Topping E30 II DAC Review

[sonder]

Seems like AK4118 is back. Massproduced and in stock:

AK4118AEQ | Audio Components | Products | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)

192kHz 24-bit DIR with 8:1 Selector, GPIO & DIT. The AK4118AEQ is a digital audio transceiver supporting 192kHz, 24-bit. The channel status decoder supports both consumer and professional modes.

www.akm.com

AK4118AEQ | Digi-Key Electronics

Order today, ships today. AK4118AEQ – Audio Audio Transceiver 8 Channel 48-LQFP (7x7) from Asahi Kasei Microdevices/AKM. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.com

Will Topping change back to this for coming products?

To cut a long story short, at an earlier stage Topping DAC's all used the AKM AK4118 s/pdif receiver chip, until these became unavailable, at which point they changed to Cirrus Logic CS8416 chips - and this proved to be problematic.
So now all Topping DAC's use the ONSemi LC89091 s/pdif chip, until the AK4118 becomes available again.

I just opened up my E30 II, and it sure looks like an AK4118AEQ in it, attached photos.

The Cirrus Logic CS8416 and ONSemi LC89091 look totally different, shapes, pins etc.

Picture of AK4118AEQ:

Inside my E30 II, delivered a few days ago.

For references, no issues of any kind thus far, using optical/toslink in.

XMOS chip is XU208-128-TQ64-C10 marked u30870c10

 

[Hapo]

...just one...?!?...

 

[sonder]

...just one...?!?...

mixing up chips?

This is in reference to the chip which handles the coax/optical in, the AK4118AEQ which was swapped out for different chips for a while.

Perhaps you are referring to the DAC chip AK4493SEQ the velvet dac, of which yes there are two on the board.

 

[Hapo]

 

[Veri]

...just one...?!?...

What could it possibly do with two digital receiving chips

 

[Hapo]

...one for each output chip...???...

 

[Anderlfs]

Hi all, sorry for the silly question that must have already been answered somewhere I can't find. Is it ok to use this Motorola charger with E30II Dac?

 

[staticV3]

Is it ok to use this Motorola charger with E30II Dac?

Yes.

 

[linuxfan]

Is it OK to use this Motorola charger with E30II DAC?

That appears to be a Motorola TurboPower charger, which will switch between 5V, 9V and 12V, depending on what the phone tells it to supply.
Google tells me that the connected device specifically has to negotiate for higher voltage, so by default the power supply should output 5V, and you should be OK ... but I give no guarantee.
If you want to play it safe get yourself a good quality 5V phone charger - JohnYang1997 recommends iPhone/Samsung/OnePlus.

 

[Anderlfs]

I got It. It may output the maximum voltage by mistake. It’s a bit hard to find iPhone/Samsung 5V only phone charger, but I’ll keep looking. Thanks.

 

[staticV3]

The DAC only has a barrel plug, so presents a basic resistive load to your power supply.
There's no logic that could negotiate quick charging protocols, that could trigger >5V output from the charger.

Afaik at least, phone chargers just triggering >5V on their own isn't really a thing.

 

[Atanasi]

Afaik at least, phone chargers just triggering >5V on their own isn't really a thing.

There have been faulty chargers, which don't detect disconnections, at least with some cables or devices. If a device switched to 20 V, the charger wouldn't revert to 5 V when disconnected.

 

[Ahmonge]

Hi all, sorry for the silly question that must have already been answered somewhere I can't find. Is it ok to use this Motorola charger with E30II Dac?

View attachment 271673

I would not risk the DAC with a fast charger. There are plenty of decent 5V/1A chargers at a good price.

 

[Toku]

I just didn't enjoy listening to music through them. I got the original as a gift, but sold it after trying it with my system. I tried the updated version and found it very grating to listen to.

I was using two E30s, but after purchasing an additional E30ll, I was surprised at the difference in sound quality between the two.
The evolution from E30 to E30 ll is big.

 

[raif71]

I would not risk the DAC with a fast charger. There are plenty of decent 5V/1A chargers at a good price.

I used a fast charger with my Sony Pha-2a dac/amp and now the unit is unusable anymore. Cannot be charged. Usually when charging one should see a blinking red light but now it is a blinking amber light and when I switched on the unit, there is no more power (no green light). Avoid fast chargers

 

[Saponetto]

...The evolution from E30 to E30 ll is big.

Also tried the E30 MkII but discovered that it was too detailed for my tastes.
I still have an old E30 as a backup DAC and if well powered I prefer it.
Just a question of tastes, I repeat..

 

[nerone]

Also tried the E30 MkII but discovered that it was too detailed for my tastes.
I still have an old E30 as a backup DAC and if well powered I prefer it.
Just a question of tastes, I repeat..

Which power supply do you use?

 

[Saponetto]

An huge homemade linear power supply, bolted below the desktop together with other similar PS for the 12VDC, 15VD and 24VDC.
Also tested it with the classic P50, fair enough but not for my purposes.

 

[blues66]

Hi all, I have 3 questions for you
windows 10 LTSB in use

1) when installing the drivers, the Topping E30 II must remain off, or on what is the procedure to follow ?
and if I have to install a new driver do I have to delete the old one? , or I'll rewrite it above

2) once in DAC ONLY MODE, how do you go back to PREamplifier status?

3) must he be burn in ?

Thank you

 

[Anderlfs]

I’ve found this model at Apple Store, It’s a 12W adapter. In the box is “5V/2.4A”, but in the adapter Itself is “5.2V/2.4A”. Is this extra 0.2V a concern?