Topping nx4 has very low output impedance, so it should work fine with iems to full size headphones. With any portable you may find too powerful (which means, less linear volume control and hard to get the volume right, usually some amps have channel imbalance at the start of the volume nob, and some iems can just be too sensitive and create hiss). If you have any of the issues above and you also want to improve the dynamics (sound quality, makes it a little more alive), then consider getting the ifi audio ie match (2.5 version is 2.5mm connector and balanced only, I recommend the regular version that does se or bal 3.5mm). I don't have any iems to test to see if it does remove hiss. Downside of this tho is any headphones that are hard to drive and you decide to put ie match on ultra setting, your amp will be doing a lot more work and you may find the amp to start to distort is the major downside (any weak amps, on somewhat easy to drive headphones on the lower setting I find that's it's fine, just be weary tho). My current recommendations from highest price to lowest price: - Dark Voice 336SE: If you don't mind the 60 watts power consumption and you want to go through like 100+ tubes to find the holy grail of sound. (Amp only, ops). Aune x1s: I did not like it, but it does sound good. - Ifi nano: Still very good if you prefer the sound on this and get it on sale. - Topping NX4: Best budget sounding thing I have reviewed at a low price. - Fiio q1 mark ii: You can get this about half the price of the topping NX4 and is a pretty good for under $100. Things that may be added. - Schiit magni 3. Have spent very little time with it, but it sounds pretty good. - Fiio K1: Haven't not spent any time with it, but for under $50 it sounds pretty good, just missing features.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks, that was very detailed probably worth a whole video. Topping NX4 it is then, I was Interested in the BGVP DM6 they seem to be highly praised in Japanese community and bad guy audio review also rated them very high. Would love to hear your opinions on them , they are very sensitive at 122db.
@@coffee-vz1nr I got a lot on my plate to also get into iems at this very time (but I got a ie match, so I am ready when the time comes, besides my full size headphones like the better dynamic range :P). I am a speaker guy and it's hard for someone to look at a very expensive iem. Same can be said for headphones (especially the closed variety which is my least favorite, probably why mr speakers is so popular because they say those sound open).
@@jorgecosta7620 What about the chord mojo? I don't have one. Despite the ok measurements from ASR, I hear people say that it sounds really good, I just don't like the fact people complain about harmonics/noise when hitting the case is a bit concerning. I have a fiio q5, and it's amazing.
Eric’s reviews are thorough and complete, not only on technical points, but all the sound details as well. Truly impressive! Subscribed :) All the best! - NYC, 4/1/2019
Great review found it immensely helpful especially with all those really relevant comparisons. You've brought my month of indecision to an end. Thanks!
@@retroericreviews8828 No, It's the phone doesn't support OTG connectivity because It works with other phones.. Now I have to root this phone to work with OTG and It's a slow difficult progress.
Usb input is to send audio signal from a source such as a phone, computer to the nx4. 3.5mm line input is just another input (analog). Do note on the nx4 using this input would mean the dac in the nx4 is not used. This is if your using some other dac which is then hooked up to your source. That same 3.5mm line port can also be used as a output instead*. This is to send full line dac signal from the nx4 to another amplifier. DO NOT plug headphones into this while playing music otherwise it will be extremely loud and blow your hearing/headphones. Then there is the 3.5mm headphone output. You plug your headphones into this port and use the volume wheel. Source can be phone or computer.ect when using usb input.
It does boast the volume like most other devices that have a bass boast. For example if I am at 12 o clock volume, if I turn bass boast on I will need to adjust the volume to 11-10 o clock to get the same levels but with added bass. No it does not vastly change how it sounds. It does add more upper bass then some other devices tho but one of the best in that regard. A bad example would be the old fiio q5 because it will sound quite muddy. A good example of something that takes a different approach would be ifi x series where it's mostly sub bass while leaving the rest of the frequency mostly untouched.
@@jimis3167 It does add sub bass, mid bass, and upper bass. I was just saying it adds more upper bass then other devices I have used, but even with it off it still has more upper bass to begin with. Most devices when the bass boast is turned on it's like having a low shelf filter on. Some devices will have a slope that ends somewhere around 200 or 500 or 1,000k frequency. The ifi is a good example where it targets mostly sub 100 hz and has another option for just mid range (their 3d effect is much less than the thx portable which means the mid range boast will not really be needed for example cause it will sound bad on most headphones). Other devices you will not have to worry about something sounding bad in vocals or treble because it will not adjust the frequency (one exception, the fiio a5 was bad).
