Topping E70 Stereo DAC Review

[funnychap]

The reviewers make a living of this stuff after all. Who would watch their stuff if every video was 2 minutes long and they would just let you know that the current DAC they are reviewing sounds exactly like the last 20 DACs before that

How many people here replace their hardware every few months? Probably plenty , even though they should know better.

But that's all part of this hobby as well.

Yep, Youtube reviewers make long videos so that they can earn $. My youtube videos are usually under 2 minutes because that's my honest opinion so I don't get paid for short videos.

However, I disagree that dacs sound the same. I have 14 dacs (either standalone or in receivers) and here is the order of worst to best for 2-channels music (especially Apple Music lossless):
Amazon Echo dot (3rd gen) with clock ties with 4th gen
Denon Heos 1
Denon Heos 3
Denon Heos 5
Denon Heos 7
Denon 1912
Denon S760H
Denon X3700H
Apple Airport Express ties with Bluesound Node
Topping E50
Topping E70
Arcam AVR5

 

[DSJR]

Denon's mid price CD players were I gather, extremely 'honest' to the source and consequently very similar in perceived 'tone.'

The thing is, our hearing even when we're young, isn't especially good and over the age of forty, us males don't have a chance really. Our brains are so good at interpretations and adjusting to losses in our senses I'm sure this plays a part in how we perceive dacs and so on. This isn't to say that there have never been sonic differences in digital playback components, but I swear that 'differences as heard' did narrow to the point of inaudibility many years ago now and what we're seeing today is refinements for the sake of it. Look at a typical sinad of a CD player. i doubt it'd be that good by ASR standards (actually, has Amir ever fully tested a typical Denon or Sony CD player from the nineties or noughties? Apologies if I have brain fog here).

 

[Burns]

Yep, Youtube reviewers make long videos so that they can earn $. My youtube videos are usually under 2 minutes because that's my honest opinion so I don't get paid for short videos.

However, I disagree that dacs sound the same. I have 14 dacs (either standalone or in receivers) and here is the order of worst to best for 2-channels music (especially Apple Music lossless):
Amazon Echo dot (3rd gen) with clock ties with 4th gen
Denon Heos 1
Denon Heos 3
Denon Heos 5
Denon Heos 7
Denon 1912
Denon S760H
Denon X3700H
Apple Airport Express ties with Bluesound Node
Topping E50
Topping E70
Arcam AVR5

all Denon devices you mentioned are not pure DACs, they are integrated amplifiers or other integrated devices where the sound change is influenced by factors other than digital to analog conversion

 

[funnychap]

all Denon devices you mentioned are not pure DACs, they are integrated amplifiers or other integrated devices where the sound change is influenced by factors other than digital to analog conversions

True these products I mentioned are not pure DACs and are influenced by the quality of the other components. But so are pure DACs as they too have different components and power supplies, but to a lesser degree.

 

[Burns]

True these products I mentioned are not pure DACs and are influenced by the quality of the other components. But so are pure DACs as they too have different components and power supplies, but to a lesser degree.

not really, in the receiver, to measure it or at least try to hear it, you would have to connect directly to the DAC outputs, probably the line out, to skip the amplifier section. I have a symptom that the line out is still DSP loaded and we still won't get a clean DAC output. I do not have a doctorate in the design of receivers, they need to be wiser.

 

[funnychap]

not really, in the receiver, to measure it or at least try to hear it, you would have to connect directly to the DAC outputs, probably the line out, to skip the amplifier section. I have a symptom that the line out is still DSP loaded and we still won't get a clean DAC output. I do not have a doctorate in the design of receivers, they need to be wiser.

I also discovered that the more separate components versus integrated, is that separate components increases the chance of getting a hum or buzz which is way worse than the sound quality differences among DACs.

 

[rarewolf]

all Denon devices you mentioned are not pure DACs, they are integrated amplifiers or other integrated devices where the sound change is influenced by factors other than digital to analog conversion

Wouldn’t SPDIF outputs be representative of the DAC outputs, specifically coaxial?

 

[Burns]

Wouldn’t SPDIF outputs be representative of the DAC outputs, specifically coaxial?

probably yes if it gives a bit-perfect signal !

I have two receivers hidden in the basement. Denon avr 3801 and 3805. I will enter them with a 192kHz spdif signal and exit via spdif to topping e70 to show what it measures. I will let you know the result of this test.

On the other hand, it makes no sense. Run the signal from one DAC (Denon) to another DAC (e70). You need to know the PCB circuit diagram. Chances are that the spdif input and output may be a simple 1:1 wired transmission. It can be a simple splitter without signal processing. I have no idea how to actually check this.

It is possible that the input must be different from the output. Coax input is spdif output or vice versa.

I don't know, maybe I'm too stupid for so many components...

 

[aka_Z]

Both my E70 and E70 Velvet are in Miami.

After spending two days in LA, mine finally moved today but missed me and ended in SF Now it's stuck with status: "Scheduled to depart on the next planned movement". My guess is it will be moved to the closest office and then be out for delivery. I will probably get it in my hands on Tuesday to Wednesday.

How long do I need to burn-in it?

 

[Burns]

After spending two days in LA, mine finally moved today but missed me and ended in SF Now it's stuck with status: "Scheduled to depart on the next planned movement". My guess is it will be moved to the closest office and then be out for delivery. I will probably get it in my hands on Tuesday to Wednesday.

How long do I need to burn-in it?

all the exciting emotions associated with the purchase to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. then nothing at all, nothing for a long time, to again: all these exciting emotions related to the purchase, to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. Buying another DAC and another DAC and so on.

 

[funnychap]

After spending two days in LA, mine finally moved today but missed me and ended in SF Now it's stuck with status: "Scheduled to depart on the next planned movement". My guess is it will be moved to the closest office and then be out for delivery. I will probably get it in my hands on Tuesday to Wednesday.

