Guys, I am truly sorry for linking to 9V iFi power supplies below the video instead of the correct 5V ones. I was tired while finishing up the description late that evening and I didn't realize my mistake until the viewer @MrSpotface wrote me about it. Links are now corrected, but you have my sincerest apology and a promise to double-check everything so this kind of mistake never happens again.
Could you add these comparisons: E30 + iPower vs E50 + PC USB E30 + iPower vs Loxjie D30 Thanks so much for such a detailed review, love the comparisons too.
So I was sceptical about the benefit of ipower making much of a difference to my e50 dac. But then for such a small outlay I thought why not give it any go. Well an immediate and definite improvement was obvious. Thanking you for the tip and the channel, from a happy new subscriber.
Took me P50, Topping’s power supply to a friend’s house. He’s running his speakers with a $25. dollar dac. Switching from a wall wart to the P50 immediately improved the sound by a lot. It even sounded a bit louder or dynamic and clearer. Maybe the crappier the dac the better the improvement. It also improved my E30 and E50 too. I’m sure a better switching supply would help, I’ve tried a few and batteries too. But if you’re listening to audio gear worthy of an E50 another $155. Can. is a no brainer.
👍👍👏🏻👏🏻💪💪💋❤️ Another fantastic review for English not being your native language you speak so eloquently about sound music you are my favorite reviewer it looks like you have been doing this for many years well done congratulations I love watching your videos so informative because of you I’ve purchased a topping the D70S and I absolutely love it my cousin has a $1400 dac and both of us prefer the topping D70S
I had an E30 and was thinking about the E50 but I also wanted Bluetooth and headphone amp in one box. So I ended up buying a Cambridge Dacmagic 200m for €450 and I'm very happy with it. Also has ESS dac chips, sounds great, the headphone output is good and Aptx BT does a good job. It would be nice to watch your review of the Dacmagic.
Thanks for the insightful review as always! I enjoy watching your take on different audio gear and value your impressions. Been eyeing on the E50 and your review solidifies my eagerness to get one 😃
I already bought my Topping E50 after watching this review So HAPPY, its A VERY GOOD DAC!!! Thank you for this review. Having no bluetooth functionality I am planning to buy a bluetooth receiver. I have 2 options. 1. Ifi zen dac blue (I watched your review) 2. Topping BC3 LDAC bluetooth receiver (or Maybe you have a recommendation) Result I am looking for is something livelier dynamic /analytical Which one do you think will give that kind of result? Can you make a video comparing the 2 bluetooth receiver?
I bought the Topping E50 and compared it to my Schiit Modi Multibit, the Schiiit wins hands down! The tonality and texture of the of the Schiit is fleshed out which gives it more musicality and realism. The E50 may win in dynamics and bass slam but beyond that it sounds flat and 2 dimensional. My two cents!
Once you fall in love with R2R design, you can rarely go back to Sigma Delta chips. For that same reason I kept my Multibit for a long time and switched only after trying Ares II.
@@deadline7610 No, I sold it. The E50 may have bells and whistles but when it comes to sound quality I was not impressed. The Modi Multibit sounds more like real music and great for 2 channel video...of course it is my opinion!
Just be aware that in the history of audio, XLR connectors were originally used for mic level signals that require a fair bit of gain to get up to line level while 1/4 inch TRS connectors are natively balanced line level connectors. The distinction may have become somewhat blurred with the use of extreme gain controls but you will find that some devices still assume the original usage & may not provide sufficient gain or attenuation to cover this. This sort of adapter use may lead to too weak a signal causing poor S/N or too strong a signal causing clipping.
The adapter itself is passive and just connects straight through. I'd rather solder TRS plugs to the cable directly, but still, it's just straight through. Devices don't assume anything, this is not an intelligent USB connector. It's just an analog plug. It's important to only connect devices that have the correct input and output voltages and levels. It doesn't matter if they're using a trs plug or an XLR connector or whatever else.
@@highks496 I have managed & maintained an auditorium PA for over 30 years, so I can tell you that device design most definitely can assume a different signal level between XLR &1/4 TRS. The two inserts can be implemented with different op-Amps. Op-amps are generally used to invert the inverted phase line, which is then summed to the in phase line for balanced noise cancelation, but the op-amps also determine the inputs sensitivity. My current audio interface is just such an example. It has a XLR/TRS combo inputs. If an XLR connector is plugged in, the interface has higher gain rang than when a TRS is plugged in. That's because the design expects XLR to be mic level & TRS to be line level. Not all, but many audio devices are built this way. I have used PA gear that does this as well & depending on the implementation, the wrong connector can either get a lot of buzzing noise or a very weak signal which has to boosted a lot more, which gives a worse S/N result. It's just something to be aware of because not all gear is built the same & besides the feature can be used to advantage to enhance or supress gain appropriately.
@@kenwebster5053 Yes of course, combo inputs are wired for mic over xlr and line over trs. That is normal on a lot of mixing consoles. What I meant was that using a TRS connector doesn't automatically mean it has to be line level (like in this case). It's just a connector, and it can be used for mic level. That's why I said you should look up the specs of the device and only connect it to matching ports/devices.
Another example for totally different uses of TRS plugs would be headphones and aux send/returns. One is stereo out and the other is two-way mono non-symmetrical. If you just plug in a line level signal into one of these because it uses the same plug, you can probably destroy your console. Never assume that it's the correct signal just because it uses the same plug.
The channel Passion for Sound says that the larger (2.4A I think) Apple power bricks are pretty clean switching power supplies, would love for you to try and hear your thoughts.
Another great and useful video. It gave me a good little laugh, too, at the 7 minute mark: 'How does it actually sound? In one word, it sounds pretty darned good'. lol
Hello my friend!Review Musician Audio Draco please!I love your reviews.You are explaining the differences between sound way better than the other hifi UA-camrs!By the way are your from Bulgaria,because you accents sounds Bulgarian :)))...
