Topping RD3 TP Balanced DAC Review

[Nutul]

I just received the RD3 today. I got everything plugged in and it has a loud pop at turn on

If you switch your amp (or your powered speakers) on AFTER the DAC, which is always good practice, you don't get this issue.

 

[IamJF]

It's a reck unit - you often switch these with a main power switch for the complete rack. Your amp stays on a while, there really should not be a pop with these units.

 

[Adaboy4z]

If you switch your amp (or your powered speakers) on AFTER the DAC, which is always good practice, you don't get this issue.

My other two Dacs don't have that issue, Topping E30ii and SMSL SU1

 

[rocksteady]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping "TP" RD3 balanced stereo USB rackmount DAC with Bluetooth. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $229.
View attachment 306076
The unit sports a gorgeous, white segmented display with highly responsive control. It is a joy to use. A remote control is provided as well. Back panel shows what we expect including the now standard trigger support on Topping products:
View attachment 306078
Power supply is built-in which is very nice as well.

I prefer this form factor to desktop products as it looks more "serious."

Topping RD3 TP Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard:
View attachment 306079
This is excellent performance and just a step below state of the art.
View attachment 306080

View attachment 306081

RCA output gives up just a bit of performance:
View attachment 306082
But still fully transparent as evidenced by superb dynamic range:

View attachment 306084

Linearity is excellent:
View attachment 306085

As is Jitter over USB:
View attachment 306086

There is however good bit of jitter over Coax/Toslink:
View attachment 306087

Fortunately their levels don't reach audibility.

IMD is excellent and just limited by noise:
View attachment 306088

If we eliminate that and just look at distortion floor, we can see superb performance:
View attachment 306089

We have our usual set of filters:
View attachment 306090
View attachment 306091

Even though attenuation is good we still get a bit of degradation in wideband THD+N vs frequency:
View attachment 306092

Conclusions
The performance of RD3 can be summed up as one step below perfection. In exchange for that, you get a very high value DAC with gorgeous display and in my opinion, highly usable rackmount form factor. As I noted in the review, I rather put an RD3 in my main system than a desktop DAC.

I am going to recommend the Topping "TP" RD3 balanced DAC.

Specifications​

• Dimensions (W x H x D)
  48.3X15.5X5.2cm
  Bluetooth
  Yes
• D/A Converter
  AK4493S
  Model Number
  RD3
• Material
  Metal
  DSD Sampling Frequencies
  2.8224 MHz (DSD64),5.6448 MHz (DSD128),11.2896 MHz (DSD256),22.5792 MHz (DSD512)
• PCM Word Length
  16-bit,24-bit,32-bit
  PCM Sampling Frequencies
  44.1 kHz,48 kHz,88.2 kHz,96 kHz,176.4 kHz,352.8 kHz,384 kHz,705.6 kHz,768 kHz
• Outputs
  RCA,XLR
  Inputs
  USB Type-B,Optical (SPDIF),Coaxial
• Type
  Desktop
  Brand Name
  TOPPING
• Origin
  Mainland China

----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome. Click here if you have some audio gear you want me to test.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

A missed opportunity. All that back panel space and such a miserly Input count. An AES-EBU, Double Coaxial and Optical inputs would make it a highly desirable device, even if it cost an additional $/€100 or so...

 

[G|force]

No AES, no thanks.

 

[IamJF]

It already has 4 inputs - that's prety good for an DAC? And AES and SPDIF are in most cases compatible, you just need the right cable. (AES outputs are normally transformer decoupled with small digital transormers - so symmetric/unsymmetric is no issue).

 

[MLaranjeiras]

The main question for me is: does it sound better than my Topping E50?

 

[daniboun]

The main question for me is: does it sound better than my Topping E50?

in theory you won't hear any difference between the two....
The choice is based solely on the interface, design and available options.

 

[MLaranjeiras]

in theory you won't hear any difference between the two....
The choice is based solely on the interface, design and available options.

View attachment 329717
View attachment 329718

Sure! I sent it to some friends make a comparison with other DACs.

The players:

Topping E50
SMSL M400
Denafrips Pontus

The conclusions

TOPPING E50
- Sound signature: well balanced and neutral
- Sound stage: significantly less pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced presence, without highlighting any part of the spectrum, very pleasant to listen to
- Bass / mid / treble detail: significantly less detailed, but without offering any discomfort
Conclusion: a less sophisticated, but balanced device - anyone who doesn't have a comparison will love having one.

