Topping E30 DAC Review

[wwenze]

SMSL Sanskrit 10th AK4493 Edition have similar performance and much lower price.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...493-edition.10830/#lg=attachment45435&slide=0

Nah I see the linearity graph...

32 tone IMD is also Topping's win

Not that it will be audible in the first place.

 

[vkvedam]

Excellent! @JohnYang1997 Doesn't it make the D50/D50s obsolete, for that matter D70 as well

 

[BDWoody]

Excellent! @JohnYang1997 Doesn't it make the D50/D50s obsolete, for that matter D70 as well

Balanced outs, aes in for D70, d50s has bluetooth...maybe not obsolete, since they are no less transparent than this one...but nice to see excellent simple new products for a great price.

Not feeling a need to upgrade...

 

[Fraktur]

If only SOTA speakers could be as cheap as SOTA DACs....

 

[777]

Very nice product!
It is a shame I ”need” balanced outputs. And 8 channels (i.e 4pc of dacs)
@JohnYang1997 will there be a version with balanced output (xlr)? How much would that add to cost aproximately? Could it be done under $200? $150 would be a killer!

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-pre-production-evolution-of-kte-board.10471/

 

[Willing]

Seems this site is pre-sale for E30...https://www.smsl-topping.com/blog-New-product-2545/Topping-E30-11517046.html

 

[Veri]

Seems this site is pre-sale for E30...https://www.smsl-topping.com/blog-New-product-2545/Topping-E30-11517046.html

That website looks very sketchy. Likely to be a scam. Beware.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...adphone-amp-reviewed.9446/page-30#post-270481

 

[Piotr]

I think E30 is a direct competition to very alike but cheaper SMSL SANSKRIT 10Th MKII. Anyone dare to adjudicate which one is technically better?

Visually I like the topping more as the orange LCD is more pleasant and safer for my eyes.

 

[flipflop]

I think E30 is a direct competition to very alike but cheaper SMSL SANSKRIT 10Th MKII. Anyone dare to adjudicate which one is technically better?

E30 beats it in every single measurement. It's not even close.

 

[Piotr]

E30 beats it in every single measurement. It's not even close.

Source?

I see the opposite: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...t-of-smsl-sanskrit-10th-ak4493-edition.10830/

 

[Matias]

@amirm what is the output impedance? Thanks!

 

[bboris77]

It would be great to know whether the optical input measures just as well.

 

[flipflop]

Source?

I see the opposite: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...t-of-smsl-sanskrit-10th-ak4493-edition.10830/

Sorry, I was looking at the measurements of the first version.
Here E30 wins on linearity and multitone, while Sanskrit 10th MKII wins on THD+N vs frequency, with the rest of the measurements being more or less even. I don't think there's a clear winner.

 

[flowcaster]

Would you recommend it over the D50s? (no need for BT and DSD)

 

[Xyrium]

I really feel like that 4493 is the darling of the AKM line, even though it's aging. There appears to be several companies, including the RME ADI-2 DAC fs, implementing it well.

 

[Veri]

I really feel like that 4493 is the darling of the AKM line, even though it's aging.

Aging? The AK4493 is only a couple of years old iirc

 

[Xyrium]

Aging? The AK4493 is only a couple of years old iirc

Lol..very true. The DAC market moves as fast as the CPU market lately. Slight hyperbole of course...

 

[Music1969]

I believe you can hold the button while power up to enter that mode. If thats not the case it will be described in the manual.

Are you able to get Topping to share a photo of what the display shows when powered in DSD Direct mode?

 

[typericey]

Thanks for the review Amir. Can this be used as a DAC/pre? i.e. can the gain be adjusted with the remote?

@vkvedam D70 owner here. D70 has both XLR and RCA so it can be used as a DAC/pre for speakers and sub(s), like how I use them. So not quite obsolete. Though amazing how the E30 is cheaper and smaller with better SINAD. What are obsolete for certain are D10 and D30!

 

[Veri]

What are obsolete for certain are D10 and D30!

It does seem so. My only remark here is the lousy AKM digital filter. Whyyy do they make it so slow.
Oh well.