I have the D50. One thing about USB power: I tried plugging in a power bank and it works. I don't like the joystick control either. But I never touched it after the first time I set the DAC up. I love the auto on/off feature too. This DAC is meant to be set up then forgotten about. I don't remember ever touching it for months since I got it.
Hi PfS, subbed your channel after only watching 1.5 of your reviews. You are very, very good, one of the best I have seen so for. I am looking now for a portable/usb dac and your advice is of true value. Thank you and best regards. Wladek.
I had been looking for a mid range DAC for my system for a while, therefore I purchased one of these after your review and WOW! is all I can say, I connected it through an iFi Nano USB 3.0 conditioner from my Mac mini and it is truly stunning streaming from Amazon Music HD. With up to 32bit at 768kHz upsampling (even though the best I have found through Amazon HD is 24bit/192kHz) is really noticeable, plus the 7 filter modes are all sutle but give you options depending on the quality of the recording. My System is 7.2.2 Bowers and Wilkins CM8 S2 fronts (bi-amped) CM5 S2 surrounds, CM1 S2 rears, CM2 S2 Centre and a pair of AWS610 subs, all driven from a Yamaha RX-A3080 (in 7ch out, the sound stage is incredible). I also have my LG Bluray player connected to the D50s which gives awesome upsampling of the optical output for CD and Bluray playing up to 24bit/96kHz. A truly stunning piece of technology, worth every penny ! Many thanks for putting me on to it !
No problems. Glad you're enjoying it! If / when you get an itch for even better quality, the process to swap the op-amp is pretty straight forward and can make a surprising difference. But for now, just enjoy how great it is straight out of the box. Happy listening!
Thanks for the detailed video, but I have a question Is there a way to connect the headphones RCA to 3.5mm female connector directly to the D50s without the need of AMP?
Technically it's possible with an RCA to female 3.5mm adapter, but it's a bad idea. DACs are designed to output very little current because the input on the amps are very high impedance. Comparatively, headphones have very low impedance and will demand too much from the DAC resulting in poor sound and possibly doing damage to the headphones and/or the DAC.
I think so, but the D50S is quite superseded these days so you might be better off investing in a better DAC (e.g. Topping E30 II) rather than the power supply.
@@PassionforSound thx so much, better DAC, E30 ii will have better audio quality output to my amp ? I tested a few dacs (6) and almost not find differences only by chip Sabre or Akm , cold / warm ...
The E30 II will output better sound quality, but if you're not hearing differences between the other DACs you've tried, it might be that your amp or speakers/headphones are the limiting part.
@@PassionforSound thx , I have d50s + xduoo ta-26 (NOS tubes tung-sol) + HD600 / HD 660s v2....... i think always we want to go a little further and if we can get a little more audio quality out of the Dac it would be good, that's why I was wondering if the P50 improve anything the sound...
The TA-26 should reveal the benefits of a nicer DAC. The P50 certainly won't be a bad addition and it can work with DACs like the Topping E30 and E50 if you decide to upgrade in the future.
The stability in power (voltage in essence) along with reduction in power line noise artifacts , that the D50S "sees" , is greatly enhanced by the addition of a linear regulated power supply between itself and the wall outlet, available for another 100dollars or so. That did wonders for me and as such I can only recommend you give a review and perhaps compare then to your 2K DAC.. Cheers
Hi, is that a piece of bottlehead I see in the background? Have you listened to the D70?. If by chance you could borrow the P50 power supply I would love to know what you think?
Hi Douglas. Yes, it's a Bottlehead Mainline amp you can see - well spotted! I've had it for years now, but I should do a review. I haven't heard the D70 - the D50s is my first ever Topping product. As for the P50, I strongly considered buying it with the D50s, but everything I read would suggest that linear power supplies (particularly inexpensive ones) aren't worth the cost and having the extra box in the system. According to what I've read, switch mode power supplies are cheaper to make to the same level of performance as linears so you have to spend big bucks for any benefit. That said, I DO believe in testing these things for myself so perhaps I should try to get my hands on a P50 and see if what I've read rings true. If anyone has one they'd be happy to share, please let me know!
Hi, I want to buy a desktop DAC but I’m confused between schiit modi 3 and topping D50s. Could you please suggest which one is a better option in terms of sound quality? Thanks in advance!
I haven't heard the Modi 3, but I'd choose the Modi regardless. The D50S is good, but not great and it's quite outdated now I think. The current range of Schiit DACs that I've heard are all excellent.
Looking forward to you testing the audio response to swapped op amps. I’d be willing to spend a bit if it’s noticeable. Remember the op amps are responsible for the analog section to drive the amps and speakers. Premium op amps should have superior rise times, lower noise and distortion. If the stock chips really are mediocre, expect a nice improvement.
I've done some op-amp videos since this one, but haven't (and won't) be doing any direct rolling in this device. You're completely right about the benefits of different op-amps though - they can completely transform some products
Both JRiver Media Center and Roon work really well for this. I mostly use Roon for playback - JRiver MC is on library management and syncing duties for me
@@PassionforSound I figured it might be Roon but I couldn't get it to work on my Fiio M11 for some reason. I'll figure it out and find something that works, I appreciate the info.
