Topping E30 II DAC Review

[Hirsebrei]

The 2 x AK4493 in a dual mono configuration, the additional circuitry required, and the necessary development effort.
That's the difference.

With the Lite, you save a lot of money while maintaining the same functionality.
Alternatively, you can also consider the SMSL SU-1 and C100 as alternatives.

E30II has other(better) OP-Amps then the lite Version. For me it's audible.

 

[JSmith]

For me it's audible.

On what basis, under what conditions and controls?


JSmith

 

[DanielT]

E30II has other(better) OP-Amps then the lite Version. For me it's audible.

There are many other things that differentiate them. How do you know if it's the op- amp and not different ...let's say the quality of the resistors? That explanation is just as unlikely as the other. Most likely it is a:

Spoiler

By the way, how easy or difficult can it be to hear the difference between different DACs:

You couldn’t hear the difference - Proof! Beautiful video of David Mellor (Audio Masterclass) about sound differences between DAC

David Mellor from audio masterclass and Alain Pauls are YouTubers and Audio engineers. They wanted to find out, if Differences between DAC are audible. So both of them started polls in which they asked the audience if it is possible to hear, how often they switched between an original audio...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[RandomEar]

E30II has other(better) OP-Amps then the lite Version. For me it's audible.

The selection of individual components is irrelevant. What matters is the end result: The signal that leaves the DAC.

Compare the measurements of the E30 II in this thread to the E30 II Lite. The differences are miniscule. Both DACs will be audibly transparent.

 

[BeeKay]

Both DACs will be ABX- tested audibly transparent.

 

[Hirsebrei]

On what basis, under what conditions and controls?


JSmith

USB on Raspberry5, mpd, pipewire passthru, Raspie OS, Harman-Kardon HK6500, KEF CS1/A. Both E30II F5. This setup makes all Filters sounding different.

 

[Haruko]

USB on Raspberry5, mpd, pipewire passthru, Raspie OS, Harman-Kardon HK6500, KEF CS1/A. Both E30II F5. This setup makes all Filters sounding different.

A wine lover swears he can always tell a $5,000 Château Pétrus from the château’s $300 second wine, same grapes, same year, same winemaker, just by taste. At home, with the labels in view, he nails it every time and describes profound differences.
When invited to a proper blind test (identical glasses, hidden labels, 16 trials), he scores no better than random guessing. As soon as the labels are revealed afterward, the “magic” instantly returns.

Maybe there is difference in filters but you have to challenge yourself by not knowing which filter is which. You listen to Filter A, listen to Filter B, then hear X (which is secretly either Filter A or Filter B) and say which it matches, without knowing the filter names, without seeing the display, and repeated enough times for statistical significance. If you can't pass the ABX test it could immediately mean 2 things. Difference either is not there or is so insignificant you can't tell the filters apart.

 

[Hirsebrei]

I don't want to convert anyone, to each his own opinion.
BTW, the filter lists mentioned in this review, differ from official AK-Doku and differ from Topping-Doku.

 

[BeeKay]

Here we prefer to separate opinions and facts. One can be repeatedly proven by scientific methods (ABX testing in this case) the other is rather pointless.

 

[VientoB]

A wine lover swears he can always tell a $5,000 Château Pétrus from the château’s $300 second wine, same grapes, same year, same winemaker, just by taste. At home, with the labels in view, he nails it every time and describes profound differences.
When invited to a proper blind test (identical glasses, hidden labels, 16 trials), he scores no better than random guessing. As soon as the labels are revealed afterward, the “magic” instantly returns.

Maybe there is difference in filters but you have to challenge yourself by not knowing which filter is which. You listen to Filter A, listen to Filter B, then hear X (which is secretly either Filter A or Filter B) and say which it matches, without knowing the filter names, without seeing the display, and repeated enough times for statistical significance. If you can't pass the ABX test it could immediately mean 2 things. Difference either is not there or is so insignificant you can't tell the filters apart.

I like that analogy, though I would use vodka lover rather than wine lover as wines can often have different tastes. But who is going to be able to differentiate a Grey Goose from a Smirnoff red when they cant see the bottles?

 

[BeeKay]

But who is going to be able to differentiate a Grey Goose from a Smirnoff red when they cant see the bottles?

So, where does the perceived difference arise when they actually see the bottles?

 

[Roland68]

So, where does the perceived difference arise when they actually see the bottles?

In tests involving both wine and other alcoholic beverages, there have been instances where the bottles and their contents were switched. Even when faced with clearly discernible differences in taste, most testers, including well-known critics, were misled by the bottle.

I like that analogy, though I would use vodka lover rather than wine lover as wines can often have different tastes. But who is going to be able to differentiate a Grey Goose from a Smirnoff red when they cant see the bottles?

It varies from person to person; some can tell the difference blindfolded, while others can't taste the difference at all.
But the headache the next day is a good indicator of how bad the booze was.

