Huge difference between the E50 and E30 (1.0) when I had them. It was such an appreciated upgrade and opened up a lot of potential on that particular system.
Good afternoon 😎 from Toronto I went with a topping E50 DAC …and in order to get a substantial improvement in my digital playback…at nearly $1k more I went with the Denafrips Ares 12-1 DAC ..quite possibly an endgame for most people…including myself. Btw, on the E50 I went with an IFI power supply..it gave a better “black background “ …that being said the filter differences is meh . As far as I’m concerned…a DAC using the common chips (pick your poison) ..are dead to me now . Once you’ve had steak ..hamburger just won’t cut it. Have a great day. Set up: Denafrips DAC ,Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp,LCDX 21. 😎
I have two of these DACs. The difference is quite significant. The E30 has a thicker and louder bass, has an interesting sound color in the lower middle, which has a very positive effect on female vocals. In fact, this is its feature, like many AK chips, the color of female vocals, which begins to sound like nowhere else. But it also has serious drawbacks in my opinion. If you, of course, did not have a normal sound device before, it may not catch the eye, but when you have some experience in listening, the difference is very audible. The big problem with the E30 is that the tones of electric instruments are not the most natural. Electric guitars sound quite unconvincing and toy-like, I think this is just the price to pay for highlighting and creating sweet female vocals. So, if you are a fan of sounds where there are a lot of electric guitars and in general instruments with a metallic sound, the E30 2 is not the strongest DAC from this point of view. The E50 does not highlight female vocals as much, it is more even across the entire frequency range, and I would not call it a monitor, it is musical, aggressive, creating a musical pressure. Also, both DACs build a stage in a completely different way and I would not highlight either one here, since it is a matter of taste. The E30 2 builds a stage more in a V-shaped, more classical and natural way. The E50 builds a stage around you, much wider, but maybe a little narrower. However, this will depend on your sound system. With large planar headphones like the Ananda Hi-Fi Men, etc., the E50 opens up much better, this is a very good combination. With headphones that do not have such a huge sound stage, it may seem less deep than the E30 2, and the difference will be purely tasteful. What to choose. If you like listening to female vocals and not very aggressive jazz or blues, then the E30 will be a very good purchase. Still, the coloring of the AK chips is very unique, it is not a very honest sound, but incredibly beautiful in some aspects. E50 produces a very classic monitor sound and will go well with music headphones or speakers, but if you connect it to studio monitors, the sound may seem too correct, without character. Oh, I forgot to mention the detail. They are almost equal, E50 wins a little from the fact that it pulls out all the sounds as if on you, this is a feature of the Sabres chips, E30 2 does not do this, but I would not say that I hear less detail, sometimes it seems that even a little more. Total: the differences in sound are quite fundamental. E30 2 - female vocals, jazz, blues (with female vocals), in general, any female vocals will be beautiful everywhere. E50 - rock, heavy metal, any aggressive and fast genres. Yes, balanced connections do not change the sound in E50 much, the sound signature of the cable itself has a greater effect.
i've tried both. sonically i couldn't hear much if any difference. i kept the e50 because i like the display more and the balanced outputs. i'd like to see if there's any difference in sound by upgrading the power supply but i'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.
Yeah I tend to just save the money I would’ve spent on a new power supply and spend it on higher grade gear instead lol. Thanks for watching and for sharing!
The influence of power supplies on these two DACs is not very great, although it does exist. Topping has implemented a good noise filtering scheme for this price range, etc. Believe me, I compared with different ones in this price range. Therefore, let's say the IFI block does not particularly affect the sound of this combination, unlike a number of other duller DACs. I have them in stock, I compared them, the differences are absolutely minimal and not worth the price. In general, it can normally receive power even from a PC.
I own both, one is paired with a topping A70 Pro in a Desktop system and the other is in a small bedside stack with an L30II. A few notes for you: 1. The filters DO work on DSD files. 2. Compared side by side, on the A70 Pro, the level of instrument detail (especially strings) and soundstaging on the E50 is significantly better. This is both on RCA AND TRS, I can test it connected both ways and A/B with a switch it so it's not just the output stage. I may eventually get D70 Pro. Maybe it's the way the ESS chipset presents as opposed to the AKM, or the implementation.....and the E30II is not bad by any stretch. The E50 reminds me of a well done Tube preamp in the soundstaging.