The nx4 may a little channel imbalance at the start of the volume nob (because it's analog control) and your high sensitivity iem might be too easy to drive. My unit does not distort with my high sensitivity headphones, could be the iem or you got a faulty unit. The ohms is 32 which is plenty high so super super low output impedance is not a factor that could be causing it. If it's doing it on other gear then the unit is faulty.
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My volume knob has a gritty feel when turned up to 12 o'clock. After the 12 o'clock mark it feels smooth. Is this normal?
Retro Eric Reviews Please How you used the NX4 with your phone and what apps you used or how you setup foobar2000 in your phone ? Any tips I will appreciate it Thanks .
I do all my testing at the desktop computer. I don't take audio devices with me when going out. As for foobar2000 on a computer. To get bit perfect you can download asio drivers and go into the settings and change the output to asio (device your using, may need to change the bit depth). Then just play a audio cd or file.
Thank you for your time Eric I really appreciate it ! Because of your reviews I bought the Nx4 and of course I love it I just feel I don't use it to his potential because I used it with my phone and bubbleupnp app Because I can't get to figure out foobar2000 app for Android for now . But eventually I will likely everything else . Also in my PC I have foobar2000 fully working with topping combo D30/D10 and A30 and I really like it Also have some and fiio dacs schit combo raspberry pi with hifiberry and Allo boards . Bud I think I started to like more and more DSD ! Thanks again Cheers !
@@senseisuarez Massdrop currently has the burson v5i op amps (dual x 2 for a30). Many people change the stock ones out because of some veil with the sound, maybe something to check out.
Hi Eric, are the NX4 DSD neutral tuning i mean uncolored so it can show my true sounding of my iem? last can it used as reference? now im using ibasso dx160 but to my ears 160 are colored sounding. thank
If you want uncolored and neutral I would recommend the thx portable or the desktop version 788. (I have not had a massdrop/drop 789, monoprice 887, or smsl 888). - They will lean towards the analytical side of things. It can sound a bit clinical but in a good neutral way. This is my reference for testing. - Edit: I do have a fiio m11 pro, have not really used it or tested it yet, but on first impressions it sounds a bit more sterile. - Edit: Things that are not thx but getting pretty uncolored and neutral for cheaper are like the jds labs atom and fiio k3. The newer geshelli labs archel pro 2.0 gets pretty close too. The topping nx4 will be on the analytical side but it has more colorization and is not exactly neutral. Still sounds very natural. The ifi stuff like the xcan is good at being natural and warm. I would not consider it uncolored and neutral tho.
The website is working just fine for me. Do you have a nx4 or a nx4 dsd? (two different versions, I have the newer dsd version). - www.tpdz.net/wdzn_detail/newsId=59.html - www.tpdz.net/wdzn_detail/newsId=56.html edit: typing nx4 dsd driver and clicking on result does not load page. I just type topping audio and go to home page then support. - www.tpdz.net/index.html
I’m having trouble getting sound with pairing it to my iPhone XS Max through the dac port, i have a usb camera adapter but still no sound. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Have you hooked up the usb dac port on the nx4 dsd to a computer and installed the drivers and made sure it is working so you know you don't have a faulty port? Also have you tried the camera adapter cable on another pair of devices to make sure it's not a faulty cable which can be very likely? I don't know of any fixes. You may need to contact topping if you are having issues. I read some amazon questions and people said it works fine with their iphone (6 or 7 I saw), the problem is I don't know if the nx4 dsd* has full iphone/apple support (certified). But it does fully* support android users. Edit: Btw, you don't need drivers for phone.
Hey, did you get things sorted out? I checked amazon, and topping seems to have one that is $100 compatible with ios and should come with a lighting to usb cable. If you contacted them, maybe they will swap it out for you unless you decided to just return it. Edit: Sorry, amazon has a listing error. That one I was looking at was not a newer dsd version, that was the non dsd version.
I don't know what the LG G6 sounds like. But from my knowledge the lg phones have pretty decent dac chips in them but their amp is not great/powerful. I can say the nx4 is a huge upgrade over a crappy phone or laptop device and a good upgrade vs my motherboard audio. (Btw I don't know phone compatibility with the topping nx4). What headphones are you using, if they are sub par you may want to upgrade the headphone first since that will a bigger improvement.
Thank you for this review, you are the first person i found that talks about battery run time on these units. I'm considering nx4 vs the q1 mk2. Have you had the chance to run the q1mk2 with line in on battery run time? I'm leaning towards the nx4 because of the run time you reported with the line in, and the sound output you report back seems to be more inline with what i prefer. Thanks.
