TOPPING MX3s

[gr-e]

Does anyone have remote codes for the RC-13a remote? I'm specifically interested in play/pause, next and previous track buttons

 

[jsaak]

Measured power consumption (at the socket): standby 1,6 W , idle and low volume: 3,7W

 

[JakeK]

I'm interested in the MX3s to use with some small speakers and a Pi based streamer. Will this work with a Picoreplayer or moOde player? Can it power a Pi over the USB input meaning the Pi doesn't need a power brick?

 

[jsaak]

Linux support is flawless. I do not know about usb power.

 

[Bleib]

The amp is terrific. The internal DAC is not too bad either (miles better than the one in SMSL A300) but it sounds better through a DX5 Lite using RCA

 

[jdjdkdjdj]

Can somebody with an mx3s (or mx5 maybe) tell us how the auto on/off/sensing really works? the official description is really vague.

Does it actually turn on and switch to the input where it senses a signal even if the last used input was a different one? or does it just turn on if it sees a signal at the input it was set to?

 

[nameless13th]

Hi everyone - First time poster (wonderful info all over this forum, I've been lurking for a looong time).

Anyway, I put together a new desktop setup for wfh and personal use/music/light gaming. I had an unused pair of Av123 ELT525M kicking around and decided to see if I could get a small amp to power them. I ended up with the MX3s after doing a lot of research, and couldn't pass up the features for the price (was $170 during prime day(s)). I had my first test listen, and I cannot believe how great this setup sounds for the money. I've been playing locally stored FLAC files and streaming with Amazon Music HD/HD Ultra. The imaging is wonderful. It even powers the speakers well to my ears, and I was a bit nervous as they are 83db efficiency. I am going to test optical out from my LG C2 I'm using as a monitor next.

I ordered an inexpensive sub (refurbished JBL 550p is $130 on woot!) to try to improve the 60hz < a bit, but honestly am probably ok without.

For the sub out on this unit, I assume there is no active crossover happening with the Topping, so I would just set it on the sub?

 

[-dsr-]

I ordered an inexpensive sub (refurbished JBL 550p is $130 on woot!) to try to improve the 60hz < a bit, but honestly am probably ok without.

For the sub out on this unit, I assume there is no active crossover happening with the Topping, so I would just set it on the sub?

Right, the sub has an adjustable crossover knob. They usually aren't particularly accurate, but you can tune it by ear in a few minutes if you have known frequency sources to play -- e.g. https://www.audiocheck.net/testtones_subwooferharmonicdistortion.php will help you out.

 

[robertospeed]

 

[alexk8y]

@cowdog360 curious if you have any updates from Amir on when he'll be able to test it, really looking forward to the tests results as it seems like an ideal all-in-one for me.

I'm considering replacing my Topping E30 + Aiyima A07 setup driving Dali Opticon 1 MKII on the desktop. Overall my uneducated ears are quite happy with what I have, but I've been missing Bluetooth recently and while looking at DX3 Pro+ found this MX3s that would also simplify everything into one box.

 

[Rubberducky]

I would also be very interested in a review of the MX3s. Looking for a DAC / Amplifier combo and a Wiim Mini for a small living room system. The MX3s also has an auto on/off feature, which is quite nice. Then you can just control the Wiim from you phone and not worry about turning the amp on/off.

 

[robca]

Can somebody with an mx3s (or mx5 maybe) tell us how the auto on/off/sensing really works? the official description is really vague.

Does it actually turn on and switch to the input where it senses a signal even if the last used input was a different one? or does it just turn on if it sees a signal at the input it was set to?

I see this only now. I have a MX3s connected to USB and Coax respectively to two different computers. When the MX3s is on standby, as soon as I turn one one of the computers, the MX3s turns on and switches to that input, no matter what input was used last. If, on the other hand, I turn on one computer first (say USB), then switch on the coax one, the input doesn't change and keeps playing USB (until I manually switch). For what is worth, that's my preferred way to handle it: I usually start playing music on the first computer I turn on, and wouldn't want the second one to switch the input.

A few minutes after the last signal disappears from the inputs, it goes back to standby.

It's one of the best auto on/off I experienced. It never failed to work properly over the last couple of months or so.

 

[NoxMorbis]

ANY UPDATES! MMMMUUUUH!

 

[robbiekhan]

Hello,

I got the MX3s this week as a change from the NAD D 3045 as it's now out of warranty and may or may not have a fault with the speaker outputs relay clicking (happened a few times but it might be my usage as I can't replicate it now having bought the Topping lol)

Anyway long story short, my speakers are KEF Q300 and headphones are Sennheiser HD650.

I am blown away by the sound of the MX3s, it's basically every bit as good as the NAD, just maybe missing that "NAD sound" warmth you always hear about that NAD has had in every amp since I have owned the C320 Bee and C325 Bee analogue days. I've also owned the D 7050 and D 3020 v1 and they too had that classic NAD sound warmth. The MX3s is very very close to the point I just wouldn't care about any minute differences.

