buymeacoffee.com/paulthird (if you get any benefit from what I do on this platform) 🤓 BTW I forgot all about the DX9 which many would argue (including me) is arguably the best DAC amp on the market. Has an incredibly powerful hp amp, like standalone hp amp power. It measures very close to the DAC quality of Dx7 pro+, has GUI screen BUT no PEQ and no recallable presets. I was considering DX9 for a while but for my current setup I just didn't require the extra amp power unless I ended up with Dan Clark. Where with the PEQ combined with recallable remote presets of both DAC & amp in the discrete setup was just too good of an upgrade to miss out on. If Topping were to add these functions to DX9 then you are talking end game in one single unit but I don't think that the DSP chip is physically built into them so it's not even a firmware update thing. So as of date of this comment it's only D90iii discrete & D50iii discrete that offer PEQ and remotely recallable presets
I'm a professional Mastering engineer in Oslo Mastering. My setup is Crane Song Avochet intro xilica xd4080 processor for active crossover and tuning. I wish Topping could make a processor with this dac, need 6 channels. And also 6 channel pre 90 volume. That would be amazing. My speaker its power with four b200 topping amplifier. Sounds insane
So, after hearing and loving the Topping A90D, I was all set on making it a stack with the D90Discrete, but man, oh man; that IPS screen on the D70pro OCTO made me choose it, plus the less-costly price tag. The combo is as great as I hoped it would be. Listening through my new Edition XS 'phones. What an awesome combo. I would love to harness the awesome detail from the A90D as a preamp for my speaker system.
Very happy for you man! Hope this puts an end to your obsession over the little numbers. Gotta admit, you picking the DT 1990 frequency response for demonstration purposes made me a bit curious to hear my DT 1990 Pros with the Harman curve once (bc 3-8 dB is very audibly "off" the "ideal"). Buuut I can't be bothered hahahaha! Guess I'm more of a producer than an engineer at the end of the day. You're far deeper into the whole science of it than I see myself getting into anytime soon. You seem happy and excited and I think I understand it. There are things I obsess over too and when I finally find THE solution, I'm exctatic too. Enjoy your weekend!
Hi Paul. Question. When you had your dx7pro+ did you have it connected to audio interface or was it just unit itself running speakers and headphones? Can you please explain how was it connected to your setup? Thank you🙏
I use Dirac and have two outputs one with calibration for my speakers and one for my Topping headphone amp. Have four presets for switching and I’m very happy with the results 👌🏼
Convinced. Getting some A90Ds.... dammit Paul, I love your channel, and though it gives me series GAS sometimes, it always helps me feel educated and consider how I can step up my game. Cheers!
Yes you can send to topping via AES. The PEQ is fixed to the output you are using so the EQ will go to speakers and headphones. It doesn't seperate. you have to change PEQ via the remote. I've not tested the C1 & C2 remote presets to check if they also save the PEQ setting. I think they do. If they do then you can have C1 for headphones and C2 for speakers for easy switching
I was just about to pull the trigger on a DX9, but after seeing the Topping Tune you showed-wow, what a gem! I didn’t even know it existed. However, I checked the site, and it seems the DX9 isn’t supported in Topping Tune (which is really surprising, considering it’s their flagship model). Now I’m seriously tempted to go with your setup instead, just for that software. Huge fan of your videos!
I'm gonna be honest. I would argue that D90iii/A90discrete is their true flagship over DX9. DX9 is their flagship dac amp but I would say that the discrete combo is the real flagship. I think the d50 iii has the topping tune integration as well. I know it's only 2 of the DAC's so far with the PEQ
@@PaulThird You're right, the D50iii has the integration as well. I’ll reach out to customer service to see if they plan to add DX9 support in a future update before making my decision. Both systems measure about the same, but I’d prefer a single unit on my desk instead of two.
I doubt they will add it as the dsp would have to be already built into the circuit. It's not a firmware update you can do. You need a dedicated dsp chip to store and run the EQ's They would also have to change the remote as well as it has no programability. Worth an ask but I have a suspicion that the DX9 will remain as it is
@@PaulThird Leaving this here for anyone interested. This is the resposne from their support team: "Thank you for the email. DX9 is an earlier product that does not support the "Topping Tune" software, and there are currently no plans to add support for it. Best Regards!"
Hey Paul, this is a really great video I'm a newer viewer of your channel and was wondering where should I begin with amps and dacs, I currently have a pair of focal clear mg pros (i know your not a fan of dynamics) but I feel like i might not be getting the best out of them with using the stock headphone amp in the focusrite 18i20. Id be down to spend £400 -£500 on a good amp and dac for mixing and mastering. Keep up the high quality videos!!
@@PaulThird i dont see any dx7s for 550 but i suspect the most recent one could be yours due to the description, also just found out the dx7 is discontinued which sucks. What do you think of the topping dx5?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176719578816?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=iayg41xusoc&sssrc=2051273&ssuid=iayg41xusoc&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Good thing is that Topping is still supporting the firmware for any discontinued product
It can run 3 sets of headphones and 3 sets of speakers. The DAC has analog outs which can be sent out to active speakers. (one set has to be used to connect to amp) The amp has 2 sets of analog outs (XLR & RCA) which can be used for another 2 set of speakers. Pretty sure there is clip in the video which shows the connection for a dac amp
Hi Paul, long time follower and really appreciate your no BS approach. I'd really like to see what you ended up with for your PEQ settings for the Arya Organics. I just picked up a pair and I'm trying to get the most neutral settings for mixing.
I'm still tweaking it. I have a print out of the actual frequency response of my organics from Hifiman so I'm trying to find a way of somehow getting that into a CSV file. Probably not possible but I may just go back to oratory and see if I can compare by eye and tweak his CSV file
Hey Paul, such a great video and topic! I have a silver Apollo Twin Mk1 and I'm looking at a used A90 Discrete. Would it work going from the 3-4 lineouts of the Apollo into the A90 inputs? Or would the quality simply be better using the A90's usb connection straight to pc when mixing? Many thanks!
@PaulThird Oh right! Got confused having read too much about dacs and amps and dac& combos lately - pretty much new stuff to me. So do you think going via the Twin lineouts to A90D would be a major improvement then? I feel the Apollo's hp out is fairly coloured.
Hi Paul, thanks for all the content you've provided over the last years! I'm a bit stuck on deciding what to get to drive my Ananda Nano's to their full potential. I'm currently using a MOTU M2. Would a DX3 Pro + or a Topping L30 II suffice or would I be better off getting something else? The A90D is awesome but I'm not sure if it would make sense to pair that with an M2. Would love to hear your take on it! Cheers, Luka
Dx3 pro+ only makes sense if the interface has spdif output which the M2 doesn't so L30ii is the better choice as you can go out unbalanced which is perfect for l30ii
Sorry, here's another super newbie question: Could I go from an audio interface line outs to A90D inputs and also connect active monitors to A90D XLR pre-outs, or would I blow up my speakers doing that?