Do you think the MQA ability of the E50 had anything to do with the better sound stage? I've got an original E30 and might upgrade to the E50 after watching this. Thanks man.
Neither. Last summer I was attempting to put together a small new system for our family room. I bought an E50 as the DAC/Pre-amp running the TV, Fosi V3, and such through it. It failed in less than 24 hours. When I looked at the code it was throwing Topping listed that code as a "defective unit". So the failure rate was so high they needed to have a designated code for that set of issues. I sent it back immediately and washed my hands of the company. For $200 I was not impressed. So I spent more on separates and have been thrilled ever since.
Nicely done as usual Aaron... Questions: 1) if you just plug this into USB from a laptop or desktop computer, what sample sizes and speeds are available? (Control Panel ... Sound ... .... Properties ... Advanced) 2) Does it require special drivers for full function? 3) Is it compatible with Windows Exclusive (WASAPI) mode? Often times these DACs only give you 16 or 24 bit PCM up to 96khz without the drivers. Other times they will only give you the higher rates on a USB3 port. Thanks!
These both plugged in my Mac easily and the displays give you the file info. I didn’t have to download any drivers for Mac but not sure on Windows devices sorry!
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I can answer you because I had E30 ii and L30 ii. 1: 16-32 bit depth, 44.1-384k hz. 2: Yes. Topping drivers from the website. 3: No, it only has ASIO, not WASAPI.
Sometimes I find the filters will diminish sibilance or focus the soundstage a bit. Sight but useful. When sibilance is noticed just run through the filters to select the best sound. I find it can vary song to song.
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?
Amps only make things louder, they don't change the sound. The only way you would notice a difference at all would be if it is having trouble driving your headphones and you can tell this by volume and how loud do you have to crank it currently to hear it (which you've answered) So 100% no benefit. The only way to change your sound would be through a different DAC (which makes only a very very small difference but that can change depending on DAC, some make a bigger difference than others as per these types of reviews) or EQ. For example as I was talking about price and DACS Forever Analog literally has done a review on a cheaper DAC vs a more expensive one here : th-cam.com/video/TTnwYHDx5ag/w-d-xo.html which is a solid video and I recommend taking a watch :) After all that a lot of people are in the same boat as you (myself included) running a decent sound card, with it being amped and when you read threads like on Reedit people have gone to Topping or SMSL etc and just been utterly disappointed they wasted their money as they heard zero difference or even worse, it sounded worse off. So I'm convinced unless I drop well over $1000 (probably $2000 because Australians dollar is worthless right now) I'd be in the same boat as now, hence why I've passed until I can seriously outlay some cash and by then I might not even care or want to anymore lol
The SU-1 is so fun especially given the low price. With these you’re paying for more features, displays, remotes etc. I hesitate to comment on sound without a true a/b comparison and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve had the SU-1 in rotation. The Modi was my first DAC and led me down this rabbit hole lol!
what about comparing E30II with the latest Topping E50III? I think the differences are only marginal, nothing to rave about, only audio nuances. If you want to hear Real Audible differences, do these and furthermore rather cheap: 1. Use and external USB to Coaxial/optical adapter using the Xmos 208 chipset(cost=US$40-150 depends on requirements) 2. Use external very low noise high current 5Vpower supply (cost = US$15-100) depends on the made. use both. I own E30II it is very good for the money esp. with the above accessories.
Huge difference between the E50 and E30 (1.0) when I had them. It was such an appreciated upgrade and opened up a lot of potential on that particular system.
Awesome. Great point thank you!
That's the exact upgrade path I might make soon, with the E50 III.
Good afternoon 😎 from Toronto
I went with a topping E50 DAC …and in order to get a substantial improvement in my digital playback…at nearly $1k more I went with the Denafrips Ares 12-1 DAC ..quite possibly an endgame for most people…including myself.
Btw, on the E50 I went with an IFI power supply..it gave a better “black background “ …that being said the filter differences is meh .
