Topping D50s DAC, PA3, & P50 Discussions | Drop

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Topping D50s DAC, PA3, & P50

Audiophile

FULL DISCUSSION

tetablanco

Jul 29, 2019

I think the toss-up is not between the D50s and the D50 (which saw its prices drop upon the release of the D50s) but between the D50/D50s and DX3 Pro. Aside from LDAC functionality for the D50s, the main difference between the D50/D50s and the DX3 Pro is that the D50/D50s has dual ESS DAC chips while the DX3 Pro has dual AKM DAC chips. Here's the excellent comparative sound quality analysis done by Taz777 over at headfi.org between these two gems using the same 15V / 1.5A Linear Power Supply: (PART 1) Topping DX3 Pro vs Topping D50 After several more hours of listening via the Topping DX3 Pro, I went back to the Topping D50 to check on several things. I have to say that at the moment, the Topping D50 sounds better to me in terms of overall sound quality. Firstly, the reference track I used was a 44.1kHz/16-bit version of "Soul Embrace" by Brian Simpson, and you only need to listen to the first 30 seconds as it will reveal the issues that I had with the Topping DX3 Pro. It's a track that I've listened to more than a hundred times already so am very familiar with it. I also used several 'bass test' songs via Tidal. I've been listening with my beyerdynamic Amiron Home headphones that are far more revealing than my speaker system. Whilst I was listening to the track via the Topping D50, I noticed that something was missing. With the D50, the first few seconds of that track have bass drops that I feel in my chest even when I'm listening via headphones. I started to notice that this chest-thump was missing via the DX3 Pro. I listened to the same portion of the track several times to confirm this. When I put the D50 back into my headphones system, that chest-thump returned. I then searched for 'bass test' songs in Tidal and noticed that some deep bass was entirely missing on the DX3 Pro - I simply couldn't hear it! This surprised me quite a bit so I listened to the same 'bass test' tracks using the D50 and I could hear the very low bass through my headphones. It appears that the DX3 Pro's analogue output stage has a narrower frequency response than that of the D50's. Put another way, you can hear much deeper bass with the D50. Next, that song has some sharp piano sounds. When the keys are hit, it's as if someone is tapping the inside of my skull when listening via the D50 - the sound is so sharp. With the DX3 Pro, that 'tap inside the skull' sharpness was missing. It was a little dulled and veiled. I also noticed that the treble on the D50 was a lot more extended and clearer. Finally, that song has several musical instruments that I could place on the soundstage easily with the D50. With the DX3 Pro all of the instruments were closer to the centre of the soundstage and it was more difficult to separate them. So the D50 was the clear winner. Almost. Where the DX3 Pro shines is vocals. Female vocals on well-recorded songs are simply magical. The vocals are forward on the DX3 Pro and the musical instruments appear to be behind the singer. On the D50, the vocalist is presented further back, in amongst the instruments. So, it's a tough one! I'm going to repeat this testing again when the LPS arrives. However, for now, the Topping D50 has a significantly wider frequency response that can actually be heard, separates instruments better and places those instruments in a more well-defined soundstage. The DX3 Pro is missing low bass frequencies, produces a narrower soundstage, puts the instruments together so it's difficult to separate them. However, it produces captivating vocals where you feel as if the vocalist is singing right in front of you (PART 2) More Topping D50 vs Topping DX3 Pro My linear power supply for the DX3 Pro arrived today and I replaced the Topping D50 in my computer based HiFi system with the DX3 Pro + linear power supply. I'm listening to it as I type this post. The sound is beautiful. I preferred the Topping D50 in my headphones system. However, I prefer the DX3 Pro in my speaker-based system. Equipment used is: 2017 iMac running Tidal HiFi > Fisual Havana USB 2.0 Cable 0.9m > Topping DX3 Pro + linear power supply > Audioquest Tower twin RCA to 3.5mm jack 0.6m > Ruark MR1 Mk2 active speakers + BK Electronics XLS200-FF subwoofer connected via a Fisual 1m Havana XL Subwoofer Cable In effect it's a 2.1 speaker system. Settings on the Topping DX3 Pro are:

Input mode: USB
Output mode: DAC
PCM filter: F-3
Screen brightness: L-1
Auto power: A-O

I had to turn the subwoofer gain up a tiny bit - around 2-3 degrees of the rotary gain control. The mids are more forward. Vocals, once again, are beyond imaginably good! Listening to Lindsey Webster singing "Those Three Words", it seems like she's in my listening room! Vocals are very, very smooth. Now I hear the 'velvet sound' of the AKM DAC chips in the DX3 Pro. Treble is a little further away. Pausing the music and holding my ear to the speakers and subwoofer, all are 'dark' with no interference noise. Soundstage is a little narrower than the D50 (as was the case with my headphones system), and instrument separation is less too. Overall, the sound is very musical and great for me as I work from home a lot so it's lovely to listen to for several hours a day. It's nicer to listen to for long periods - less fatiguing. I don't know why the Topping D50 sounds better in my headphones system and the DX3 Pro sounds better in my speaker-based system. It's just the way it is for me. YMMV.

(Edited)

Jul 29, 2019

tetablanco

Jul 29, 2019

tetablancoOne warning though... The DX3 Pro has been reported to have "stuck on standby" issues. This problem may be related to an inadequate power supply since people have reported to have fixed it (and gotten substantial performance improvements) by using a 15v/1.5A linear power supply with it.

Jul 29, 2019

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ElectronicVices

2937

Jul 30, 2019

tetablancoMy issue with this review lies in the fact that they apparently altered the frequency response of their system (turning gain up on sub) boosting the frequency band they originally took issue with on the DX3 and then also state they don't know why the preferred it on speakers. Did they also EQ the low end on the headphone side and try again? Did they try the D50 with the booster sub? Without that context it lacks value to me and I am not against subjective reviews... with valid comparison methodology.

Jul 30, 2019

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