Topping E2x2 Audio Interface Review

[Alex777]

Just a little question: I'm curious about how the direct monitoring is handled on the E2x2 and E2x2 OTG. If one uses channel 1 & 2 for line-level-recording from stereo sources, does the direct monitoring distribute channel 1 and 2 to left and right on the headphone output? I ask that, because I've read, that in case of the Presonus Studio series models the direct monitoring rather feeds the input channels to the headphone output in mono, i.e. to both left & right each, so that direct monitoring of stereo signals can sound weird.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

It's not very obvious how to get stereo or mono direct monitoring. I played with a two microphones, and if I want to get stereo direct monitoring: 1 mic - only left and 2 mic - only right ear of my headphones I need to set in Topping software IN1+2 for the output and turn Monitor Mix knob on audio interface fully to the right, to a "playback". For the mono I need to set knob fully to the left, to a "input".
If I select any Mix for the output in the Topping software, for example Mix A, then for the stereo direct monitoring with the two microphones I need: turn Monitor Mix knob on audio interface fully to the right, to a "playback", and in the Mix A panel for the mic1 and mic2 I need to turn software paning knobs completely to the left and right.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Hello.
Does it require a driver to work or can I do without one and everything will work?
The question is about both mac and windows.
Thanks.

 

[lini]

It's not very obvious how to get stereo or mono direct monitoring. I played with a two microphones, and if I want to get stereo direct monitoring: 1 mic - only left and 2 mic - only right ear of my headphones I need to set in Topping software IN1+2 for the output and turn Monitor Mix knob on audio interface fully to the right, to a "playback". For the mono I need to set knob fully to the left, to a "input".
If I select any Mix for the output in the Topping software, for example Mix A, then for the stereo direct monitoring with the two microphones I need: turn Monitor Mix knob on audio interface fully to the right, to a "playback", and in the Mix A panel for the mic1 and mic2 I need to turn software paning knobs completely to the left and right.

Thanks for the info. Then the actual direct monitoring would be in mono, 'cause if one would turn the monitor mixer control on the interface fully to "playback", one would instead listen to what's delivered back by the computer (be it by some audio software application (DAW, editor...) or already by the control panel/mixer software application).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Alex777]

Thanks for the info. Then the actual direct monitoring would be in mono, 'cause if one would turn the monitor mixer control on the interface fully to "playback", one would instead listen to what's delivered back by the computer (be it by some audio software application (DAW, editor...) or already by the control panel/mixer software application).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

Ok, I played more with monitoring. I don't know if we can call it "true direct monitoring" or not. But I set monitoring routing in Topping Control Centre that I described earlier, then I download this setting to device (topping software allowing to do this), then I disconnect device from computer, and connect only power adapter. This way I can have mono or stereo monitoring(corresponding to downloaded settings) without sending signal to computer. I don't hear any noticeable delay that I usually hear using DAW monitoring.
So I think Topping Software controls monitoring signal routing on the device itself. I don't know if there is an analog-digital-analog conversion inside device for monitoring, but I don't hear any noticeable delay, and I can use it like "direct" monitoring.

 

[Alex777]

Hello.
Does it require a driver to work or can I do without one and everything will work?
The question is about both mac and windows.
Thanks.

Hello! I tried to connect device without installing Topping Control Centre on Mac and Windows. It works(I didn't check everything, just microphone input and audio playback output). But device can do various signal routing and mixing, and you need topping software to control it, or you can download routing/mixing settings profile to the device and then use devise without topping software.

 

[jzpchen]

Earlier I had some questions about how to do volume control in my setup. Now that I have bought Topping E2x2 OTG, here is what I learned. Please refer to the picture for my setup:

1. At source of my Apple Music, E2x2 allows me to adjust Mac System volume control. Apple Music is mostly lossless16/44.1 or 24/44.1, 48, and 96. It is convenient to use keyboard to change the volume.
2. E2x2 OTG has a S/PDIF output. Using Topping Control Center, the output S/PDIF fader can be used to control the volume. E2x2 uses 24bit and allows to change bitrate in Control Center and the change will be reflected in Audio MIDI Setup. Very convenient.
3. Neumann KH120 ii speakers have a software control center to change the volume. I assume it is done close to the speaker DSP processing potentially in 64 bit. You can enter a level number or using the big slider. To use the software to adjust the volume appears heavy. I build a simple App using pyssc Python API to control volume. I am pretty happy about it.

