The Onkyo works through the older and obsolete Apple proprietary protocol only on the usb-a port. USB-C is the way forward, you can’t blame Topping for not adding older technologies in their modern products.
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Topping G5 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)
- Thread starter amirm
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The Onkyo works through the older and obsolete Apple proprietary protocol only on the usb-a port. USB-C is the way forward, you can’t blame Topping for not adding older technologies in their modern products.
thatnorthernsound
Member
Fair enough, still the issue is rather minor and there are OTG cables too.
If I’m not mistaken, the G5 comes in two versions (besides the color): a standard “type-C” version, and a “lightning” version (+$20). The “lightning” version includes a USB-C to lightning cable: is this the one you got?
You said you tried different cables without success: did you try that original lightning cable?
Side note: I have the standard G5 (no lightning cable), but have no particular problem connecting it to my iPhone 12 with the right cable/adapter…
Apos explicitly include an iOS compatible cable option which you would have seen when you selected your purchase from the drop down menu. Apos could certainly be clearer that an apple certified otg cable is needed rather than optional, but the bigger issue seems to be that your phone manufacturer doesn't provide any documentation at all about this issue:
Connect external storage devices to iPhone
On iPhone, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.
support.apple.com
Apple have very obviously broken compatibility with widely accepted standards to prevent you from using devices outside their ecosystem. When an OS has been so obviously and deliberately broken it seems a little unfair to blame the peripheral device manufacturer. Bottom line is you just need to buy the cable that you saw was available when you bought your g5 and you'll be good to go.
thatnorthernsound
Member
The bundled option was sold out. Nowhere on their site does it say that there's a separate version that's iPhone compatible, just that it's a bundle with the FiiO cable.
I'm in communication with Apos, they're telling me that the G5 is "finicky" with iOS devices but haven't explicitly said that I shouldn't be able to connect with a USB-C to lightning, or that I need to buy that specific cable.
If that was the easy solve I'd purchase the cable, but that's not something that Apos has recommended. They're currently reaching out to Topping to figure out if there are other solves to for the connection issue — other than turning my phone off and on again, which they originally recommended.
It's super annoying that Apple has proprietary cables, I'm not arguing that all.
I just want the damn thing to work without having to dive 40 pages into an Audio Science Review forum to find answers.
staticV3
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Then buy Android.
Yes, hence the warning lol
Edit: sorry, no, not DAC; preamp/headphone amplifier. I believe ths DAC is limited to 5VRMS, with just over 3dB headroom if memory serves and the info I read was accurate. If it was hooked up to the DAC, I don't think the signal would've been more than 2-3V. I had the L70 on high gain for the preamp section for use with my LA90D (power amp) in low gain, and have the E70V (DAC) in 5V mode (for best dynamic range)
Now I have the L70 and A70 Pro. Random fact: the A70 Pro sounds better driving really low impedance drivers than the L70, but sound is the same above 40 ohms and line level (obv, because it's much higher impedance than 40 ohms). So unless you plan to drive those really expensive 10-13 ohm electrostatic cans or some loudspeakers directly, I'd go with the L70.
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Just took mine out of the case to use for the first time in a month or two, and it's bugling badly.
Doing a quick google search apparently I'm not the only one this has happened to. Luckily the battery appears to be a super common type, 805080 3.7V 4000mAh.
Has anyone ever opened theirs up or seen pictures of it being opened up? I always assumed there were hidden screws under the anti-slip leatherette, however the way it's bugling and looking at some of the few internal photos I can find I suspect the back might be glued on.
Doing a quick google search apparently I'm not the only one this has happened to. Luckily the battery appears to be a super common type, 805080 3.7V 4000mAh.
Has anyone ever opened theirs up or seen pictures of it being opened up? I always assumed there were hidden screws under the anti-slip leatherette, however the way it's bugling and looking at some of the few internal photos I can find I suspect the back might be glued on.
Umm, you mean bulging?
GeekyBastard
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Can confirm, I tried to buy an used Topping G5 online, but basically all the items listed have bulged batteries/short battery life, some people already returned the amp back to Topping for maintenance, I guess there might be a design flaw in charging circuit.
Read here
Topping G5 - Is the battery serviceable ?
I'm looking to purchase the Topping G5 I love the specs, the measurements, the functionalities. That's the one I need for my work in the office. BUT... This is a battery powered device. And we all know batteries have a limited life. So my question to Topping (or anyone who knows): Is the G5...
www.audiosciencereview.com
I'd consider a different amp TBH such as a qudelix 5k. I have the g5 and whilst I can't fault it's performance or build quality it has mediocre BT performance, gets very hot if not ventilated and very clearly is prone to battery issues. I got a qudelix 5k for on the go use as the g5 is just too big for that, I found that the BT connection reliably works from any distance within my house, whereas the g5 connection fails at just a metre or two. I loved the 5k software so much I got a qudelix t71 for my desktop where I don't need BT but use cans with a 4.4 input. IMO the g5 has gone well into diminishing returns on SINAD at the expense of features that are genuinely important in a portable device.
ears-of-steel
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I really dig the sound of my G5 for most of my IEMs but had some strange issues lately. Sometimes when I stop a track in UAPP (Android), turn the G5 off and remove the USB data cable some relay inside starts to oscillate rapidly, around 20Hz. It only happens once or twice a week and the only way to reset the G5 I found is to connect it to a charger for a couple minutes. That always does the trick but I'm slowly thinking about having it serviced by Topping.
