Topping E30 II Lite alternatives

[JorgeO]

Hello
My setup is: computer, iFi nano iDSD, AIYIMA A07 Max, Cabasse sampan lourd.
I would like to have a Toslink input and a remote (I'm sitting 3 meters away), the replacement of the IFI nano for the Topping E30 II Lite seems like a solution.
What are the "better" alternatives?
What differences in sound should I expect?
Thank you

Jorge

 

[staticV3]

Hi @JorgeO! Welcome to ASR.

In terms of pure sound quality, it does not get any better than the E30II Lite, at any price point.

With the E30II Lite, you would have a completely transparent converter.

An alternative, neither better nor worse, is the SMSL C200.

I would generally not expect a difference in sound when switching DACs.

 

[Rja4000]

By the way, I'm listening to music through the E30 II Lite as I write this.
Qobuz through a Bluesound node N100 (first generation), then SPDIF out to the E30 II Lite, an old Pioneer amp and a pair of Focal Aria 906...

 

[JorgeO]

Thanks
I Will probably buy the E30 II lite, I have 2 SMSL products and are both on sickbay... And a very old Topping with zero problems
By the way one off the SMSL is the V2 dac and I prefer the sound off the ifi nano.

 

[JorgeO]

Looking at the D50 III

 

[Rja4000]

Looking at the D50 III

Really can't go wrong with this one.

 

[JorgeO]

Purchased the E30 II lite and:
1- Tuesday night connected the dac with the power supply cable connected to a second usb port of the pc and it was worse then the ifi nano, got to Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, All Blues track and it was "reverberating?" like crazy... gave up and reconnected the ifi (I was pressed with time until sunday)
2- Today I tried it connected to a power bank and it seems globally better then the ifi nano.

 

[Zek]

@JorgeO Can the E30 II Lite work if only the USB cable is connected to the PC without additional power?

 

[JorgeO]

@JorgeO Can the E30 II Lite work if only the USB cable is connected to the PC without additional power?

No you need to connect the power cable (barrel connector).