Topping E30 DAC Review

[rcstevensonaz]

(edited) I have a power strip. When powered on, everything turns on... except the E30 which goes into standby mode and requires a button press to activate.

E30 also does what you need.
You have to set it by accessing the A-C or A-O options available in the start menu, accessible by keeping pushed the front capacitive button of the E30 during the power-up.

Can someone explain how that fixes the issue? Changing between A-C and A-O doesn't seem to make any difference.

I am having the same problem — my E30 (AK4493 version from 2020, FW v1.08) is powered by a 5V adapter plugged into a power strip that controls my AV rack. When I power on the AV rack in the morning, the E30 stays in stand-by mode even though my laptop is already powered on and connected to the E30. And it continues to stay in standby mode if the laptop is audio to the E30.

As a test, I set my laptop playing a song. Then power cycle the E30. After E30 is back on, the device is fully visible to the PC's Device Manager and the Topping USB Audio Control panel; but it remains in standby instead of music again being sent through to my mixer / amp.

I want the E30 to immediately go active if the USB connection is active. This happens for the D90 but not the E30.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Just noticed a newer driver was released (back in late Sept) since I last checked the maker's website:

V5.50 driver for most of TOPPING DACs-TOPPING

As an update: the most recent drivers launched by Topping for E30 (and other DACs) are now v5.62: https://www.tpdz.net/newsinfo/874980.html

And copying from earlier comment by @nsfgp :

Release Notes from the Driver Developer/Source (Thesycon)

https://www.thesycon.de/usbaudio/TUSBAudio_history.txt

 

[Toku]

This problem is simply a misunderstanding of the behavior of A-O, A-C.
This behavior is common not only to the E30 but also to Topping's DAC products.
A-O and A-C operations do not function by turning the power line ON-OFF. The 5V power line must be turned on at all times. Also, A-O and A-C will not function if you turn it off using the panel button on the main unit or the power button on the remote control.
A-O, A-C is a function that allows the E30 to wake or go to sleep when the selected USB, OPT, or COAX communication is connected/disconnected during normal operation. A-O and A-C functions are incorporated for such operations.
However, the behavior may be different from what you intended.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

This problem is simply a misunderstanding of the behavior of A-O, A-C.
This behavior is common not only to the E30 but also to Topping's DAC products.
A-O and A-C operations do not function by turning the power line ON-OFF. The 5V power line must be turned on at all times. Also, A-O and A-C will not function if you turn it off using the panel button on the main unit or the power button on the remote control.
A-O, A-C is a function that allows the E30 to wake or go to sleep when the selected USB, OPT, or COAX communication is connected/disconnected during normal operation. A-O and A-C functions are incorporated for such operations.
However, the behavior may be different from what you intended.

Thanks. But I think that confirms the A-O/A-C toggle doesn't address the issue either of us posted. We want the E30 to be awake and active when powered on if there is a USB device connected. Or, for it to at least automatically become active when there is audio being sent over the USB after powering on.

I personally suspect it is a firmware bug that it doesn't come out of standby mode in that situation (@JohnYang1997). The Topping D90 (AK4495 version, firmware v1.06) does not have this problem. When the exact same USB cable is plugged into my D90 instead of E30, the audio from the laptop just simply resumes after power cycling the D90.

 

[Toku]

Thanks. But I think that confirms the A-O/A-C toggle doesn't address the issue either of us posted. We want the E30 to be awake and active when powered on if there is a USB device connected. Or, for it to at least automatically become active when there is audio being sent over the USB after powering on.

I personally suspect it is a firmware bug that it doesn't come out of standby mode in that situation (@JohnYang1997). The Topping D90 (AK4495 version, firmware v1.06) does not have this problem. When the exact same USB cable is plugged into my D90 instead of E30, the audio from the laptop just simply resumes after power cycling the D90.