@@iiWiReviews Hehe close indeed!Draco is newer than Pegasus and it is supposed to sound more musical and balanced.And it is cheaper too!Put that in your review list for the future...I really want to hear your opinion about that R2R DAC.Cheers!
Good review. On a sidenote, there is no cleaner power, please dont fall for that scam. There is only "more" power for h-amps. If you really, really believe so, get a 5V brick certified for medical purposes (less HF). Still alot cheaper.
Hello, thanks for your review. As I read the specs, the E50 only has jitter attenuation on USB, NOT on s/pdif/toslink. So it could matter for the sound - if you are evaluating on USB or spdif/toslink. And a comparision of the two would be relevant.
I currently own a gc7 soundcard which I like for gaming, along with a topping L50 amp and a hifiman he400se. For now I don't use the balanced capability of the L50, I don't know how much the he400se would benefit from it; if it's only about volume it's plenty loud as it is, but are there other benefits from running a balanced setup? More impactful basses for instance? I was wondering if it was possible to hook the GC7 to a balanced DAC with the opt out; this way I would still retain the functionalities of the GC7. Could I also expect a bigger soundstage doing so?
Bought and returned this dac. It just doesn't sound natural or any better than my 70€ Asus Xonar DX card. Also in my tv setup by toslink with an Onkyo amp and Q-Acoustics speakers, it sounds actually worse than my 2009 Samsung RCA line outs (which is not surprising because they're actually better than my amp's internal dac) This dac sounds flat, filtered. Voices and hi-hats sound with a metallic sheen to it, it doesn't have height of scene or let other instruments resonate. It is only a bit tigher and 'controlled' but in two seconds you notice my gear sounds more natural, its profile consistent in both setups. I'm testing E50 with a Brzhifi linear power supply, as suggested by another viewer (better than the ifi switcher), and Supra usb cable on pc. By memory a cheaper SMSL SU-8 v2 that I bought for a friend couple years ago sounded better. They must make these dacs to measure 1 Khz sine pulses for ASR because otherwise it's a shame.
I have an SMS M200 with AO200 and thought D70S was my upgrade path but based on your comment can you elaborate on the differences and how much in each area? My fear is the D70S is only a 5-10% improvement which doesn't justify the diffrence even used from AMAZON. I sent back a SMSL SU-9 because i thought it was a small upgrade and even worse in a few areas for instance - kept the M200 instead
Hi, i'm interested on this too. Right now I got an ifi zen dac v2 balanced out to a drop thx 789. Thinking on su-9 and d70s as an upgrade way, but also worry they couldn't be a significant improvement for the price
@@gbmwaz I have the Denafrapes Aries I purchased the topping the d70s MQA dual akm chips and wow 🤩🤗🤗 The D 70 S is a fantastic sounding dac 3D holographic soundstage wonderful imaimaging Extremely clear and clean
@@funcionyforma I think you have it right, unless your reaching for that 5-10% bump. As a reviewer once said, you'll get more bang for your buck by trying a different sounding headphone or iem.
The differences between the E30 and E50 are : balanced output sockets, MQA capable, different chip, better pre amp. If you want a DAC for a hifi music system them the E50 might be a great buy. If you want a DAC to give your computer some improved sound then you might be better off with the cheaper E30. eg if you are happy with the sound quality of FLAC then there is no point in paying extra for the E50, if you want the features of a Topping A90 but can't afford it then the E50 offers a superb but much cheaper alternative.
@@stevencau3077 Ifi zen dac. It can be used as a combo or just use the dac out to your (maybe analytical amp) for a bit more warmth. It also has bass boost that comes in handy on certain songs. It's served me well as a combo and now is being used with a better amp.
Another great review. It seems like the DAC market is growing rapidly. As someone who's been loving their original dacmagic, being fed by a Digi one, what would an E50 or Modi MB bring to the table? This would be in a speaker at up.
I have found out that it depends a lot on the type of music that we listen to. I got E50 after it came out, but I felt that it sounded too flat for jazz and vocals. I eventually bought Modi Multibit as well. Topping E50 is more suitable for clean and fast response, e.g. electronic and funk music.
@@etanizar Thanks. How is your Schiit modi multibit with all genres ? These were to 2 I was looking at but the 6-8 week wait for the multibit was to long for me. I just got the E50 and can really appreciate the step up in clarity from the Zen Dac, (big difference). Until reading your comment I didn't realize that I hadn't gone to my jazz playlist & have to agree that it's missing something but not for all jazz tracks. Are you using a schiit amp like the Asgard 3 to pair with the dacs ?
Hi, I have a Topping P50 linear power supply which is perfect for the E50 dac. If I use this combination with trs balanced cables on my stereo, would this be very different from the E70 or E70 velvet? Regards Tor Damsleth.
There is two versions of the Topping E50. You can get the version of the E50 that supports MQA, as shown here. Or you can get the "light version", which has all the same features, except no MQA support, for $50 less 😀
It's becoming quite frustrating with all these new Topping offerings. The S, the pro, the D series, the E series. They keep pumping new products all the time. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot by practically saying that their products are not future-proof. They are only good for 6 to 12 months, at which point you would have to buy the new thing. So basically, this is not a $270 unit. Buying into Topping means you have to pay $270 every year.
Why would you _have_ to buy the new thing? You can just keep using the old thing. It's not like your E30 suddenly stops working and blows up when the E50 came out
I think this is a good thing! Better than 10 years ago where might get a new product every 3-5 years. No one is forcing you to buy the latest and greatest, but it's nice to have the option.