For me the benefits and additional features far outweigh the slight loss in that "NAD sound".

For one, being able to manually toggle headphone vs speaker vs both output, and it remembers the volume level between them as well is a huge plus.

The remote control actually controls any media playing on the PC when connected via USB, reviews said the remote's media controls were for bluetooth connected playback, but this isn't the case, it also controls your USB connected media. I did not install any Topping USB driver, Windows handled all of it out of the box, I simply selected the range of supported sample freqs and also set to a desired sample rate.

Yes 88.2 isn't necessary, most of my music is 48KHz as is all the other media I play anyway, but it's an OCD thing above all else.

This little AIO makes me question why NAD seem it sane to charge £699 for an all plastic amp like the D 3045, and with a remote that doesn't control USB connected media playback, diminishing returns perhaps... I also like that the Topping remote uses AAA batteries instead of a CR2025 which is more tedious.

Looks great too!

Size difference is funny:

 

[robbiekhan]

This:

The only stereo amp that I've heard that is dead silent at ground zero (at full volume).

Just reading through the thread and came across this, whacked the volume to 100 on mine also via USB but at 24 bit sample rate and there is zero noise at 100% volume, it's the same that I had with the NAD D 3045, no noise at all at 100% volume when nothing is playing.

The Loxjie uses the ESS only for digital input, not for USB. As a USB DAC, it uses the limited Realtek ALC40. See also https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...nput-sound-worse-than-analog-in-solved.39731/

I use my AIO MX3 mostly as a USB DAC for my PC, so the Loxjie A30 would be a step back from the MX3 (let alone the MX3s)

For people with the MX3s, what do you see in Windows as available sound options? it can be tested by going into the Sound settings, Device properties, Additional properties in this dialog (showing the MX3 options)

PS: I see only now that there is a video by @cowdog360 showing the options on a Mac:, and I can see that a6 and 24 bits are available for 48kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz, which also means that 44.1kHz must be available, too. That's really good! Looks like the MX3s is a strong contender to sit on my desk soon. Hoping to see measurements soon (also, for the MX5). It's out of stock at Amazon US, though.

When you change to a different value, the front panel briefly displays that frequency too to denote that it's receiving that signal from Windows. The same way when selecting a new input source on the MX3s, it first displays the frequency it's receiving, so my Galaxy S23 connected via bluetooth shows "44.1" as it's using AptX only since Samsung still don't support aptx-HD or adaptive yet.

 

[NoxMorbis]

After all of the user input about how wonderful this unit sounds, I think it would be really funny if this thing tested dirty.

 

[robbiekhan]

After all of the user input about how wonderful this unit sounds, I think it would be really funny if this thing tested dirty.

When is the testing being done!

I can only compare against the NAD D 3045 which IMO is superb sounding on my setup for music, movies and games. The MX3s appears to be the same in this regard but at a fraction of the cost!

 

[robbiekhan]

I have a basic review up on youtube, essentially everything I've already posted with a few other bits I guess. This is ultimately a POV as a desktop user in a mid-field setup specifically using the KEFs for this purpose. Video isn't monetised or anything so no self promotion

 

[replus]

Hello, new user here! I've been using a MX3 for the past 2-3 years and am considering upgrading to the MX3s. I've liked it very much, but it is not without some quirks. I have a few questions regarding this unit that I haven't seen mentioned yet in the thread.

The MX3 (or at least, my MX3) does not delay its power down operation, so if my subwoofer is still on when the MX3 turns off, I get a loud (loud!) thump out of it. Does the MX3s remedy this?

How is the static noise from the speakers when nothing is playing? (Sorry if this is too vague a question that is dependent on the speakers being used.) With the MX3 and Klipsch R-51 bookshelf speakers, there is audible faint fuzz that I can hear at up to 3 feet away. It is distracting enough that I often choose to turn the unit off while at my PC rather than letting it idle.

Finally, does anybody happen to know if the potentiometer has been upgraded compared to the MX3? Mine started behaving unreliably after only a few months of ownership, and has only gotten worse with time. Very risky to use it while music is playing, because one volume click down could turn into twenty volume clicks up instead!

Thanks!

 

[-dsr-]

How is the static noise from the speakers when nothing is playing? (Sorry if this is too vague a question that is dependent on the speakers being used.) With the MX3 and Klipsch R-51 bookshelf speakers, there is audible faint fuzz that I can hear at up to 3 feet away. It is distracting enough that I often choose to turn the unit off while at my PC rather than letting it idle.

Finally, does anybody happen to know if the potentiometer has been upgraded compared to the MX3? Mine started behaving unreliably after only a few months of ownership, and has only gotten worse with time. Very risky to use it while music is playing, because one volume click down could turn into twenty volume clicks up instead!

I hear no noise from my 21 year-old Paradigm Monitor 3v3 speakers when USB-fed sound is off, even with the volume turned up to 50.

I've had the MX3s in use since late June; no knob issues. I don't think it's actually a potentiometer; I think it's probably a rotary encoder.