That's how a headphone amp works. Analog line outs to amp line in. You won't blow up your speakers by connecting them to A90D. I have tantrum angry boxes connected to my A90D
Good evening Paul. Would you go for dx3pro+ or rather buy a stack l30ll and e30ll for ananda nano and beyerdynamic dt 900 X pro 48ohm. Thank You so much for great video.
L30ii & dx3 pro+ are unbalanced so use unbalanced connections (RCA) and single ended unbalanced for headphone. If you get a DX5 then you have 4 pin XLR and also XLR for the preamp so you can connect speakers over XLR balanced. Not every speaker has RCA input. Balanced connections offer more power so are normally advised to keep noise and distortion to a minimum. Headphone amp wise it doesn't matter as both l30ii & dx3 pro+ has so much clean linear power but for the preamp side (Speakers) it's better to have balanced connections
I i have Audient ID44 mkii and i love the preamps in them and the form factor which allows me run analog compressors into the recording chain. Dp you think there is a benefit of using a separate DAC/headphone am for mixing. My monitors are KALI IN 8. Or im just fine with what the Audient converters are doing
Hello Paul ! I have stumbled on your headphones videos which have inspired me to by the Ananda Nano but i am still on the fence about ordering a dedicated headphone amp. Do you think the headphone out on my RME UFX II could drive those headphones, or is a separate amp a must to get mix properly on those headphones? Thank you very much for the knowledge you spread !
Similar quality but the PEQ and custom presets of the discrete setup take it to another level that the DX9 can't compete with I don't know why anybody would choose DX9 over the discrete setup unless they couldn't afford the extra £400
How are you getting on with the Organic? I'm wondering why you end up testing them when you have the HE-1000SE? Also why you want the Dan Clarks when you have such amazing headphones. What are you searching for that you think you are lacking. Paul Third Pro Headphone Reviewer? Is the sound and performance going to be the same EQing in your DAW - it's just not quite as convenient? Can anyone actually tell any difference between the ADI mk2 and Topping or is it just numbers that aren't even audible? Do you find EQing headphones starts negatively affect things like the soundstage etc.
Way too many questions in one comment. The reason I do all of this is just because I'm intrigued and an audio geek. In regards to RME vs topping, Emrah said he can hear a difference but it's slight. Topping sounds a bit more sterile and clinical to his ears. Linear EQ is linear eq. No difference whether it's in the daw or on a DAC. But having it on the DAC is miles more efficient and quicker. Means I can have the same sound for my headphones everywhere on my computer. I've even gain staged it all so when I switch the PEQ preset on the remote the headphones are all at the correct level.
@@PaulThird I was just thinking that you said the HE1000SE sound like the perfect set of speakers. So the search should be over...but yeah curiosity killed the...wallet. Maybe your looking for the low end of the nano mixed with the stereo spread of the 1000SE. What are some of the best pairs of speakers that you have ever heard ?
I love topping I had the original D90 some of there headphone amps then I saw Dx9 sold all my topping stuff to buy it I also have there b200 mono amps you can't beat the price to performance of there equipment
Great content! but i have doubts on how to connect it on my setup. It's conected to your PC on a different USB port or you connect it to the audio interface?
@@PaulThird so this headphone amp is even better as the headphone output of the e2x2 interface?! so if i buy the a90d i can use whatever interface i want instead of buying the e2x2 interface in the first place?
Thd A90D or L30ii will power really any headphone on the market. The DAC quality is still important but for headphones the amp is crucial. Depends on how hungry your headphones are. E2x2 has a very good sounding DAC. Apollo for example doesn't to my ears.
No PEQ or remotely recalled presets. Tbf I forgot about the DX9 when I was talking about the best DAC amp on the market. That's arguably the best due to its headphone amp. If topping included recallable presets and PEQ on the DX9. It would definitely be end game as even though it doesn't measure as good as the discrete on paper. You are talking the absolute smallest of margins in DAC performance
Well think logically. If the topping measures better than RME flagship, lynx hilo, and really any other DAC on the market then of course there is no comparison to a £200 audio interface. Especially considering that I don't rate their £1600 X6 DAC
I've not done any specific AB tests tbh. I know that the DAC measures extremely close but it would be very difficult at that level of quality to try and tell the difference doing A/B's considering that that I have to physically switch headphones each time which causes a bit of delay switching. I don't have a splitter so it would be pretty hard I think to really judge the differences as at that level you need split second A/B switches I've been able to do it with interfaces and stuff cause the difference is quite apparent but at that level, I would assume I would struggle Plus doesn't really matter when you add in the onboard PEQ dsp. That feature is a life saver. That and the recallable presets via the remote. I wouldn't care even if dx7 pro+ was 5% subjectively better I'd still have the discrete hands down. Sounds awesome. When I first got the A90D I was able to do a few quick-ish switches with it being connected to the dx7 pro+ and my perception was that the amp was giving me a slight improvement in transient response with slightly tighter bass but that easily could have been confirmation bias with a bit of placebo added in. The amps don't measure near the same but it's hard to judge when you've first got something
@@PaulThird Thanks Paul. I'm not calling heresy for your subjective opinion, I appreciate it. Still you were kind of cautious with the Inquisition. Makes the DX7 Pro a great unit in the used market and potentially my next purchase. I got curious when I saw this unit on the Topping website and the whole 1-Bit converter marketing plus the cool windows where you see all the miniature SMD discrete components. But if the difference with ESS is not very obvious then maybe it's better to save half the cash and still get decent headphone output.
I'll hook it up and do a few AB's but tbh the dx7 pro+ sounded better than any interface I had tried. If the PEQ isn't a feature you want and you are not planning on crazy hungry headphones like Dan Clark or HE6, susvara etc then dx7 pro+ is the one. If so remember my Dx7 pro+ is on sale for £550 😂
@@PaulThird I know Paul, thanks but I only buy inside of the EU, :). The tariffs will mess up the price for me and I'm not ready for that investment yet. I only use Topping for my mastering analog chain. So its more a vanity investment since I rarelly have the time to master in analog. Maybe also Topping will release their next generation interface with an updated DAC (hopefully with the ESS Pro series). That would be an insta buy for me. According to the Topping discord their next generation of interfaces are being developed. Don't sleep on the cables you use to connect your headphone amp. If you have soldering chops, the Wireworld Soltice 8 is really good and not very expensive.