Nicely described. I should have listened more carefully. As you say the bass was present but I found it indistinct & boomy while the treble was shrill. Power was a 30000ma powerbank so noise free. The DX3 Pro+ sounded better to my ears with my test set up (Pioneer pd7300 into coax to Audiolab 6000a, Magnat towers & twin subs) However the Bluetooth on that didn't work on my phone!! They've both gone back for a refund.... ; )
Hi I struggle bit with the decision. I have an Marantz CD 5005 and would like to replace it for denon dcd900ne or marantz cd6007. But now im confused. Maybe i should buy a decent Dac and use the Marantz cd 5005 as a transport. Which one will suit better.. Topping E50 Topping E30II SMSL SU1 Or maybe something else. At the moment im using it floor standing speaker Q Acoustics 5040 Arcam SA20 amp and IFI Audio Zen Blue V2. Thanks for any suggestions and help
Much is made of improving the E50 by providing a better power supply? I found a 20,000mAh power bank improved it, but I then went a step further. If you have a higher quality power bank that can simultaneously charge via 5VDC, whilst also discharging its battery to supply the DAC, then you never have to worry about re-charging, and the DAC is buffered from any noise in the mains supply. Saves about $100.
Well man, I just paired an E50 with an SMSL DA-9, I am a beginner into audiophile listening; I paired them with a K. RP400M and with a Polk sub DSW660, it just sounds amazing. Let me congratulate you on your reviews, you definately transmit the words that makes us understand what you mean. I do have a pair of KEF Q350 with a Yamaha RXv6a receiver with the same sub, different sound signature, I enjoy both, but this Yamaha receiver does not need a DAC or does it? thank you. Great work!
You find the D30Pro to be "warm"? I agree that it is rich sounding and detailed, but I found that at the wrong Filter settings (i.e. fast roll-off), it can be too bright at high frequencies. Otherwise, at slow roll-off, I find it mostly analytical and linear, but in a good way (not sounding flat or such).
Very nice. Some recommendations for amps under 100$, which aren't schiit or liquid spark? Thanks man :0. I do recommend to see a very strange budget amp from Takstar, called Ha 101. I do never saw anyone asking for it, but it's 90 dollars, and is 1000 mw/16 ohms and portable at 11V. I'm noob at this, but it's sounds amazing for it's price. And Takstar is known for doing underrated things
Hello, thanks for this review and comparison. I remember when you reviewed the DH80s, you had to go up to a Topping D30 Pro/A30 Pro stack to get something noticeably better. Since the E50 doesn't quite beat the D30 Pro either, I'm very curious how the DH80s compares to E50 + amp. I know its a different form factor and different set of features, but I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on the DH80s. I'm guessing a E50+L50 stack would probably be better, but if it's not that significant I'd be happy with a DH80s.
If headphones are sensitive and low in impedance (for example Verum 1) then it would be a fair fight. Stack would push ahead for power hungry models, especially high-impedance ones that need high voltages to sound alive (for example Sennheiser HD650).
@@iiWiReviews Got it. My roadmap just got clearer. I do plan on staying another year or two within the IEM world, before venturing into full-size headphones and higher impedances. I will get there eventually, but its all about the journey. Thanks!
Great review! I like your structured style a lot! I have a question, if you don't mind? Based on your review and demo the E30 is a very analytical and "dry" DAC with a wide soundstage. Is the E50 as analytical and wide-staged as the E30? I am using a Denon amp with a warm sound and a dragonfly black. It is very important for me to have an analytical, detailed, wide, open and quick sound and to be able to distinguish the instruments in a song/orchestral piece. Should I take the E50 or the E30? Btw: Would be great if you could make a comparison video with the E50. The E30-one was great!
Thanks! E50 has the same wide and analytical nature but with even more dynamics and richer tone timbre. E30 sounds flat in comparison. So I would say E50 is clearly better then E30 in my opinion.
Thank you for the review. Currently am using Topping D10s. Knowing you already reviewed D10s, how do you compare it with E50? Do you think sound vise, E50 can be considered as an upgrade? Would there be considerable sound improvement or we can't notice them? Thanks in advance for your opinion on that.
2:19 not true, there is 139USD topping d10 balanced, so for many people who want balanced it is good option, params are also pretty good and you get xlr adapter
Hi) What do you think of topping e70? I'm very interested to hear your opinion and comparison with the e50. The price difference is not very big, but the e70 has a more advanced 9028pro chip
Hi and thanks for the review! I have a warm sounding poweramp (Vincent) and a pair of Dynaudio emit 50! This is nice but I need a DAC with volume control that is better than a the NEO iDSD wich I using now, what would you recomend? Best regards Mikael
Hello Slboljub, thanks for your excellent review as always. You reviewed the Orchard Audio Pecan Pi in your previous video. When you had to choose between the E50 and the Pecan Pi, which one would you prefer only based on sound experience?
I have the topping E50 and a Ifi Zen Can signature Hifiman. Would going balanced into the headphone amplifier make much difference to the sound? I have Hifiman Sundara and Edition xs and use them with a balanced cable going into the Ifi Zen Can signature headphone amplifier. All I notice really is that it's more powerful that way. What can I expect going balanced from the dac to the headphone amplifier? Stephen Macks
I have a Topping E30 that I use as a second DAC in my main audio system to watch movies. I bought Loxjie D30 based on your recomendation to use as a DAC/headphone amp in my desktop setup. I compated the sound of Topping E30 and Loxjie D30 as a DAC and Topping sounds much better. I am wondering if my unit is broken, as even the buildin soundcard on my motherboard sounds better. A horrible, horrible product. I bought it from Aliexpress, so no return possible.
Поздрав Србољубе, молио бих те за мишљење шта је боља куповина 1. Topping e50+l50 2. Topping DX5 lite, или нешто треће, четврто... у ценовном рангу до 300 евра? Хвала унапред.