@@PassionforSound I didn't know I have to pay to use it (never tried Roon before). I'm going to give the 14 day free trial a go to see if it's worth it to me. Thanks for your help because a moron like me needs it sometimes 😁
thanks for the review, Which amplifier would you recommend to use with this unit. Im looking for a topping amp that can power passive speakers. I see topping do mx3 model but it doesnt have the specs of this dac.
Hi Erwin, I have tried swapping them and most liked the MUSES02 in the D50S. It's fairly limited in terms of the op-amps that will fit so I haven't tried a lot.
Great video's.. thank you. A question if I could - I am feeding the D50s thru my macbook air - to the USB .. I am playing hi res audio files, but the DAC continues to say PCM 44.1 ... what am I missing? I feed this Mac to my other DAC's without an issue. Thanks!@ JJ
Hi Joel, some software and operating systems will resample the audio. I don't know the Mac OS very well so can't speak to that, but my guess is that the software you're using for playback isn't passing through the high-res info. Maybe do some searching online for how to setup a Mac and your software for optimum playback quality. On Windows, there's a thing called exclusive mode that bypasses the Windows OS to output max sound quality so maybe something similar exists in Mac
Just a suggestion if you haven't already tried this. On my iMac there is an app hiding called Audio midi setup.You might find something there to help you. Hope this helps.
Would the Sparkos dual op-amp work with the d50s if there was enough space? It’s only .486 tall. I’m think I would only have to mill a small amount of aluminum away.
I haven't tried a lot of them, but the Muses02 is a great match and I think it's definitely worth it. It probably brings it closer to the performance of the Airist R2R (but sadly I don't have it for an AB comparison)
Hi gigih, I believe setting the output to 0dB will achieve this (there may be the tiniest difference in quality, but unlikely that it's audible). I can't recall if the D50S has a dedicated DAC mode that completely bypasses the volume control.
It has optical and coaxial digital inputs which should take a signal from any CD player, etc. and has RCA outputs for the analog which will connect to any amplifier so it should work I think - just depends on exactly how you're intending to use it.
How improvement would i have for My Main system if i upgrade it yo something like SMSL do200. I'm persuing get a better system. Sorry My written English. My language is spanish. Thanks!!!!!
Hi Marcial, I think the DO200 would be a nice, small upgrade from the D50S. The D50S is a decent DAC, but it's a bit out of date now and others do sound better. The Topping E30 and Topping E50 would also be great options (not necessarily better than the DO200 - just other good options)
Is there a sub-$350 or $400 DAC that has great clarity in the ballpark of the D50S's clarity, but also has greater bass slam / massiveness and doesn't sound lean?
@@PassionforSound thanks. I have been told the Pearl has an average DAC. The OPPO 105 which I was also considering had a better DAC unfortunately they were not available where I live (India). This gave me idea of adding an external DAC like the D50s to extend the life on my Marantz.
Passion for Sound Thank you. I hope this new product is available in India. I am looking for the SMSL M200 to compare the D50s against but no one carries SMSL.
Depending on the DAC, some will have less processing power than your computer can offer for the upsampling process. The process is quite complex when it comes to filtering etc. so more power (and the coding to use it) equals better sound. It all comes down to which chips are used in the DAC and the quality of the software on the PC.
Passion for Sound thanks realy appreciate the inputs. Btw do you think the d50s is a better buy than the modi multibit considering you compared the d50s to the gumby?
Really hard to say without hearing the Mimby. Since my review I've discovered that the op-amp in the D50s is swappable so I have a Sparkos Labs op-amp inbound. I'm expecting great results once it's installed. My only complaint about the D50s was it's pretty flat soundstage, but that can be fixed with the op-amp so suddenly it becomes more appealing. I still can't answer your exact question (sorry), but I'd say if you want the versatility of DSD compatibility, volume control, and/or Bluetooth then the D50s is a very good option, particularly if you change the op-amp.
@@PassionforSound thanks! actually, that 3d soundstage is what I really love from the mimby. Its just that sometimes its a bit warm/dark sounding or maybe im associating the lack of digital glare in the mimby as less detail which is the wrong way to see it. I guess i'll just have to see for myself if I like the d50s. I just ordered it. thanks again and nice channel, keep it up.
I hear you! The Schiit multibit DACs seem to produce a good soundstage. That darkness you're talking about might be the underlying distortion which can create a sense of smoothness. That said, sometimes a little distortion can be subjectively preferable (based on personal taste and what else is going on in the system). I'll be keen to hear your thoughts on the D50s and I'll try to remember to come back and post my impressions with the Sparkos op-amp installed. I'm currently using the Burson V5i which is a nice op-amp, but it's doing something a bit funky in the D50s. It is working fine, but the sound is somehow unnatural in terms of the imaging - like the stage is too big or something. I think the Sparkos will be the answer...
Hi Christian, I'm not sure how you mean? Are you referring to the Bluetooth side of things? If so, the BT is a receiver on the DAC to take the signal and decode to send to an amp or to active speakers. The DAC won't directly interface with headphones of any sort.
@@PassionforSound Hi, What I mean is if I connect the DAC to a PC, and then using gaming headphones (that has built in microphone), will the mic input/ recording be picked up by windows? Or are the DAC just sending the sound signals one way (to the gaming/headphones) so to speak. And is not able to pic up microphone input (my voice) and send it back to the PC. Kind regards.
