Topping E70 Stereo DAC Review

[misterdog]

Oh - and prices were probably set at the worst possible time for UK exchange rates. Blame our Liz

The Chinese sell in US dollars (the set price), whatever is the exchange rate at the time is the UK price, the UK price is not 'set'.

Exchange rates are a two way street, the value of the Euro and the Japanese Yen have also plummeted recently against the US Dollar, because the Dollar is currently very strong.

The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against a basket of other currencies, is up more than 17% so far this year.

Why Is The U.S. Dollar So Strong Right Now?

Nearly every asset class has seen miserable returns in 2022, except for the United States dollar. The dollar has strengthened dramatically over the course of the year as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates in an effort to quash sky-high inflation. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the gr

www.forbes.com

Can we leave politics and world economics out of this thread please.

 

[tonycollinet]

The Chinese sell in US dollars (the set price), whatever is the exchange rate at the time is the UK price, the UK price is not 'set'.

Exchange rates are a two way street, the value of the Euro and the Japanese Yen have also plummeted recently against the US Dollar, because the Dollar is currently very strong.

The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against a basket of other currencies, is up more than 17% so far this year.

Why Is The U.S. Dollar So Strong Right Now?

Nearly every asset class has seen miserable returns in 2022, except for the United States dollar. The dollar has strengthened dramatically over the course of the year as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates in an effort to quash sky-high inflation. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the gr

www.forbes.com

Can we leave politics and world economics out of this thread please.

If that were the case, the UK price would be continually changing as the exchange rate does - but that isn't what happens. So the price must be set at one point in time, at least for a subsequent period in time.

 

[misterdog]

the UK price would be continually changing as the exchange rate does - but that isn't what happens.

It was $ 349 at HiFiGo on Friday £ 288, today it is still $ 349 but £ 289.52.
As a UK account holder they show you the current price in sterling -which varies - with the exchange rate..

Some retailers, Audiophonics for example will set a retail price at a fixed level allowing for fluctuations in currency exchange.
399 Euros which is £ £ 345 (today).

TOPPING E70 DAC ES9028Pro XMOS XU316 Bluetooth 5.1 aptX Adaptive LDAC 32bit 768kHz DSD512 Black - Audiophonics

Topping offers with its E70 a powerful DAC with an accurate design. A model capable of offering a rich and precise sound reproduction, combined with smart and practical features, such as Bluetooth, a 12V trigger or an adaptable output level.

www.audiophonics.fr

End, out.

 

[tonycollinet]

It was $ 349 at HiFiGo on Friday £ 288, today it is still $ 349 but £ 289.52.

I think @Kane1972 was talking about local distribution/suppliers, not ordering direct from China. Hence the £399 price tag.

Obviously if you order from China in USD, then the conversion will be done at the time of order placement.

 

[misterdog]

Mine arrived yesterday, superb all round.
Everything from the packaging to the design, display, feature set, value for money and obviously the sound.
Sounds better than my other 121dB SINAD DAC.
Though if you look closely at the IMD and Multitone plots you can see where the improvements are likely to be and this proved correct.
With many thanks to @amirm

E70 > Pre 90 > Benchmark AHB2 > fully tricked out Quad 989ESL's.

@JohnYang1997 - congratulations and many thanks, all I need now is a new case and matching display for my Pre 90

 

[misterdog]

There is firmware update on topping's website, it now works in 32bit after updating it.

E70 version V1.03 firmware update

How do you check which version is installed ?

 

[Ziroz]

How do you check which version is installed ?

You can use the update software to check.

 

[NapoleonDynamite]

Mine arrived yesterday, superb all round.
Everything from the packaging to the design, display, feature set, value for money and obviously the sound.
Sounds better than my other 121dB SINAD DAC.
Though if you look closely at the IMD and Multitone plots you can see where the improvements are likely to be and this proved correct.
With many thanks to @amirm

E70 > Pre 90 > Benchmark AHB2 > fully tricked out Quad 989ESL's.

@JohnYang1997 - congratulations and many thanks, all I need now is a new case and matching display for my Pre 90

To paraphrase John McEnroe: "You cannot be serious!". This is the wrong site for golden ear audiophile claims.

 

[eyecent]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iwp4hhrM1GvptI9PpsgWnCy6yguFDcb6/view

1.04 Firmware.

Fixed otp error

 

[misterdog]

To paraphrase John McEnroe: "You cannot be serious!". This is the wrong site for golden ear audiophile claims.

So the measured data shows a difference but you think that no one could hear that difference in sound.

Good luck with the tennis.

 

[misterdog]

Fixed otp error

What is an OTP error ?

Thanks for the heads up on the new firmware.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Though if you look closely at the IMD and Multitone plots you can see where the improvements are likely to be and this proved correct.

Proved? What is proved?

Anyway, glad you like your E70.

This is the wrong site for golden ear audiophile claims.

Or even worse, "objectivists" that would point to data, specifically to differences at 120dB bellow the fondamental and call these "audible":

So the measured data shows a difference but you think that no one could hear that difference in sound.

 

[staticV3]

What is an OTP error ?

Over Temperature Protection

 

[tonycollinet]

So the measured data shows a difference but you think that no one could hear that difference in sound.

Good luck with the tennis.

You need to be looking here:

Audibility thresholds of amp and DAC measurements

Introduction A recurring theme on ASR is whether or not the various measured qualities of the devices are audible. In this post, I'll present some clear and visual thresholds for when those imperfections can be considered a potentially audible concern. I will not explain the basics of amp/DAC...

www.audiosciencereview.com

But to summarise - IMD needs to be higher than -70dB to be audible - the differences between those devices is way below that.

 

[Killingbeans]

So the measured data shows a difference but you think that no one could hear that difference in sound.

All measurable differences are audible?

A good audio analyzer can detect differences equating the sound of an ant farting on the opposite side of the planet.

At some point it's practically all about good engineering, and has very little to do with audible differences.

 

[Grobbelboy]

I’m looking for a DAC with XLR output to couple with my A90D. There is the accompanying D90 of course, but is there any great benefit in picking that over this E70?

 

[misterdog]

At some point it's practically all about good engineering, and has very little to do with audible differences.

I enjoy both good engineering and the audible differences that produces.

I spent a great deal of time rebuilding my Quad 989 electrostatic loudspeakers into bespoke steel frames in order to hear the last drop of difference. The downside being that they are the size of a door and will literally kill you if you touch them - 3kV kil ovolts.

But there is no difference, and I can't hear it - that's numberwang..

 

[Killingbeans]

What do you believe the limitations of human hearing are? Do you believe your own hearing to be significantly more acute than the average?

Why not test it?: https://www.klippel.de/listeningtest/

 

[misterdog]

Do you believe your own hearing to be significantly more acute than the average?

The opposite actually, at 63 years of age my hearing of upper frequencies will be severely rolled off.

I believe in neither magic beans or magic numbers, but if the numbers look good I'm prepared to taste the beans.
I may like or prefer the taste of those beans to other beans which I have tried.

Here endeth the philosophical debate.

 

[Killingbeans]

I don't think the audibility of artifacts at -120dB has anything to do with philosophy.

I agree that placebo can be just as enjoyable as the real deal, but I still don't think it's harmless to present it as a physical phenomena.