@LuchoFerro tbh their EX interface DAC sounds really good. Basically lynx hilo conversion level. Sounds better than Audient, UA, focusrite, SSL etc I use the tantrum angry boxes through the E8X8. Sounds awesome
Prism Lyra 2 DAC line outs THD+N -106dB Comparative to Lynx Hilo or toppings EX range interfaces but around 20db more distortion and noise than your flagship Topping DACs If you are referring to the "Sample Rate Converter" spec in their manual, it's a pointless spec as its a fully digital spec. Involves no analog circuitry. Basically measuring DSP which is just maths. When we measure THD+N in DAC's we always measure the physical line outs as that's what is sent to our monitoring Prism don't include any headphone power specs which is normally very telling in itself. I know a few big engineers that were big prism advocates back in the day but even they agree that Prism is very overrated and overpriced in today's climate
@PaulThird Yeah sorry you are right. I relied on ai to compare and give me details and it gave me different info 😆 I love the clipping on my prism, their overkiller limiter circuit thing, but then they sell that separate so nothing to stop anyone adding that to the ins of their topping interface I guess. As for the headphone out specs you're right. It does seem to run my HD800's pretty well, but I would be curious to compare with a dedicated headphone amp
The unio system shows no power specs for its amp in the monitor controller so not the best sign. Any reputable brand selling a headphone based unit should list power specs. I'm a bit skeptical about it tbh especially as the headphones are a dynamic closed back which is hard to get competitive to your open backed planars Be interesting to hear it but I have my doubts, but I also can't make any proper judgement until I hear it
@ not of any real use unless ‘one’ has Genelec speakers also as designed to go hand in hand with a GLM managed speaker setup. Very new on the market so very little non-marketing info and feedback out there ATM. i care more about results and experience than specs on paper. IF the hype/promise of matching the speakers to the speakers is true then it will be worth the entry price. Otherwise an expensive paperweight. 🤣
So much money for small benefit if we think to the bottleneck of not customized hrtf and other physilogical attribute,, the holy graal of simulation of speakers by headphones (Embody tried with steinberg Impress to achieve somethimg near..). So you can compensate with lower costs only with attention for the gain staging, a topping dx7 pro, a planar open headphones, sienna, a several hours to listen good reference songs for good translation. My thinking.
I wouldn't touch sienna personally. Eq to harman. Ensure you have enough clean power. Couple pair of good open back planars. Especially ones that have a soundstage good enough to not need crossfeed. You'll be good to go. Customised Hrtf is overrated for mixing. You can actually end up skewing the phase so much that you end up negatively impacting the source material. Your brain can compensate and learn what it needs for good translation with harman. Do the least amount of correction possible with the least amount of phase alteration and you'll be grand
Hello Paul, i recently bought topping l50 but it seems like it don't have enough bass punch and headroom is quite small, i want something clean transparent but with good dynamics i was thinking of a30pro but it dont have real balance output, is this a90 have good transients and bass ?
I would double check your setup because L50 has more headroom than you should need. L50 is super clean, transparent and there should be no reason as to why you are having issues. 3.4W at 32 ohm is gigantic. 636mW at 300 ohm is no slouch either. Are you definitely using the correct gain mode on the topping? You shouldn't really hear any difference between amps at that level. What DAC are you using?
@PaulThird it is connected through rca for now to my scarlett 2i4 2nd and headphones I'm using is neumann ndh30, I did ordered balanced cable from USA and im still waiting for it I couldn't find balanced cable in uk, im hoping that it will get better. I use medium gain , I did try use low but sound get softer, on high gain I got best transients but it sounds maybe little distorted.
Here's the thing, if you are basing your expectation on what you were used to with the scarlett then you need to re-adjust your expectation. The ndh30 aren't hungry so there is absolutely no way you should be hearing any distortion from an amp like that with -120db THD+N all the way up to 3.4W. Instead of looking at a new amp you should be comparing your focusrite against another DAC. You may just be too used to the distortion from the focusrite which has possibly been clipping giving you the notion of more bass punch. An amp at the end of the day should be completely linear. It's main function is to amplify the signal cleanly and transparently, which is what topping amps do. Get the balanced cable and see if that changes anything which I don't think will personally make a difference. Maybe try TRS input instead of RCA. That way your input signal is fully balanced but honestly if you are comparing what you hear in the focusrite then don't. One of the worst headphone amps in an interface. There are USB dongles better than that
@PaulThird thank you for replying, love your channel and videos, all best to you ! Ps. I got trs connection but it do not work without balanced cable on output, it works on pass through with my monitors.
@@PaulThird first of all thank you for sharing your knowledge, I got last question, do you think I will be better with dac like topping e50 which is match with l50, or is it better to buy better interface than scarlett 2i4 2nd? And can I produce and mix on dac like e50. Many thanks.
When audiophile reviewers on UA-cam criticise Topping gear for being "boring" , what do you think they are looking for ? Does it boil down to the same stuff as that Neve interface with pleasing harmonic distortion ?
Yup. They use tube amps for that exact purpose. They don't want to hear innacuracies in audio, they want to take what's there, round it off and make it wider and deeper. Many of them live in a world of enhancement. Topping is accurate which is why many Audiophiles complain as in comparison it shows all of the distortion instead of masking it. Its not made to be "musical" it's made to be accurate and revealing. Ultra low distortion and jitter with clean linear power normally sounds "sterile, harsh, cold" to most Audiophiles.
@@PaulThird Audiophile here but I don’t find Topping boring or harsh at all. I use D90LE and A30Pro on XLR in 5V mode with Focal Elegia Headphones. It’s an extremely detailed setup. What I want is transparency/accuracy and is exactly what Topping promise. If it sound sterile, harsh, cold, it’s because of low quality music. I’ve never had problems with well-made recordings. However, it's a different story with average, poorly-produced mainstream music that’s mastered too loud, with bad EQ and full of distortion -Topping is not forgiving. Accuracy doesn’t mean it can’t be musical, it just means you need properly recorded music, which is just as important as the gear itself.
@@PaulThird No doubt, Topping is renowned for its neutrality and transparency (you love or hate it). This brand has significantly improved the performance of its devices over time. I've noticed that they are also starting to gain appreciation among professionals, despite being a Chinese company, which often leads to them being undervalued. The price-to-performance ratio, especially when compared to much more expensive Western brands-whether professional or audiophile gear-is impressive. If it sounds good on my desktop setup with Topping, surely will sounds as good on my DAP iBasso DX180 with four CS43198 DAC chips arranged in a matrix array, that’s another piece of great hardware and can be used as USB DAC too. Something with this level of performance was truly sci-fi not many years ago.
I am using my DX3Pro+ with KHS Convolver and autoeq's linear convolution eq impulses for my NDH30 and DT 1990/1770. Works great and is noob proof as fck. Do You think it's worth upgrading to DX7Pro+ for a hobbyist? I am not a professional and have no such plans.