 

[Hapo]

I like that analogy, though I would use vodka lover rather than wine lover as wines can often have different tastes. But who is going to be able to differentiate a Grey Goose from a Smirnoff red when they cant see the bottles?

...oh, there are differences...

...in a blind test, most people will pick Sobieski over Grey Goose, and then claim you tricked them...

 

[VientoB]

It varies from person to person; some can tell the difference blindfolded, while others can't taste the difference at all.
But the headache the next day is a good indicator of how bad the booze was.

The headache thing is a load of nonsense imo. The idea is spread by people who think increased purity is going to avoid a headache But all vodka is high purity anyway due to the distillation process.
And I've not seen anyone get vodkas correct in blind testing

 

[Roland68]

The headache thing is a load of nonsense imo. The idea is spread by people who think increased purity is going to avoid a headache But all vodka is high purity anyway due to the distillation process.
And I've not seen anyone get vodkas correct in blind testing

Exactly, because there haven't been any medical papers, doctoral theses, or studies on fusel alcohols (also known as fusel oils/accompanying alcohols) and their effects on the human body and brain for over 40 years.
Things like isoamyl alcohol, n-propanol, methanol, isobutanol, amyl alcohol, butanol, propanol, etc., are of course completely harmless and certainly don't cause headaches due to their slowed breakdown in the body.
It's all just propaganda.
I hope my sarcasm is clear.

In fact, these fusel alcohols are not only produced during the fermentation process but are often added intentionally, as they are also used to enhance flavor.
Especially in cheaper vodkas, the methanol content is often over 0.1%. Measurements of 16 grams of methanol per liter (and other substances) have been found in very cheap and counterfeit vodkas on several occasions.

Good, high-quality vodkas are very pure due to the production process and therefore initially very neutral in taste. However, they differ in texture and other aspects, especially in the raw materials used.
I can distinguish cheap vodkas from my favorites in a blind tasting and have won several bets because of it.
Whether the cheaper vodkas differ from each other, I can't say. I tried them twice in my youth and then decided I didn't want to drink them. Every blind tasting or bet since has confirmed this.

But it's similar with wine, vodka, and other alcoholic beverages as it is with audio. In a true blind tasting, the differences are often very small or even nonexistent. Most so-called connoisseurs and critics don't participate in such blind comparisons.

 

[VientoB]

Exactly, because there haven't been any medical papers, doctoral theses, or studies on fusel alcohols (also known as fusel oils/accompanying alcohols) and their effects on the human body and brain for over 40 years.
Things like isoamyl alcohol, n-propanol, methanol, isobutanol, amyl alcohol, butanol, propanol, etc., are of course completely harmless and certainly don't cause headaches due to their slowed breakdown in the body.
It's all just propaganda.
I hope my sarcasm is clear.

In fact, these fusel alcohols are not only produced during the fermentation process but are often added intentionally, as they are also used to enhance flavor.
Especially in cheaper vodkas, the methanol content is often over 0.1%. Measurements of 16 grams of methanol per liter (and other substances) have been found in very cheap and counterfeit vodkas on several occasions.

Good, high-quality vodkas are very pure due to the production process and therefore initially very neutral in taste. However, they differ in texture and other aspects, especially in the raw materials used.
I can distinguish cheap vodkas from my favorites in a blind tasting and have won several bets because of it.
Whether the cheaper vodkas differ from each other, I can't say. I tried them twice in my youth and then decided I didn't want to drink them. Every blind tasting or bet since has confirmed this.

But it's similar with wine, vodka, and other alcoholic beverages as it is with audio. In a true blind tasting, the differences are often very small or even nonexistent. Most so-called connoisseurs and critics don't participate in such blind comparisons.

If you could provide evidence that cheaper vodkas contain more impurities that would be helpful. I suspect you can't.

Another finding I found interesting is that Vodka drinkers couldn't tell the difference between Grey Goose and pure ethanol diluted to a comparable concentration with water (which costs a fraction of the price to produce!)

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Another finding I found interesting is that Vodka drinkers couldn't tell the difference between Grey Goose and pure ethanol diluted to a comparable concentration with water (which costs a fraction of the price to produce!)

Still off topic... but that is the best argument yet for choosing ( Gin | Rum | Whisky | Mezcal | etc. ) instead of Vodka... except for price.

 

[Hapo]

...here is some on topic Schiit...I returned the Topping DX5II because of the DSP issue...that was the main reason it was selected in the first place...

...this pretty much puts me off topping...back to the 'stack...Hapo out...

 

[blues66]

Hello good morning guys,

I hope you can help me

I have the aforementioned DAc Topping E 30 II, in the old Pc I had saved, downloading the Firmware, DAC Driver

now I'm going to get back to a new PC and I wanted to reinstall the Drivers but ; unfortunately I formatted the PC and lost the drivers folder!!

other thing if I put topping in google search ... tells me 404 Not Found
other page

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[BeeKay]

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