I did run the fiio q1 mark ii with line in, but I don't remember what the battery life was sorry. Mind you if you use the line in your don't take advantage of the built in dac. If that is the case you may want to consider the nx5 instead which has even longer battery life anyways.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks for the reply, i checked out the nx5 review you did I decided to go nx4 because i dont know how good the dac in my device is going to be and it sounds like everything you give positives on the sound output for the nx4 seems like it would fit my taste also. Although that q1mk2 still seems like a very nice mobile unit. Thanks again, helped me out a lot.
One of the best amp/dac I own atm is the monoprice thx aaa portable. I really like the geshelli labs amp/dac combo on the 58x tho because there is some colorization. As for the nx4 vs ifi nano both are really good but I think I prefer nx4.
I'm currently looking into buying a portable DAC/amp. I see you've had a chance to use pretty much all the ones I'm looking at. 1. Fiio Q1 mk2 2. Topping nx4 dsd 3. Ifi nano idsd black label 4. Xduoo xd-05 Which one would you go with if you had to choose one for on the go listening from a phone? Really appreciated and input. Thanks
Any of those have good sound quality/sound signatures. Bare in mind the topping nx4 (usb dac port) some people have issues running on their phones (some are compatible). But this is what I recommend if you get it on sale. I bought the monoprice monolith thx aaa portable with %20 coupon and it sounds the best of the things I currently own (funny it sounds so good even tho the port is single ended). - Some people have had issues especially with the earlier units. I have had no issues so far with it (works fine) other than for some reason mine only lasts 6 hours on the usb input. - Edit btw the guy who left a 2 star ratting sounds like the same guy who got a bad unit on audio science review forums (same issues I don't have).
I don't have a nx3s, so I don't know how it compares. It does have a higher output impedance which means it may make lower impedance headphones sound like you have a bass boast turned on. At least that's what it's like for my focal elears on the topping dx7s for example. Nx1s I did have and it was meh. Nx2s I never got around to making a video and is just collecting dust. From what I remember from last using is the treble is a bit harsher and soundstage is better at least.
@@retroericreviews8828 Hi thanks for the fast reply, I may get that one, still deciding....you are so good and thorough explaining these, I learned almost everything from your videos, and got nothing out of all the other videos out there. You cover every aspect. Keep up the good work it is greatly valued and appreciated!
Topping NX4 is DAC and AMP Combo, it has the newest ESS Sabre DAC with better tonality; for the price, this cant be beat. Ifi Nano BL is good but much more pricey, and you get better results on NX4 than Ifi nano.
@@ultramenricky3805 did you even watch his review? He said, it has great tonality and dynamics agaisnt the nx4 dsd. Which is what read too on reviews of the nx4 dsd in reddit and other online reviewers. Theyll take this over ifi nano dsd bl because, its cheaper and better performer.
The nx4 Dac is slightly better. The nx4 Amp is also slightly better and can have more power (better dynamics without iematch, read description). I can still recommend the ifi nano especially if you get it on sale and you would rather prefer the more neutral sound signature (slightly forward mids and little bright highs) and tonality vs the nx4 v shape and warmer but more natural better quality tonality.
I would get the nx4 dsd version over the q1 mark ii. Better sound, more power. Bare in mind that easy to drive cans/buds may have a slight channel imbalance at start of volume nob because the volume control is analog and some people have reported faulty included cables. I have seen the q1 mark ii for around 50 to 75 usd and the nx4 100 to 130 usd.
@@retroericreviews8828 would you recommend using those dac amps for smartphones? i'm using a nokia 6 and i do have lot of flac files and mp3s (320kbps) and "hi-fi" earbuds
DSD is a format. If your asking why the non dsd version can't play DSD is because it's not supported. Both versions have a built in dac. You want to use the micro usb input on the nx4 so it works as both a amp+dac. If you only use the 3.5mm line in then your only using the amp portion of the unit and if you use the 3.5mm line out to another device then your only using the dacs line output.
Retro Eric Reviews I tried to replace with Device Xiaomi Redmi 4x using HF onkyo player and what happened was only the audio output route that was detected was only the NX4 phone was not detected what was the solution?
I saw you wrote you have a Q5. I miself have one and like it a lot, but would like to know how would it compare to NX4 as a dac and amp. I've heard people say NX4 has a good dac, but a coloured amp. My headphones are Fiio FH5 and Sennheiser HD600(for wich i'm making a 2,5mm 4pin cable to use it in balanced for extra power). I'm planning on getting BGVP DM6/Kanas Pro headphones too. I had Fiio A5 in the past, but found the stock amp module (AM3A) on the Q5 to be better sounding, even if it's a lot less powerfull.