Most likely a software to dsp thing. For easiest integration it probably made it more functional to keep it a fixed eq. I've never seen an auto eq algorithm combined with on board DSP export. Probably possible but I assume Topping kept it simple as to not run into any unnecessary issues
@ you can transfer eq files to hardware in many pro audio gear in the live world and as far as I remember some studio monitors can be loaded with SoundID correction files into their DSP too, I know that AMFG SysTune, which I use, has direct integration with many DSP controllers and loudspeakers with inbuilt DSP and amplification so I think it’s relatively widespread, file just needs to be in the appropriate file format
Yeah but none of them have eq functionality like Auto eq which essentially eq matches to a target with set parameters. What we have now are all fixed eq's. They don't eq match like the auto eq website Tbh I actually prefer this workflow as I can fine tune in real time after the fact. And also store all of the source headphone frequency responses in the tune app. Audient ORIA is technically more advanced as it allows sonarworks integration BUT it's either their manual eq or sonarworks. You can't edit sonarworks after import, you have to go back into sonarworks app, use their custom EQ and then re-export to the device. ORIA gives me basically the same workflow at the end of the day cause I can switch between various monitor profiles easily via the ipad app but I had to connect the L30ii to the 2nd set of seperate stereo Mon outs so I had a high quality seperate amp that can be isolated with various eq's via the app. I think for me remote functionality is key. With topping discrete system in the control room I can switch between my headphones with corresponding eq and level adjustment for consistency per headphone, as well as switch to one set of monitors via XLR out to ARC box, and also another pair of monitors via RCA which have their own EQ applied as well. All of this is switchable with either 1 or 2 button presses. It's also a Bluetooth remote now so you can switch anywhere in the room and not worry about pointing it at the device correctly That's what seperates this for me. Workflow wise dx7 pro+ is slow because outside of DAW I have to use realphones standalone for EQ which is a pain for switching eq's. in DAW I have to switch between various eq's and always readjust the level of the hp amp per headphone. Speaker switching was easy enough but id then have to bypass headphone eq, enable ARC4, and then remember to switch back when I was back on headphones. Stifles your flow and slows you down so you end up not switching as much you'd like
EQ correction feature is overrated, since I don't expect anyone to have ears frequency response done frequently, you're still not getting the "end game" result
Better having eq than no eq. Having all my main headphones eq'd and level matched correctly at the press of a button.. That's pretty much end game for me
@ I wanted to say that RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE has Balanced Pentaconn out for headphones and benefit of using the unit with insert effects during mastering process.
Let me correct you now I know what you are talking about. The A90D has 4.4mm balanced headphone out. It offers 4 pin XLR, 4.4mm (pentaconn) & 1/4" single ended.
You just have to learn which Parametric EQs to use in order to round out the room correction phase you can do with a Graphic EQ. The goal is to get a natural tone/timbre from the equipment you're using. Trying to get max clarity is basically wasting time trying to crystallize your audio, which sounds like complete crap. You might as well go to -5 LUFS if you're chasing max clarity. You'll just be clearly fawking up your mix. We do have different approaches but more works than is thought.
Maybe the compressor I'm using on the way in or I've not taken out enough with the de-esser. I tried a new mic this week and didn't have much time to tweak the chain
Humor me and take a leap of faith. Ignore the measurements (I’m sure everyone here is in their "measurements is everything" stage), ignore those numbers on the screen, and listen through your own ears. Then come back with another video describing the difference between the Topping stack and, for example, a Burson Conductor GT4 Max version. Just don’t dismiss what you haven’t heard yet simply because you read something on a screen. There’s a reason these expensive amps cost so much and still exist. If there were no reason or no real difference, no one would buy them. Think about it, tell no one, try other high end amps and then come back with your own conclusion-not a preconception from a written article. In audio, you should trust your ears, not your eyes. Just my 2 cents' opinion.
For mixing, you should be using Harman with flat bass. Harman OE 2018 is NOT designed for mixing. It' general preference research for companies that make over ear headphones. It's an average as well... the actual data is all over the place. PLEASE update your video with this advice... because mixing to Harman with a built-in bass shelf is INCREDIBLY bad advice. For enjoyment, it's fine... NOT for mixing... PLEASE...
PLEASE do your research when commenting over the Internet. There is around 6db of difference in headphones in the low end when compared to speakers with a sub in a treated room. The original intention of harman is to create a response that averages speakers in a well treated room. It's an average. But an average that works very well for mixing on Headphones. Flat is incorrect for headphones. You need to recreate the sub in headphones in order to create the correct tonal balance, otherwise mixes will sound overly bright and thin and you will compensate this by having mixes that are dull and overblown in the bass Also can you please advise where best to hear your mixes so we can evaluate just how "INCREDIBLY bad" my advice is.. PLEASE
buymeacoffee.com/paulthird (if you get any benefit from what I do on this platform) 🤓
BTW I forgot all about the DX9 which many would argue (including me) is arguably the best DAC amp on the market. Has an incredibly powerful hp amp, like standalone hp amp power. It measures very close to the DAC quality of Dx7 pro+, has GUI screen BUT no PEQ and no recallable presets. I was considering DX9 for a while but for my current setup I just didn't require the extra amp power unless I ended up with Dan Clark.
Where with the PEQ combined with recallable remote presets of both DAC & amp in the discrete setup was just too good of an upgrade to miss out on.
If Topping were to add these functions to DX9 then you are talking end game in one single unit but I don't think that the DSP chip is physically built into them so it's not even a firmware update thing.
So as of date of this comment it's only D90iii discrete & D50iii discrete that offer PEQ and remotely recallable presets
Recently upgraded to the A90 and D90 III Discrete, and wow! Simply amazing stack!
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Hey Paul. You've been making increddibly useful and valuable content! Thanks a lot for sharing your research. You've been increddiby helpful.
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I'm a professional Mastering engineer in Oslo Mastering. My setup is Crane Song Avochet intro xilica xd4080 processor for active crossover and tuning. I wish Topping could make a processor with this dac, need 6 channels. And also 6 channel pre 90 volume. That would be amazing. My speaker its power with four b200 topping amplifier. Sounds insane
Paul - Make sure you sign it like CLA !
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So, after hearing and loving the Topping A90D, I was all set on making it a stack with the D90Discrete, but man, oh man; that IPS screen on the D70pro OCTO made me choose it, plus the less-costly price tag. The combo is as great as I hoped it would be. Listening through my new Edition XS 'phones. What an awesome combo. I would love to harness the awesome detail from the A90D as a preamp for my speaker system.
Haha, hilarious when yer on the windup lad... Keep them coming 🤣🤣
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Paul, you're a true legend, thanks for these videos, much appreciated!
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Thanks Paul for making this vid, just getting into EQ and this helps a lot!
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this is exactly the subject/topic/ info i was looking for. thanks pal. :)
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Very happy for you man! Hope this puts an end to your obsession over the little numbers. Gotta admit, you picking the DT 1990 frequency response for demonstration purposes made me a bit curious to hear my DT 1990 Pros with the Harman curve once (bc 3-8 dB is very audibly "off" the "ideal"). Buuut I can't be bothered hahahaha! Guess I'm more of a producer than an engineer at the end of the day. You're far deeper into the whole science of it than I see myself getting into anytime soon. You seem happy and excited and I think I understand it. There are things I obsess over too and when I finally find THE solution, I'm exctatic too. Enjoy your weekend!
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Hi Paul. Question. When you had your dx7pro+ did you have it connected to audio interface or was it just unit itself running speakers and headphones? Can you please explain how was it connected to your setup? Thank you🙏
Optical spdif & USB
With audio interface or without? Thank You for your response 🔥🔥🔥
@Digitsu2023 with interface
@@PaulThirdThank you for your help and time 🙏
I use Dirac and have two outputs one with calibration for my speakers and one for my Topping headphone amp. Have four presets for switching and I’m very happy with the results 👌🏼
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Nice, you've got the Best monitoring setup on the market... for now 🤓🤣👍🏻
Enjoy! and thanks for sharing
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Convinced. Getting some A90Ds.... dammit Paul, I love your channel, and though it gives me series GAS sometimes, it always helps me feel educated and consider how I can step up my game. Cheers!