Thanks for clarifying. For this to work, the microphone from the headphones would have to connect directly to the PC somehow. If you have just a single plug on the headphones that carries both sound to the 'phones and signal from the mic then it's not going to work as the plug would need to go to whatever amp you're using after the DAC OR you'd have to connect direct to the PC and therefore get no benefit from the DAC. If the headphones have a separate mic plug then you're golden and can enjoy sound from the DAC via the audio plug of the headphones and then connect the mic plug to the PC where you can control the mic input 100% independent of the DAC. I hope this makes sense! :)
How would you rate the sound of this Topping to Chord Qutest you recently reviewed? I'm interested in detail retrival, speed and impact/dinamics/transient attack, soundstage and imaging. I know Qutest will be the better sounding DAC, buy i can only afford D50s and i'm interested if it has a good overall sound. Thank you.
Hi Ionescu, as you said, they are in a different league from one another, but the D50s is a very solid choice. I recently discovered that you can also swap the op-amp so you can further improve its sound in exactly the areas you're looking for by simply changing the op-amp. I've just installed the Muses02 op-amp and the DAC is sounding magic driving my B&O active speakers. In its stock form, my only criticism is that the soundstage lacks some depth, but it's very strong (at its price) in all the other areas you listed (detail, transients, etc.)
Definitely an improvement. The Muses02 produces a sharper image that's more coherent. Not even close. I love the D50s with Muses02, but never warmed to the V5i in the D50s
@@PassionforSound I looked up pictures of the d50 circuit but could not find any DIP8 slot opamp. Is the d50s different that it can be easily used for opamp rolling? this is the pic I saw : www.audiophonics.fr/28374-thickbox_default/topping-d50-dac-2x-es9038q2m-32bit768khz-dsd512-xmos-u208-black.jpg
Hi Caio, that's a tough question. It's a close call between the Schiit Gumby and Chord Qutest, but the Chord Qutest wins out overall I think. I'm not sure if it's just on soundstage though because the quality of the Qutest's transients makes each sound clearer and better defined which helps the overall perception of the soundstage, but may not actually be making it any larger.
Hi Vitor, the DAC plays a large part in this too. It's very important to consider the way the audio signal is reconstructed to maintain the extremely subtle cues that help to define the soundstage. Transient reconstruction, noise floor and jitter can all heavily impact the sense of soundstage from a DAC before the signal gets to the headphones and speakers. I agree, that the headphones and speakers are also very important, but only if there's not a bottleneck with the DAC.
@@PassionforSound ya already out of warranty so i need to buy a new one. I think I will just save up for the d90. Do you think it will have no problem if I will just pair D90 into an Ifi Zen Can?
came here from your cobalt review - looking for a desktop one. With 100-200 USD more to spend than for the Topping D50, what would you receommend for a step up? Looking to drive Beyerdynamic T1s.
Hi Robin, that's a tough one because there are so many products I haven't tried. The Massdrop x Airist R2R is great if it comes up on Drop again, but I can't say it's the best option for the price because I haven't tried some of the other options from brands like Topping, SMSL or even Schiit's DACs in this price range. Sorry I can't be more specific for you!
Hi can you reccomends a dac, solely for Hi fi cd only , there are that many out there it's a mine field reviews are mainly for usb connection to pc's and I am new to dacs , cheers
With the rapidly changing DAC market, I'm actually not sure which DAC I'd recommend for that right now, but anything recent from Topping or SMSL will be safe. The same for Sabaj and Loxjie too.
Love your videos, you explain everything very well. Thanks! I have a good hi-fi system and want an affordable DAC as I'm just getting into computer audio (but I don't want the sound to suffer obviously). I have had a hard time pinning down an actual warranty period for Topping equipment. Can you confirm it? Apart from affordable Topping products, I have been researching the Shiit Modi 3 and a slightly different animal, the NAD DAC 2. If you could comment on that gear or on my situation, I would be very appreciative. Thx.
Hi John. Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you find the reviews helpful. I'm not sure of the warranty on the Topping gear and only have the same information access as you (retailer and manufacturer websites). As for the comparisons products, the Schiit DACs are very good, but I can't directly compare the E30 and Modi 3 yet. I don't have any experience with NAD gear since about 10-12 years ago. All that said, you won't go far wrong with any of those I expect. Sorry I can't provide greater clarity.
Hi Martin, it uses a simple 5v connection. It comes with a cable you can plug into a USB socket on your computer or on a power supply like you use for a smartphone.
@@PassionforSoundThanks, This DAC has a support for MQA files? because i see that the another equipment like project Pre Box S2 Digital support that format.
Hi Shilu, no that's not what I'm saying. Every DAC in existence has to fill the gaps. The difference is the algorithms they use to do the maths and how many times the cycle is able to repeat to further and further refine the output signal. Technically this should be done an infinite number of times.
I'll see what I can do next time it comes up on Drop.com. At the moment, the channel is 99.9% funded out of my own pocket so all depends on finances :)
I believe it is. It does depend on what your needs are though. This has lots of versatility with the variable volume and Bluetooth whereas other options out there might beat it slightly on sound quality (mostly soundstage depth and absolute detail retrieval).
