[wushuliu]

The Topping D50 is a desktop DAC sporting two of the newest Sabre chips that are a scaled down version of the popular PRO. This DAC has gotten a lot of coverage, including some basic measurements over at audiosciencereview. The dac uses the XMOS XU208 USB receiver and therefore can output just about anything including DSD512. Also comes with seven filter options. Both Optical and Coaxial SPDIF inputs as well.


https://goo.gl/yfGYCQ

I'll keep my thoughts brief as there really isn't much to tell: it's an outstanding DAC. Period. The hefty brushed aluminum housing gives the dac audiophile-approved weight. The OLED display is slick and user-friendly. Having both coax AND optical is a rare treat these days in this price, and the ability to use an external power supply is a welcome bonus.

As for sound quality, take the underdog gem that is the SMSL idea/Dabaj DA3 and bump things up a couple notches and you have the D50. Overall presentation is very similar. Neutral/cool, emphasis on clarity, separation, low noise and microdetail. The D50 however takes the realism to a different level and micro-details, the very subtlest nuances of a track, are much more audible. If you were never a fan of the Sabre sound, though, this dac won't change your mind. If you were thinking about the Idea/Sabaj but didn't take it seriously, well now you have no excuse. This dac is *excellent*.

But it's not perfect. Granted, I only listened to it for a short time (I did not give it full 'burn-in'), but there *is* something of a peakiness in the mids that I found a little tiring after a while. Perhaps it's just a poor match with my headphones. The upper frequencies are extended but not any harsher then the Idea/Sabaj, but the upper mids seem a little hard. There are a lot of variables though - I didn't spend too much time with all the filters and I did find that using the coax vs. usb resulted in a smoother presentation. YMMV.

Will I keep it? Alas, no. Ultimately I do prefer the Hifime. I think it's a better sounding dac, despite it's modest appearance and fewer features. I think the Hifime team actually spent time optimizing the very complicated 9038 specifically for their design. The mids for the Hifime for instance, is unlike any other Sabre dac I've heard, perhaps because of the THD compensation option these newer chips have. It took Hifime about 6mos or more to finalize their dac. The Topping, I suspect based on how their quick product turnaround, didn't do much with the chip and focused on the surrounding components.

But for most folks let's face it, the quality aesthetics and the many features (DSD blah blah blah) are more important. If I didn't have the Hifime I would absolutely keep the D50. For $250 it is really hard to believe the combo of features and sound quality that is on offer when it comes to dacs these days.

[maty]

And with speakers? Only like a DAC.

[wushuliu]

And with speakers? Only like a DAC.

Wha?

[Mike B.]

I ordered one a week ago. Should be fun trying to mod it. I am thinking of changing to a transformer output rather than the stock OP Amps

[S Clark]

Wha?

Sorry, Maty.  I couldn't resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6CKSW9I1cA

[PeteG]

Sorry, Maty.  I couldn't resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6CKSW9I1cA

LOL 

[maty]

I am sorry, very fast reading. At that time I should be already sleeping. 

I am many things: European, Spanish and Catalan but from Tarragona. I lived in Barcelona (University) but I went back to my town after some years. Like every big city, there is too much noise, people and traffic. And now too much tourist, too much. The most interesting people I met there were not born in BCN!

Here, in few minutes I can be on the beach or in the countryside. People < 140,000. More livable, human.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragona

[IMG] https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yWFPecnPRmg/TLtw_RJLvMI/AAAAAAAAAHU/2KXPWafm6-A/s1600/Tarragona-ciudad-panoramica.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarraco

[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/cultura/Tarragona-Tarraco.jpg

[wushuliu]

Okay. Time for a hiatus. Things are getting too weird.

[mresseguie]

Wushuliu,

Before you disappear on your hiatus, allow me to thank you for posting about all these inexpensive DACs. I’ve read along even though I didn’t post.

Regards,

Michael

PS Is it 武術六， 無數六，or something else entirely? I have wondered since the first time I noticed your alias. 

[maty]

Review and Measurements of Topping D50 DAC

https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-topping-d50-dac.2403/

By the way, my choice to substitute my cheap tweaked ODAC is the more expensive RME ADI-2 DAC. But without a new amplifier...

Review and Measurements of RME ADI-2 DAC

https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-rme-adi-2-dac.2582/

[JohnR]

Have Topping been around for long? I hadn't heard of them until recently. Their engineering staff are definitely on the ball.

[S Clark]

Here, in few minutes I can be on the beach or in the countryside. People < 140,000. More livable, human.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragona

[IMG] https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yWFPecnPRmg/TLtw_RJLvMI/AAAAAAAAAHU/2KXPWafm6-A/s1600/Tarragona-ciudad-panoramica.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarraco

[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/cultura/Tarragona-Tarraco.jpg

It looks like a beautiful place to live.  I've been to Espana several times, and I am always eager to go back.  My wife has an aunt that lives in Fuengirola, just down the coast from Malaga.  We try to visit as often as we can.  Perhaps on our next visit we can find the time to see your part of Spain.

[maty]

Fuengirola, Marbella... full of Brittains and Nordics.

After Rome, Tarragona is the second european city with the best Romans ruins. Now, with the good time, the invasion of Europeans begins. To understand us, the Spanish Mediterranean coast is like Florida. And the farther south, the more older European residents; living from the pension is easier in Spain -and the health system is much better than the British (a disaster at present); they take vacations and operate in Spain, they will regret leaving the EU.

Germans are in Mallorca, Tarragona, Gerona and... now in Polland (in the area that decades ago was German).

You know: marcha, fiesta.

[Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

-and the health system is much better than the British (a disaster at present)

Source?

Don't believe all you read in the media. Yes there are issues, but every day peoples lives are improved/saved by our NHS. Long may it continue...

[murphy11]

Can we talk about Spain and healthcare in the Spain and healthcare thread?

[Letitroll98]

An occasional aside is always okay, but Murphy is correct, it is time to get back to the Topping DAC.

[fredgarvin]

Yeah but if the Topping hurts my ears should I go to England or Spain to find relief? 

I know Cambridge makes some DAC's.

[wushuliu]

Have Topping been around for long? I hadn't heard of them until recently. Their engineering staff are definitely on the ball.

They've been around for a little bit. They have a solid rep for budget gear. They started with budget Class D amps (Tripath, etc) but are starting to expand into digital audio.

[wushuliu]

Wushuliu,

Before you disappear on your hiatus, allow me to thank you for posting about all these inexpensive DACs. I’ve read along even though I didn’t post.

Regards,

Michael

PS Is it 武術六， 無數六，or something else entirely? I have wondered since the first time I noticed your alias. 

Hi Michael, you're welcome. As for my username, it is a reference to my love for martials arts films by Liu Chia Liang (Lau Kar Leung).

[mresseguie]

Hi Michael, you're welcome. As for my username, it is a reference to my love for martials arts films by Liu Chia Liang (Lau Kar Leung).

Aha!

My mother-in-law has the same surname - 劉。

Good to know.