So far, I am very happy with E2x2 OTG. It allows me to do speaker calibration and pure digital signal path to speakers all in one device.

 

[djdolcevita]

Could you do a review on the newer model? Topping E2x2 OTG & E8XE Pre?? They seem to perform much different. Thanks for your work!!

 

[jzpchen]

Could you do a review on the newer model? Topping E2x2 OTG & E8XE Pre?? They seem to perform much different. Thanks for your work!!

I am not sure if you are asking me. I am not a big Audio Interface user. In general I like Topping products a lot. For my use case, E2x2 OTG functions great. However, I am mainly interested in its S/PDIF output since my Neumann speakers have digital input. This way I am cutting down an extra DA/AD. Separately, when I am not using E2x2 OTG, I can play CDs directly from its S/PDIF output. Really nice to enjoy pure digital signal path.

 

[rongon]

I looked into this product a bit closer and it seems it can NOT deliver a digital output signal. I think this is a huge drawback that makes it less usable and less attractive. Really an entry level product.

There are two USB-C ports on the back panel. One is labeled "Power", the other simply "USB-C". What is that USB-C port there for? Input only?

Normally I'd expect the digital audio captured by the interface to be sent out through its USB-C port to a computer for recording directly to hard drive. Are you saying this E2x2 cannot do that?

@JohnYang1997 Will the E4x4 have a digital output?

Nope.

Then I'm not sure what the purpose of this device is.

Or perhaps there's been a misunderstanding.
By "digital output" are you all talking about a S/PDIF output, either optical or coaxial?
-------

My use case would be a 2-input ADC with mic preamps and hi-Z inputs with 2-out DAC *and* a 2-channel output mix digital 'bitstream' routed through the device's USB output for direct-to-digital hard disk recording on a PC, Mac or similar.

I mean, even a lowly $35 Behringer UCA-202 can send a digital stereo mix through USB to the PC hard drive (direct to digital). Yes, the UCA-202 doesn't have mic preamps or phantom power, yes I know it doesn't have hi-Z inputs -- but these can be added, or many of us already have something that will work (like a Mackie 1202 mixer or a pair of mic preamps like an old M-Audio DMP3, or a guitar DI w/ effects box like those from Line6, etc.).

So... If I were to get an E2x2 and use it for recording to a computer, would I need to send its analog line output pair to the mic input on my laptop? What exactly does Topping have in mind here?

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the purpose of this E2x2 interface. If that's the case, please enlighten me. Thanks.

PS - Topping E2x2 User Guide download - https://topping.pro/downloads/e2x2.pdf

It would be nice if there was *some* indication of what connecting the USB-C port to a computer actually *does*.

--
SIMPLE QUESTION:
Using an E2x2 interface, can I send the audio captured by the pair of analog-to-digital converters straight out digitally to the computer?
- In my DAW or other recording app on my computer, will the E2x2 appear as a pair of inputs in its input device selection menu?
- Or must I use the DAC and send out analog audio, requiring a second ADC to get the signal to the computer's hard drive?
--

PPS - Granted it would be nice to have a pure digital signal path for everything including the monitor speakers, but that's not a deal breaker. For me, I'd want the digital outputs to get recorded straight to hard drive (in the computer) and I can live with the Topping's internal DAC pair sending analog audio to the monitor speakers.
--

 

[andymcbain]

Using an E2x2 interface, can I send the audio captured by the pair of analog-to-digital converters straight out digitally to the computer?

Yes, via the second USB-C port.

In this case, by "digital output" we're referring to an ADAT or Coaxial digital output - which this device doesn't have.

 

[rongon]

Ah, I see. Technically speaking, a USB output is digital too. That confused me.

I see the E2x2 OTG adds a second USB-C port (labeled "OTG") and an optical S/PDIF Out.
- The function of the S/PDIF Out port is clear enough, if limited to stereo. No ADAT? I guess not.

- Is the OTG port only for playing to or recording from Android phones and tablets? Perhaps Chromebooks?

Thanks.

________________________
PS - Optical S/PDIF (aka Toslink) is not the same as ADAT Lightpipe.

 

[Alex777]

- Is the OTG port only for playing to or recording from Android phones and tablets? Perhaps Chromebooks?