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Thanks Paul - i just bought one of the last DX7 Pro Plus amps/DAC. For me that ought to be more than enough for my budget.
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Thank you, Paul! So I can send a signal from RME UFX thru AES to TOPPING D90 III. But can I use the EQ for headphones and studio monitors separately?
Yes you can send to topping via AES.
The PEQ is fixed to the output you are using so the EQ will go to speakers and headphones. It doesn't seperate.
you have to change PEQ via the remote. I've not tested the C1 & C2 remote presets to check if they also save the PEQ setting. I think they do. If they do then you can have C1 for headphones and C2 for speakers for easy switching
Last hour at work, came at a good time this!
🤓
very cool! I could use this to do room correction for my 2 channels system.
btw is the CVS format a simple .text?
I was just about to pull the trigger on a DX9, but after seeing the Topping Tune you showed-wow, what a gem! I didn’t even know it existed. However, I checked the site, and it seems the DX9 isn’t supported in Topping Tune (which is really surprising, considering it’s their flagship model). Now I’m seriously tempted to go with your setup instead, just for that software.
Huge fan of your videos!
I'm gonna be honest. I would argue that D90iii/A90discrete is their true flagship over DX9. DX9 is their flagship dac amp but I would say that the discrete combo is the real flagship.
I think the d50 iii has the topping tune integration as well. I know it's only 2 of the DAC's so far with the PEQ
@@PaulThird You're right, the D50iii has the integration as well. I’ll reach out to customer service to see if they plan to add DX9 support in a future update before making my decision. Both systems measure about the same, but I’d prefer a single unit on my desk instead of two.
I doubt they will add it as the dsp would have to be already built into the circuit. It's not a firmware update you can do. You need a dedicated dsp chip to store and run the EQ's
They would also have to change the remote as well as it has no programability.
Worth an ask but I have a suspicion that the DX9 will remain as it is
@@PaulThird Leaving this here for anyone interested. This is the resposne from their support team:
"Thank you for the email.
DX9 is an earlier product that does not support the "Topping Tune" software, and there are currently no plans to add support for it.
Best Regards!"
Hey Paul, this is a really great video I'm a newer viewer of your channel and was wondering where should I begin with amps and dacs, I currently have a pair of focal clear mg pros (i know your not a fan of dynamics) but I feel like i might not be getting the best out of them with using the stock headphone amp in the focusrite 18i20. Id be down to spend £400 -£500 on a good amp and dac for mixing and mastering. Keep up the high quality videos!!
Being honest. My dx7 pro+. I have it up on ebay for £550
@@PaulThird i dont see any dx7s for 550 but i suspect the most recent one could be yours due to the description, also just found out the dx7 is discontinued which sucks. What do you think of the topping dx5?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176719578816?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=iayg41xusoc&sssrc=2051273&ssuid=iayg41xusoc&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Good thing is that Topping is still supporting the firmware for any discontinued product
did you ever do a video on how to connect this? do you run monitors from it?
It can run 3 sets of headphones and 3 sets of speakers.
The DAC has analog outs which can be sent out to active speakers. (one set has to be used to connect to amp)
The amp has 2 sets of analog outs (XLR & RCA) which can be used for another 2 set of speakers.
Pretty sure there is clip in the video which shows the connection for a dac amp
Hi Paul, long time follower and really appreciate your no BS approach. I'd really like to see what you ended up with for your PEQ settings for the Arya Organics. I just picked up a pair and I'm trying to get the most neutral settings for mixing.
I'm still tweaking it. I have a print out of the actual frequency response of my organics from Hifiman so I'm trying to find a way of somehow getting that into a CSV file. Probably not possible but I may just go back to oratory and see if I can compare by eye and tweak his CSV file
@@PaulThird If you want to post a pic of your graph I'll see what I can do to get it into a CSV file for you.
Comment me your email and I'll see if I can send you a photo
Hey Paul, such a great video and topic! I have a silver Apollo Twin Mk1 and I'm looking at a used A90 Discrete. Would it work going from the 3-4 lineouts of the Apollo into the A90 inputs? Or would the quality simply be better using the A90's usb connection straight to pc when mixing? Many thanks!
A90D is a headphone amp. No digital connections. Analog only
@PaulThird Oh right! Got confused having read too much about dacs and amps and dac& combos lately - pretty much new stuff to me. So do you think going via the Twin lineouts to A90D would be a major improvement then? I feel the Apollo's hp out is fairly coloured.
I'm still using my Hilo, and I don't ever feel like I'm missing out on anything. 😤
Bar the eq 😜
Hi Paul, thanks for all the content you've provided over the last years! I'm a bit stuck on deciding what to get to drive my Ananda Nano's to their full potential. I'm currently using a MOTU M2. Would a DX3 Pro + or a Topping L30 II suffice or would I be better off getting something else? The A90D is awesome but I'm not sure if it would make sense to pair that with an M2. Would love to hear your take on it!
Cheers,
Luka
Dx3 pro+ only makes sense if the interface has spdif output which the M2 doesn't so L30ii is the better choice as you can go out unbalanced which is perfect for l30ii
@@PaulThird I overlooked that, thank you so much!
Sorry, here's another super newbie question: Could I go from an audio interface line outs to A90D inputs and also connect active monitors to A90D XLR pre-outs, or would I blow up my speakers doing that?
That's how a headphone amp works. Analog line outs to amp line in. You won't blow up your speakers by connecting them to A90D. I have tantrum angry boxes connected to my A90D
@PaulThird That is great. Thanks for all the info, Paul! 👍
Good evening Paul. Would you go for dx3pro+ or rather buy a stack l30ll and e30ll for ananda nano and beyerdynamic dt 900 X pro 48ohm. Thank You so much for great video.
Try and go for a balanced setup. Gives you more options
@@PaulThirdAppreciate the help. What balanced setup would you recommend? Cheers 👊
L30ii & dx3 pro+ are unbalanced so use unbalanced connections (RCA) and single ended unbalanced for headphone.
If you get a DX5 then you have 4 pin XLR and also XLR for the preamp so you can connect speakers over XLR balanced.
Not every speaker has RCA input. Balanced connections offer more power so are normally advised to keep noise and distortion to a minimum.
Headphone amp wise it doesn't matter as both l30ii & dx3 pro+ has so much clean linear power but for the preamp side (Speakers) it's better to have balanced connections
@@PaulThirdBrilliant. I really appreciate the response. Thank you so much and all the best Paul!!!
I i have Audient ID44 mkii and i love the preamps in them and the form factor which allows me run analog compressors into the recording chain. Dp you think there is a benefit of using a separate DAC/headphone am for mixing. My monitors are KALI IN 8. Or im just fine with what the Audient converters are doing
I replaced the id44 for the DX7 PRO+ so you can guess what my answer is
Hello Paul ! I have stumbled on your headphones videos which have inspired me to by the Ananda Nano but i am still on the fence about ordering a dedicated headphone amp. Do you think the headphone out on my RME UFX II could drive those headphones, or is a separate amp a must to get mix properly on those headphones?
Thank you very much for the knowledge you spread !
Get a headphone amp
Hi Paul , good job and greetings from france.
