Topping RD3 TP Balanced DAC Review

[pseudoid]

Thank you @amirm.
I cheated and voted, even before looking at the results and only reading the first paragraph and it's rear-end photo.

 

[spigot]

Aesthetically, I quite like the idea of this and other components mounted vertically, so you have a flat horizontal surface at the side of your chair that's just the faces of components. Languidly stretch out a hand, twiddle a few knobs..

 

[Veri]

Thanks for the review, but isn't this being a bit generous with the golfing panther? The Toslink and Coax jitter is average at best.

It's funny how the language changes in a Topping review. "There is a good deal of jitter over Toslink/Coax"...."Unlikely to be audible" when talking of a Topping. So "a good deal of jitter" is about as much jitter as an average AVR DAC?

For a Pioneer LX-505 AVR, "Jitter performance was poor for either digital input...".."Highly correlated jitter". Yet the jitter over Toslink was essentially identical to the Topping. And where is the "unlikely to be audible" comment in the Pioneer review?

Let's call a spade a spade and be objective and consistent on the review language. The data speaks for itself.

There is however good bit of jitter over Coax/Toslink [...] Fortunately their levels don't reach audibility.

But yes.

 

[Mart68]

I vote 'fine' - needs an orange display and less jitter on the SP/dif and I'd move it up to 'great'.

I might even buy one then as well.

 

[DWPress]

This would have been perfect when I was using a MiniDSP 4x10 for a proper front end. No need for it now but if I were to get it I'd definitely figure out a way to cut those ears off...

 

[Catsmeow]

What is this equivalent to, like a E70? A30?

I'm so confused.

 

[pseudoid]

but if I were to get it I'd definitely figure out a way to cut those ears off...

LoL, you'll just end up with 'baby' ears!

Don't forget to "measure twice, cut once!"

 

[S=klogW]

Thanks for the review, but isn't this being a bit generous with the golfing panther? The Toslink and Coax jitter is average at best.

It's funny how the language changes in a Topping review. "There is a good deal of jitter over Toslink/Coax"...."Unlikely to be audible" when talking of a Topping. So "a good deal of jitter" is about as much jitter as an average AVR DAC?

For a Pioneer LX-505 AVR, "Jitter performance was poor for either digital input...".."Highly correlated jitter". Yet the jitter over Toslink was essentially identical to the Topping. And where is the "unlikely to be audible" comment in the Pioneer review?

Let's call a spade a spade and be objective and consistent on the review language. The data speaks for itself.

Compare the Topping's toslink jitter with the toslink jitter measured by amirm from the $80 SMSL SU-1. No excuse for Topping generating this terrible level of performance - Well done SMSL!

@amirm I wish you would measure the Topping's sinad performances for toslink and coax inputs; I suspect they will be poor as I found with the Topping e30 ii unit I measured.

 

[mdsimon2]

To be honest, whenever I see really good J test results with SPDIF/TOSLINK input I always wonder if they are sacrificing the ability to lock to a wide variety of jitter levels for "good" measured performance. Plenty of examples of good J test results on DACs that skip/pop with a lot of sources.

Michael

 

[amirm]

It's funny how the language changes in a Topping review. "There is a good deal of jitter over Toslink/Coax"...."Unlikely to be audible" when talking of a Topping. So "a good deal of jitter" is about as much jitter as an average AVR DAC?

I routinely make that comment about jitter measurements. Here is an example from AV segment:

For a Pioneer LX-505 AVR, "Jitter performance was poor for either digital input...".."Highly correlated jitter". Yet the jitter over Toslink was essentially identical to the Topping. And where is the "unlikely to be audible" comment in the Pioneer review?

HDMI is the primary input for an AVR. For a DAC, USB is. Here, the USB is very clean where as HDMI is not in the example you showed.

EDIT: adding on, Toslink specifically gets fair use on AV products for feeding TV sound into the AV product. Not sure in music centric dacs.