As far as I’m concerned…a DAC using the common chips (pick your poison) ..are dead to me now .
Once you’ve had steak ..hamburger just won’t cut it.
Have a great day.
Set up: Denafrips DAC ,Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp,LCDX 21.
😎
Thanks for watching and for sharing. I need to look into the iFi power supply thank you.
I have two of these DACs. The difference is quite significant. The E30 has a thicker and louder bass, has an interesting sound color in the lower middle, which has a very positive effect on female vocals. In fact, this is its feature, like many AK chips, the color of female vocals, which begins to sound like nowhere else. But it also has serious drawbacks in my opinion. If you, of course, did not have a normal sound device before, it may not catch the eye, but when you have some experience in listening, the difference is very audible. The big problem with the E30 is that the tones of electric instruments are not the most natural. Electric guitars sound quite unconvincing and toy-like, I think this is just the price to pay for highlighting and creating sweet female vocals. So, if you are a fan of sounds where there are a lot of electric guitars and in general instruments with a metallic sound, the E30 2 is not the strongest DAC from this point of view. The E50 does not highlight female vocals as much, it is more even across the entire frequency range, and I would not call it a monitor, it is musical, aggressive, creating a musical pressure. Also, both DACs build a stage in a completely different way and I would not highlight either one here, since it is a matter of taste. The E30 2 builds a stage more in a V-shaped, more classical and natural way. The E50 builds a stage around you, much wider, but maybe a little narrower. However, this will depend on your sound system. With large planar headphones like the Ananda Hi-Fi Men, etc., the E50 opens up much better, this is a very good combination. With headphones that do not have such a huge sound stage, it may seem less deep than the E30 2, and the difference will be purely tasteful. What to choose. If you like listening to female vocals and not very aggressive jazz or blues, then the E30 will be a very good purchase. Still, the coloring of the AK chips is very unique, it is not a very honest sound, but incredibly beautiful in some aspects. E50 produces a very classic monitor sound and will go well with music headphones or speakers, but if you connect it to studio monitors, the sound may seem too correct, without character. Oh, I forgot to mention the detail. They are almost equal, E50 wins a little from the fact that it pulls out all the sounds as if on you, this is a feature of the Sabres chips, E30 2 does not do this, but I would not say that I hear less detail, sometimes it seems that even a little more. Total: the differences in sound are quite fundamental. E30 2 - female vocals, jazz, blues (with female vocals), in general, any female vocals will be beautiful everywhere. E50 - rock, heavy metal, any aggressive and fast genres. Yes, balanced connections do not change the sound in E50 much, the sound signature of the cable itself has a greater effect.
Thanks for sharing!!!
You mentioned sanity. Sanity has nothing to do with our hobby! LOL I always look forward to your videos. I will let you do the hard work for me!
Thank you!
i've tried both. sonically i couldn't hear much if any difference. i kept the e50 because i like the display more and the balanced outputs. i'd like to see if there's any difference in sound by upgrading the power supply but i'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.
Yeah I tend to just save the money I would’ve spent on a new power supply and spend it on higher grade gear instead lol. Thanks for watching and for sharing!
The influence of power supplies on these two DACs is not very great, although it does exist. Topping has implemented a good noise filtering scheme for this price range, etc. Believe me, I compared with different ones in this price range. Therefore, let's say the IFI block does not particularly affect the sound of this combination, unlike a number of other duller DACs. I have them in stock, I compared them, the differences are absolutely minimal and not worth the price. In general, it can normally receive power even from a PC.
I own both, one is paired with a topping A70 Pro in a Desktop system and the other is in a small bedside stack with an L30II. A few notes for you: 1. The filters DO work on DSD files. 2. Compared side by side, on the A70 Pro, the level of instrument detail (especially strings) and soundstaging on the E50 is significantly better. This is both on RCA AND TRS, I can test it connected both ways and A/B with a switch it so it's not just the output stage. I may eventually get D70 Pro. Maybe it's the way the ESS chipset presents as opposed to the AKM, or the implementation.....and the E30II is not bad by any stretch. The E50 reminds me of a well done Tube preamp in the soundstaging.