Does the E2x2 has the same dac and amp than the E30/L30?
What about the driver?
I don't know
@@PaulThird i mean the same quality/performance ?
Never tried E30 but it's amp isn't as good as L30
Hi Paul, what do you think about TOPPING DX9? Is it similar quality to D90 or D90 far more superior?
Similar quality but the PEQ and custom presets of the discrete setup take it to another level that the DX9 can't compete with
I don't know why anybody would choose DX9 over the discrete setup unless they couldn't afford the extra £400
How are you getting on with the Organic? I'm wondering why you end up testing them when you have the HE-1000SE? Also why you want the Dan Clarks when you have such amazing headphones. What are you searching for that you think you are lacking. Paul Third Pro Headphone Reviewer? Is the sound and performance going to be the same EQing in your DAW - it's just not quite as convenient? Can anyone actually tell any difference between the ADI mk2 and Topping or is it just numbers that aren't even audible? Do you find EQing headphones starts negatively affect things like the soundstage etc.
Way too many questions in one comment.
The reason I do all of this is just because I'm intrigued and an audio geek.
In regards to RME vs topping, Emrah said he can hear a difference but it's slight. Topping sounds a bit more sterile and clinical to his ears.
Linear EQ is linear eq. No difference whether it's in the daw or on a DAC. But having it on the DAC is miles more efficient and quicker. Means I can have the same sound for my headphones everywhere on my computer. I've even gain staged it all so when I switch the PEQ preset on the remote the headphones are all at the correct level.
@@PaulThird I was just thinking that you said the HE1000SE sound like the perfect set of speakers. So the search should be over...but yeah curiosity killed the...wallet. Maybe your looking for the low end of the nano mixed with the stereo spread of the 1000SE. What are some of the best pairs of speakers that you have ever heard ?
It's all subjective. There's no perfect pair of headphones or speakers. I personally like PMC's the best
I'm a TOPPING FAN BOY TOO!!!!
🤘
Hi Paul, I'm about to pull the trigger on a Topping DX 7 Pro + Any idea's on how i would link this up with an Apollo Twin Mk 2 set up.
You can't. You need a digital out to feed the toppings digital in. Apollo twin mk2 only has adat in
@@PaulThird Challenge! Thanks Paul and good luck with the new studio. Looks the business mate.
Hi m8 have you thought of the Dx9 this is the best dac amp topping make pretty much D90 and a90 in 1 unit
Yeah I forgot about DX9 but it does not and will not have the PEQ integration (Topping have confirmed) which is a gigantic thing for mixing.
I love topping I had the original D90 some of there headphone amps then I saw Dx9 sold all my topping stuff to buy it I also have there b200 mono amps you can't beat the price to performance of there equipment
Great content! but i have doubts on how to connect it on my setup. It's conected to your PC on a different USB port or you connect it to the audio interface?
Connect it to both. I have my setup connected to USB and optical spdif to E8X8 interface.
You can use all of the digital inputs available
@@PaulThird so this headphone amp is even better as the headphone output of the e2x2 interface?! so if i buy the a90d i can use whatever interface i want instead of buying the e2x2 interface in the first place?
Thd A90D or L30ii will power really any headphone on the market. The DAC quality is still important but for headphones the amp is crucial. Depends on how hungry your headphones are.
E2x2 has a very good sounding DAC. Apollo for example doesn't to my ears.
@@PaulThird thx
Did you need to pay extra for the Chinese file name filtering in the file dialogue boxes in Topping Tune? 😅
Must come stock
Why no Topping DX9. Any particular reason?
No PEQ or remotely recalled presets. Tbf I forgot about the DX9 when I was talking about the best DAC amp on the market. That's arguably the best due to its headphone amp.
If topping included recallable presets and PEQ on the DX9. It would definitely be end game as even though it doesn't measure as good as the discrete on paper. You are talking the absolute smallest of margins in DAC performance
Do you still use Emrah's ananda nano harman eq preset or is the one in autoeq any better?
I don't use either. I use EQ to Emrah's engineer target
@@PaulThird Ok, where can I find the engineer target?
Emrah's not released it yet so I can't give it out
How does this compare to the DAC in the volt 276
What do you think?
@@PaulThirdI mean I came to your video to see what you thought so I could generate a better answer for myself .
Well think logically. If the topping measures better than RME flagship, lynx hilo, and really any other DAC on the market then of course there is no comparison to a £200 audio interface. Especially considering that I don't rate their £1600 X6 DAC
Hey Paul, does it sound any different than the DX7 Pro?. Because according to the Inquisitors if it measures the same sounds the same :)
I've not done any specific AB tests tbh. I know that the DAC measures extremely close but it would be very difficult at that level of quality to try and tell the difference doing A/B's considering that that I have to physically switch headphones each time which causes a bit of delay switching. I don't have a splitter so it would be pretty hard I think to really judge the differences as at that level you need split second A/B switches
I've been able to do it with interfaces and stuff cause the difference is quite apparent but at that level, I would assume I would struggle
Plus doesn't really matter when you add in the onboard PEQ dsp. That feature is a life saver. That and the recallable presets via the remote.
I wouldn't care even if dx7 pro+ was 5% subjectively better I'd still have the discrete hands down. Sounds awesome.
When I first got the A90D I was able to do a few quick-ish switches with it being connected to the dx7 pro+ and my perception was that the amp was giving me a slight improvement in transient response with slightly tighter bass but that easily could have been confirmation bias with a bit of placebo added in. The amps don't measure near the same but it's hard to judge when you've first got something
@@PaulThird Thanks Paul. I'm not calling heresy for your subjective opinion, I appreciate it. Still you were kind of cautious with the Inquisition. Makes the DX7 Pro a great unit in the used market and potentially my next purchase. I got curious when I saw this unit on the Topping website and the whole 1-Bit converter marketing plus the cool windows where you see all the miniature SMD discrete components. But if the difference with ESS is not very obvious then maybe it's better to save half the cash and still get decent headphone output.
I'll hook it up and do a few AB's but tbh the dx7 pro+ sounded better than any interface I had tried.
If the PEQ isn't a feature you want and you are not planning on crazy hungry headphones like Dan Clark or HE6, susvara etc then dx7 pro+ is the one.
If so remember my Dx7 pro+ is on sale for £550 😂
@@PaulThird I know Paul, thanks but I only buy inside of the EU, :). The tariffs will mess up the price for me and I'm not ready for that investment yet. I only use Topping for my mastering analog chain. So its more a vanity investment since I rarelly have the time to master in analog. Maybe also Topping will release their next generation interface with an updated DAC (hopefully with the ESS Pro series). That would be an insta buy for me. According to the Topping discord their next generation of interfaces are being developed. Don't sleep on the cables you use to connect your headphone amp. If you have soldering chops, the Wireworld Soltice 8 is really good and not very expensive.
@LuchoFerro tbh their EX interface DAC sounds really good. Basically lynx hilo conversion level. Sounds better than Audient, UA, focusrite, SSL etc
I use the tantrum angry boxes through the E8X8. Sounds awesome
Does the topping measure better than prism? I'm not seeing that when I compare but maybe I'm missing something?