My recommendations are mine, i.e. personal. Since I never use S/PDIF or Coax, it is a non factor for me in giving a product a recommendation. That said, I did pause a bit before giving golfing panther. Initially I was going to use the happy one. But then thought about, realized the transparent response with gorgeous features and low price, I thought it was fitting of the golfing panther. I provide a poll so you all can choose otherwise. But please don't call my motives in question. I don't let that get into the picture.

 

[GGroch]

Very nice.
I just wish Topping (or somebody else) will come with a high performance dac in a big enclosure including 5"-7" of spectrum analyzer / vu meters / song details swappable display.

That would be something like the Eversolo DMP-A6 Streamer/DAC right? I think the display does not do spectrum analyzer, but I bet that would just require Eversolo to do a firmware update with that function if people want it. In a straight DAC a large display often has little to do, adding Streaming functions and touch control makes it even nicer imho.

 

[amirm]

LoL, you'll just end up with 'baby' ears!
View attachment 306182
Don't forget to "measure twice, cut once!"

there is perspective error in the images. You can indeed cut off the ears if you wanted without it interfering with the case.

 

[Nutul]

Does it play DSD?

It does not play them, as this is not a player. But if you read the specs, the answer is there.

 

[Transmaniacon]

This would be great for my stereo system, I have a Topping D30 that works fine, but I like this form factor and I wouldn't need a power brick as well. The rack ears kill it for me though, they should be removable or sell a version without them. I suppose you could cut them off with a hacksaw and add some matte black paint...

 

[Miguel]

Why wasn't the Bluetooth tested?

 

[DWPress]

there is perspective error in the images. You can indeed cut off the ears if you wanted without it interfering with the case.

Yeah, I've cut ears off gear before - I feel a little sorry for the Nikko tuner I butchered. Another option is to simply replace it with a new front plate. I digress, back to actual things that matter about this thing.

 

[amirm]

Why wasn't the Bluetooth tested?

It is more work and results are codes dependent. If you use ldac then it is the same as what you see.

 

[amirm]

On coax sinad, it drops to 115db.

 

[Music1969]

As I wrote in the amp thread, it's time to buy a 10$ Ikea Lack table to install the electronic gear inside.

But I am totally unable to buy these components right now. Some links?

i don't want more floor space taken up in my living room

i have space on my current rack but those rackmount ears make it look ugly

removal ears like Focusrite is the solution @JohnYang1997

 

[ocinn]

I love topping to death, but damn dude, what is going on with these recent products?

The SMSL M300se is $100 cheaper, better looking, better performing, and comes with a "free" headphone amp. There's also SMSL DO100, C200, D6, I could go on and on. This product makes no sense at all, just like the RA3 made no sense.

$500 gets you this and the RA3. Then you have two huge plain black rackmount boxes (non-removable ears, too lol) with basic white segmented displays straight out of a VCR from 2001, making a whopping 57w at @8R.

Or, it gets you the Sabaj A30a, which is gorgeous and makes 2.3x as much power @4R, has full bass management (!!!), and an analog input for the occasional record spin. Or, the SMSL M300se and an Audiophonics MPA-S125NC XLR. Or for the price of ONE of these, you can get the M300se and a Fosi V3. And the completely audible SINAD hit will be dwarfed by the power advantage.

All of the above take up a fraction of the volume in space that these behemoths require.

But I am totally unable to buy these components right now. Some links?

Since you are in france: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005005791366431.html?

I hope I am correct in saying that the rca output can be use for a subwoofer

Can, sure. But it does not have a high-pass filter for the main speakers as it should (and the pair's competitors like Sabaj A30a) do.

USD $229 seems a good deal for sure! I still prefer my compact DAC that is mere inches wide and long so it fits nice behind the monitor but for this level of performance I would go with the rack mount option from Topping

$229 is about $150 overpriced. Horrible value. Same performance as the SU1 ($80). If you need balanced, there's the M300SE for $129.