Dacs

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Lindsayt
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Re: Dacs

Unread post by Lindsayt »

Does the Topping do anything, sound quality wise that the $6.38 AliExpress Chinese DAC doesn't?
And if so, what?

And the way that I look at it, is not so much that the Topping is a bargain. It's more that there's a lot of overpriced digital sources out there.

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Re: Dacs

Unread post by Fretless »

The Topping D30 will give a full and detailed sound without any digital glare or unpleasantness. Also you get USB connectivity and hi-res playback up to 32bit/192KHz plus DSD (absurdly high-spec for a budget DAC).

I don't know how they do it for the price but it is a great little unit, solidly built and with a sound that has audiophile pretensions. They aim to make good-sounding products and succeed.

The cheapo thingies are just a few components put together primarily for use with TV's and will be fine for that. The one I had sounded flat and 'audio' while it worked. The D30 blew it away.
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Lindsayt (Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:22 pm)

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Lindsayt
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Re: Dacs

Unread post by Lindsayt »

That's interesting. The cheapo Chinese Dac never sounded flat when I heard it in Richard's system. And he hated flat sounding audio components.
Makes me wonder if the internal bits have varied in the cheapo chinese ones, or if the quality control isn't briliant?

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Re: Dacs

Unread post by savvypaul »

The £5 Chinese DAC needs the LPSU to sound worthwhile imo.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=49039

Then you're up to about £55 to £60. Tomasz told me that the £5 DAC was prone to failure - Richard bought them a few at a time to loan out and just binned any that went pop.

Not heard one, but Topping can now be bought direct in the UK from Electromod. Handy if you need to return it for any reason.
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Lindsayt (Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:21 am)
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Re: Dacs

Unread post by CN211276 »

Have not heard any of the cheepos but the Topping E30 offers 32Bit/765kHz with six subtle filter options. It can also be used with a remote in pre amp mode with a slight dip in SQ. I have compared it with the more expesive Chord Mojo and AQ DF Red in my second system. To my ears, in DAC mode, it runs the Mojo close and is superior to the DF. The later two are of course primarily designed for head phone use and are now exclusivey used for that purpose, at home and out and about. Though small and used with a power pank, I do not consider the Topping to be portable and it does not have a head phone socket. All three DACs are in regular use.
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Lindsayt (Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:21 am)
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Re: Dacs

Unread post by antonio66 »

Shenzenaudio have a sale on now. https://shenzhenaudio.com/

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Re: Dacs

Unread post by Hannes-Gregor »

Lindsayt wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:25 pm That's interesting. The cheapo Chinese Dac never sounded flat when I heard it in Richard's system. And he hated flat sounding audio components.
Makes me wonder if the internal bits have varied in the cheapo chinese ones, or if the quality control isn't briliant?
The inners differ. The left one is the one sent to me by Lordie: Rich full sound! The right one is another I bought. Sounding a bit like the Arkless even with LPSU. You can't see it from the outside and the sellers don't show the inners. So I don't know how to find the proper ones.

Image
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Fretless (Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:58 am) • Lindsayt (Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:17 am) • savvypaul (Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:31 am)

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Re: Dacs

Unread post by TheMadMick »

I had a revelation from a knowledgeable mate some years ago. Apparently, when chips are made the producer marks those that fail and once the failure rate drops, the chip is redesigned. The only thing a chip manufacturer will guarantee is the functionality.

Here we all know that sound quality can be very subjective. So ordering a certain chip, unless it is NOS, does not necessarily mean you get what you think you're getting.
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Re: Dacs

Unread post by Hannes-Gregor »

Hannes-Gregor wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:42 am
Lindsayt wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:25 pm That's interesting. The cheapo Chinese Dac never sounded flat when I heard it in Richard's system. And he hated flat sounding audio components.
Makes me wonder if the internal bits have varied in the cheapo chinese ones, or if the quality control isn't briliant?
The inners differ. The left one is the one sent to me by Lordie: Rich full sound! The right one is another I bought. Sounding a bit like the Arkless even with LPSU. You can't see it from the outside and the sellers don't show the inners. So I don't know how to find the proper ones.

Image
I messed up the picture on Imgur, so here it is again:

Image

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Re: Dacs

Unread post by NSNO2021 »

That's a massive difference - I wouldn't be best pleased to get the inferior one from new
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