Awesome, thanks for sharing and for watching. Hope I get the D70 Pro in for review!
Do you think the MQA ability of the E50 had anything to do with the better sound stage? I've got an original E30 and might upgrade to the E50 after watching this. Thanks man.
Thanks for watching and sharing!
Neither. Last summer I was attempting to put together a small new system for our family room. I bought an E50 as the DAC/Pre-amp running the TV, Fosi V3, and such through it. It failed in less than 24 hours. When I looked at the code it was throwing Topping listed that code as a "defective unit". So the failure rate was so high they needed to have a designated code for that set of issues. I sent it back immediately and washed my hands of the company. For $200 I was not impressed. So I spent more on separates and have been thrilled ever since.
Sorry to hear that!
Nicely done as usual Aaron...
Questions:
1) if you just plug this into USB from a laptop or desktop computer, what sample sizes and speeds are available? (Control Panel ... Sound ... .... Properties ... Advanced)
2) Does it require special drivers for full function?
3) Is it compatible with Windows Exclusive (WASAPI) mode?
Often times these DACs only give you 16 or 24 bit PCM up to 96khz without the drivers. Other times they will only give you the higher rates on a USB3 port.
Thanks!
These both plugged in my Mac easily and the displays give you the file info. I didn’t have to download any drivers for Mac but not sure on Windows devices sorry!
@@ForeverAnalog
No worries.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I can answer you because I had E30 ii and L30 ii. 1: 16-32 bit depth, 44.1-384k hz. 2: Yes. Topping drivers from the website. 3: No, it only has ASIO, not WASAPI.
@@gavinxq1224
Thanks ... so it's a pass then.
Sometimes I find the filters will diminish sibilance or focus the soundstage a bit. Sight but useful. When sibilance is noticed just run through the filters to select the best sound. I find it can vary song to song.
Great advice, thank you!
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?
Amps only make things louder, they don't change the sound. The only way you would notice a difference at all would be if it is having trouble driving your headphones and you can tell this by volume and how loud do you have to crank it currently to hear it (which you've answered)
So 100% no benefit. The only way to change your sound would be through a different DAC (which makes only a very very small difference but that can change depending on DAC, some make a bigger difference than others as per these types of reviews) or EQ.
For example as I was talking about price and DACS Forever Analog literally has done a review on a cheaper DAC vs a more expensive one here : th-cam.com/video/TTnwYHDx5ag/w-d-xo.html which is a solid video and I recommend taking a watch :)
After all that a lot of people are in the same boat as you (myself included) running a decent sound card, with it being amped and when you read threads like on Reedit people have gone to Topping or SMSL etc and just been utterly disappointed they wasted their money as they heard zero difference or even worse, it sounded worse off.
So I'm convinced unless I drop well over $1000 (probably $2000 because Australians dollar is worthless right now) I'd be in the same boat as now, hence why I've passed until I can seriously outlay some cash and by then I might not even care or want to anymore lol
Now what about both of them vs the Topping DX3 Pro+?
I don’t have the DX3 Pro+
How do these compare to the SU-1? I keep throwing that thing in my cart, but my Schitt Modi seems fine for my bedroom setup. Thanks!!
The SU-1 is so fun especially given the low price. With these you’re paying for more features, displays, remotes etc. I hesitate to comment on sound without a true a/b comparison and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve had the SU-1 in rotation. The Modi was my first DAC and led me down this rabbit hole lol!
@@ForeverAnalog Thanks!!
what about comparing E30II with the latest Topping E50III? I think the differences are only marginal, nothing to rave about, only audio nuances.
If you want to hear Real Audible differences, do these and furthermore rather cheap:
1. Use and external USB to Coaxial/optical adapter using the Xmos 208 chipset(cost=US$40-150 depends on requirements)
2. Use external very low noise high current 5Vpower supply (cost = US$15-100) depends on the made.
use both.
I own E30II it is very good for the money esp. with the above accessories.
I'll look into that power supply for sure, thank you!
DAC'S w discrete class
A output stages best
W4S 10th DAC2v2se 😊