Topping E30 II DAC Review

[Gerardo61]

So what does all this mean exactly? How did you conduct this comparison, level matched, no peeking? Did you have the filter off in one or something?

SMSL DO300 DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL DO300 balanced stereo USB DAC with Bluetooth. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $549 although I see it on sale for $490. The DO300 naturally follows the design language of other recent SMSL products. I like the colorful display...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I have owned the do300 since March 2023. I set do300 as follow:
PCM Filter: Linear Fast
DSD cut off: 47 KHz
Volume fixed = 0 dB
My chain is: PC I5 12400/Ubuntu 22.04.3 - HQPlayer Desktop 5.5.1- Audio Swith Ethernet LHY, Streamer SOtM 200 ultra neo with LPS, DAC (usb in/rca out), Ampli Jadis I50 (tubes 50+50w class A), speakers Acoustique Quality Pontos 6 + Sub Woofer Acoustique Quality Pontos W
I don't have sophisticated equipment so my tests are based on listening to songs I know very well
The DO300 sounds very good and is an excellent DAC but for my taste it is too tiring in the mid/high range. Before DO300 I have owned a Wyered4Sound DAC2DSD (ES9018) and it was very sharp to my ears. DO300 is much better but, may be, it also suffers from a bit of exuberance in the medium-high range which becomes tiring after a few hours.
another problem with the ES9039 chip as with all ESSs is that the oversampling done by HQPlayer in DSD passes through the ESS modulators while with the AKMs it is conveyed directly without manipulation.
Furthermore, in my opinion the sound signature of the E30II is very detailed but less tiring in the medium-high range.
Set up E30II:
PCM Filter: #3
DSD cut off 78 KHz (it's better for me IMO)
Volume Fixed = 0dB - the 0 dB volume is a tad lower than DO300
Thats all
Enjoy the music
Gerardo

 

[Veri]

E30 better than E30 II when you connect to LPS

Doubt.

 

[Jimster480]

Is this stuff Topping is doing with the new I/V stage (seen on newer model slides like the D50 III and E70) and LNRD (errr is this the I/V?) really helping for sound quality? I'm still hanging on to my original E30 from 2020

I'm honestly not sure if there would be any real difference in how these products actually sounded. Like, I would have to have both of them and really do some deep dive to try to find any difference. But I would be incredibly surprised if there was one.

 

[Toku]

Is this stuff Topping is doing with the new I/V stage (seen on newer model slides like the D50 III and E70) and LNRD (errr is this the I/V?) really helping for sound quality? I'm still hanging on to my original E30 from 2020

Topping is steadily working on new technology. I can feel their achievements from my experience with PA5/PA5 ll.
I think the evolution from E30 to E30 ll is great. If you switch two units side by side, you can clearly hear the difference in sound. I think the E30 ll is definitely better, but everyone has different sound preferences, so I can't make a definitive decision.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I don't think we should avoid the issue, but the issue is (and has been) pretty out in the open. It should not be a surprise to anyone.

There are at least two ways to view it: 1) You don't expect much support when you buy something for 'lunch at McDonald's' pricing (to use Amir's words). 2) The alternative is to buy something with local support and first rate reputation, but at a much higher price.

Of course there are other issues that may come to a head soon, that could determine the availability of these (and similarly sourced devices). Who can predict that? If you can get one for one hundred and fifty dollars, even if it only lasts a year or so, what have you lost within the overall scheme of inflationary monetary policy?

No, just no. This is current problem in itself. People being ushered into the idea spending a £150 on a product that only lasts a year is acceptable, it just isent. That is not a product people should accept, it is not a product that provides any benefits to the environment through waste. It is not a product made for the people but for the monetary gain of those whom try and convince people it’s acceptable. An £150 dac is not a cheap addition to an HiFi set up in an everyday common market. It might be lunch money to someone who can spend a child’s schooling fees on such a gadget but to the worlds average working Joe whom also enjoys good music, spending £150 on an ‘HiFi add on’ has a fair expectation of at least 5 years good usage and rightly so, anything less is just not acceptable on any level. I see stuff still being used from the 80s.

 

[Sokel]

another problem with the ES9039 chip as with all ESSs is that the oversampling done by HQPlayer in DSD passes through the ESS modulators while with the AKMs it is conveyed directly without manipulation.