SMSL M400
- Sound signature: neutral, without reinforcing any part of the spectrum
- Soundstage: very open and pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced and striking presence in bass and treble
- Bass/mid/treble detail: slightly less detailed than Pontus
Conclusion: excellent equipment in terms of cost-benefit ratio.

DENAFRIPS PONTUS
- Sound signature: neutral, but pulling a little towards the midrange.
- Soundstage: A little less open than the M400 (very little, almost imperceptible)
- Presence of bass / mids / highs: a marked presence of mid-highs; voices in particular. And trebles are also significantly pronounced.
- Bass / mid / treble detailing: very well detailed.

Conclusion: DENAFRIPS PONTUS is the best of the three evaluated in terms of sound, followed very closely by the M400. The E50 appears to be a different standard of equipment, but still excellent.

Considering that the Toppinp E50 price is 1/5 of the other two, it seems to be a very very honest product.

 

[rocksteady]

It already has 4 inputs - that's pretTy good for an DAC? And AES and SPDIF are in most cases compatible, you just need the right cable. (AES outputs are normally transformer decoupled with small digital transFormers - so symmetric/unsymmetric is no issue).

In this age of multiple digital sources and devices? Not even close. Even 20 years ago it would be barely enough. Besides, just how many people use i²S? In practice, only 3 usable inputs...

 

[daniboun]

Sure! I sent it to some friends make a comparison with other DACs.

The players:

Topping E50
SMSL M400
Denafrips Pontus

The conclusions

TOPPING E50
- Sound signature: well balanced and neutral
- Sound stage: significantly less pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced presence, without highlighting any part of the spectrum, very pleasant to listen to
- Bass / mid / treble detail: significantly less detailed, but without offering any discomfort
Conclusion: a less sophisticated, but balanced device - anyone who doesn't have a comparison will love having one.

SMSL M400
- Sound signature: neutral, without reinforcing any part of the spectrum
- Soundstage: very open and pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced and striking presence in bass and treble
- Bass/mid/treble detail: slightly less detailed than Pontus
Conclusion: excellent equipment in terms of cost-benefit ratio.

DENAFRIPS PONTUS
- Sound signature: neutral, but pulling a little towards the midrange.
- Soundstage: A little less open than the M400 (very little, almost imperceptible)
- Presence of bass / mids / highs: a marked presence of mid-highs; voices in particular. And trebles are also significantly pronounced.
- Bass / mid / treble detailing: very well detailed.

Conclusion: DENAFRIPS PONTUS is the best of the three evaluated in terms of sound, followed very closely by the M400. The E50 appears to be a different standard of equipment, but still excellent.

Considering that the Toppinp E50 price is 1/5 of the other two, it seems to be a very very honest product.

Hi,
Without wanting to offend you or discredit you, this test leaves more room for subjectivity than anything else.
On ASR we demonstrate through measurements and this is where the "neutrality" of an audio equipment makes sense.

All the dacs you mention have been tested and measured. To be able to compare them, you must be able to measure and erase all subjectivity.

The Denafrips Pontus 2 is an R2R DAC > $1850
Topping E50 > $269
SMSL M400 > $800

Whether it is the SMSL M400 or the Topping E50, both measure better by far than the Denafrips)

Conclusion: trust the measurements and don't spend your money haphazardly


Here goes :

Topping E50 full measurements :

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

SMSL M400 full measurements :

SMSL M400 Balanced USB MQA DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL M400 balanced and unbalanced DAC. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The M400 costs US $810 from prices I see online. The M400 design has been upgraded with a larger, more clear display and a Plexiglas upper cover: There is the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Denfrips Pontus 2 full measurements ( APx555 B)

Denafrips Pontus 2 (12th Anniversary Edition) Measurements - GoldenSound

Measurements of the Denafrips Pontus 2 12th Anniversary R2R DAC, and testing to see whether claims of NOS capability are true.

goldensound.audio

At a glance to understand:

Topping E50 :

DENAFRIPS Pontus 2 :

SMSL M400 :

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Sure! I sent it to some friends make a comparison with other DACs.

The players:

Topping E50
SMSL M400
Denafrips Pontus

The conclusions

TOPPING E50
- Sound signature: well balanced and neutral
- Sound stage: significantly less pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced presence, without highlighting any part of the spectrum, very pleasant to listen to
- Bass / mid / treble detail: significantly less detailed, but without offering any discomfort
Conclusion: a less sophisticated, but balanced device - anyone who doesn't have a comparison will love having one.