Prism Lyra 2
DAC line outs
THD+N -106dB
Comparative to Lynx Hilo or toppings EX range interfaces but around 20db more distortion and noise than your flagship Topping DACs
If you are referring to the "Sample Rate Converter" spec in their manual, it's a pointless spec as its a fully digital spec. Involves no analog circuitry. Basically measuring DSP which is just maths. When we measure THD+N in DAC's we always measure the physical line outs as that's what is sent to our monitoring
Prism don't include any headphone power specs which is normally very telling in itself.
I know a few big engineers that were big prism advocates back in the day but even they agree that Prism is very overrated and overpriced in today's climate
@PaulThird Yeah sorry you are right. I relied on ai to compare and give me details and it gave me different info 😆
I love the clipping on my prism, their overkiller limiter circuit thing, but then they sell that separate so nothing to stop anyone adding that to the ins of their topping interface I guess.
As for the headphone out specs you're right. It does seem to run my HD800's pretty well, but I would be curious to compare with a dedicated headphone amp
Yeah chat gpt has caught me out a few times. I always ask it to double check itself cause it's relying on the Internet haha
I wonder how this will compare with the Genelec Unio system?
The unio system shows no power specs for its amp in the monitor controller so not the best sign. Any reputable brand selling a headphone based unit should list power specs. I'm a bit skeptical about it tbh especially as the headphones are a dynamic closed back which is hard to get competitive to your open backed planars
Be interesting to hear it but I have my doubts, but I also can't make any proper judgement until I hear it
@ not of any real use unless ‘one’ has Genelec speakers also as designed to go hand in hand with a GLM managed speaker setup. Very new on the market so very little non-marketing info and feedback out there ATM. i care more about results and experience than specs on paper. IF the hype/promise of matching the speakers to the speakers is true then it will be worth the entry price. Otherwise an expensive paperweight. 🤣
@@PaulThirdfhe specs are there. I could have sworn I posted them here? Did they get delete or did I mis post?
Must've mis-posted. I chat gpt'd it, checked the manual, and couldn't find any power specs for its headphone amp. No mW/ohm measurements are there
@@PaulThird product page > scroll to bottom > more technical info > large table of specs.
So much money for small benefit if we think to the bottleneck of not customized hrtf and other physilogical attribute,, the holy graal of simulation of speakers by headphones (Embody tried with steinberg Impress to achieve somethimg near..). So you can compensate with lower costs only with attention for the gain staging, a topping dx7 pro, a planar open headphones, sienna, a several hours to listen good reference songs for good translation. My thinking.
I wouldn't touch sienna personally. Eq to harman. Ensure you have enough clean power. Couple pair of good open back planars. Especially ones that have a soundstage good enough to not need crossfeed. You'll be good to go.
Customised Hrtf is overrated for mixing. You can actually end up skewing the phase so much that you end up negatively impacting the source material. Your brain can compensate and learn what it needs for good translation with harman. Do the least amount of correction possible with the least amount of phase alteration and you'll be grand
How about for creating music? I see a lot about fot mixing but I sorta do both as I'm making the beat. Does this carry over for that as well?
Mixing/production.. Doesn't matter what it is
@PaulThird kool ty Paul hope all is well dude
Super-noob question, but with a 32-300 ohm DAC, what's the effect of using 18 ohm headphones?
If you have an amp with an output impedance of under 1 ohm you won't find any difference between powering 18 & 32 ohm
@PaulThird I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ for a headphone amp, and Presonus Studio 68c as an interface...
You'll be fine then. Dx3 pro+ is high quality for its price
Hello Paul, i recently bought topping l50 but it seems like it don't have enough bass punch and headroom is quite small, i want something clean transparent but with good dynamics i was thinking of a30pro but it dont have real balance output, is this a90 have good transients and bass ?
I would double check your setup because L50 has more headroom than you should need. L50 is super clean, transparent and there should be no reason as to why you are having issues.
3.4W at 32 ohm is gigantic. 636mW at 300 ohm is no slouch either.
Are you definitely using the correct gain mode on the topping?
You shouldn't really hear any difference between amps at that level. What DAC are you using?
@PaulThird it is connected through rca for now to my scarlett 2i4 2nd and headphones I'm using is neumann ndh30, I did ordered balanced cable from USA and im still waiting for it I couldn't find balanced cable in uk, im hoping that it will get better. I use medium gain , I did try use low but sound get softer, on high gain I got best transients but it sounds maybe little distorted.
Here's the thing, if you are basing your expectation on what you were used to with the scarlett then you need to re-adjust your expectation.
The ndh30 aren't hungry so there is absolutely no way you should be hearing any distortion from an amp like that with -120db THD+N all the way up to 3.4W.
Instead of looking at a new amp you should be comparing your focusrite against another DAC.
You may just be too used to the distortion from the focusrite which has possibly been clipping giving you the notion of more bass punch.
An amp at the end of the day should be completely linear. It's main function is to amplify the signal cleanly and transparently, which is what topping amps do.
Get the balanced cable and see if that changes anything which I don't think will personally make a difference.
Maybe try TRS input instead of RCA. That way your input signal is fully balanced but honestly if you are comparing what you hear in the focusrite then don't. One of the worst headphone amps in an interface. There are USB dongles better than that
@PaulThird thank you for replying, love your channel and videos, all best to you ! Ps. I got trs connection but it do not work without balanced cable on output, it works on pass through with my monitors.
@@PaulThird first of all thank you for sharing your knowledge, I got last question, do you think I will be better with dac like topping e50 which is match with l50, or is it better to buy better interface than scarlett 2i4 2nd? And can I produce and mix on dac like e50.
Many thanks.
When audiophile reviewers on UA-cam criticise Topping gear for being "boring" , what do you think they are looking for ?
Does it boil down to the same stuff as that Neve interface with pleasing harmonic distortion ?
Yup. They use tube amps for that exact purpose. They don't want to hear innacuracies in audio, they want to take what's there, round it off and make it wider and deeper. Many of them live in a world of enhancement.
Topping is accurate which is why many Audiophiles complain as in comparison it shows all of the distortion instead of masking it. Its not made to be "musical" it's made to be accurate and revealing.
Ultra low distortion and jitter with clean linear power normally sounds "sterile, harsh, cold" to most Audiophiles.
@@PaulThird Audiophile here but I don’t find Topping boring or harsh at all. I use D90LE and A30Pro on XLR in 5V mode with Focal Elegia Headphones. It’s an extremely detailed setup. What I want is transparency/accuracy and is exactly what Topping promise. If it sound sterile, harsh, cold, it’s because of low quality music. I’ve never had problems with well-made recordings. However, it's a different story with average, poorly-produced mainstream music that’s mastered too loud, with bad EQ and full of distortion -Topping is not forgiving. Accuracy doesn’t mean it can’t be musical, it just means you need properly recorded music, which is just as important as the gear itself.
Correct. That's why for mixing, in my opinion, if you get it sounding right on the Topping, you know it's right.
