Topping E30 DAC Review

[Overseas]

I use the E30 with my amp+speakers system, Tidal streaming via phone OTG cable.
What exactly can this app do for me:
https://www.extreamsd.com/index.php/products/usb-audio-player-pro
When connecting an Android phone or tablet to a USB DAC, USB Audio Player PRO will unleash the full power of the DAC, by using our custom developed USB audio driver. This bypasses the Android audio system completely, meaning that Android's limitations regarding bit resolution and sample rate (16-bit/48kHz) are made irrelevant and high quality audio streams are fed directly to the DAC, making playback up to 32-bit at 384kHz possible (depending on the DAC capabilities) or even DSD.

I gave it a try with the trial version and felt nothing except cutting bass a little and having to deal with a new interface.

 

[Thalis]

I use the E30 with my amp+speakers system, Tidal streaming via phone OTG cable.
What exactly can this app do for me:
https://www.extreamsd.com/index.php/products/usb-audio-player-pro
When connecting an Android phone or tablet to a USB DAC, USB Audio Player PRO will unleash the full power of the DAC, by using our custom developed USB audio driver. This bypasses the Android audio system completely, meaning that Android's limitations regarding bit resolution and sample rate (16-bit/48kHz) are made irrelevant and high quality audio streams are fed directly to the DAC, making playback up to 32-bit at 384kHz possible (depending on the DAC capabilities) or even DSD.

I gave it a try with the trial version and felt nothing except cutting bass a little and having to deal with a new interface.

It gives you the option of bitperfect transmission and PEQ.

 

[dgnzcn]

Hello, can you tell me what is latest serial number starting first four number for E30 and all issues are resolved in latest version?

 

[companyja]

2009 and onwards are identical I believe. I think 2004 onwards is safe too but I remember hearing 2009 was different in some way. If you get a new E30 which is older than September of last year that would be kinda incredible

 

[Pulkass]

I recently contacted Topping about an issue where an audible pop occurs when using the USB input and coming out of standby. This pop only occurs coming out of standby and no other time. If the DAC is already on and displaying the flashing blue USB symbol and I turn on the player then the display shows the same (45.15 DSD changing to 44.1 PCM) but no pop. I sent Topping a video showing the issue and their final reply suggested the DAC maybe faulty and to return it. I have seen other posts mentioning a pop at start up so I don't want to return it if they all do it. I have attached a link to my video of the issue. Does anyone have an E30 that does not have an audible pop when coming out of standby using the USB input?

Video of audible pop

I cannot use the E 30 in USB mode, too much noise, it seems mains noise but it aint, The Cambridge audio, same mode is absolutely silent, and this problem occurs at a friends too, same setup. No pops, but a never stopping grinding noise.

 

[Jimbob54]

I cannot use the E 30 in USB mode, too much noise, it seems mains noise but it aint, The Cambridge audio, same mode is absolutely silent, and this problem occurs at a friends too, same setup. No pops, but a never stopping grinding noise.

IS it the same noise in pre amp mode with volume at full?

 

[knownunknown]

hey, can someone please help me setting this DAC up in windows 10. i've installed the newest driver already but i don't know what asio puffer sizes and format i should choose. besides that, i don't even know what asio means and reading previous forum posts around that topic only make me more confused. right now, regardless of what format i play (320kps mp3s or flac) the dac always shows 48.0 pcm, but shouldn't it display the bitrate?

ELI5 pleeeeaaase

 

[Jimbob54]

hey, can someone please help me setting this DAC up in windows 10. i've installed the newest driver already but i don't know what asio puffer sizes and format i should choose. besides that, i don't even know what asio means and reading previous forum posts around that topic only make me more confused. right now, regardless of what format i play (320kps mp3s or flac) the dac always shows 48.0 pcm, but shouldn't it display the bitrate?

ELI5 pleeeeaaase

What software music player are you using? You need to set that to exclusive mode (which means it bypasses the W10 audio settings). Its the W10 settings that means anything not in exclusive mode will be resampled to 48 (or whatever is set as the default). In exclusive mode, it should play at whatever the native bit depth and sample rate of the file is. But also means the windows volume slider wont work.

Edit, and as robbo points out below, exclusive mode (ie using asio) will stop you being able to use any system wide eq software. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Robbo99999]

hey, can someone please help me setting this DAC up in windows 10. i've installed the newest driver already but i don't know what asio puffer sizes and format i should choose. besides that, i don't even know what asio means and reading previous forum posts around that topic only make me more confused. right now, regardless of what format i play (320kps mp3s or flac) the dac always shows 48.0 pcm, but shouldn't it display the bitrate?

ELI5 pleeeeaaase

Jimbob can help you with how to setup ASIO, but I never use it....I just plug in the DAC and install the Topping drivers, then I make sure windows is set on 44.1kHz and 24bit and then I playback my lossless or 256 kpbs music in ITunes, whilst using EqualiserAPO for EQ purposes. I don't think you need to fuss with ASIO, in my opinion/experience the standard windows audio chain is fine.

 

[companyja]

Windows audio is fine, you might want to apply a separate preamp of -0.2dB in EQAPO to avoid windows' limiter if you use the volume at 100%. Otherwise, you don't need to bother with ASIO buffers unless you start an application which will use ASIO (a DAW or a player set to ASIO mode).

