which topping dac/amp is "safe" to buy?

[Danks]

Hey there,

i read to much about faulty units , still want to purchase a topping (combo?) for cans (Arya Organic) and monitors (Genelec 8331)
which combo would you recommend that doesn't explode? I actually orderd a JDS Labs Element IV but was scared that it would not as linear as the topping, also the rca outs were a no go for my genelec (except someone can recommend a good adapter then I'll maybe don't return my JDS.
I am a mastering engineer and don't need an interface with mic pre amps—just good headphone amps and monitor outs. I used to have the rme babyface but the headphone amps weren't good enough for me so I sold it.

thanks in advance for any recommendations!

 

[Power Pop 23]

I believe a combination of a Topping E50 DAC and Topping L50 headphone amplifier will be a safe buy. Each has been measured at ASR.

 

[Danks]

I believe a combination of a Topping E50 DAC and Topping L50 headphone amplifier will be a safe buy. Each has been measured at ASR.

I like that, thanks for the advice; I will definitly consider these two!

 

[FrenchFan]

Or Topping D50III + Sabaj A20H
Same class that Topping E50 + Topping L50
Sabaj has a gain remote control box

 

[Danks]

thanks. I will stick to topping i guess. I am used to the dac quality of rme babyfaces also. the most important thing is longetivity and that is also my biggest concern with topping. can't afford downtime, maybe shouldn't have sold my babyface .___.

 

[Berwhale]

I've been running a Topping D50s/A50s for 4.5 years and an EX5 for almost 4 years without issue.

 

[Danks]

I've been running a Topping D50s/A50s for 4.5 years and an EX5 for almost 4 years without issue.

excellent information, thank you!

 

[BeeKay]

I have an E/L50 stack and no complaints whatsoever. Used it for a while in my living room main system (DAC has pre-amp built in) and now it’s my desktop headphones setup.

 

[Thomas Savage]

Hey there,

i read to much about faulty units , still want to purchase a topping (combo?) for cans (Arya Organic) and monitors (Genelec 8331)
which combo would you recommend that doesn't explode? I actually orderd a JDS Labs Element IV but was scared that it would not as linear as the topping, also the rca outs were a no go for my genelec (except someone can recommend a good adapter then I'll maybe don't return my JDS.
I am a mastering engineer and don't need an interface with mic pre amps—just good headphone amps and monitor outs. I used to have the rme babyface but the headphone amps weren't good enough for me so I sold it.

thanks in advance for any recommendations!

No one can guarantee something won't malfunction. If your that worried I'd go with a brand you have innate confidence in .

 

[digitalfrost]

I have Topping D10 since years, still works. I have 2x Topping D50. They lock up either once a year or twice a year (I never shut them off). A simple restart fixes it. I also have Topping L30II that still works, I bought it after my Geshelli Archel 2 went defective. So far, I have no bad experiences with the brand.

 

[Puustinen]

maybe shouldn't have sold my babyface

For what it’s worth, I tried both Topping E50 and MX3 on my gaming rig for a while, but replaced them with an RME BabyFace. MX3 was OK for headphones, but never got along with the E50’s sound with any of my speakers.

Even though the BabyFace works well with my Amphion One15s, I’m also in the market for a headphone amp that would be a step up from a BabyFace. Kind of scared to try Topping again, as nothing I have bought so far (E50, MX3, D10s and E30) has stayed in use.

To answer the question: Tehcnology wise Topping products have been solid (apart from low audio buffer settings on D10s), so no issues there. I just haven’t enjoyed the sound.

 

[Berwhale]

...never got along with the E50’s sound with any of my speakers

If a DAC is measured to be audibly transparent, is being used properly and isn't broken, it really doesn't have 'a sound'. So I would look elsewhere in the system for the problem.

