topping dx5II distortion issue

[Z0OL]

hi guys

im having an issue with my topping dx5II when swapping from uac2 to uac1 (for use on ps5)


so basically i got my new shiny topping dx5II and out the box its sounding great even at low dbs level on the device and high volume on my PC and all is fine in the world

then i switch over to uac1 and plug into my ps5 and again its perfect and all is fine in the world

i then switch back to uac2 and try on pc and i get really bad distortion now even at around -25 dbs on device and 50-60 volume on pc

this has happened to me on not 1 topping dx5II but TWO as i got a replacement first time around




my set up was to use 2 usb-A to usb-B cables with either usb-a being constantly plugged into ps5 and PC and i just plugged whichever usb-b end i needed into the dx5II

iv tried installing topping tune then removing it when nothing worked....iv tried using the on device PEQ and without it...iv updated the devices firmware and usb drivers direct from toppings site but nothing worked

iv tried putting the usb into my PC into another usb port with no luck

tried a factory reset with no luck

i checked supported sample rates and i made sure it was on 44.1 khz 24bit but again nothing fixed it

tried the pcm filter and again nothing fixed

my best guess...and its only a guess is it appears to be stuck in uac1 mode even when the device shows its on uac2...iv only came to this conclusion because the sound is still fine on the ps5 althrough this might simply be because i dont need to go anywhere near low dbs on device or over half volume on ps5 sound to get it high volume

OR the problem might be at my pc end ..i dont have a 2nd pc to test it on to see...all i know is my other dac/amp (hifiman ef499) works perfectly fine on it


anyone came across this issue or know of any possible solutions?? i cant believe its happened on 2 seperate dx5IIs and have initiated a return but the device on paper is perfect for my needs ...ps5 compatibility and lots of power for my older hifiman arya version so im still trying to fix it as i loved the first 20mins i had it working great on pc


EDIT i should add my headphones arent the issue as i have a seperate dac/amp to test things with and i know they re crystal clear as are my cables....also iv since tested it on an ipad and i get same issue so im guessing it dx5II related issue and not so much my pc


thanks in advance

 

[CuriousAli]

Is your DX5 II firmware up-to-date?

undefined - Topping audio

 

[Z0OL]

Is your DX5 II firmware up-to-date?

undefined - Topping audio

yup

i updated firmware and downloaded the usb drivers from toppings website

 

[CuriousAli]

Hmm, even if it is stuck at UAC 1.0 this shouldn't happen, as your PC should work well with UAC 1.0 too.
What happens when you set it officially at UAC 1.0 and connect it to PC?

 

[Z0OL]

just tried that...i get even worst distortion which suggests its not stuck on uac.1 right?

i honestly dont know whats up with it...to me if its not stuck on uac1 and iv factory reset...updated firmware and tried with and without topping usb drivers then its hardware related....what annoys about that is out the box it was fine for 20mins until i tested it on ps5 then back to pc

i know my cables and headphones are all good cause i tried them on a hifiman ef499

 

[CuriousAli]

That's so weird!
I think one way to make sure it actually switches between the two UAC modes is setting it to UAC 2.0, if PS5 doesn't recognize it then it is really set to UAC 2.0.
As for why this distortion happens, it is just a guess, but I think some DACs compensate for PS5's unusually low volume output when using USB DACs, so you get no distortion on PS5 because it is a low volume, but then when that compensation incorrectly gets carried for your PC too, it will be too loud and distorted.

I have checked the DX5 II manual and these may help:
1. Setting the gain to low
2. Changing the volume memory settings:

Vol memory:
Follow output: Memorizes the volume and headphone gain settings of each output channel when it was last used, and automatically restores them when the channel is selected again. (Default).
Follow input: Memorizes the volume and headphone gain settings of each input channel when it was last used, and automatically restores them when the channel is selected again.
Disabled: Disabled this function.

https://dl.topping.audio/um/dx5_ii.pdf

Maybe one of them fixes it?

 

[Z0OL]

thanks i did see those options but wasnt entirely sure what they did


so your asking me to disable them? as they re not doing what they re supposed to be doing when they re at default?

 

[CuriousAli]

I'm not sure if they will help, but just hoping one of them resets any possible effect from connection to PS5. So that's worth changing those settings and see if they have any effects.

 

[JOCoin]

IIRC you may need power cycle the unit after you switch between UAC 1 and 2. That's how it was whenever I used my D50 iii for gaming. Haven't tried it with the DX5 ii though.

 

[Z0OL]

IIRC you may need power cycle the unit after you switch between UAC 1 and 2. That's how it was whenever I used my D50 iii for gaming. Haven't tried it with the DX5 ii though.

yeh iv done that quite a few times as iv had it boxed back up a few times so anytime i packed it up i would have factory reset then power cycled and it would come back on at uac-2

thank you for suggestion though

 

[Z0OL]

I'm not sure if they will help, but just hoping one of them resets any possible effect from connection to PS5. So that's worth changing those settings and see if they have any effects.

ok i tried switching those then full turn off and back on and got no success....then disabled them completely and powered off and again nothing

thank you for taking the time and effort to check manual and the few suggestions i hadnt thought of but i think im gonna tap out as my returns booked in for tomoz anyway and iv packed and taped it up then unopened it 4 times now lol


i did get a fiio k11 r2r today and its exceeded my expectations in terms of the amp power which id read on reddit could come up short with my hardish to drive older hifiman arya but its driving them pretty well with a lil pre amp boost from the apo and peace app on my pc and needs no help whatsoever on the ps5 ....it effortlessly plays my easier to drive hifiman anandas

got a schiit magnius amp coming tomoz aswell as i thought the fiio k11 r2r amp would be weak but thats an easy return for me unless it blows my mind sound wise

k11 switches seemlessly from ps5 to pc with uac1 and uac2 aswell...cant believe not 1 but 2 dx5II devices have fallen foul to what seems a simple switch over


such a shame about the dx5II as on paper its has great stats with crazy amp power and lots of features and looks and feels premium with a really intuitive menu system i learned in about 5-10mins

i wanted to keep it sooo bad but urgggh its not to be


il prob send topping some feedback on the issue so i hope its something they can fix with an update and stop others having the same experience as me


thanks again

 

[CuriousAli]

You're welcome, I see you tried everything and it still gave you issues, makes sense to return it.

 

[ziggurcat]

Topping just released FW v1.93 -- try installing that, and checking the distortion issue. It could be the same thing as what I had reported to them, and has been fixed with v1.93.