Topping E2x2 Audio Interface Review

[dlovesmusic]

Yup, but no remote control

My use case is basically trying to replace preamp... as I don't have any, because my main usage of my 2.0 setup is streaming with dac directly connected to power amplifiers.
But from time to time I want to use my old lp player and some records.

TT rca line in to E2x2, line out to int amp. Set E2x2 input gain and fix output gain. USB in to pc. Set line in as hqplayer input, set E2x2 as hqplayer dac output. Insert audiolense convolution for room correction. Hqplayer wui on my iPhone to control play/stop/digital volume.

Works like a charm to me.

Actually I can stream to my different network endpoints in different room as well so play lp in home office, stream it down to my main system in the basement. Use my benchmark la4 preamp remote for volume …

 

[solawind]

What is the AUX output on the OTG version? Does it have a separate output channel? I want to experiment with subs integration and am wondering if I can use the OTG version as a 3-channel DAC for this purpose.

edit:

found screenshots of the Topping software running with the OTG model, and it’s obvious that it is not a separate channel. But SPDIF output is. If I connect an cheap external DAC to the SPDIF output to get 2 more channels, would it degrade the quality of that DAC output in any way? By forcing resample for example. Will the clock be derived from SPDIF and delay will be constant, or will it drift over time?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Well folks, fun time lasted for about 3 weeks. E2X2 is dead now. Wont even turn on. So there you go!!!

 

[Pow1]

Ah that’s sad to hear. Alas performance isn’t an indicator of longevity. One would hope that being a pro-level equipment that reliability would’ve been taken more seriously.

 

[dlovesmusic]

Ah that’s sad to hear. Alas performance isn’t an indicator of longevity. One would hope that being a pro-level equipment that reliability would’ve been taken more seriously.

Bought it directly from topping store so will see how to deal with rma…

No surprise when I praised the unit for its performance to my friend last week and he’s like “a true friend should never recommend a friend to Topping.”

I managed to take 2 room measurements, and ripped 4 LPs with it before it died. It’s an amazing unit - when it worked

 

[Azathoth]

Well folks, fun time lasted for about 3 weeks. E2X2 is dead now. Wont even turn on. So there you go!!!

Wow.. I'm about to purchase one to upgrade my mic setup.. How did you set it up if I may ask?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Wow.. I'm about to purchase one to upgrade my mic setup.. How did you set it up if I may ask?

PC usb to E2x2. Iphone 5w charger to power E2x2 separately.

 

[half_dog]

Oh gosh... how unfortunate, really. I have two units. An e2x2 OTG for my desktop and older one (from the first batch) which it is used for field measurements (a lot of abuse) and both still working - okay, at first I had some problems with the interface which were solved after a few updates...

 

[AndyMorris]

TT rca line in to E2x2, line out to int amp. Set E2x2 input gain and fix output gain. USB in to pc. Set line in as hqplayer input, set E2x2 as hqplayer dac output. Insert audiolense convolution for room correction. Hqplayer wui on my iPhone to control play/stop/digital volume.

Works like a charm to me.

Actually I can stream to my different network endpoints in different room as well so play lp in home office, stream it down to my main system in the basement. Use my benchmark la4 preamp remote for volume …

Did you use rca to TS or RCA to TRS adaptors for the input to the E2x2. Did you use the E22x2 for output from your PC. Did you also convert from TRS to RCS for the output ?

 

[GodzFire]

I sent this to Topping but curious to hear people's thoughts too on how to deal with this. I purchased the E2x2 OTG not too long ago. So far I'm mostly happy with it but have some functionality questions/concerns:

1- I'm trying to utilize the USBC power out option so it's not pulling from my Mac and help eliminate any potential performance/interference dips, however I can't figure out what kind of wall adapter or whatever I need to use to plug it into the wall in order for it to use that power source instead of the regular USBC line into the Mac.

2- I'm connected via XLR to RCA cables to a high end tape deck to digitize some cassette tapes. When digitizing, for best results you're supposed to have the output knob on the tape deck basically at max, and then control the volume level on the audio interface. I am trying to do that but my input signal is going over decibel limit for obvious reasons. I am trying to use the Topping Control center to adjust the inputs down, but they won't go negative, they are capped at 0. I would have thought that would have just been built in.

Because of that, I have to try and use the vol knobs on the audio interface, but the problem with that is because I'm adjusting them by hand manually, I can't guarantee that their level positions are exactly the same.

 

[half_dog]

1- I'm trying to utilize the USBC power out option so it's not pulling from my Mac and help eliminate any potential performance/interference dips, however I can't figure out what kind of wall adapter or whatever I need to use to plug it into the wall in order for it to use that power source instead of the regular USBC line into the Mac.

If you are not using the HP out in high gain either 48V phantom power, the e2x2 doesn't need be powered by its USB power input. Anyway, any 5V dc adapter will do the job, but I have tried some adapters and the best one (no 60Hz neither its harmonics when using RTA on REW) is the Samsung ep-ta20(or22) 15W "family".

2- I'm connected via XLR to RCA cables to a high end tape deck to digitize some cassette tapes. When digitizing, for best results you're supposed to have the output knob on the tape deck basically at max, and then control the volume level on the audio interface. I am trying to do that but my input signal is going over decibel limit for obvious reasons. I am trying to use the Topping Control center to adjust the inputs down, but they won't go negative, they are capped at 0. I would have thought that would have just been built in.

2.1- If you are connecting a unbalanced connection to the interface, you will have better results with the INST(rument) toggled on and using a RCA to TS (6.35mm) cable.
2.2 - About cassette's volume output: I would recommend to try to listen the cassette with different volume output levels, some times the max volume might cause some saturation.
2.3 - This interface has a excelent SNR, you can leave its knobs at minium and than increase digitally after. Ideally, it works better with the signal input around -12dBFS, after that, it begins to saturate, it's very little, but there are some.

Nevertheless, if you want to use its gain knobs, you can do a closed loop (connecting its output to its input) and use REW to generate a signal (eg: 1khz) and calibrate both inputs (one at a time) using the same output - just moving the input side of the cable.

 

[lunaria]

1- I'm trying to utilize the USBC power out option so it's not pulling from my Mac and help eliminate any potential performance/interference dips, however I can't figure out what kind of wall adapter or whatever I need to use to plug it into the wall in order for it to use that power source instead of the regular USBC line into the Mac.

What's your issue? I've used several different USB chargers/power supplies connected to the USB-C power input and they work fine as power supply.

When digitizing, for best results you're supposed to have the output knob on the tape deck basically at max, and then control the volume level on the audio interface. I am trying to do that but my input signal is going over decibel limit for obvious reasons

I don't get it. There is a physical input amplification control knob. There is a LED level indicator, which tells you if the input amplification is too high and results in clipping. Why are you not limiting the input amplification to a level, where there is no clipping?

When digitizing, for best results you're supposed to have the output knob on the tape deck basically at max

That's nonsense. You are supposed to maximize the out level, while not resulting in an excessive input level/clipping of the downstream device.