I'm mainly after enjoyment first I don't care for MQA What would be your recommendations for a little more money or a little less Btw, I really appreciate your replies, hope you had a nice day
Check out the review I just posted of the Massdrop Airist R2R DAC (ua-cam.com/video/c-W7v7tUl1Q/v-deo.html) or for a bit more money again you could grab yourself something like the Chord Mojo for a great (and portable) sound. Other than that, I think the D50s is a great option.
Hi Cheston, I think a product at the level of the H390 deserves a better DAC. I haven't heard the H390 personally, but a system is only as good as it's weakest link so it's very likely that the performance of the H390 would be severely hampered by the D50S. The D50S is a good budget DAC, but it isn't a high performance DAC.
Correct. Apologies if it was unclear in the video - I was running a DSD feed via USB and comparing to a regular PCM feed to the coaxial. The USB DSD performs slightly better than USB PCM hence the use of DSD for the USB testing.
Maybe the sound from ESS dacs are clear, super resolution, good at measurements but it is all about music listen? It dont give real pleasure from listening. I think dacs on Burr Browns or TDA are way better sounding even they are not soo modern. Buy cheap dac board PCM1794 from Aliexpress and listen to it, that is real device for music not for lab.
Hi luxpiotr. I think it's important to be careful not to label specific DAC chips with a sound type. So much depends on the filtering and analog stage implementation.
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
I have the D50. One thing about USB power: I tried plugging in a power bank and it works. I don't like the joystick control either. But I never touched it after the first time I set the DAC up. I love the auto on/off feature too. This DAC is meant to be set up then forgotten about. I don't remember ever touching it for months since I got it.
I agree! Very much 'set and forget'
Hi PfS, subbed your channel after only watching 1.5 of your reviews. You are very, very good, one of the best I have seen so for. I am looking now for a portable/usb dac and your advice is of true value. Thank you and best regards. Wladek.
Thanks so much, Wladek!!
I had been looking for a mid range DAC for my system for a while, therefore I purchased one of these after your review and WOW! is all I can say, I connected it through an iFi Nano USB 3.0 conditioner from my Mac mini and it is truly stunning streaming from Amazon Music HD. With up to 32bit at 768kHz upsampling (even though the best I have found through Amazon HD is 24bit/192kHz) is really noticeable, plus the 7 filter modes are all sutle but give you options depending on the quality of the recording. My System is 7.2.2 Bowers and Wilkins CM8 S2 fronts (bi-amped) CM5 S2 surrounds, CM1 S2 rears, CM2 S2 Centre and a pair of AWS610 subs, all driven from a Yamaha RX-A3080 (in 7ch out, the sound stage is incredible). I also have my LG Bluray player connected to the D50s which gives awesome upsampling of the optical output for CD and Bluray playing up to 24bit/96kHz. A truly stunning piece of technology, worth every penny ! Many thanks for putting me on to it !
No problems. Glad you're enjoying it! If / when you get an itch for even better quality, the process to swap the op-amp is pretty straight forward and can make a surprising difference. But for now, just enjoy how great it is straight out of the box. Happy listening!
What op-amp would you recommend?
The MUSES02 is my favourite in the D50S
Thanks for the detailed video, but I have a question
Is there a way to connect the headphones RCA to 3.5mm female connector directly to the D50s without the need of AMP?
Technically it's possible with an RCA to female 3.5mm adapter, but it's a bad idea. DACs are designed to output very little current because the input on the amps are very high impedance. Comparatively, headphones have very low impedance and will demand too much from the DAC resulting in poor sound and possibly doing damage to the headphones and/or the DAC.
Hi, thanks review... adding a Power Supply topping P50, will help to improve the sound ?
I think so, but the D50S is quite superseded these days so you might be better off investing in a better DAC (e.g. Topping E30 II) rather than the power supply.
@@PassionforSound thx so much, better DAC, E30 ii will have better audio quality output to my amp ? I tested a few dacs (6) and almost not find differences only by chip Sabre or Akm , cold / warm ...
The E30 II will output better sound quality, but if you're not hearing differences between the other DACs you've tried, it might be that your amp or speakers/headphones are the limiting part.
@@PassionforSound thx , I have d50s + xduoo ta-26 (NOS tubes tung-sol) + HD600 / HD 660s v2....... i think always we want to go a little further and if we can get a little more audio quality out of the Dac it would be good, that's why I was wondering if the P50 improve anything the sound...
The TA-26 should reveal the benefits of a nicer DAC. The P50 certainly won't be a bad addition and it can work with DACs like the Topping E30 and E50 if you decide to upgrade in the future.
The stability in power (voltage in essence) along with reduction in power line noise artifacts , that the D50S "sees" , is greatly enhanced by the addition of a linear regulated power supply between itself and the wall outlet, available for another 100dollars or so. That did wonders for me and as such I can only recommend you give a review and perhaps compare then to your 2K DAC.. Cheers
Hi John, there's so much mixed information about power supplies. I think you're right - a review would be great. I'll see what I can arrange.
Hi, is that a piece of bottlehead I see in the background? Have you listened to the D70?. If by chance you could borrow the P50 power supply I would love to know what you think?
Hi Douglas. Yes, it's a Bottlehead Mainline amp you can see - well spotted! I've had it for years now, but I should do a review.