That's by design, not a bug.
If you would like to improve the specifications, please make suggestions directly to Topping in China.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

That's by design, not a bug.
If you would like to improve the specifications, please make suggestions directly to Topping in China.

I can't argue on that. But, curious why the behavior of E30 and D90 are designed to behave differently after a power cycle.

 

[Recopilatorio]

I have a Topping E30, Revision V. 1.08 with 5.50.0 drivers. Should I install 5.62 drivers? Thank you.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I have a Topping E30, Revision V. 1.08 with 5.50.0 drivers. Should I install 5.62 drivers? Thank you.

Yes. The Windows 5.62 drivers are the latest version released by TOPPING, and is applicable to nearly all of their DACs.

From their web page:

Version: V5.62 (For Windows 10 & Windows 11)

Adapted products:

E30, E30 II, EX5, E50, E70, E70 Velvet, D10, D10s, D10Bal, D30Pro, D50, D50s, D70, D70s, D70 Pro SABRE, D70 Pro OCTO, D90, D90MQA, D90SE, D90LE, DX1, DX3 Pro, DX3 Pro+, DX5, DX5 Lite, DX7s, DX7 Pro, DX7 Pro+, DX9, U90, DM7, G5, NX4DSD.

Please note that this driver is not for D30 and DX7.

 

[Oldson]

my E30 is on ebay if anyone interested

Topping E30 DAC Black PLEASE READ DETAILS | eBay

Topping E30 mk1. i have used this in "dac mode" only so not needed a remote. the remote, should you need it, i believe is a "RC-15" (topping). data cable (white) included.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Oldson]

my E30 is on ebay if anyone interested

Topping E30 DAC Black PLEASE READ DETAILS | eBay

Topping E30 mk1. i have used this in "dac mode" only so not needed a remote. the remote, should you need it, i believe is a "RC-15" (topping). data cable (white) included.

www.ebay.co.uk

sold quickly.
got a E50 on the cheap to replace it, just to cover any balanced options in the future.

 

[mikemag]

I saw some pics inside the E30 and it looks like there are two Green MUSE through the hole caps
can someone tells me if they are MUSE caps or just some green caps

see post 4644 for the pics july 8 2021

 

[Toku]

I saw some pics inside the E30 and it looks like there are two Green MUSE through the hole caps
can someone tells me if they are MUSE caps or just some green caps

see post 4644 for the pics july 8 2021

That's right.
If you search for Nichicon muse you will find many green MUSE capacitors.

 

[mikemag]

That's right.
If you search for Nichicon muse you will find many green MUSE capacitors.

So those are genuine Muse caps !
that is very impressive, they did not have to use a premium cap

 

[raif71]

I am aMused

 

[Lukerator]

Is the SINAD 112dB with A-wt ？

 

[staticV3]

Is the SINAD 112dB with A-wt ？

These are measured with Z-wt:

 

[Lukerator]

These are measured with Z-wt:
View attachment 374715 View attachment 374714

Thank you for your answer, but what parameters will used a-wt in the test？ a-wt said to beter match our hearing

 

[staticV3]

Thank you for your answer, but what parameters will used a-wt in the test？ a-wt said to beter match our hearing

Amir uses Z-wt for all of his measurements.

These are the only E30 numbers with A-wt applied:

 

[Lukerator]

Amir uses Z-wt for all of his measurements.

These are the only E30 numbers with A-wt applied:
View attachment 374729

got it. Thanks!

 

[thunderchicken]

I bought mine the December after the review came out and it’s sadly starting to give up. The power section seems to be the culprit.

The barrel connector is no longer secure enough despite being left untouched in a cabinet for years now. I’m getting audible noise and artifacts from the poor connection and no amount of fiddling fixes it.

Time for an upgrade, I think! In the meantime, add my experience to the data set on inexpensive hi-fi longevity.

I’m not unhappy about the performance or price, although both performance standards and my budget tolerance have grown a bit in the past four years.