Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

[escalibur]

New driver for many Topping DACs:

2023-10-18 15:16

Adapted products:

E30, E30 II, EX5, E50, E70, E70 Velvet, D10, D10s, D10Bal, D30Pro, D50, D50s, D70, D70s, D70 Pro SABRE, D70 Pro OCTO, D90, D90MQA, D90SE, D90LE, DX1, DX3 Pro, DX3 Pro+, DX5, DX5 Lite, DX7s, DX7 Pro, DX7 Pro+, DX9, U90, DM7, G5, NX4DSD.

Please noted that this driver is not for D30 and DX7.

V5.62 driver for most of TOPPING DACs-TOPPING

 

[haze_1986]

Hi all, does the e50 allow dac mode for i.e. balanced out and preamp mode for rca out? Planning to connect an iem and eris 4.5 to it

 

[poptopclk]

Yes, the E50 IS A PRE AMP. You can use TRS to balanced or the RCA plugs to your
amplified speakers. The remote for the E50, when in preamp mode can control the volume. Just add your source in ie a WiiM streamer and you have a sweet system !

 

[poptopclk]

The E50 itself can either be in DAC mode or PRE mode but not both at the same time.

However, PRE mode at 0dB, 100% volume is equivalent of DAC mode.

DAC mode provides full voltage out, 2V for RCA and 4V for TRS.

 

[poptopclk]

To quote "i.e. balanced out and preamp mode for rca out" Original poster asked.
You can SIMULTANEOUSLY output from BOTH Balanced (via TRS) or RCA

 

[staticV3]

@poptopclk
haze_1986 wants Fixed volume Bal out and Variable volume SE out at the same time. The E50 cannot do that.

 

[haze_1986]

Thanks all for reply. Will stick to preamp mode and increase volume from the eris.

 

[Gradius]

New driver for many Topping DACs:

2023-10-18 15:16

Adapted products:

Not really new, as it is from 09/26:

https://www.thesycon.de/usbaudio/TUSBAudio_history.txt

--------------------------------
V5.62.0 (September 26, 2023)
--------------------------------

* New: API version 5.12
* New: Installer improvements
* New: update Spy tool
* Fix: unit descriptor parsing in audio control interface
* Chg: updated projects to Visual Studio 2022
* Chg: documentation

Took long enough for topping to release it.

 

[Gradius]

FYI, ES9069 is out, so expect an E50s or something:

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ES9069_Datasheet_v0.1.3.pdf

 

[poptopclk]

Thank you for that information ! In further research, I found a website that claims to fix this issue. Would this cable resolve my dilemma?
View attachment 320155

Hard to say without knowing the specs. In theory, yes.

These guys built it for me http://micmodkits.com/other/
Fast & professional Cable works FLAWLESSLY ! My subwoofer has direct connection to BOTH channels from the Topping E50 via the TRS connections, while the RCA jacks feed the monoblocks. PERFECTION !!
BTW they call it "

Dual TRS Male Stereo to XLR Male Mono Summing Y-Cable

"

 

[Paffi]

Would you buy the SMSL D-6s or the E50, as they cost nearly the same.

 

[Toku]

Would you buy the SMSL D-6s or the E50, as they cost nearly the same.

I have purchased and are using two E50s, but I am also very interested in the D-6S and am undecided about purchasing one.
E50 is a product whose all functions operate extremely stably among many DAC products. It easily handles MQA, which is difficult to play smoothly, and I find it useful as a reference DAC device.
The D-6S is a DAC made up of the latest chips, and the results measured by amirm are excellent, making us more interested in purchasing it. However, there are still few reports on how it actually works, and we haven't gathered enough information to make a decision to purchase it.
The performance of recent DACs has improved significantly and I expect the D-6S to surpass the E50.

 

[Paffi]

But that would probably not be audible? The Topping has Features like DAC-Mode (dissabled volume control) as well as auto-on/off. Features that are missing with the SMSL, unless I'm wrong.

 

[Gradius]

But that would probably not be audible? The Topping has Features like DAC-Mode (dissabled volume control) as well as auto-on/off. Features that are missing with the SMSL, unless I'm wrong.

You are not. Is totally inaudible. Once closer (> -119dB) and beyond to -120dB, is just impossible to hear any difference.

The diff between D-6s and E50 is just 1dB better at already on -120dB domain, so totally inaudible.

D-6s:

SMSL D-6s Balanced DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL D-6s balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $199. I was pleasantly surprised with the new industrial design which while minimalistic, manages to impress with its modern style. Love the matt...

www.audiosciencereview.com

E50:

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I'm waiting to see a new DAC using the last ES9069 IC:

SABRE Audiophile DACs – ESS Technology, Inc.

www.esstech.com

 

[UrbanAnimism777]

I currently have the E50 paired with the L50 and the output set at -0-0dB. Is there a recommended setting for this or should I just keep the E50 running at -0-0dB?

 

[Laserjock]

You can put the E50 in DAC mode which will set it at 0dB. Then, the sample rate will be displayed instead of volume dB. If you ever want to control the volume of the DAC, just set it back to Pre mode. I always use DAC mode when plugged into an amp with it's own volume control.

Best performance at 0.0 so leave it in DAC mode as suggested here and control volume with L50.

(Assuming you don’t need to use a remote for volume)

 

[MLaranjeiras]

On the one hand, that itch for the new, in search of some audio improvement along with the measurements. On the other, there's a lot of advice that moving from the E50 to Topping's other higher models, at the end of the day, won't bring "that" benefit.

 

[JaccoW]

On the one hand, that itch for the new, in search of some audio improvement along with the measurements. On the other, there's a lot of advice that moving from the E50 to Topping's other higher models, at the end of the day, won't bring "that" benefit.

Yeah that's what I am expecting if I ever switch over to something else like the Topping D70 Pro (Sabre or Octo).
My main reason would be to get a silver device to match the rest of my setup and the new UI + bluetooth support.

 

[mouse_66]

I was thinking a E50+PA5 II plus combo for my living room but I discover that I cannot use the 12v trigger! In the E50 they haven't put it!

 

[staticV3]

I was thinking a E50+PA5 II plus combo for my living room but I discover that I cannot use the 12v trigger! In the E50 they haven't put it!

The E70 is Topping's least expensive DAC with 12V Trigger