Pozdrav. U ovom trenutku SMSL RAW MDA-1. Ooodlična sprava, prejahala je blago pomenute Toppinge i to po nižoj ceni. ua-cam.com/video/xXR2eWn80d4/v-deo.htmlsi=k11mqbEIpiTGJqso
I'm not sure if I'm going to get this but I am interested. I'm going to buy a Topping L50 next week but plan to run it with balanced outputs from my Focusrite 6i6 2nd gen.
I was the same, but jumped on it since it is on sale now. I picked up a few others too (DX3 Pro+, L50, L30ii), and the E50 is a step up. Especially when running balanced into the L50 (I compared with running E50 into L30ii with RCA unbalanced). It's a cleaner, fuller & wider sound that is more "filled in" (for lack of better words). Like 10-20% improvement. I do believe the E50 is a better DAC than the budget audio interfaces. I had a Scarlett, and upgraded to the Clarett (which does sound better). I also have a Motu M4. I think the E50 DAC is a step up from those, with a fuller/sweeter sound. It depends on your use case. If you need the interface for recording and monitor out, and just need a better headphone amp, then the L50 is perfect. It will kill the Scarlett headphone out. It also has passthrough so, you can run straight to a monitor controller for active speakers (if needed).
@@JohnSmith-oe4bw I ended up going for a budget option instead. I was going to buy the L50 and E50 but thought my use case (casual listener) didn't really justify that kind of price so I ordered the DX3 Pro+ instead.
E50 is faster and more precise sounding, that is most noticeable in the bassline. It feels like its tone is cleaner too. Modi Multibit is warmer and lusher in the midrange, tones feel more present and 3D but with slightly obscured fine detailing. This is one of those situations where personal taste really kicks in.
Didn't think it's fair to E50 considering its price. Ares II sounds more believable with fuller and denser notes, more bass punch, and deeper soundstage. I have yet to hear anything better sounding than Ares II up to one thousand.
How does Topping E50 Compare to D50S and D70S ? Are they even in terms of sounds quality ? SMSL SU8 sounded to me more clear and a bit more open and detailed than the Topping E50 Looking to just get E50 and L50 Combo or is it worth to spend more? My budget is around 1000Euro.
Guys, I am truly sorry for linking to 9V iFi power supplies below the video instead of the correct 5V ones. I was tired while finishing up the description late that evening and I didn't realize my mistake until the viewer @MrSpotface wrote me about it. Links are now corrected, but you have my sincerest apology and a promise to double-check everything so this kind of mistake never happens again.
Could you add these comparisons:
E30 + iPower vs E50 + PC USB
E30 + iPower vs Loxjie D30
Thanks so much for such a detailed review, love the comparisons too.
@@mag4633 if you add it to a powerbank it prolly sounds better.
Hello i am using svs prime wireless Soundbase integrated amp with polk s20 pair, what dac would be best for my setup?? Please suggest me😊
Hi, Do you think the Topping E-50 can improve the sound quality of my $300 Yamaha CD-S300 cd player? Thank you kindly.
So I was sceptical about the benefit of ipower making much of a difference to my e50 dac. But then for such a small outlay I thought why not give it any go. Well an immediate and definite improvement was obvious. Thanking you for the tip and the channel, from a happy new subscriber.
This review format is perfect just perfect.
This is a really great review. Comparisons and sound description are priceless. Very useful, very interesting. Great job
This is the first dac I’ve ever owned and could not believe how much better the music sounds.
Very clear, logical DAC comparisons, helped me a lot in terms of sound to expect from several I've been interested in.
Took me P50, Topping’s power supply to a friend’s house. He’s running his speakers with a $25. dollar dac. Switching from a wall wart to the P50 immediately improved the sound by a lot. It even sounded a bit louder or dynamic and clearer. Maybe the crappier the dac the better the improvement. It also improved my E30 and E50 too. I’m sure a better switching supply would help, I’ve tried a few and batteries too. But if you’re listening to audio gear worthy of an E50 another $155. Can. is a no brainer.
Love to see this pitted against the $249 Geshelli Labs J2.
Add on, I would like to know if the differences are at all significant or minor..
I think Passion for sound compared both of them and preferred the e50
👍👍👏🏻👏🏻💪💪💋❤️
Another fantastic review for English not being your native language you speak so eloquently about sound music you are my favorite reviewer it looks like you have been doing this for many years well done congratulations I love watching your videos so informative because of you I’ve purchased a topping the D70S and I absolutely love it my cousin has a $1400 dac and both of us prefer the topping D70S
You did an excellent job communicating the essentials of this dac in a very clear and concise way, thanks
Just got mine it sounds amazing. Really happy. And you can plug my iPad straight into it.
Thanks for your good review and thank you for making clear what's happening with MQA.
Thank you for a clear and pedagogic review. Keep up the good work!
I had an E30 and was thinking about the E50 but I also wanted Bluetooth and headphone amp in one box. So I ended up buying a Cambridge Dacmagic 200m for €450 and I'm very happy with it. Also has ESS dac chips, sounds great, the headphone output is good and Aptx BT does a good job. It would be nice to watch your review of the Dacmagic.
This is a great review not the first I saw from you. You are very good doing this Thanks! I am getting this DAC
Nice job! Very informative. Pointed out all of the important features. I have to point out how impressed I am with your English.
Marcin Patrzalek is awesome! Thank you for pro reviews!
Thanks for the insightful review as always! I enjoy watching your take on different audio gear and value your impressions. Been eyeing on the E50 and your review solidifies my eagerness to get one 😃
Thanks for this very good and detailed review. I was waiting the review of this newly released Topping E50. GOOD JOB 👍 👍
Would love to see you review the geshelli j2 dac
Well that was a heck of an intro! Thanks for making me laugh bro!! And now on to the review.
Really like your explanations of sound and comparisons. Great job!
clearly explained and details i like to hear from a reviewer, thanks
First video. Instant subscription. Great review, and I loved the comparisons.