I haven't heard the D70 - the D50s is my first ever Topping product. As for the P50, I strongly considered buying it with the D50s, but everything I read would suggest that linear power supplies (particularly inexpensive ones) aren't worth the cost and having the extra box in the system. According to what I've read, switch mode power supplies are cheaper to make to the same level of performance as linears so you have to spend big bucks for any benefit. That said, I DO believe in testing these things for myself so perhaps I should try to get my hands on a P50 and see if what I've read rings true. If anyone has one they'd be happy to share, please let me know!
Hi, I want to buy a desktop DAC but I’m confused between schiit modi 3 and topping D50s. Could you please suggest which one is a better option in terms of sound quality?
Thanks in advance!
I haven't heard the Modi 3, but I'd choose the Modi regardless. The D50S is good, but not great and it's quite outdated now I think. The current range of Schiit DACs that I've heard are all excellent.
@@PassionforSound Thank you very much for your reply. I will go with Modi 3
Glad I could help 🙂
Looking forward to you testing the audio response to swapped op amps. I’d be willing to spend a bit if it’s noticeable. Remember the op amps are responsible for the analog section to drive the amps and speakers. Premium op amps should have superior rise times, lower noise and distortion. If the stock chips really are mediocre, expect a nice improvement.
I've done some op-amp videos since this one, but haven't (and won't) be doing any direct rolling in this device. You're completely right about the benefits of different op-amps though - they can completely transform some products
What program do you use to up-sample from PCM to DSD? Pretty much all my files are 16/44.1 and I'd love to see how they would sound up'ed to DSD.
Both JRiver Media Center and Roon work really well for this. I mostly use Roon for playback - JRiver MC is on library management and syncing duties for me
@@PassionforSound I figured it might be Roon but I couldn't get it to work on my Fiio M11 for some reason. I'll figure it out and find something that works, I appreciate the info.
So you're using it as the endpoint? Try changing it so it's not a private zone and then adjust the upsampling to the M11 via your Roon server machine.
@@PassionforSound I didn't know I have to pay to use it (never tried Roon before). I'm going to give the 14 day free trial a go to see if it's worth it to me. Thanks for your help because a moron like me needs it sometimes 😁
No worries. Happy to help
thanks for the review, Which amplifier would you recommend to use with this unit. Im looking for a topping amp that can power passive speakers. I see topping do mx3 model but it doesnt have the specs of this dac.
Glad you liked the review. Unfortunately, I don't use passive speakers so I can't recommend a power amp. Sorry!
I would love to hear your review of the new Topping A50s headphone amplifier.
I'm taking a bit of a break from Topping at the moment so as not to favour anyone brand, but if a retailer sends it to me I'll definitely review it.
Additional features aside, purely from a DAC sound point of view, would you say that it sounds better than the D30 or the same?
Are you talking about the Topping D30? If so, I haven't heard it - sorry!
@@PassionforSound Yes, I did, that’s OK. Thank you for your informative video on the Topping P50!
No worries. Glad it was helpful
Very nice review! have you tried swapping the OP-Amp on DD50s? if yes, how does it sound? and is it a significant difference?
Hi Erwin, I have tried swapping them and most liked the MUSES02 in the D50S. It's fairly limited in terms of the op-amps that will fit so I haven't tried a lot.
@@PassionforSound nice! how does it sound? D50s with Muses02, what is the difference between the stock OP-amp vs Muses02 sonically?
The MUSES02 improves the soundstage size and space as well as smoothing off a bit of the edginess from the stock op-amp.
Can Burson V5i fit on D50s?
Hi Erwin, from memory I think it can, but don't hold me to that - best to confirm elsewhere
Great video's.. thank you. A question if I could - I am feeding the D50s thru my macbook air - to the USB .. I am playing hi res audio files, but the DAC continues to say PCM 44.1 ... what am I missing?
I feed this Mac to my other DAC's without an issue.
Thanks!@
JJ
Hi Joel, some software and operating systems will resample the audio. I don't know the Mac OS very well so can't speak to that, but my guess is that the software you're using for playback isn't passing through the high-res info. Maybe do some searching online for how to setup a Mac and your software for optimum playback quality. On Windows, there's a thing called exclusive mode that bypasses the Windows OS to output max sound quality so maybe something similar exists in Mac
Just a suggestion if you haven't already tried this.
On my iMac there is an app hiding called Audio midi setup.You might find something there to help you.
Hope this helps.
@@deadline7610 Thank you.. the midi set up worked.. 24, 192.
Hey mate can you tell me what that unit is to your right in the video not he desk? Just curious =]
Hi Ash, do you mean the amplifier (wood & blue?) If so, it's the Bottlehead Mainline DIY kit amp - I've reviewed it just recently here on the channel
Does it have a fixed volume setting when connecting to an integrated amplifier?
Yes, you can set to 0dB output which is equivalent to a fixed output
how would you think the D50S would benefit from the Sparkos dual op-amp switch?
It would sound amazing I think, but there's not enough space for the Sparkos without carving out some of the aluminium case
Would the Sparkos dual op-amp work with the d50s if there was enough space? It’s only .486 tall. I’m think I would only have to mill a small amount of aluminum away.
2 years later and I’m researching a dac in this price range…
Is this one still a contender or are there any newer, better recommendations?
I think the D50S is quite outclassed now by Topping's own E30 and E50 DACs which are both brilliant
Thanks for the reply! The E50 was on my radar too. I like the D50S aesthetically but I suspected it had been left behind… thanks for confirming.
what op-amp did you end up preferring on the d50s? I remember last year you said it sounded weird on bursons. was it worthit over the stock one?