Not exactly:

PCM vs DSD

Did a little comparison and I was wondering if any friend with better gear here has tested this. Results you're about to see is probably narrowed to the specific DAC but it's interesting to see how it handles things differently. I will not try to decipher the results other that DSD seems much...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[blues66]

Hello everyone, I have MQA files I can connect this product

SMSL PO100 Pro MQA USB Interfacce​

to Topping E30 II ??

Thank you

 

[staticV3]

Hello everyone, I have MQA files I can connect this product

SMSL PO100 Pro MQA USB Interfacce​

to Topping E30 II ??

Thank you

If SMSL's specs are correct, then you should be able to do PC->USB->PO100 Pro->Coax/Toslink->E30II to enable unfolded MQA playback on your E30II.

What confuses me a bit is that I thought Meridian had a rule which strictly forbade any MQA decoder from having a digital output, yet the PO100 Pro seems to be just that.

 

[Haruko]

I'm pretty sure FX audio dr07 has optical out as well

 

[Roland68]

Hello everyone, I have MQA files I can connect this product

SMSL PO100 Pro MQA USB Interfacce​

to Topping E30 II ??

Thank you

If SMSL's specs are correct, then you should be able to do PC->USB->PO100 Pro->Coax/Toslink->E30II to enable unfolded MQA playback on your E30II.

What confuses me a bit is that I thought Meridian had a rule which strictly forbade any MQA decoder from having a digital output, yet the PO100 Pro seems to be just that.

The SMSL PO100 Pro MQA USB Interface is just an MQA core decoder with which the first stage of the MQA file is unfolded.
You can tell this if a 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz MQA file is output on your DAC at 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz and the MQA LED on the SMSL PO100 Pro is on. The DAC doesn't matter, it just has to be capable of at least 96 kHz.
Instead of the SMSL PO100 Pro, you can also use apps or media players such as TIDAL, Audirvana and Roon, which also have an MQA core decoder for the first stage.

Further unfolding of the MQA file is only possible with hardware and suitable software in the device, as the MQA file must be prepared appropriately for each DAC chip and the filters must also be included.

Addendum:
Der SMSL PO100 AK soll laut MQA ein Volldecoder sein und gehört damit zu den günstigsten Geräten, um MQA in allen 3 Stufen vollständig zu dekodieren.

Addendum MQA.:
My opinion on MQA is well known and not positive. This results from extensive testing with several people.
In my experience, high-quality recordings and sound carriers make much more sense, e.g. in-acoustic (UHQ-CD/HQ-CD, but also in general), Sound Liaison, 2xHD/Nagra, etc.
And of course you should turn on your brain before spending money specifically on MQA. If we cannot distinguish real recorded 768 kHz material, or at best marginally, from normal 44.1/48 kHz, then what should MQA do? 100% Master is 100% Master and MQA comes afterwards.

 

[Veri]

My opinion on MQA is well known and not positive.

...

 

[usa_satriani]

Hello,

Just to be sure, it comes with a cable pc USB type to round 5v ?

This version seems to be ok with a phone charger, right ?

 

[staticV3]

Just to be sure, it comes with a cable pc USB type to round 5v ?

Yes.

This version seems to be ok with a phone charger, right ?

Also yes.

 

[usa_satriani]

Thanks,
I ordered it and looking forward to trying it.
Currently dx3 pro plus and massdrop thx.
I have an he1000 stealth eqed. Will see if I can pick a difference. Hoping to get warmer highs.

 

[Bru87tr]

Would there be an audible difference between the single chip SMSL SU-1 and the E30 II dual chip ?

 

[staticV3]

Would there be an audible difference between the single chip SMSL SU-1 and the E30 II dual chip ?

There may be an audible difference due to the E30II's ability to change Oversampling filters.

Single chip vs dual chip is inconsequential.

 

[Toku]

Would there be an audible difference between the single chip SMSL SU-1 and the E30 II dual chip ?

I use two units, the SU-1 and the E30ll, side by side. The E30ll uses two DAC chips, and although the numerical data for THD+N is slightly improved, I don't feel any difference in sound quality.

 

[SacreDro]

This vs the E50?

 

[staticV3]

This vs the E50?

Do you have an Amp with balanced inputs or studio monitors, or do you see yourself upgrading to one in the future?

Then get the E50.

 

[Palladium]

Going by Shenzhenaudio prices there's little reason not to go for the D50 III over the E50.