Love to see you review Topping D90SE....
Been hearing lots of positive reviews and very curious if its that much good...
The reviews I've seen say it's practically indistinguishable from the D90 with an AKM chip. So a superb DAC whichever version you get hold of.
Nice review! Just ordered the E50 and am looking forward to hearing what this DAC can do.
I already bought my Topping E50 after watching this review
So HAPPY, its A VERY GOOD DAC!!! Thank you for this review.
Having no bluetooth functionality I am planning to buy a bluetooth receiver. I have 2 options.
1. Ifi zen dac blue (I watched your review)
2. Topping BC3 LDAC bluetooth receiver
(or Maybe you have a recommendation)
Result I am looking for is something livelier dynamic /analytical
Which one do you think will give that kind of result?
Can you make a video comparing the 2 bluetooth receiver?
TRS to\from XLR adaptors and very good TRS patch cables are easy to find. Since they are not marketed towards audiophiles they are very affordable:)
"In one word it sounds... pretty darn good." Love it!
I bought the Topping E50 and compared it to my Schiit Modi Multibit, the Schiiit wins hands down! The tonality and texture of the of the Schiit is fleshed out which gives it more musicality and realism. The E50 may win in dynamics and bass slam but beyond that it sounds flat and 2 dimensional. My two cents!
Once you fall in love with R2R design, you can rarely go back to Sigma Delta chips. For that same reason I kept my Multibit for a long time and switched only after trying Ares II.
Always wanted to hear the modi mutibit, but never heard many reviews on it.
Glad you like it.
Are you going to keep the E50 ?
@@deadline7610 No, I sold it. The E50 may have bells and whistles but when it comes to sound quality I was not impressed. The Modi Multibit sounds more like real music and great for 2 channel video...of course it is my opinion!
Is it better than Topping D30 DAC?
Lovely review dude! I was wondering if you could review the xduoo xa-10 dac/headphone amp? It would be lovely to hear your thoughts xx
Great review. How it compares against khadas Tone 2 Pro in balanced DAC mode in therms of soundstage, Thanks.
I was expecting the comparison between your beloved khadas tone 2 pro and e50. Anyway, great work. Easily liked and subscribed
Just be aware that in the history of audio, XLR connectors were originally used for mic level signals that require a fair bit of gain to get up to line level while 1/4 inch TRS connectors are natively balanced line level connectors. The distinction may have become somewhat blurred with the use of extreme gain controls but you will find that some devices still assume the original usage & may not provide sufficient gain or attenuation to cover this. This sort of adapter use may lead to too weak a signal causing poor S/N or too strong a signal causing clipping.
The adapter itself is passive and just connects straight through. I'd rather solder TRS plugs to the cable directly, but still, it's just straight through. Devices don't assume anything, this is not an intelligent USB connector. It's just an analog plug. It's important to only connect devices that have the correct input and output voltages and levels. It doesn't matter if they're using a trs plug or an XLR connector or whatever else.
@@highks496 I have managed & maintained an auditorium PA for over 30 years, so I can tell you that device design most definitely can assume a different signal level between XLR &1/4 TRS. The two inserts can be implemented with different op-Amps. Op-amps are generally used to invert the inverted phase line, which is then summed to the in phase line for balanced noise cancelation, but the op-amps also determine the inputs sensitivity.
My current audio interface is just such an example. It has a XLR/TRS combo inputs. If an XLR connector is plugged in, the interface has higher gain rang than when a TRS is plugged in. That's because the design expects XLR to be mic level & TRS to be line level. Not all, but many audio devices are built this way. I have used PA gear that does this as well & depending on the implementation, the wrong connector can either get a lot of buzzing noise or a very weak signal which has to boosted a lot more, which gives a worse S/N result.
It's just something to be aware of because not all gear is built the same & besides the feature can be used to advantage to enhance or supress gain appropriately.
@@kenwebster5053 Yes of course, combo inputs are wired for mic over xlr and line over trs. That is normal on a lot of mixing consoles.
What I meant was that using a TRS connector doesn't automatically mean it has to be line level (like in this case). It's just a connector, and it can be used for mic level. That's why I said you should look up the specs of the device and only connect it to matching ports/devices.
Another example for totally different uses of TRS plugs would be headphones and aux send/returns. One is stereo out and the other is two-way mono non-symmetrical. If you just plug in a line level signal into one of these because it uses the same plug, you can probably destroy your console. Never assume that it's the correct signal just because it uses the same plug.
Obvious & basic points.
The channel Passion for Sound says that the larger (2.4A I think) Apple power bricks are pretty clean switching power supplies, would love for you to try and hear your thoughts.
This is his video I referred to, btw: ua-cam.com/video/Kp2cGjscYKM/v-deo.html
Another great and useful video. It gave me a good little laugh, too, at the 7 minute mark: 'How does it actually sound? In one word, it sounds pretty darned good'. lol
Hello my friend!Review Musician Audio Draco please!I love your reviews.You are explaining the differences between sound way better than the other hifi UA-camrs!By the way are your from Bulgaria,because you accents sounds Bulgarian :)))...
Close guess, I'm from a neighboring Serbia. Haven't heard about Draco, will take a look.
@@iiWiReviews Hehe close indeed!Draco is newer than Pegasus and it is supposed to sound more musical and balanced.And it is cheaper too!Put that in your review list for the future...I really want to hear your opinion about that R2R DAC.Cheers!
Good review. On a sidenote, there is no cleaner power, please dont fall for that scam. There is only "more" power for h-amps. If you really, really believe so, get a 5V brick certified for medical purposes (less HF). Still alot cheaper.
Hello, thanks for your review. As I read the specs, the E50 only has jitter attenuation on USB, NOT on s/pdif/toslink. So it could matter for the sound - if you are evaluating on USB or spdif/toslink. And a comparision of the two would be relevant.
