Topping DACs?

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by etane, May 6, 2020.

  1. etane

    etane New

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    oh should've said that in the first place.
     
  2. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

    Staff Member Pyrate Gearmaster
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    ^dislike for being obtuse and missing the point completely.

    It means that if we don't have a post on something (especially if it's popular on other forums), chances are we heard it, it's shit, and we don't want to talk about it because it adds no real content. We want good signal-to-noise.
     
  3. Huhnkopf

    Huhnkopf Friend

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    I wish I could rage like that crazy Psalmanazar guy with whirlwind Berserker axe rhetorics to slay the topic question once and for all but let me put it this way: ALL people I personally know that buy Topping/SMSL products gloat over the fact that they measure so well (at a certain site too) that they never really tell me what it does for them and their music preferences or why it sounds good to them. There is a never a good answer. IF I get an answer it's always some weird bubbly, quirky electronic music that supposedly proves that it's only the ultimate cleanliness that lets those random ass spatial cues shine. Now I listen to electronic music myself, a lot, but that kind of shit is really criminal.

    And they always climb to the next Topping/SMSL product. Some of them have multiple Topping DACs as Backups. I also hate advertising with DAC chips instead of telling me how the manufactorer approached the analog design and WHY.
     
  4. etane

    etane New

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    i hope you're not grouping me with the av science group. well, grouping people isn't good overall. but i think we're getting somewhere...
     
  5. etane

    etane New

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    that's such an emo reply. i bet your bangs cover up one of your eyes.
     
  6. etane

    etane New

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    signal to noise ratio here is super high. people saying don't post because it's been said. and people saying don't post because it hasn't been said. who says audio is objective hahaha. gl guys.
     
  7. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead.
     
  8. dark_energy

    dark_energy Friend

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    I hope, grouping people, Topping, people say.. blah blah... Topping.
     
  9. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    rearranging my signature.
     
  10. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Well, that escalated quickly.
    Seriously, I keep a couple of Topping components in the lab to serve as contrasting examples against the many excellent offerings from other manufacturers. Very useful for A/B and ABX educational listening.
     
  11. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    Edit: removed everything

    Well I actually wrote something about this but working night shift I could only update the thread now, when I had started to write 2 hours ago, and now he's already terminated.

    On the plus side no Covid patients until now.
     
  12. Jeffjazzer

    Jeffjazzer New

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    Come on now just eat it, you’ll like it I’ve added more Topping!
    I hope we don’t have to add anymore Toppings to this site. Not the manufactures that produced this stuff, but the attitude of those who dribble rubbish. Sorry to keep this thread alive by my post. Stay safe, healthy and don’t give into fear.
    Happy listening. Next “Topic” please!
     
  13. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I have a Topping D50. It sounds at least as good as the headphone out from my generic windows 10 box. Dunno why all the trash talk.

    About the same as the headphone dongle for my iPhone and if that isn’t high praise, I don’t know what is.

    Edit: More seriously- I have A-B’d the Topping against the Bifrost2- it’s not even close.the Bifrost dominates in image stability, bass, euphony, and detail. Against a Modi 2U it’s pretty close, though the Modi has better dynamics
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2020
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I actually did the ban on this one early in the morning. Just saw a few posts and realized it wasn't going to work out.

    That said it all.

    --

    Might be interesting to grab a Topping E30 and see how it compares to Modi 3. The E30 is made in China? Why this is more expensive than the Modi 3?
     
  15. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    I have experience with Topping. I ate a D30 and barfed it up when it clipped on numerous bass notes that were probably at or over 0 dbu. I chalked it up to a defective unit. I have since moved on to chocolate sprinkles as my favorite Topping.

    @Psalmanazar
    EDIT: Oops may have used wrong term. Meant 0 Dbfs at or above in the digital domain. Other dacs did not clip, fart on these London Grammar album bass notes.
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2020
  16. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    A Focusrite is better.
    The manual claims it outputs at 2.1 vrms. 0 dbu is only .77 vrms. If it clips at 0dbu with bass notes SMSL/Topping and Audio Science Review are a bunch of lying fucktards who need to be subjected to the medieval Bedouin lie detector test.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisha'a
     
  17. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    It's lean sounding garbage.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    2V peak-to-peak is 0.707 Vrms
     
  19. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Math ftw.
     
  20. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Funny you should say that.

    I think it is really hard for anybody who has ever used the word audiophile without laughing to admit this, but... Long gone are the days when computer audio was only designed for beeps and Soundblaster cards were true to their name. I'm not saying it's going to beat anybody's high-end dac, but I think most people, if they try that little socket, would be surprised.

    Do I use it? Nope. Even though I have tried it, I still say audiophile without laughing.
     

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