I haven't tried a lot of them, but the Muses02 is a great match and I think it's definitely worth it. It probably brings it closer to the performance of the Airist R2R (but sadly I don't have it for an AB comparison)
@@PassionforSound interesting thanks a lot.
Can this dac play dac alone without the preamp like it's brother d70s? Thanks
Hi gigih, I believe setting the output to 0dB will achieve this (there may be the tiniest difference in quality, but unlikely that it's audible). I can't recall if the D50S has a dedicated DAC mode that completely bypasses the volume control.
Will this dac hook up to an older 80's stereo like a Marantz?
It has optical and coaxial digital inputs which should take a signal from any CD player, etc. and has RCA outputs for the analog which will connect to any amplifier so it should work I think - just depends on exactly how you're intending to use it.
How improvement would i have for My Main system if i upgrade it yo something like SMSL do200. I'm persuing get a better system. Sorry My written English. My language is spanish. Thanks!!!!!
Hi Marcial, I think the DO200 would be a nice, small upgrade from the D50S. The D50S is a decent DAC, but it's a bit out of date now and others do sound better. The Topping E30 and Topping E50 would also be great options (not necessarily better than the DO200 - just other good options)
@@PassionforSound Thanks You so much for your answer!!!!!!!
My pleasure 🙂
Is there a sub-$350 or $400 DAC that has great clarity in the ballpark of the D50S's clarity, but also has greater bass slam / massiveness and doesn't sound lean?
Hi Andy, I don't find the D50s to sound particularly lean. What amp and headphones / speakers are you using it with?
Just add a tube buffer with a good set of matches tubes. Thank me later.
Would you recommend this DAC as an upgrade to the DAC in my 8 year Marantz Pearl CD player?
Hi Navin, that's really hard to say because I don't know the CD player at all. Sorry!
@@PassionforSound thanks. I have been told the Pearl has an average DAC. The OPPO 105 which I was also considering had a better DAC unfortunately they were not available where I live (India). This gave me idea of adding an external DAC like the D50s to extend the life on my Marantz.
In that case it might be a good idea. I'm just wrapping a review of another product that might be better than the D50S and for less so stay tuned...
Passion for Sound Thank you. I hope this new product is available in India. I am looking for the SMSL M200 to compare the D50s against but no one carries SMSL.
Ah, that might be an issue then as this product is made by a branch of SMSL. Can you order online and have things shipped to you?
a topping a50s review would be nice to go with it!
It would. I'm just taking a break from Topping for a little while. No doubt it'll happen early next year though
How does the dsd upsampling differ from upsampling the bitrate and sample rate via the OS?
Depending on the DAC, some will have less processing power than your computer can offer for the upsampling process. The process is quite complex when it comes to filtering etc. so more power (and the coding to use it) equals better sound. It all comes down to which chips are used in the DAC and the quality of the software on the PC.
Passion for Sound thanks realy appreciate the inputs. Btw do you think the d50s is a better buy than the modi multibit considering you compared the d50s to the gumby?
Really hard to say without hearing the Mimby. Since my review I've discovered that the op-amp in the D50s is swappable so I have a Sparkos Labs op-amp inbound. I'm expecting great results once it's installed. My only complaint about the D50s was it's pretty flat soundstage, but that can be fixed with the op-amp so suddenly it becomes more appealing.
I still can't answer your exact question (sorry), but I'd say if you want the versatility of DSD compatibility, volume control, and/or Bluetooth then the D50s is a very good option, particularly if you change the op-amp.
@@PassionforSound thanks! actually, that 3d soundstage is what I really love from the mimby. Its just that sometimes its a bit warm/dark sounding or maybe im associating the lack of digital glare in the mimby as less detail which is the wrong way to see it. I guess i'll just have to see for myself if I like the d50s. I just ordered it. thanks again and nice channel, keep it up.
I hear you! The Schiit multibit DACs seem to produce a good soundstage. That darkness you're talking about might be the underlying distortion which can create a sense of smoothness. That said, sometimes a little distortion can be subjectively preferable (based on personal taste and what else is going on in the system). I'll be keen to hear your thoughts on the D50s and I'll try to remember to come back and post my impressions with the Sparkos op-amp installed. I'm currently using the Burson V5i which is a nice op-amp, but it's doing something a bit funky in the D50s. It is working fine, but the sound is somehow unnatural in terms of the imaging - like the stage is too big or something. I think the Sparkos will be the answer...
Does it work well with built in headphones microphone? Like for example gaming headphones
Hi Christian, I'm not sure how you mean? Are you referring to the Bluetooth side of things? If so, the BT is a receiver on the DAC to take the signal and decode to send to an amp or to active speakers. The DAC won't directly interface with headphones of any sort.
@@PassionforSound
Hi,
What I mean is if I connect the DAC to a PC, and then using gaming headphones (that has built in microphone), will the mic input/ recording be picked up by windows? Or are the DAC just sending the sound signals one way (to the gaming/headphones) so to speak.
And is not able to pic up microphone input (my voice) and send it back to the PC.
Kind regards.