Thank you for comparing to E30. Just what I was looking for.
I currently own a gc7 soundcard which I like for gaming, along with a topping L50 amp and a hifiman he400se. For now I don't use the balanced capability of the L50, I don't know how much the he400se would benefit from it; if it's only about volume it's plenty loud as it is, but are there other benefits from running a balanced setup? More impactful basses for instance?
I was wondering if it was possible to hook the GC7 to a balanced DAC with the opt out; this way I would still retain the functionalities of the GC7. Could I also expect a bigger soundstage doing so?
BTW I loved the way you describe using a Sub woofer comparing it to drawing that exactly how I see it..
Bought and returned this dac. It just doesn't sound natural or any better than my 70€ Asus Xonar DX card. Also in my tv setup by toslink with an Onkyo amp and Q-Acoustics speakers, it sounds actually worse than my 2009 Samsung RCA line outs (which is not surprising because they're actually better than my amp's internal dac)
This dac sounds flat, filtered. Voices and hi-hats sound with a metallic sheen to it, it doesn't have height of scene or let other instruments resonate. It is only a bit tigher and 'controlled' but in two seconds you notice my gear sounds more natural, its profile consistent in both setups.
I'm testing E50 with a Brzhifi linear power supply, as suggested by another viewer (better than the ifi switcher), and Supra usb cable on pc.
By memory a cheaper SMSL SU-8 v2 that I bought for a friend couple years ago sounded better.
They must make these dacs to measure 1 Khz sine pulses for ASR because otherwise it's a shame.
It’s a great DAC for the price. I have one and use it in my main setup off a Bluesound node 2i. Sounds almost as good as my D70s honestly.
I have an SMS M200 with AO200 and thought D70S was my upgrade path but based on your comment can you elaborate on the differences and how much in each area? My fear is the D70S is only a 5-10% improvement which doesn't justify the diffrence even used from AMAZON. I sent back a SMSL SU-9 because i thought it was a small upgrade and even worse in a few areas for instance - kept the M200 instead
Hi, i'm interested on this too. Right now I got an ifi zen dac v2 balanced out to a drop thx 789. Thinking on su-9 and d70s as an upgrade way, but also worry they couldn't be a significant improvement for the price
@@gbmwaz I have the Denafrapes Aries I purchased the topping the d70s MQA dual akm chips and wow 🤩🤗🤗 The D 70 S is a fantastic sounding dac 3D holographic soundstage wonderful imaimaging Extremely clear and clean
@@gbmwaz I mean the law of diminishing returns at some point is just part of this hobby.
@@funcionyforma I think you have it right, unless your reaching for that 5-10% bump.
As a reviewer once said, you'll get more bang for your buck by trying a different sounding headphone or iem.
Great review as always.
The differences between the E30 and E50 are : balanced output sockets, MQA capable, different chip, better pre amp. If you want a DAC for a hifi music system them the E50 might be a great buy. If you want a DAC to give your computer some improved sound then you might be better off with the cheaper E30. eg if you are happy with the sound quality of FLAC then there is no point in paying extra for the E50, if you want the features of a Topping A90 but can't afford it then the E50 offers a superb but much cheaper alternative.
Well put.
I wonder if it's only a 5-10 % increase is sound quality using your computer playing flac files ?
@@deadline7610 The sound improvement might not even be that much. It all depends on how you assess the two chips. Too hard for me.
@@sav7568 I'm still waiting for Audirvana & Amazon HD to play nice together on a mac :(
do you have any suggestions for a DAC with warm soundig? I have e30 but it's too cold for my liking
@@stevencau3077 Ifi zen dac.
It can be used as a combo or just use the dac out to your (maybe analytical amp) for a bit more warmth. It also has bass boost that comes in handy on certain songs.
It's served me well as a combo and now is being used with a better amp.
Another great review. It seems like the DAC market is growing rapidly. As someone who's been loving their original dacmagic, being fed by a Digi one, what would an E50 or Modi MB bring to the table? This would be in a speaker at up.
Would be interested in how this compares to Schiit products in a similar price range.
Yeah, particularly the Modi Multibit.
My exact thoughts
I have found out that it depends a lot on the type of music that we listen to. I got E50 after it came out, but I felt that it sounded too flat for jazz and vocals. I eventually bought Modi Multibit as well. Topping E50 is more suitable for clean and fast response, e.g. electronic and funk music.
@@etanizar thank you!
@@etanizar Thanks.
How is your Schiit modi multibit with all genres ?
These were to 2 I was looking at but the 6-8 week wait for the multibit was to long for me.
I just got the E50 and can really appreciate the step up in clarity from the Zen Dac, (big difference).
Until reading your comment I didn't realize that I hadn't gone to my jazz playlist & have to agree that it's missing something but not for all jazz tracks.
Are you using a schiit amp like the Asgard 3 to pair with the dacs ?
Hi, I have a Topping P50 linear power supply which is perfect for the E50 dac. If I use this combination with trs balanced cables on my stereo, would this be very different from the E70 or E70 velvet? Regards Tor Damsleth.
There is two versions of the Topping E50. You can get the version of the E50 that supports MQA, as shown here. Or you can get the "light version", which has all the same features, except no MQA support, for $50 less 😀
🤔
yes I was waiting for this!
It's becoming quite frustrating with all these new Topping offerings. The S, the pro, the D series, the E series. They keep pumping new products all the time. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot by practically saying that their products are not future-proof. They are only good for 6 to 12 months, at which point you would have to buy the new thing. So basically, this is not a $270 unit. Buying into Topping means you have to pay $270 every year.