Also must working with iOS, iPad. When connected to Mac it recognised as 2-in/2-out audio devise 24-bit 48kHz, and topping software don't recognise it. So when connected to computer using OTG port, you don't have routing control from topping software and you have restricted functionality(in/out channels and sample rates).

 

[pier25]

Just received my e4x4 and going through my test tracks. The DAC and amp sound amazing. A touch too bright on some tracks with the Hifiman Sundara but I will test with other headphones too (I'm using Oratory EQ curves and CanOpener for crossfeed).

I love that it's class compliant and no drivers are needed for macOS.

Got it because I needed more preamps over my Motu M4 for recording sound effects. Will post some recording tests later to test the preamps vs the M4.

 

[pier25]

So I did a test recording a quiet kitchen timer with the Topping e4x4, a Motu M4, and a Zoom F3 just for fun. The recordings were made at 192k in 24bits (and 32bits float for the Zoom F3). For the mic I used a Rode NT1 which has an extremely low self noise.

I normalized the files so the gain doesn't match 100%. The SNR of the mic itself is the same in all recordings as they were made minutes of each other without touching anything in the setup.

There's some low end rumble which is more noticeable in the Zoom F3. Probably traffic rumble but not sure why it's more noticeable in the Zoom. It's easy enough to filter but I decided to leave the fies untouched.

You can listen to the recordings in 48k/16bits here:

Recording test Topping

play.wavekit.app

If anyone wants the original recordings files at 192k let me know.

Things I noticed when doing this test:

1) Even though the preamps of the Topping and Motu have similar gain (58db vs 60db) I had to push the Topping preamp more to get a similar gain. The Motu gain was at about 60% and the Topping at 75% or so.

2) The Topping has a pitch at 75khz when recording at 192k. This is not a deal breaker for me as I will never use it to record ultrasonic stuff but it was surprising.

 

[lini]

Ok, I played more with monitoring. (....)

Sorry, I' a bit late, but anyway: Thanks for the additional info!

(...) So I think Topping Software controls monitoring signal routing on the device itself. I don't know if there is an analog-digital-analog conversion inside device for monitoring (...)

Regarding the latter, I wouldn't mind that - i.e., considering the audio quality of that thingy, I'd expect an ad/da conversion in the monitoring path sufficiently transparent.

Bit of a pity, that Topping doesn't offer the control software for Linux, though - 'cause ideally I would like the interface to be fully functional in combination with Linux (Mint). Might be a good idea for Topping to consider that, as so far none of the other usual suspects (like Focusrite, Presonus et cetera...) seems to care much about the Linus users) - so providing control software for Linux would be an additional selling point for Topping.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[jdjung]

Also as an aside for those that think this is important. I noticed the new E2x2 OTG variant not the regular E2x2, has the ability to attach a mobile phone and PC at the same time.

I bought this audio interface for the off chance I could use it with my mobile phone and PC at the same time and route the channels for meetings where some people are on Microsoft Meeting and a remote person calls in to my mobile phone, where that person can hear the people in the STREAMED meeting and talk to them at the same time through my phone to the E2x2 OTG. It DOES! No more putting them on speaker phone and trying to get the headset close to my headset and speakers for them to join. This is also great for people who are gamers where a phone call comes in and he has to pick up, conferencing in late coworkers into meetings, and not having to take off your headphones when a call comes in. It also lets you record the call (legally please!), use the headphone amp and headset microphone for mobile calls. I use a Rode VXLR Pro 3.5mm to XLR adapter to my Sennheiser PC38X, with Phantom power and this is a keeper for me!

I'm hoping the next variant has optical input as well as output with 8 channel ADAT. I'm hoping their 8x8 has INPUT and output 8 channel adat as well to expand other audio interfaces.

 

[Doodski]

It also lets you record the call (legally please!)

Fully legal to record telephone calls in Canada. I use it for tech support so I don't need to take notes. Why would it be illegal?

 

[jdjung]

Fully legal to record telephone calls in Canada. I use it for tech support so I don't need to take notes. Why would it be illegal?

Requires disclosure in some states in the US.

 

[lini]

Requires disclosure in some states in the US.

Over here both disclosure and consent, as far as I'm aware.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Sokel]

Over here both disclosure and consent, as far as I'm aware.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

Yep,that's for all EU.