How long do I need to burn-in it?

Who did u order from? I ordered my Topping E50 and E70 from Amazon which arrived in 2 days.

all the exciting emotions associated with the purchase to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. then nothing at all, nothing for a long time, to again: all these exciting emotions related to the purchase, to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. Buying another DAC and another DAC and so on.

I went to my annual physical and had my ear wax removed and wow I now hear more brightness and listen at 6db lower.
To prevent future ear wax buildups, I ordered a water ear wax cleaning kit from Amazon.

 

[aka_Z]

all the exciting emotions associated with the purchase to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. then nothing at all, nothing for a long time, to again: all these exciting emotions related to the purchase, to hear absolutely no difference. Priceless emotions. Buying another DAC and another DAC and so on.

This topic is full of your "priceless" posts

Who did u order from? I ordered my Topping E50 and E70 from Amazon which arrived in 2 days.

From Apos, because they have spring sale, their office is close to me and I was naively expecting that I could pick it up. Then a few days later, Apos told me that the warehouse in China is out of stock, then a few days later was shipped. After all, it will take about a week to get it. Not a big deal

 

[misterdog]

bit-perfect signal

Bit-perfect is a nonsense term, my Audiolab M-Dac was 'bit perfect' though all 3 DAC's I have owned since sound far superior, Topping E70, SMSL M400 and Gustard.

 

[staticV3]

Bit-perfect is a nonsense term, my Audiolab M-Dac was 'bit perfect' though all 3 DAC's I have owned since sound far superior, Topping E70, SMSL M400 and Gustard.

Bit-perfect is not a word that's used to describe hardware though.
It describes the audio transmission from your source device to the DAC.

 

[rarewolf]

Bit-perfect is not a word that's used to describe hardware though.
It describes the audio transmission from your source device to the DAC.

For example, the original PCM is no longer “bitperfect” if you allowed your source to change the volume or apply EQ…

 

[KotalKahnSunGod]

Edit: (Welcome!) Translated by moderator. Please translate before posting going forward. Thank you!

I am a new member. Tell me, please, how to see the firmware version of the e70 topping? I saw that they posted firmware V1.03. But I don't know how to install it. Can someone explain to me how to do this? And I can't connect my phone via BT. I just don't see it in the list of devices - E70 (tried with two phones). After several hours of torment, the phone saw the E70, but writes that the device does not allow connection. I would be very grateful if someone could help

 

[funnychap]

Поздравления всем. Я новый член. Подскажите, пожалуйста, как посмотреть версию прошивки топинга е70? Я видел, что выложили прошивку V1.03. Но я не знаю, как его установить. Может кто-нибудь объяснит мне, как это сделать? И я не могу подключить свой телефон через BT. Просто не вижу в списке устройств - E70 (пробовал с двумя телефонами). После нескольких часов мучений телефон увидел Е70, но пишет, что устройство не разрешает подключение. Буду очень признателен, если кто-то сможет помочь

On the Topping E70, change the input to bluetooth.

 

[Martin]

After spending two days in LA, mine finally moved today but missed me and ended in SF Now it's stuck with status: "Scheduled to depart on the next planned movement". My guess is it will be moved to the closest office and then be out for delivery. I will probably get it in my hands on Tuesday to Wednesday.

How long do I need to burn-in it?

Turns out I was mistaken. My E70 will be here this week. My E70 Velvet will arrive after April 20. The second DHL shipment I assumed was the E70 Velvet is actually a PIWIS 2 interface also coming from Shenzhen, China. Darn.

Martin

 

[Burns]

Edit: (Welcome!) Translated by moderator. Please translate before posting going forward. Thank you!

Congratulations to everyone. I am a new member. Tell me, please, how to see the firmware version of the e70 topping? I saw that they posted firmware V1.03. But I don't know how to install it. Can someone explain to me how to do this? And I can't connect my phone via BT. I just don't see it in the list of devices - E70 (tried with two phones). After several hours of torment, the phone saw the E70, but writes that the device does not allow connection. I would be very grateful if someone could help

install the driver for Windows, which works at the hour, when you pick it up on the desktop, the last tab will show you the firmware version. Probably 1.02. The latest is 1.04 linked in this topic. Instructions on how to do this are included in the *.bin file. In a moment I will link you again and write about BT

E70 version V1.03 firmware update (NOT for E70 Velvet)-TOPPING

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

BT:
- it must be enabled in the configuration menu, you turn off the device with the switch on the back of the device, keep the front knob pressed (do not let go) and turn on the switch on the back of the device. Pressing the knob moves to the next parameter, turning it changes the setting. To confirm the menu, hold the knob in the front longer until 8-8 appears = saved. The parameters are described in the instruction table.
- to connect the phone with the e70, you must select the BT source with the touch button on the front (BT flashes on the display). From my observations, if you do not pair your phone with the device in less than a minute, you must turn off and turn on the DAC e70 again. More than a minute, pairing may be rejected despite the active BT flashing, but this is how most BT devices work, that pairing is active after startup if there is no force pairing button, so that neighbors do not connect later. This is how, for example, FM transmitters via BT for the car work.
- the device can be restarted to factory settings, in standby mode, turn the front knob to the left several times. (BT factory settings is active by default) Maybe you got used devices and someone filled out the pairing list (I don't know the number, but usually it's 10 devices)

 

[aka_Z]

Turns out I was mistaken. My E70 will be here this week. My E70 Velvet will arrive after April 20. The second DHL shipment I assumed was the E70 Velvet is actually a PIWIS 2 interface also coming from Shenzhen, China. Darn.

Martin

Sorry to hear that. My velvet is getting closer, now it is in Fremont. It's circling around me but circles are getting smaller