Why would you _have_ to buy the new thing? You can just keep using the old thing. It's not like your E30 suddenly stops working and blows up when the E50 came out
@@retro_boy_advance exactly, lol. GAS is a real thing in audio, and Topping is just taking advantage of that while expanding their product line 🤷🏾♂️
I think this is a good thing! Better than 10 years ago where might get a new product every 3-5 years. No one is forcing you to buy the latest and greatest, but it's nice to have the option.
Topping D10 Balanced also has the dual mono 6.35mm connection, so E50 isn't the first one that does this.
Nicely described. I should have listened more carefully. As you say the bass was present but I found it indistinct & boomy while the treble was shrill. Power was a 30000ma powerbank so noise free. The DX3 Pro+ sounded better to my ears with my test set up (Pioneer pd7300 into coax to Audiolab 6000a, Magnat towers & twin subs) However the Bluetooth on that didn't work on my phone!! They've both gone back for a refund.... ; )
Powerabnk is not noise free as there is a dc/dc voltage booster from 3-4.2V accu to 5V output.
Topping makes a linear power supply in the p50 for $130 that can be used to power this dac.
Hi
I struggle bit with the decision.
I have an Marantz CD 5005 and would like to replace it for denon dcd900ne or marantz cd6007.
But now im confused. Maybe i should buy a decent Dac and use the Marantz cd 5005 as a transport.
Which one will suit better..
Topping E50
Topping E30II
SMSL SU1
Or maybe something else.
At the moment im using it floor standing speaker Q Acoustics 5040
Arcam SA20 amp and IFI Audio Zen Blue V2.
Thanks for any suggestions and help
Much is made of improving the E50 by providing a better power supply? I found a 20,000mAh power bank improved it, but I then went a step further. If you have a higher quality power bank that can simultaneously charge via 5VDC, whilst also discharging its battery to supply the DAC, then you never have to worry about re-charging, and the DAC is buffered from any noise in the mains supply. Saves about $100.
Well man, I just paired an E50 with an SMSL DA-9, I am a beginner into audiophile listening; I paired them with a K. RP400M and with a Polk sub DSW660, it just sounds amazing. Let me congratulate you on your reviews, you definately transmit the words that makes us understand what you mean.
I do have a pair of KEF Q350 with a Yamaha RXv6a receiver with the same sub, different sound signature, I enjoy both, but this Yamaha receiver does not need a DAC or does it? thank you.
Great work!
Necesita un amplificador externo para alimentar esos parlantes pasivos?
How would you compare this and good power supply with the SMSL D6S sound? Thank you.
Kindly review S.M.S.L M300 MKII, I've seen interesting spec.!
Modi multibit or E50? Which one did you like better and why?
I upgraded my E30 to an E50. I mainly wanted a new box, but the difference is very audible. I'm sticking with it until I get an R2R dac.
I have an SP200 would you use the EX5 as a Dac Or the E50 as a Dac. Or what Dac would work, I look at the su-9 or the su-8s would like it with MQA
So does it support MQA? Just kidding bro 😎, great review as always. Thank!👍
How does this DAC compare to the Modi Multibit?
You find the D30Pro to be "warm"? I agree that it is rich sounding and detailed, but I found that at the wrong Filter settings (i.e. fast roll-off), it can be too bright at high frequencies. Otherwise, at slow roll-off, I find it mostly analytical and linear, but in a good way (not sounding flat or such).
Very nice. Some recommendations for amps under 100$, which aren't schiit or liquid spark? Thanks man :0.
I do recommend to see a very strange budget amp from Takstar, called Ha 101. I do never saw anyone asking for it, but it's 90 dollars, and is 1000 mw/16 ohms and portable at 11V. I'm noob at this, but it's sounds amazing for it's price. And Takstar is known for doing underrated things
hmmm i feel like we should all order 4 dacs for Xmas and just listen at home.....
Love your reviews... Just for the record and no disrespect... the phrase is "neck and neck" not "next to neck".
Hello, thanks for this review and comparison. I remember when you reviewed the DH80s, you had to go up to a Topping D30 Pro/A30 Pro stack to get something noticeably better. Since the E50 doesn't quite beat the D30 Pro either, I'm very curious how the DH80s compares to E50 + amp. I know its a different form factor and different set of features, but I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on the DH80s. I'm guessing a E50+L50 stack would probably be better, but if it's not that significant I'd be happy with a DH80s.
If headphones are sensitive and low in impedance (for example Verum 1) then it would be a fair fight. Stack would push ahead for power hungry models, especially high-impedance ones that need high voltages to sound alive (for example Sennheiser HD650).
@@iiWiReviews
Got it. My roadmap just got clearer. I do plan on staying another year or two within the IEM world, before venturing into full-size headphones and higher impedances. I will get there eventually, but its all about the journey. Thanks!
Very informative, thankyou.
Great review! I like your structured style a lot! I have a question, if you don't mind?
Based on your review and demo the E30 is a very analytical and "dry" DAC with a wide soundstage. Is the E50 as analytical and wide-staged as the E30? I am using a Denon amp with a warm sound and a dragonfly black. It is very important for me to have an analytical, detailed, wide, open and quick sound and to be able to distinguish the instruments in a song/orchestral piece.
Should I take the E50 or the E30?
Btw: Would be great if you could make a comparison video with the E50. The E30-one was great!
Thanks! E50 has the same wide and analytical nature but with even more dynamics and richer tone timbre. E30 sounds flat in comparison. So I would say E50 is clearly better then E30 in my opinion.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks for the answer !
Thank you for the review. Currently am using Topping D10s. Knowing you already reviewed D10s, how do you compare it with E50? Do you think sound vise, E50 can be considered as an upgrade? Would there be considerable sound improvement or we can't notice them? Thanks in advance for your opinion on that.
If you already have a ifi-ipower power supply for your E-30 and want to upgrade... btw what about the ipower X. It is more expensive but maybe better?
