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Topping E30 II DAC Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 14 4.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 22 6.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther

    Votes: 103 31.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 186 57.2%

  • Total voters
    325

amirm

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This is review and detailed measurements of the Topping E30 II DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $149.
Topping E30II DAC review stereo USB.jpg


The single "SEL" button powers on the unit (touch sensitive) and selects input. Some combination of power cycling and that button lets you change menu settings but bets to use the included remote:
Topping E30II DAC review remote back panel stereo USB.jpg


There is no power supply included. There is a USB to 5 volt barrel connector giving you the choice of how you feed it. I started with my USB hub built into the monitor but got the best results with a Samsung USB charger. Your situation may vary as you don't have an analyzer in front of the unit.

Topping E30 II Measurements
This our dashboard using Toslink input:

Topping E30II DAC Measurement stereo USB.png


And now USB:
Topping E30II DAC USB Measurement stereo.png


Depending on grounding, I could almost get up to 118 dB SINAD. But going with what we have, performance is still excellent:
best budget stereo DAC.png


Here is our dynamic range:
Topping E30II DAC DNR Measurement stereo USB.png


And IMD test:

Topping E30II DAC Measurement IMD stereo USB.png


Jitter performance is very good with USB input:
Topping E30II DAC USB Jitter Measurement stereo.png


But both Toslink and Coax showed significant 250 Hz jitter components:
Topping E30II DAC USB Jitter toslink coax Measurement stereo.png


As noted, these are inaudible though as the typical level is below threshold of hearing/masked.

Linearity shows a hair noise but otherwise is excellent:
Topping E30II DAC USB linearity Measurement stereo.png


Multitone test highlights the very low levels of distortion:
Topping E30II DAC USB Multitone Measurement stereo.png


Here are the included filters:
Topping E30II DAC USB Filter Measurement stereo.png


Using the default F2, we get this wideband distortion+noise vs frequency:
Topping E30II DAC USB THD+N vs Frequency Measurement stereo.png


Not state of the art but still very good.

Conclusions
Great to see my favorite "orange LED" DAC updated. Performance is improved across the board compared to Topping E30. Yet the price has hardly changed. We are talking about near state of the art performance in a finished DAC selling for just $149. With good looks to go with it.

I am a bit bothered by Toslink and Coax Jitter. AKM chip used here doesn't resample as ESS does so any issues there travel right through the DAC. Fortunately it is not an audible concern and for someone like me who uses USB as the primary input, non-issue.

I am going to put the Topping E30 II on my recommended list.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
 

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Zek

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Also on L7 Audiolab site...
 

DSJR

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I'm sure this will be answered in due course, but what was wrong with the I to justify a II model so soon?

Series 1 at £134.10 on Amazon (10% off) so to me a bit of a bargain.
 

Sokel

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The display is orange or red?Seems different in the L7 review.
 

JohnYang1997

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Well yeah we are easily running into the constraints of digital to analog conversion.. have been for quite some time ;)

Thanks for the review @amirm! @JohnYang1997 any chance for info on the coax/optical receiving compatibility?
I'm pretty sure it's not going to be a problem this time. But I cannot say for 100%.
 

fordiebianco

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MajorP

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@JohnYang1997 I bought an E30 DAC in 2021 (S/N starting with 2106). The unit is producing drop-outs from time to time when using toslink. Any chances Topping can exchange my unit to the new model?

Best regards
 

MajorP

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Has it always been the case, or just recently? I don't think the E30 has a variable DPLL setting.


JSmith
This always has been the case. It does not occur all the time though.
I'd say round-about once a day.
Does not happen when I use a Fiio DAC instead.
The E30 is connected to the Toslink output of my mainboard (Realtek Digital Audio (S/PDIF).
 
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