Thanks for clarifying. For this to work, the microphone from the headphones would have to connect directly to the PC somehow. If you have just a single plug on the headphones that carries both sound to the 'phones and signal from the mic then it's not going to work as the plug would need to go to whatever amp you're using after the DAC OR you'd have to connect direct to the PC and therefore get no benefit from the DAC.
If the headphones have a separate mic plug then you're golden and can enjoy sound from the DAC via the audio plug of the headphones and then connect the mic plug to the PC where you can control the mic input 100% independent of the DAC. I hope this makes sense! :)
How would you rate the sound of this Topping to Chord Qutest you recently reviewed? I'm interested in detail retrival, speed and impact/dinamics/transient attack, soundstage and imaging. I know Qutest will be the better sounding DAC, buy i can only afford D50s and i'm interested if it has a good overall sound. Thank you.
Hi Ionescu, as you said, they are in a different league from one another, but the D50s is a very solid choice. I recently discovered that you can also swap the op-amp so you can further improve its sound in exactly the areas you're looking for by simply changing the op-amp. I've just installed the Muses02 op-amp and the DAC is sounding magic driving my B&O active speakers.
In its stock form, my only criticism is that the soundstage lacks some depth, but it's very strong (at its price) in all the other areas you listed (detail, transients, etc.)
@@PassionforSound is the Muses a better match for the d50s over the burson? and did changing it to muses02 improve depth? thanks in advance.
Definitely an improvement. The Muses02 produces a sharper image that's more coherent. Not even close. I love the D50s with Muses02, but never warmed to the V5i in the D50s
@@PassionforSound awesome. i will spread your gospel among my peers. cheers and thanks for the tweaks.
@@PassionforSound I looked up pictures of the d50 circuit but could not find any DIP8 slot opamp. Is the d50s different that it can be easily used for opamp rolling? this is the pic I saw : www.audiophonics.fr/28374-thickbox_default/topping-d50-dac-2x-es9038q2m-32bit768khz-dsd512-xmos-u208-black.jpg
Thanks for it! One question: which is the best soundstage DAC you have tested?
Hi Caio, that's a tough question. It's a close call between the Schiit Gumby and Chord Qutest, but the Chord Qutest wins out overall I think. I'm not sure if it's just on soundstage though because the quality of the Qutest's transients makes each sound clearer and better defined which helps the overall perception of the soundstage, but may not actually be making it any larger.
Soundstage and such are much more influenced by the amps and speakers/headphones. It's up to the DAC to only send a clean signal to those.
Hi Vitor, the DAC plays a large part in this too. It's very important to consider the way the audio signal is reconstructed to maintain the extremely subtle cues that help to define the soundstage. Transient reconstruction, noise floor and jitter can all heavily impact the sense of soundstage from a DAC before the signal gets to the headphones and speakers. I agree, that the headphones and speakers are also very important, but only if there's not a bottleneck with the DAC.
My d50 suddenly stopped working on usb. No matter what cable i tried, my pc and my sister's laptop can't recognize the d50.
Sounds like a fault. Best to contact the seller or buy a new one ☹️
@@PassionforSound ya already out of warranty so i need to buy a new one. I think I will just save up for the d90. Do you think it will have no problem if I will just pair D90 into an Ifi Zen Can?
Should be absolutely fine
How does this compare to the modi 3+ dac?
I'm yet to hear the Modi 3+, Lee, so can't say - sorry!
came here from your cobalt review - looking for a desktop one. With 100-200 USD more to spend than for the Topping D50, what would you receommend for a step up? Looking to drive Beyerdynamic T1s.
Hi Robin, that's a tough one because there are so many products I haven't tried. The Massdrop x Airist R2R is great if it comes up on Drop again, but I can't say it's the best option for the price because I haven't tried some of the other options from brands like Topping, SMSL or even Schiit's DACs in this price range. Sorry I can't be more specific for you!
Hi can you reccomends a dac, solely for Hi fi cd only , there are that many out there it's a mine field reviews are mainly for usb connection to pc's and I am new to dacs , cheers
Hi John, what budget are you looking to spend?
@@PassionforSound hi thanks . I was looking at around 390 pounds . Including a cable . Thanks
I have the icon audio 20pp amp .marantz 6006 cd player and acustic concept 20s but am at a loss when it comes to dacs. Thanks
Sorry 300 pounds
@@PassionforSound hello
Is it still good in 2024?
No, I think there's much better out there such as the Topping E30, for example
@@PassionforSound anything with bluetooth?
With the rapidly changing DAC market, I'm actually not sure which DAC I'd recommend for that right now, but anything recent from Topping or SMSL will be safe. The same for Sabaj and Loxjie too.
the sound demo sounds a million times better then the d90 demo i heard
Topping D50s or SMSL SU-8
I don't care about bluetooth which of the 2 sounds better?
I can't answer that one yet. Sorry!
If you plan to use balanced, SU-8, if not D50S
Does the D50s support MQA?
Hi Elise, no I doesn't do MQA
Love your videos, you explain everything very well. Thanks!
I have a good hi-fi system and want an affordable DAC as I'm just getting into computer audio (but I don't want the sound to suffer obviously). I have had a hard time pinning down an actual warranty period for Topping equipment. Can you confirm it?
Apart from affordable Topping products, I have been researching the Shiit Modi 3 and a slightly different animal, the NAD DAC 2. If you could comment on that gear or on my situation, I would be very appreciative. Thx.
Hi John. Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you find the reviews helpful.