SMSL M400
- Sound signature: neutral, without reinforcing any part of the spectrum
- Soundstage: very open and pronounced
- Presence of bass / mid / treble: balanced and striking presence in bass and treble
- Bass/mid/treble detail: slightly less detailed than Pontus
Conclusion: excellent equipment in terms of cost-benefit ratio.

DENAFRIPS PONTUS
- Sound signature: neutral, but pulling a little towards the midrange.
- Soundstage: A little less open than the M400 (very little, almost imperceptible)
- Presence of bass / mids / highs: a marked presence of mid-highs; voices in particular. And trebles are also significantly pronounced.
- Bass / mid / treble detailing: very well detailed.

Conclusion: DENAFRIPS PONTUS is the best of the three evaluated in terms of sound, followed very closely by the M400. The E50 appears to be a different standard of equipment, but still excellent.

Considering that the Toppinp E50 price is 1/5 of the other two, it seems to be a very very honest product.

Your listening test unfortunately is invalid. For it to deliver usable results it would have to be conducted as a level matched controlled test (double blind or also called ABX Test). The purpose is to remove chance (guessing), ensure statistical validity and remove bias (expectation bias of humans) from negatively affecting the test results. Also the level would have to be matched precisely (good voltmeter), as louder is always perceived as better (Fletcher-Munson). As such tests are not easy to do and elaborate many can’t do it.

Therefore in this instance it is already perfectly fine as the previous post has pointed out to simply look at the measurements which show that every deviation from „perfect“ is by orders of magnitude below what humans are able to hear.

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Hi,
Without wanting to offend you or discredit you, this test leaves more room for subjectivity than anything else.
On ASR we demonstrate through measurements and this is where the "neutrality" of an audio equipment makes sense.

All the dacs you mention have been tested and measured. To be able to compare them, you must be able to measure and erase all subjectivity.

The Denafrips Pontus 2 is an R2R DAC > $1850
Topping E50 > $269
SMSL M400 > $800

Whether it is the SMSL M400 or the Topping E50, both measure better by far than the Denafrips)

Conclusion: trust the measurements and don't spend your money haphazardly


Here goes :

Topping E50 full measurements :

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

SMSL M400 full measurements :

SMSL M400 Balanced USB MQA DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL M400 balanced and unbalanced DAC. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The M400 costs US $810 from prices I see online. The M400 design has been upgraded with a larger, more clear display and a Plexiglas upper cover: There is the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Denfrips Pontus 2 full measurements ( APx555 B)

Denafrips Pontus 2 (12th Anniversary Edition) Measurements - GoldenSound

Measurements of the Denafrips Pontus 2 12th Anniversary R2R DAC, and testing to see whether claims of NOS capability are true.

goldensound.audio

At a glance to understand:

Topping E50 :

View attachment 329984
View attachment 329988

DENAFRIPS Pontus 2 :

View attachment 329985
View attachment 329987

SMSL M400 :

View attachment 329986
View attachment 329989

Hi,
Without wanting to offend you or discredit you, this test leaves more room for subjectivity than anything else.
On ASR we demonstrate through measurements and this is where the "neutrality" of an audio equipment makes sense.

All the dacs you mention have been tested and measured. To be able to compare them, you must be able to measure and erase all subjectivity.

The Denafrips Pontus 2 is an R2R DAC > $1850
Topping E50 > $269
SMSL M400 > $800

Whether it is the SMSL M400 or the Topping E50, both measure better by far than the Denafrips)

Conclusion: trust the measurements and don't spend your money haphazardly


Here goes :

Topping E50 full measurements :

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

SMSL M400 full measurements :

SMSL M400 Balanced USB MQA DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL M400 balanced and unbalanced DAC. It was kindly sent to me by the company. The M400 costs US $810 from prices I see online. The M400 design has been upgraded with a larger, more clear display and a Plexiglas upper cover: There is the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Denfrips Pontus 2 full measurements ( APx555 B)

Denafrips Pontus 2 (12th Anniversary Edition) Measurements - GoldenSound

Measurements of the Denafrips Pontus 2 12th Anniversary R2R DAC, and testing to see whether claims of NOS capability are true.

goldensound.audio

At a glance to understand:

Topping E50 :

View attachment 329984
View attachment 329988

DENAFRIPS Pontus 2 :

View attachment 329985
View attachment 329987

SMSL M400 :

View attachment 329986
View attachment 329989

No offense at all. That was what they perceived. Just sharing. Measures vs listening is an infinite discussion. Just sharing. ASR is measurements in most cases. A technical evidence. But people listen too.