Audibility for DAC and Amp measurements here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-thresholds-of-amp-and-dac-measurements.5734/

Thread on 'DAC Sound' here... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-as-transparent-are-that-many-confused.9245/

 

[Puustinen]

So I would look elsewhere in the system for the problem.

I am aware that the DAC measures great. That was my main reason for buying it.

First I had it in my recording setup: treated room + room correction, end to end balanced connections, pro audio gear. Didn’t like what I heard.

Next step was my living room: minimal room treatment, room correction, HiFi gear (Amphion, Hegel), unbalanced connections. Same result as before.

Last port of call, my gaming setup: No room treatment or room correction, no equipment over $900. The DAC still didn’t make the cut.

I have no reason to dislike the E50. If I would be happy with it, I could move my DAC1 to be a headphone amp in my gaming setup, which would solve my headphone amp needs.

As for using the DAC wrong, theoretically possible, but don’t have such issues with any of the DACs I have in use. Not much to get wrong. Connect cables and choose a filter you are happy with.

Where I have to disagree with is whether a DAC can have a sound or not. Lack of distortion, no crosstalk or frequency imbalance between channels (and so on) are all things I consider being part of the sound signature of a DAC.
Having grown up with analog gear, which have distortion, crosstalk and imperfect frequency response, I still prefer the imperfections over clean measuring gear.

Whether I should be able to audibly hear the imperfections, is a valid question. I don’t like throwing money away, so I tried to convince myself that I’m hearing things, but it didn’t work.

 

[DVDdoug]

Lack of distortion, no crosstalk or frequency imbalance between channels (and so on) are all things I consider being part of the sound signature of a DAC.

Personally, the only time I've heard a difference or defect with a "DAC" it was a noisy soundcard that made noise when the hard drive was accessed. That includes the DAC built-into my 1st CD player 40 years ago.

Generally with electronics noise is the only thing I worry about, as long as an amplifier has enough power that I'm not overdriving it into clipping/distortion. Noise is tricky because audibility depends on gain/amplification, the sensitivity of the speakers, how close you are to the speakers, ambient room noise, etc.

With modern electronics it's pretty cheap & easy to make something with low distortion and flat frequency response. Noise isn't usually much of a problem either except in high-gain preamps (phono or mic preamps) and maybe power amps (which also have gain). I remember the analog days when 20dB of separation (crosstalk) was good enough for a phono cartridge. Nothing else is THAT bad!

Whether I should be able to audibly hear the imperfections, is a valid question. I don’t like throwing money away, so I tried to convince myself that I’m hearing things, but it didn’t work.

What is a blind ABX test?

 

[Robin L]

I got the stack of the Topping E30 and L30 five years ago. There was an issue with the L30 that mostly happened in dry climates. Although I live in a damp climate, decided to get the free replacement that Topping offered. This all happened very soon as the L30 was released. Both DAC and amp have exemplary performance. I use them daily. Whatever you're looking for probably will depend more on your requirements for connectivity than anything else. The E30 can take USB, coax and optical Toslink, has RCA outs. The L30 has a switch for three different levels of volume. The lowest is useful for IEMs. It has a 1/4" jack for headphones and RCA outs for a preamp mode.

Note that this was close to the cheapest pair Topping had at the time. The pair has been superseded by E30 II and L30 II versions. The DAC has slightly better distortion and noise, but the difference would be inaudible, the amp has noticeably more power.

However, it looks like you'll want balanced connections to the Genelecs. The 70 series from Topping is the way to go if you don't want to get adaptors. I'd certainly try RCA to XLR adaptors before trying anything else.

 

[Puustinen]

What is a blind ABX test?

Yes, I try to blind test every piece of gear/software I tend to use. Personally happy with HOFA BlindTest in digital domain.

 

[Berwhale]

Having grown up with analog gear, which have distortion, crosstalk and imperfect frequency response, I still prefer the imperfections over clean measuring gear.

I see, so it's the E50's lack of 'a sound' that you find disagreeable. Fairy nuff.