Jean-Paul Petrosyan
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Greetings, everyone! This is an area in which I'm basically clueless. Could someone kindly tell me what would be the optimal way to run this particular device in my case - in low gain or medium gain? I'm using it with Moondrop Variations, which are high sensitivity low impedance earphones (5-20 Ohm, 118 dB/Vrms). Volume knob consistently stays in 11 o'clock area at medium gain.
AFAIK, theoretically the noise should be higher on medium gain and any issues with channel balance should be more pronounced VS low gain (though I'm not sure if I'm the danger zone for that).
I perceive difference in sound with low and medium gain, the nature of which I'd struggle to describe, but could maybe be attributed to increase in noise(?). But going by the specs the difference should be insignificant in this case and for this device(?).
Basically on low gain things sound more like what I would expect them to sound at higher volume (sound images are bigger and more diffuse, overall sound is a bit warmer), while it's the opposite with medium gain (everything sounds "colder" and a bit more harsh, sounds are smaller" more sharp and defined). Typically with all sources I used (without changing gain) I would get the former effect when increasing the volume and the latter when decreasing it. Yet I'm this case it's reversed if listen at lower volume with low gain and higher volume at medium gain. I have no ability to volume match, but I set the volume as to perceive meaningful difference there and get this result.
I know you may be inclined to write it off as placebo, which may be true. But I would be very greatful if anyone could provide another possible explanation.
Thank you!
AFAIK, theoretically the noise should be higher on medium gain and any issues with channel balance should be more pronounced VS low gain (though I'm not sure if I'm the danger zone for that).
I perceive difference in sound with low and medium gain, the nature of which I'd struggle to describe, but could maybe be attributed to increase in noise(?). But going by the specs the difference should be insignificant in this case and for this device(?).
Basically on low gain things sound more like what I would expect them to sound at higher volume (sound images are bigger and more diffuse, overall sound is a bit warmer), while it's the opposite with medium gain (everything sounds "colder" and a bit more harsh, sounds are smaller" more sharp and defined). Typically with all sources I used (without changing gain) I would get the former effect when increasing the volume and the latter when decreasing it. Yet I'm this case it's reversed if listen at lower volume with low gain and higher volume at medium gain. I have no ability to volume match, but I set the volume as to perceive meaningful difference there and get this result.
I know you may be inclined to write it off as placebo, which may be true. But I would be very greatful if anyone could provide another possible explanation.
Thank you!
staticV3
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First make sure that what you're perceiving is actually there, by performing a controlled, level-matched comparison, and then look into what might be causing that difference.
By skipping that middle step, you're wasting your and others' time and mental capacity.
To match levels, all you need is a 3.5mm solder plug (~$1) and a basic multimeter (~$15).
You can do a level-matched, but uncontrolled comparison first to see if you still think you can hear a difference.
Though if you want to have something worth discussing, you need to get a friend to randomly switch gain for you while you listen blind.
Jean-Paul Petrosyan
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Thank you for your suggestion and helpful information. Truth be told, I'm more interested in theoretical differences in performance than trying to establish their perceptual relevance. Since there's more important issues when it comes to perceived sound quality both in my case and in general, and the fact that while I'm persistently able to perceive the aforementioned differences I can't say that there's a subjectively better results (hence even if I managed to establish with certainty that these changes do, in fact, exist that wouldn't be of much help); What I would like to know, if someone would feel obliged to entertain this whim of mine, is the answer to my question from a purely theoretical standpoint, with no regards to purported perceptual relevance. To put it shortly, you may see it as a matter of pure curiosity (and some degree of comforting assurance for an OCD tormented mind).
What I'd hope to know is could there possibly be any detriments to using medium gain versus low gain in my specific case or vice versa.
Naturally, no one is obliged to entertain this request
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Hi
I just performed a quick measurement on mine
Set for 15.5 ohm load, USB source
11 o'clock on medium gain gives me approx 40 mVrms (1kHz)
That gives me a whopping 99dB SNR
(In line with what I measured for L30 II at 50mV)
For same 40mV output on Low gain, I get the exact same 99dB SNR.
This is to be expected, given G5 specs for preamp:
Noise level is given as identical for Low and Mid gain.
(L and M specs figures are identical for L30 II, by the way)
(those figures should translate into SNR > 100dB at 40mV - I measured 99dB)
So the answer to you question is "NO"
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