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Your listening test unfortunately is invalid. For it to deliver usable results it would have to be conducted as a level matched controlled test (double blind or also called ABX Test). The purpose is to remove chance (guessing), ensure statistical validity and remove bias (expectation bias of humans) from negatively affecting the test results. Also the level would have to be matched precisely (good voltmeter), as louder is always perceived as better (Fletcher-Munson). As such tests are not easy to do and elaborate many can’t do it.

Therefore in this instance it is already perfectly fine as the previous post has pointed out to simply look at the measurements which show that every deviation from „perfect“ is by orders of magnitude below what humans are able to hear.

They made what they could. I like blind tests, but it was not at this time

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Your listening test unfortunately is invalid. For it to deliver usable results it would have to be conducted as a level matched controlled test (double blind or also called ABX Test). The purpose is to remove chance (guessing), ensure statistical validity and remove bias (expectation bias of humans) from negatively affecting the test results. Also the level would have to be matched precisely (good voltmeter), as louder is always perceived as better (Fletcher-Munson). As such tests are not easy to do and elaborate many can’t do it.

Therefore in this instance it is already perfectly fine as the previous post has pointed out to simply look at the measurements which show that every deviation from „perfect“ is by orders of magnitude below what humans are able to hear.

The good measurements of the Topping E50 made me to move for it. But many issues on measurements are beyond the human listening area, as ASR always remember. So, we can not only go for measurements. But I choose the cheapest with good ones.

 

[daniboun]

No offense at all. That was what they perceived. Just sharing. Measures vs listening is an infinite discussion. Just sharing. ASR is measurements in most cases. A technical evidence. But people listen too.

This is indeed an eternal discussion) The whole point of ASR testing lies precisely in the science and practical data. We all know that our ears have limits and what we perceive is often biased by feeling. It often amuses me to read in Stereophile reviews or other Soundnews tests that are completely dithyrambic and meaningless because they are often empty of measurements....

I like to recall this beautiful example:

Chord DAVE Review (DAC & HP Amp)

This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of CHORD DAVE combination DAC and headphone amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $14,000. Having been frustrated with the user interface of lower end Chord products with their color Morse codes, I was really looking...

www.audiosciencereview.com

and the dythiambic review of Soundnews...

Digital to Analog Veritas in Extremis - Chord DAVE DAC Review - Soundnews

My Video Review: Immediately after finishing my Denafrips Terminator Plus review, I was 100% sure that Terminator Plus (TPlus from now on) was going to be my forever and ever end-game DAC. I shot an email to Vinshine Audio that supplied a review sample and I kindly asked for a discount as I...

soundnews.net

no way......

 

[MLaranjeiras]

This is indeed an eternal discussion) The whole point of ASR testing lies precisely in the science and practical data. We all know that our ears have limits and what we perceive is often biased by feeling. It often amuses me to read in Stereophile reviews or other Soundnews tests that are completely dithyrambic and meaningless because they are often empty of measurements....

I like to recall this beautiful example:

Chord DAVE Review (DAC & HP Amp)

This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of CHORD DAVE combination DAC and headphone amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $14,000. Having been frustrated with the user interface of lower end Chord products with their color Morse codes, I was really looking...

www.audiosciencereview.com

and the dythiambic review of Soundnews...

Digital to Analog Veritas in Extremis - Chord DAVE DAC Review - Soundnews

My Video Review: Immediately after finishing my Denafrips Terminator Plus review, I was 100% sure that Terminator Plus (TPlus from now on) was going to be my forever and ever end-game DAC. I shot an email to Vinshine Audio that supplied a review sample and I kindly asked for a discount as I...

soundnews.net

no way......

A Chord Mojo 2 at 430 euros d’be my maximum investiment. Or an IFI Gryphon at the same price range

 

[daniboun]

A Chord Mojo 2 at 430 euros d’be my maximum investiment. Or an IFI Gryphon at the same price range

Check Amir's tests and take any DAC with a 120DB Sinad under ASR test conditions for less than $200
You are spoiled for choice among all the dacs tested recently)

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Check Amir's tests and take any DAC with a 120DB Sinad under ASR test conditions for less than $200
You are spoiled for choice among all the dacs tested recently)

Sometimes you go to a restaurant because a friend insisted. At least, if I do not find any good new on the Mojo 2 I can sell it easily

 

[daniboun]

Sometimes you go to a restaurant because a friend insisted. At least, if I do not find any good new on the Mojo 2 I can sell it easily

Checkout the full review :

CHORD Mojo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the CHORD Mojo 2 portable, battery operated stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $799. The Mojo 2 is solidly built. While I am definitely not a fan of multi-color interface, the buttons feel better in...

www.audiosciencereview.com