 

[knownunknown]

ok thank you. if i'm honest i don't care if it displays the bitrate as long as the music goes through the DAC and nothing compromizes it

 

[companyja]

Unless you use ASIO, Windows will automatically resample your music to the rate you set in the Sound Panel. I suggest you select either 44,1 or 48khz depending on what most of your music library is. The resampling done by the current version of Windows 10 is mature enough and doesn't introduce distortions in the audible range, so you don't have to worry about windows messing up your audio by resampling it. But just keep in mind that this means that unless your audio is already in the sample rate set in windows, it will technically not be bit-perfect and it will be altered by the OS. Your DAC will absolutely display the sample rate correctly as it will only see the sample rate of the stuff coming out of DirectSound (whatever you set in the Sound Panel). The original sample rate will not reach the DAC if you use DirectSound/MME (default Windows audio)

 

[Raoul Duke]

For your information the E30 seems unable to reproduce sound on some games (Battlefield4, RDR2, maybe more). I tried a LOT of workarounds on RDR2, being on contact with Rockstar for over a month, as RDR2 was the only game on which I had this issue. But then I reinstalled BF4 shortly ago and had the same issue.
My guess is that there is some kind of problem with the DirectX compatibility. Many other games and software works on the E30 however.

 

[avatar]

I' ve seen that many shops have recently restocked. Are the new manufactured units still based on the ak4493 chip ?
Any notable difference ? God I wish Armin could review a new unit (same for the L30)

 

[Poyo]

Hello guys, I'm new on the forum and I really need your help
When I'm playing games or listening music with my Topping E30, sometimes I have issues like Left channel not work for seconds or the sounds is "buggy".
I already had this issue with an E30 that I thought was faulty, but I guess it's not the case...
Topping drivers are installed, my Windows 10 is 1909 build.

Another things i'm testing right now : I uninstalled the Topping drivers but I installed only the drivers.inf without the application (Wasapi works, but no ASIO support), I'll see if the problems is still here... but right now i'm at the office, I'll test it in few hours :/

Do you have some advices for me please ?

Edit : I use an aftermarker good quality USB cable 1.5 meters, and it's powered by Samsung 5V 1A phone brick

 

[threni]

Hello guys, I'm new on the forum and I really need your help
When I'm playing games or listening music with my Topping E30, sometimes I have issues like Left channel not work for seconds or the sounds is "buggy".
I already had this issue with an E30 that I thought was faulty, but I guess it's not the case...
Topping drivers are installed, my Windows 10 is 1909 build.

Another things i'm testing right now : I uninstalled the Topping drivers but I installed only the drivers.inf without the application (Wasapi works, but no ASIO support), I'll see if the problems is still here... but right now i'm at the office, I'll test it in few hours :/

Do you have some advices for me please ?

Edit : I use an aftermarker good quality USB cable 1.5 meters, and it's powered by Samsung 5V 1A phone brick

1) Rule out the PC by playing music from another device; different PC, phone, tablet etc, on the problematic pc with new drivers etc.
2) Does the left channel come back by itself?
3) Not work = silence, noise, quiet audio?
4) "sounds is buggy" explain please

 

[threni]

I' ve seen that many shops have recently restocked. Are the new manufactured units still based on the ak4493 chip ?
Any notable difference ? God I wish Armin could review a new unit (same for the L30)

Their website still has AK4493 on it, in multiple places. So I'd be surprised if they're using a new DAC chip but still calling it the E30. Then again it also says 'A "small hot hatch" like DAC' which doesn't mean anything so I'm not sure who they're letting lose on that website, or why.

 

[Poyo]

1) Rule out the PC by playing music from another device; different PC, phone, tablet etc, on the problematic pc with new drivers etc.
2) Does the left channel come back by itself?
3) Not work = silence, noise, quiet audio?
4) "sounds is buggy" explain please

1 : I don't have another PC, I don't have OTG cable for my phone :/
2 : Sometimes yes, sometimes no I switch source on the E30 and it comes back, very random, I can listen for 2 hours without problem, or just 5 minutes
3 : No sound at all or veeeery low sound
4 : Sound is off, I don't know how to explain, it just sound very bad :/ with left channel very low volume

 

[threni]

1 : I don't have another PC, I don't have OTG cable for my phone :/
2 : Sometimes yes, sometimes no I switch source on the E30 and it comes back, very random, I can listen for 2 hours without problem, or just 5 minutes
3 : No sound at all or veeeery low sound
4 : Sound is off, I don't know how to explain, it just sound very bad :/ with left channel very low volume

Maybe swap the rca cables around and see if the problem 1) goes away, 2) the right channel now has the problem.
Maybe find/buy another cable, or find/borrow another device you can plug into the DAC.

 

[Poyo]

Maybe swap the rca cables around and see if the problem 1) goes away, 2) the right channel now has the problem.
Maybe find/buy another cable, or find/borrow another device you can plug into the DAC.

RCA cable is OK (Audioquest Golden Gate), tested and still left channel issue.
I think it's windows the problem, maybe I should try to plug it without drivers, just for testing.
What's wrong if I use it "plug and play" ?

Asio/Wasapi Lost ok, but If i fix the correct rate before listening FLAC, is that good ?
(Btw it seems with plug and play I can't use 16 bits depth...)

Edit : This is my second unit Topping E30, the older was sent back for the same issue that I thought was the DAC itself...

Edit 2 : I've found this : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-usb-mqa-dac-review.13732/page-32#post-656727
I have the exact same problem, with drivers it seems to have phase issue ? I'm testing with integrated USBAudio2.sys Windows 10 native, and at the moment no issue.

The DAC is connected to an USB 3.0 port, maybe should I try USB 2.0 instead ? (My motherboard have many USB 3 ports and only 2 USB 2 for mouse and keyboard)

Any help ?