Topping G5 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I was looking for some transportable dac/amp to use at the office with 300ohms headphones.
I heard G5 in the past briefly and liked it. So I decided to buy it for my use case.

Actually I'm amazed, build quality seems to be very nice - I hope that battery won't disappoint, as you can read on the internet.
Currently listening it at home with Truthear Nova and the experience is godlike.
Michel Godard album is a treat with this combo.

 

[Håkan Lindgren]

Hello!

I'm a new member here. I've just bought the Topping G5 after reading Amir's review. Could someone explain the H M L settings for me? There's nothing about this in the manual.

 

[staticV3]

Hello!

I'm a new member here. I've just bought the Topping G5 after reading Amir's review. Could someone explain the H M L settings for me? There's nothing about this in the manual.

Hi @Håkan Lindgren! Welcome to ASR.

The G5 has three Gain settings: Low, Medium, and High.

Higher gain = higher maximum volume, but also more hiss.

This is shown here:

(Blue=Low, Green=Medium, Red=High)

As a rule of thumb, always use the lowest gain that still allows you to reach your desired loudness.

E.g. Only switch to Medium gain if you can turn the volume knob all the way up on Low gain and it's still not loud enough.

 

[CedarX]

Hi @Håkan Lindgren! Welcome to ASR.

The G5 has three Gain settings: Low, Medium, and High.

Higher gain = higher maximum volume, but also more hiss.

This is shown here:
View attachment 436285
(Blue=Low, Green=Medium, Red=High)

As a rule of thumb, always use the lowest gain that still allows you to reach your desired loudness.

E.g. Only switch to Medium gain if you can turn the volume knob all the way up on Low gain and it's still not loud enough.

An added advice: always lower the volume to the min. when you start—especially if you are on high gain.
This thing has enough power to permanently damage your hearing…

 

[Håkan Lindgren]

Thank you! I bought it while travelling, I need to wait a couple of weeks before I'm back home and can try it with my headphones, but Amir's review was very convincing.

 

[Rja4000]

Thank you! I bought it while travelling, I need to wait a couple of weeks before I'm back home and can try it with my headphones, but Amir's review was very convincing.

I use it often and it's very good, indeed.

 

[gvl]

Can Topping port D50III PEQ to G5? I’d be willing to pay for such upgrade. I was unable to find what XMOS chip is in G5.

 

[staticV3]

Can Topping port D50III PEQ to G5? I’d be willing to pay for such upgrade. I was unable to find what XMOS chip is in G5.

The G5 uses an XU208 whereas the D50III uses an XU316.

Fact is, even in the XU208 could run Topping's PEQ firmware, they likely still wouldn't port it over.

That's just not how Topping operates.

All major product features are set before launch and the only QoL updates post launch are minor things like the addition of adjustable DPLL.

If you want long-term support and feature updates, look for brands like RME, Qudelix, WiiM, Neutron HiFi, JDS Labs etc.

 

[gvl]

If you want long-term support and feature updates, look for brands like RME, Qudelix, WiiM, Neutron HiFi, JDS Labs etc.

Do they offer a portable battery-powered DAC/amp with PEQ? The G5 is close to perfect, the only thing it’s missing is PEQ. If they release a new version with PEQ I’d consider it.

 

[ZolaIII]

PEQ is part of QACT and they use same QCC5125 BT SoC (which is part of the family for which DSP's it's written). You could try to access it with one or another (thru USB bridge) and good luck doing so.

 

[Rja4000]

Do they offer a portable battery-powered DAC/amp with PEQ? The G5 is close to perfect, the only thing it’s missing is PEQ. If they release a new version with PEQ I’d consider it.

I have to admit I'm not sure why you would need that.
The G5 is a mobile DAC/amp.
The target use is to feed it with music from a smartphone.
And there are excellent apps with Parametruc EQ available on smartphone.
So why would you need it in your DAC/Amp ?

 

[ZolaIII]

I have to admit I'm not sure why you would need that.
The G5 is a mobile DAC/amp.
The target use is to feed it with music from a smartphone.
And there are excellent apps with Parametruc EQ available on smartphone.
So why would you need it in your DAC/Amp ?

When you for instance feed it from another source that can't, speaker EQ PEQ is just tip of the iceberg as there is also IIR and crossover in QACT. It does it all in cuple of mV of power on it's own which is fascinating enough.

 

[gvl]

And there are excellent apps with Parametruc EQ available on smartphone.

My use case is Qobuz/Spotify on iPhone. No PEQ for me.

 

[staticV3]

Do they offer a portable battery-powered DAC/amp with PEQ? The G5 is close to perfect, the only thing it’s missing is PEQ. If they release a new version with PEQ I’d consider it.

Qudelix 5K/T71

PEQ is part of QACT and they use same QCC5125 BT SoC (which is part of the family for which DSP's it's written). You could try to access it with one or another (thru USB bridge) and good luck doing so.

Topping use Xmos for their PEQ implementation, not the QCC5125.

 

[ZolaIII]

Qudelix 5K/T71


Topping use Xmos for their PEQ implementation, not the QCC5125.

No it doesn't and if you think Tooping actually wrote implementation well think again. They just exposed it to user space and the same way.
And stop recommending defective BT devices that can't achieve and keep required bandwidth by the way performing pore. There is no benefit of having PEQ if it doesn't work or work's flooded with problems.

 

[staticV3]

No it doesn't

How come the D50III supports PEQ via USB (XU316), but not via Bluetooth (QCC5125)?

 

[ZolaIII]

How come the D50III supports PEQ via USB (XU316), but not via Bluetooth (QCC5125)?

True USB debugging bridge access to QACT 10 PEQ DSP rutine. Download it and see for yourself.

 

[CedarX]

How come the D50III supports PEQ via USB (XU316), but not via Bluetooth (QCC5125)?

Another clue is that the QCCxxx USB input appears to be limited to UAC 1.0 (24 bit/96 kHz), whereas the D50-III PEQ is not.

 

[Rja4000]

My use case is Qobuz/Spotify on iPhone. No PEQ for me.

And what about USB Audio Player Pro app ?
It works with Qobuz.
Drawback: Not for Qobuz downloaded files.

Oops, that's Android only.

Isn't there something similar for iPhone ?

 

[ZolaIII]

And what about USB Audio Player Pro app ?
It works with Qobuz.
Drawback: Not for Qobuz downloaded files.

Oops, that's Android only.

Isn't there something similar for iPhone ?

Yes Hiby Player and with 10 PEQ's but for headphones only (not all filters).
@CedarX and how that have anything to do with it? It has 2x M2 CPU's and two DSP's. One of each to be used for it on OEM side and on 32 bit FP (that's why it's transparent). You acces it trough USB debugging bridge and transfer it to it's memory and then it use it in the path. Nothing what so ever to do with UAC.