@@PaulThird No doubt, Topping is renowned for its neutrality and transparency (you love or hate it). This brand has significantly improved the performance of its devices over time. I've noticed that they are also starting to gain appreciation among professionals, despite being a Chinese company, which often leads to them being undervalued. The price-to-performance ratio, especially when compared to much more expensive Western brands-whether professional or audiophile gear-is impressive. If it sounds good on my desktop setup with Topping, surely will sounds as good on my DAP iBasso DX180 with four CS43198 DAC chips arranged in a matrix array, that’s another piece of great hardware and can be used as USB DAC too. Something with this level of performance was truly sci-fi not many years ago.
I am using my DX3Pro+ with KHS Convolver and autoeq's linear convolution eq impulses for my NDH30 and DT 1990/1770. Works great and is noob proof as fck.
Do You think it's worth upgrading to DX7Pro+ for a hobbyist? I am not a professional and have no such plans.
For a hobbyist.. No
Bit of a shame it doesn’t automatically match, many plug-ins can do this so it’s a bit strange they didn’t incorporate it
Most likely a software to dsp thing. For easiest integration it probably made it more functional to keep it a fixed eq.
I've never seen an auto eq algorithm combined with on board DSP export. Probably possible but I assume Topping kept it simple as to not run into any unnecessary issues
@ you can transfer eq files to hardware in many pro audio gear in the live world and as far as I remember some studio monitors can be loaded with SoundID correction files into their DSP too, I know that AMFG SysTune, which I use, has direct integration with many DSP controllers and loudspeakers with inbuilt DSP and amplification so I think it’s relatively widespread, file just needs to be in the appropriate file format
Yeah but none of them have eq functionality like Auto eq which essentially eq matches to a target with set parameters. What we have now are all fixed eq's. They don't eq match like the auto eq website
Tbh I actually prefer this workflow as I can fine tune in real time after the fact. And also store all of the source headphone frequency responses in the tune app.
Audient ORIA is technically more advanced as it allows sonarworks integration BUT it's either their manual eq or sonarworks. You can't edit sonarworks after import, you have to go back into sonarworks app, use their custom EQ and then re-export to the device.
ORIA gives me basically the same workflow at the end of the day cause I can switch between various monitor profiles easily via the ipad app but I had to connect the L30ii to the 2nd set of seperate stereo Mon outs so I had a high quality seperate amp that can be isolated with various eq's via the app.
I think for me remote functionality is key. With topping discrete system in the control room I can switch between my headphones with corresponding eq and level adjustment for consistency per headphone, as well as switch to one set of monitors via XLR out to ARC box, and also another pair of monitors via RCA which have their own EQ applied as well. All of this is switchable with either 1 or 2 button presses. It's also a Bluetooth remote now so you can switch anywhere in the room and not worry about pointing it at the device correctly
That's what seperates this for me. Workflow wise dx7 pro+ is slow because outside of DAW I have to use realphones standalone for EQ which is a pain for switching eq's. in DAW I have to switch between various eq's and always readjust the level of the hp amp per headphone.
Speaker switching was easy enough but id then have to bypass headphone eq, enable ARC4, and then remember to switch back when I was back on headphones.
Stifles your flow and slows you down so you end up not switching as much you'd like
harman is shouty and veiled .
Better than thin and fatiguing
C200 entered the chat
Amazing value for the price. Arguably one of the best DAC amps at its price range.
EQ correction feature is overrated, since I don't expect anyone to have ears frequency response done frequently, you're still not getting the "end game" result
Better having eq than no eq. Having all my main headphones eq'd and level matched correctly at the press of a button.. That's pretty much end game for me
@@PaulThird whatever works for you :)
I got the ADI-2 Dac and rarely use its EQ, that said its "Loudness" offset is what I use all the time :D
Gordito, so what are your headphones and speakers today?? :P
Too many
But u got no pentaKon
No idea what you are talking about 🤷♂️
@ I wanted to say that RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE has Balanced Pentaconn out for headphones and benefit of using the unit with insert effects during mastering process.
Let me correct you now I know what you are talking about. The A90D has 4.4mm balanced headphone out. It offers 4 pin XLR, 4.4mm (pentaconn) & 1/4" single ended.
You just have to learn which Parametric EQs to use in order to round out the room correction phase you can do with a Graphic EQ. The goal is to get a natural tone/timbre from the equipment you're using. Trying to get max clarity is basically wasting time trying to crystallize your audio, which sounds like complete crap. You might as well go to -5 LUFS if you're chasing max clarity. You'll just be clearly fawking up your mix. We do have different approaches but more works than is thought.
What's wrong with your voice? ,it sounds harsh specialy on siblilants ,may be the mic isn't very tailored for vlogging😬 ,thanks for the content
Maybe the compressor I'm using on the way in or I've not taken out enough with the de-esser. I tried a new mic this week and didn't have much time to tweak the chain
@@PaulThird seems like the voice is passing throw a song heavy vocal track fx chain😁
🤓🤓🤓
Remember to check out my audio podcast with Ed Thorne if you want to learn more about our mixing journeys
Humor me and take a leap of faith. Ignore the measurements (I’m sure everyone here is in their "measurements is everything" stage), ignore those numbers on the screen, and listen through your own ears. Then come back with another video describing the difference between the Topping stack and, for example, a Burson Conductor GT4 Max version.
Just don’t dismiss what you haven’t heard yet simply because you read something on a screen. There’s a reason these expensive amps cost so much and still exist. If there were no reason or no real difference, no one would buy them.
Think about it, tell no one, try other high end amps and then come back with your own conclusion-not a preconception from a written article. In audio, you should trust your ears, not your eyes.
Just my 2 cents' opinion.
Fast forward two years and you’ll be saying how stupid this is lol
For mixing, you should be using Harman with flat bass. Harman OE 2018 is NOT designed for mixing. It' general preference research for companies that make over ear headphones. It's an average as well... the actual data is all over the place. PLEASE update your video with this advice... because mixing to Harman with a built-in bass shelf is INCREDIBLY bad advice. For enjoyment, it's fine... NOT for mixing... PLEASE...
PLEASE do your research when commenting over the Internet. There is around 6db of difference in headphones in the low end when compared to speakers with a sub in a treated room.
The original intention of harman is to create a response that averages speakers in a well treated room. It's an average. But an average that works very well for mixing on Headphones.
Flat is incorrect for headphones. You need to recreate the sub in headphones in order to create the correct tonal balance, otherwise mixes will sound overly bright and thin and you will compensate this by having mixes that are dull and overblown in the bass
Also can you please advise where best to hear your mixes so we can evaluate just how "INCREDIBLY bad" my advice is.. PLEASE
pretty good if find the old L90 with the 3.3v ocsillators or Benchmark DAC1 HDR in NOS
Just 1000 £ bargain🎉 😂
If you say so fella.
Who's Fella? Sounds like an opinion.
@@InFiNiGhTe So hes not a man?
@@thegroove2000You tell me.
Fella is just a UK term for man. My boss for example has a habit of calling every guy in the college fella.
@@PaulThird I know what it means. I'm just humoring.
Quit EQing headphones and just mix the music. smdh
No
The idea is to do as minimal eq as possible so that there is less phase shifts and also the whole idea about eqing is to get better translation