I'm not sure of the warranty on the Topping gear and only have the same information access as you (retailer and manufacturer websites).
As for the comparisons products, the Schiit DACs are very good, but I can't directly compare the E30 and Modi 3 yet. I don't have any experience with NAD gear since about 10-12 years ago. All that said, you won't go far wrong with any of those I expect.
Sorry I can't provide greater clarity.
@@PassionforSound that's awesome, thanks so much.
Hi Folks, I wanted to know what kind of power supply I need to connect it to electricity, its come with the equipment?
Hi Martin, it uses a simple 5v connection. It comes with a cable you can plug into a USB socket on your computer or on a power supply like you use for a smartphone.
@@PassionforSoundThanks, This DAC has a support for MQA files? because i see that the another equipment like project Pre Box S2 Digital support that format.
@@martingosis No, this one is not an MQA DAC. If you need MQA support you'll need to look elsewhere
I swear by Topping's P50 power supply. Noticeable improvement over other usb chargers
I agree. Did you see my recent review of the P50?
I'd be really interested in how it compares to the iFi Zen Dac and Schiit Modi 3.
Hopefully I'll get my hands on one or both of those in the future.
so, are you saying that filling holes with approximation makes it sound better? uhmmm
Hi Shilu, no that's not what I'm saying. Every DAC in existence has to fill the gaps. The difference is the algorithms they use to do the maths and how many times the cycle is able to repeat to further and further refine the output signal. Technically this should be done an infinite number of times.
@@PassionforSound Thank you very much for your explanation, understood it well enough now (a bit of a newbe here).
Thanks again!
@@shilu6979 You're welcome. You might find this video helpful for further explanation: ua-cam.com/video/yjKsaLnvOxw/v-deo.html
Can anybody confirm this DAC works with Mac OS via USB? Thanks!
Taking notes 📝
Would love to see you review the Topping D70 DAC.
I'll see what I can do next time it comes up on Drop.com. At the moment, the channel is 99.9% funded out of my own pocket so all depends on finances :)
for 192$ is this dac worth it compared to the competition, really tempted to pull the trigger on the drop
I believe it is. It does depend on what your needs are though. This has lots of versatility with the variable volume and Bluetooth whereas other options out there might beat it slightly on sound quality (mostly soundstage depth and absolute detail retrieval).
I'm mainly after enjoyment first
I don't care for MQA
What would be your recommendations for a little more money or a little less
Btw, I really appreciate your replies, hope you had a nice day
Check out the review I just posted of the Massdrop Airist R2R DAC (ua-cam.com/video/c-W7v7tUl1Q/v-deo.html) or for a bit more money again you could grab yourself something like the Chord Mojo for a great (and portable) sound. Other than that, I think the D50s is a great option.
Thanks a lot!
All the best to your channel
Looking forwards to that 100k subs
Thanks - me too! :D
Would you pair this up with a Hegel H390?
Hi Cheston, I think a product at the level of the H390 deserves a better DAC. I haven't heard the H390 personally, but a system is only as good as it's weakest link so it's very likely that the performance of the H390 would be severely hampered by the D50S. The D50S is a good budget DAC, but it isn't a high performance DAC.
D90 would be perfect. But likely.
Wait that’s not a BT transmitter? Sighhhh I’ll stick with the Schiit modi. Checked the website, it also has BT 5.0 transmission... yay
Wow, BT transmission? That's kind of cool
Passion for Sound I have a set of wireless headphones that I use when I’m doing my 3D printing and it’s nice to have a dac that can transmit to them.
Hey, I was just looking at the website and can't see anything about Bluetooth on the Modi. Are you sure about that?
Passion for Sound I should have stayed that it was an edit and that I was talking about the topping
@@robertkirkpatrick1826 Ah. I understand!
Wow great channel.
Thank you!!
9:40 coaxial and optical is an older S/PDIF standard. It uses PCM stream and does not support DSD.
Correct. Apologies if it was unclear in the video - I was running a DSD feed via USB and comparing to a regular PCM feed to the coaxial. The USB DSD performs slightly better than USB PCM hence the use of DSD for the USB testing.
This Vs E30?
Hi LOL, check out my review of the E30 for that answer 😉
@@PassionforSound I bought the E30 (and A90) based primarily on your reviews. Thank you!
Awesome! Great choices!
Great review, I just price matched it on apos audio page at drop.com price!
Nice one! Enjoy your new DAC!
*audioquest cobalt. Not audiofly
Oops. Thankyou. Too many products to review at the moment and Audiofly is one of them
D50s Vs smsl 300 Vs smsl 500?
Hi Polaris, unfortunately I haven't heard any of the SMSL gear yet. ☹️
Maybe the sound from ESS dacs are clear, super resolution, good at measurements but it is all about music listen? It dont give real pleasure from listening. I think dacs on Burr Browns or TDA are way better sounding even they are not soo modern. Buy cheap dac board PCM1794 from Aliexpress and listen to it, that is real device for music not for lab.
Hi luxpiotr. I think it's important to be careful not to label specific DAC chips with a sound type. So much depends on the filtering and analog stage implementation.
Anyone try to connect with mi box with BT?
Bluetooth receiver doesn't work with mi box ..I have a project bt box e and I connect mi box s TV box and no sound
@@Tsinepanos ok thx :)