At last arrived and rather disappointed was I. Fiio transceiver bta 30 pro still sounds more forward and with more presence
2:19 not true, there is 139USD topping d10 balanced, so for many people who want balanced it is good option, params are also pretty good and you get xlr adapter
You're right, D10 balanced just flew over my head when it was released. Most of the time I forget it exists.
Another competitors as full decoder dacs are ifi zen and khadas tone 2 pro. How do you compare them with this?
Hi!
Your channel is awesome, and My favorite audio channel.
Question:
This Topping or ProJect PreBox S2 Digital the better sound?
Thanks!
I think E50, especially because of S2 problems with USB connector and display that were never fixed as far as my knowledge goes.
@@iiWiReviews
Big thanks from Hungary!
Are you going to review the Topping DX3 Pro+?
Hi) What do you think of topping e70? I'm very interested to hear your opinion and comparison with the e50. The price difference is not very big, but the e70 has a more advanced 9028pro chip
Hi and thanks for the review! I have a warm sounding poweramp (Vincent) and a pair of Dynaudio emit 50! This is nice but I need a DAC with volume control that is better than a the NEO iDSD wich I using now, what would you recomend? Best regards Mikael
Hello Slboljub, thanks for your excellent review as always. You reviewed the Orchard Audio Pecan Pi in your previous video. When you had to choose between the E50 and the Pecan Pi, which one would you prefer only based on sound experience?
I think that my own taste leans slightly towards PecanPi.
Thanks again for your quick response and I appreciate your work
I have the topping E50 and a Ifi Zen Can signature Hifiman. Would going balanced into the headphone amplifier make much difference to the sound? I have Hifiman Sundara and Edition xs and use them with a balanced cable going into the Ifi Zen Can signature headphone amplifier. All I notice really is that it's more powerful that way. What can I expect going balanced from the dac to the headphone amplifier?
Stephen Macks
I have a Topping E30 that I use as a second DAC in my main audio system to watch movies. I bought Loxjie D30 based on your recomendation to use as a DAC/headphone amp in my desktop setup. I compated the sound of Topping E30 and Loxjie D30 as a DAC and Topping sounds much better. I am wondering if my unit is broken, as even the buildin soundcard on my motherboard sounds better. A horrible, horrible product. I bought it from Aliexpress, so no return possible.
Loved your recomendation of Nenad Vlasic. Always learn somthing with your reviews
Would you recommend the Topping P50 Linear Power Supply?
I never tried it personally so can't say anything about it.
E30 with balance output
how E50 compares to E30 and how E50/L50 combo compares to E30/L30? Is it step up in sound quality or features?
Поздрав Србољубе, молио бих те за мишљење шта је боља куповина 1. Topping e50+l50 2. Topping DX5 lite, или нешто треће, четврто... у ценовном рангу до 300 евра? Хвала унапред.
Pozdrav. U ovom trenutku SMSL RAW MDA-1. Ooodlična sprava, prejahala je blago pomenute Toppinge i to po nižoj ceni. ua-cam.com/video/xXR2eWn80d4/v-deo.htmlsi=k11mqbEIpiTGJqso
@@iiWiReviews Хвала!
I'm not sure if I'm going to get this but I am interested. I'm going to buy a Topping L50 next week but plan to run it with balanced outputs from my Focusrite 6i6 2nd gen.
I was the same, but jumped on it since it is on sale now. I picked up a few others too (DX3 Pro+, L50, L30ii), and the E50 is a step up. Especially when running balanced into the L50 (I compared with running E50 into L30ii with RCA unbalanced). It's a cleaner, fuller & wider sound that is more "filled in" (for lack of better words). Like 10-20% improvement. I do believe the E50 is a better DAC than the budget audio interfaces. I had a Scarlett, and upgraded to the Clarett (which does sound better). I also have a Motu M4. I think the E50 DAC is a step up from those, with a fuller/sweeter sound. It depends on your use case. If you need the interface for recording and monitor out, and just need a better headphone amp, then the L50 is perfect. It will kill the Scarlett headphone out. It also has passthrough so, you can run straight to a monitor controller for active speakers (if needed).
@@JohnSmith-oe4bw I ended up going for a budget option instead. I was going to buy the L50 and E50 but thought my use case (casual listener) didn't really justify that kind of price so I ordered the DX3 Pro+ instead.
Is there a way you can pass through the E50 to a powered subwoofer and also to a integrated stereo amp that doesn't have a sub out?
I have Denon PMA 520 amplifier. E50 or D30 Pro which one would be better combination?
Thanks review.
hi, what's the difference between the ifi power ... and the ifi power x? a thousand thanks
Great review
which is better topping e50 or loxjie 30d new version 2021 or maybe Modi Multibit?
Can anyone recommend a 5v power supply (European plug) for €50 or less. The one he recommends is around €70 here :-/ (EU)
How does e50 compare with Allo revolution DAC with Allo Shanti?
Could you please compare E50 with Modi Multibit?
E50 is faster and more precise sounding, that is most noticeable in the bassline. It feels like its tone is cleaner too. Modi Multibit is warmer and lusher in the midrange, tones feel more present and 3D but with slightly obscured fine detailing. This is one of those situations where personal taste really kicks in.
@@iiWiReviews My I ask your personal preference between this two DACs?
I was waiting whole the video to hear about comparing to Denafrips Ares 2 :(
Didn't think it's fair to E50 considering its price. Ares II sounds more believable with fuller and denser notes, more bass punch, and deeper soundstage. I have yet to hear anything better sounding than Ares II up to one thousand.
How does Topping E50 Compare to D50S and D70S ? Are they even in terms of sounds quality ? SMSL SU8 sounded to me more clear and a bit more open and detailed than the Topping E50 Looking to just get E50 and L50 Combo or is it worth to spend more? My budget is around 1000Euro.