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Topping E30 II DAC Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 11 4.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 18 6.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther

    Votes: 85 31.3%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 158 58.1%

  • Total voters
    272

Trell

Major Contributor
Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
2,223
Likes
2,426
thx all for reply and advice for startup procedure, its good one!
You can also add a pair of passive attenuators to put between the DAC and the amplifier, and some of them have an adjustable attenuation. So full output from the DAC will not cause full output from the amplifier.
 

hutt132

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2019
Messages
41
Likes
77
Here are the included filters:
View attachment 220685

Using the default F2, we get this wideband distortion+noise vs frequency:

@amirm notes that filter F2 is default, however the manual that shipped with my E30 II states F-3 is the default filter and it was set to F-3 out of the box...

@JohnYang1997 Are the filters in Amirm's graph labeled incorrectly? This would indicate that the default F-3 (Short Delay Sharp Roll-off ) corresponds do the slow green line in the graph.

signal-2022-12-06-105526.jpeg
 

shawnbd

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2020
Messages
5
Likes
3
Dear Amirm, Would you share the photo of detail your Samsung USB charger, so I can find one.
 

cola

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
6
Likes
6
Maybe interesting for E30II users. I'm using the E30II only in DAC mode and only with my cd player via coax cable. I noticed 1-3 dropouts per cd - that is not fine for me. I asked the service at Topping for new firmware - but there is no newer official version - but the service said sometimes the jitter from source is too high - if so there is no workaround. Because my players are ok i tried another thing. My first smartphone usb power supply was to small for the E30II I connected a chinese goobay power supply with 1.5A - thats works but with this dropouts.
So I replaced on monday this thing with an Apple USB power supply - and since then - no more drop- out on coax. Apple photos attached.
Cord
 

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penguin

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2022
Messages
10
Likes
0
Just ordered it. Anyone know why it isn't listed at tpdz.net?

Going to replace it with my Henry Audio USB DAC Mk3 wich has a single AKM4430 chip. Will I see an improvement in sound, using the USB in from my computer? Bought it to play DSD.
 

litguy

Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2018
Messages
9
Likes
2
Maybe interesting for E30II users. I'm using the E30II only in DAC mode and only with my cd player via coax cable. I noticed 1-3 dropouts per cd - that is not fine for me. I asked the service at Topping for new firmware - but there is no newer official version - but the service said sometimes the jitter from source is too high - if so there is no workaround. Because my players are ok i tried another thing. My first smartphone usb power supply was to small for the E30II I connected a chinese goobay power supply with 1.5A - thats works but with this dropouts.
So I replaced on monday this thing with an Apple USB power supply - and since then - no more drop- out on coax. Apple photos attached.
Cord
I have a DVD player, my topping D50 cannot lock coax signal, so I bought a E30II for DVD, it locks signal success withouth any dropouts.
 

cola

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
6
Likes
6
Yes - perhaps it depends what power supply is used - looks like that is important for proper operation. Would be clever if Topping add a ps by default.

Cord
 

Veri

Master Contributor
Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
9,238
Likes
11,491
I have a DVD player, my topping D50 cannot lock coax signal, so I bought a E30II for DVD, it locks signal success withouth any dropouts.
E30 ii was programmed for maximum compatibility :)
 

shawnbd

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2020
Messages
5
Likes
3
Maybe interesting for E30II users. I'm using the E30II only in DAC mode and only with my cd player via coax cable. I noticed 1-3 dropouts per cd - that is not fine for me. I asked the service at Topping for new firmware - but there is no newer official version - but the service said sometimes the jitter from source is too high - if so there is no workaround. Because my players are ok i tried another thing. My first smartphone usb power supply was to small for the E30II I connected a chinese goobay power supply with 1.5A - thats works but with this dropouts.
So I replaced on monday this thing with an Apple USB power supply - and since then - no more drop- out on coax. Apple photos attached.
Cord
Thank you for the advice, I found a samsung 5V adapter model is EP-TA50UWE and an Apple 10W A1357, using the USB tester test results are as follow.
 

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frki16

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2022
Messages
38
Likes
19
I found out an interesting thing about this DAC yesterday. I finally put together the setup in the living room (elac DBR62, NAD C356, E30 II, stands filled with sand, shortened the wires to the speakers :) ) and noticed that when I turn up the volume to about 80dB, the vocals are distorted. The problem would disappear at about 70dB. That was a little strange to me, but I reconciled myself and attributed it to the acoustics of the room. Then I remembered that I could try to connect the DAC in direct mode to the NAD preamplifier (until now the DAC worked in pramp mode and the NAD as a power amplifier).
And boom, the problem disappeared, everything became great even at levels around 90dB!
This DAC shows great measurements in direct mode, but obviously not so good in preamp mode.
What I also noticed earlier is that when the E30 is in preamp mode, it couldn't push NAD to produce more than about 95dB, but while in direct mode even half-amplified NAD produce more than 100dB.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
 

Toku

Major Contributor
Joined
Apr 4, 2018
Messages
2,016
Likes
2,129
Location
Japan
I have a DVD player, my topping D50 cannot lock coax signal, so I bought a E30II for DVD, it locks signal success withouth any dropouts.
The COAX input on the Topping D50/D50s has a serious flaw.
I purchased the D50 immediately after its release and tested its operation in detail, but the devices that can be connected to the COAX input are extremely limited.
I immediately reported this to Topping and they confirmed the issue themselves. But after that there is no improvement report. The D50 has since changed to the D50s, but the problem with the COAX input still carries over to the D50s.
 

