea to hotplug your speakers for A/B listening tests to an 500W stereo amp while its running and playing. But for some reason some people think it is ok to do it with headphones. And the reason behind this thinking is simple: HPAs provide lower power which in most cases isnt a problem if you hotplug the HP, thats what many people got used to. But this type of behaviour might get you in trouble when you are facing some powerful devices.

And somehow im pretty sure, that most people with a long Hi-Fi journey never had something even remotley close to the DX5II. In fact there arnt that many devices on the market as powerful and as feature rich as the DX5II, especially not at price point of ~300$.
This doesnt mean the product is flawless but the negativity and criticism should be justified.

 

[evalrat]

I'm not disregarding safety measures. If its so powerful that it can be dangerous if not treated in an unconventional manner, then perhaps some design choices could have been considered. Like some sort of safety measure that protects the unit when HP's are plugged/unplugged. Most consumers would never consider having to pause audio when plugging/unplugging cans from a headphone amp. I've never had to consider this in 40 years of using amps and HP's. Having to read a manual to find this precautionary direction is vague & obtuse, and not consumer friendly. - I wouldn't be surprised if you defended this device if someone killed a unit by touching it barehanded after walking on a rug, (and a slight static charge brought it down). - Perhaps a hardware revision is in order.

I am with you on this. Headphones used driven with Class A circuits or through a resistor divider in case of a power amp. Class A doesn't care about being shorted and a resistor atenuater limits the current. And indeed I never cared about accidental shorting. A nice big red sticker at the bottom of the device should be the minimum.
But there are more modern amplifiers that carry surprises. I used a ICEpower amp to drive my QUAD ESL's. When hot plugging them at a very low sound level. I accidentally dropped a banana plug, it fell on the earthed metal grill, pulling centimeters long arcs. Never expected that after using a QUAD 303 for tens of years.
I suppose hot plugging is not safe anymore if you value your equipment. And pulling centimeter long sparks implies quite dangerous voltages.

 

[Berwhale]

I have a desktop florescent lamp that even trigger the DX5 II to restart, I refuse to plug anything into it

I wouldn't plug that lamp into anything either.

 

[Lambo1985]

I just bought a DX5 II. I like to live life on the wild side. Pray for me.

 

[Berwhale]

I just bought a DX5 II. I like to live life on the wild side. Pray for me.

I've been using my DX5 II for several hours per day, for 10 months with no divine intervention required. I have used the odd Anglo-Saxon expletive when the DX5 II forgets my PEQ settings.

 

[ziggurcat]

I just bought a DX5 II. I like to live life on the wild side. Pray for me.

I'm sure it'll be just fine. Update to the latest FW, and enjoy.

 

[Sokel]

But there are more modern amplifiers that carry surprises. I used a ICEpower amp to drive my QUAD ESL's. When hot plugging them at a very low sound level. I accidentally dropped a banana plug, it fell on the earthed metal grill, pulling centimeters long arcs. Never expected that after using a QUAD 303 for tens of years.

Any balanced OUTPUT amp (usually the strong ones) would do the same, in fact they warn users about it.
(ask me about how to obtain a ground-free path to measure them )

About the Topping problem here:
People grew up using their phones with these damn connectors, they hot-plug their sets to them tens of times a day.
How would anyone expect to forget about it or assume that is dangerous for some gear?

 

[Pierun]

yeah it turns out I'm returning it lmao. Described the same issues to SZA's support, and uhhhh... I was given a choice between return refund and return repair check. Decided to go with the first choice.

After I return this, I'm certainly ditching this model (and possibly this brand) for good. As much as I appreciate its power output capabilities, its extensive featureset, and its "state of the art" measurements, I just cannot accept the fact that at this price point I still have to gamble with its quality control, and pray to god that I'll have a mild inconvenience (popping at balanced), rather than something more concerning (bass distortion, or straight up unit's death).

So what's left at this price point? Is Loxjie D40 Pro a valid pick nowadays? Because from what I've seen, the internal build (i.e. SMSL DL400 internals, but SMSL DL400 = Loxjie D40 Pro) has less points of failure than DX5 II + it's still a competent DAC/AMP (in terms of power, measurement, and even featureset).

Ok so it turns out that I'll be sent a replacement unit instead of a refund.

And the question is: Should I return the D40 Pro and wait for the DX5 II replacement to come in, or should I wait for DX5 II replacement to come in and then resell it.

Both have pros and cons ngl (Loxjie with its outdated XMOS Drivers, and lacking featureset, albeit it has more reliable internals from what I've seen, and Topping with its questionable QC, but better featureset and moar power). Ofc I'd buy a some sort of XLR to 4.4mm adapter in case I'd stick with the DX5 II overall