Twotone

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2023
Messages
5
Likes
0
Hi guys, new user here long time lurker.

I'm Tony from the UK, Glasgow.

Apologies in advance for the, likely, repetitive question however here goes:)

I'm about to buy an E30 or E30ii Dac, there's a seller on Amazon UK selling the E30 for £100 posted or £149 for the E30ii version posted but I'm a bit concerned that I might end up with an old serial number (problem related) E30.

I have recently had a D10s which I liked and sold cause I needed more inputs for the TV etc everything then was going into a Yamaha AS-501which I've also since sold but I'll likely only need to use the USB input in whichever DAC I end up buying so I could just buy another D10 or 10s but I'd like to be able to use other inputs into the DAC just in case as I'm a bit of a box swapper so which version of the E30 should I buy given that they sound the same?

I have read of the various problems associated with these DACs ie the jitter problem re the COAX input etc.

Basically I just want to be able to listen to my Flac files that are stored on a HDD without any problems well not many problems.

My current amp is a Marantz NR1200 which I'm more than happy with but I have an RPi 3 running Volumio with my music on a HDD connected to the RPi so I want to listen to my music again although I can use the internal DAC in the RPi and use a 3.5mm to two RCA cable into the Maranzt via an RCA input but would prefer to use an external USB dac which is why I'm going to buy another DAC.

I don't own a CD player or Blu-ray player, DVD player or games consul and probably never will but you never know:cool:

I mainly stream audio locally and listen to internet radio and stream movies/TV programs from the likes of Netflix & BBC iplayer, Disney plus and Apple.

My TV is set to PCM for audio but it's connected to the Marantz via HDMI so stereo out from the Marantz but I can connect the TV digital out if I have to to the Marantz too which has plenty of inputs so I'll probably never have to connect anything digital into the Topping E30/E30ii anyway.

Thanks

Tony
 
Last edited:

frki16

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2022
Messages
38
Likes
19
Hi guys, new user here long time lurker.

I'm Tony from the UK, Glasgow.

Apologies in advance for the, likely, repetitive question however here goes:)

I'm about to buy an E30 or E30ii Dac, there's a seller on Amazon UK selling the E30 for £100 posted or £149 for the E30ii version posted but I'm a bit concerned that I might end up with an old serial number (problem related) E30.

I have recently had a D10s which I liked and sold cause I needed more inputs for the TV etc everything then was going into a Yamaha AS-501which I'veal;so since sold but I'll likely only need to use the USB input in whichever DAC I end up buying so I could just buy another D10 or 10s but I'd like to be able to use other inputs into the DAC just in case as I'm a bit of a box swapper so which version of the E30 should I buy given that they sound the same but I have read of the various problems associated with these DACs ie the jitter problem re the COAX input etc.

Basically I just want to be able to listen to my Flac files that are stored on a HDD without any problems well not many problems.

My current amp is a Marantz NR1200 which I'm more than happy with but I have an RPi 3 running Volumio with my music on a HDD connected to the RPi so I want to listen to my music again although I can use the internal DAC in the RPi and use a 3.5mm to two RCA cable into the Maranzt via an RCA input but would prefer to use an external USB dac which is why I'm going to buy another DAC.

I don't own a CD player or Blu-ray player, DVD player or games consul and probably never will but you never know:cool:

I mainly stream audio locally and listen to internet radio and stream movies/TV programs from the likes of Netflix & BBC iplayer, Disney plus and Apple.

My TV is set to PCM for audio but it's connected to the Marantz via HDMI so stereo out from the Marantz but I can connect the TV digital out if I have to to the Marantz too which has plenty of inputs so I'll probably never have to connect anything digital into the Topping E30/E30ii anyway.

Thanks

Tony
what is the question?
 

Jole

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2021
Messages
11
Likes
1
Uhm, sorry, no. The standard warranty time in EU is 2 years. And it does not matter if it is $150 or $1500, the mindset of creating things that become ewaste after one year should not be tolerated.

On other side, We have bought these things because they appear to be well made, and audio gears generally lasted a long time. We should protest with our wallet
I have some micro headamp around 100 euro if I can remeber bought at least before 5 years ..Will not say company...but from Austria...still works excellent...so we review performance but not how much will last super...like butterfly beutifull and lives one day
 
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