I have not tried the am5 module yet and have not compared my q5 (used it much) too make a full opinion on it. Without going into too much detail the q5 is quite warm (especially with bass boast turned on, I think it distorts in balanced mode tho) and it has a nice spacious musical sound too it without it sounding too laid back but I can get lost into the music. It's a nice experience trying one out and I do think the sound quality is a notch higher than the nx4. But, I think $350 is a bit too pricey imo, I would recommend it (comes with more features) if someone had a %20 ebay coupon (+ ebay bucks) and got it closer to what I paid which is like $200-250 (depending if you buy it from the $300 seller on ebay). For $130 the nx4 is pretty darn good for the price and if you already have a q5 the nx4 can still be worth trying, who knows maybe you like the sound signature and it's not much of a downgrade.
@@retroericreviews8828 I haven't said anything about AM5 module, i mentioned the A5 amp. The AM3A balanced output doesn't distort on my Q5, i have tested it with Fiio FH5 with a 2,5mm cable and HD600 with a 2,5mm cable in a showroom. That's why i'm making a HD600 2,5mm 4pin cable, to use is with the AM3A. Two guys in my area suggested the same, after testing AM5 vs AM3A on balanced output, with HD600, the AM3A on balanced sounded better and louder. I don't use the bass boost, it's a really really crappy implementation, Fiio just can't make a decent bass boost like Ifi do for example.
@@ionescugeorge5606 hmmmm My q5 bass boast is really warm and it can be quite muddy on headphones that are already warm and bassy. Also, my q5 the bass boast is one of the strongest if your running it in balanced mode (stock module) and due to the effort in bass it's putting out I can hear a little bit of distortion in the bass on the headphones I have. I will go into more detail after I have spent more time with it since I have not used it much, mostly first impressions. There is also filters for this on the fiio software if you blue tooth it to your phone or tablet. I will try one of the narrower filters to see if I can hear a difference (but worth mentioning).
@@retroericreviews8828 It's really not a bass boost, as it starts from 500hz, so it boosts the lower midrange a lot and makes the bass lose control and definition real bad. It's unusable even with bass light headphones like HD600. You just need to connect the Q5 via BT to set-up the low pass filters, after that the setting remains even if you close it or connect it to any device. The differences are very gentle, but you can notice them if you change them while listening and use decent headphone like Fiio FH5 at least. If somebody played with them without telling me, i wouldn't be able to tell anything has changed, it's that small of a difference.
Great review! Do you know if it would sound better if I used the NX4 as a standalone DAC for my laptop and plugged in my FiiO A3 amp in the line in/out or just using the NX4 as the DAC and amp? I received the FiiO A3 amp as a gift and am in need of a portable DAC for my laptop/smartphone. I am considering buying the NX4, but am unsure.
I like the nx4 better in terms of a portable dac/amp. I use a lcx which is pretty transparent in terms of testing dacs, not sure if some people would notice the difference tho on their setup.
Hello Eric!! I'm from Uruguay. My english Is not the best. I'm about yo buy a dac. Wich would u buy betwen 50 AND 120? Y want good quality natural sound. Y mostly listen techno but also a Lot of 70s rock! Topping Cambridge fiio? Thank u AND cheers from Montevideo Uruguay!
Hi mate. You need desktop or portable? - Portable recommendations (usd): ifi xdsd $400, ifi xcan $300, monoprice thx aaa $250, ifi nano $200, topping nx4 $130, topping nx5 $80, fiio q1 mark ii $60. - Since your international I don't know what options you have that would be a good deal without paying extra for shipping+customs. - Sound can sometimes be subjective to what exactly one would want, but what I can say is the monoprice thx aaa or the topping nx4 are good choices if you get them on sale.
@@retroericreviews8828 thank u very much for ur quick answer. How much diference Is un sound quality betwen the ifi xcan and the topping nx5? Chau! Gracias! I Will go for a portable probably so i can use it mostly with my desk receiver wich is not very good ( denon avr 520bt) AND also use it for travel with mi headphones)
@@jeanprochet3082 There will be a bigger difference between headphones than their will be between amplifiers. If your debating it, it might be better to save the money on the amp and just go with the nx5 and put the rest of the budget towards a headphone. Receivers may not have good built in dacs. For me the ifi xdsd and xcan I do feel good when listening to it, but the small difference may not be worth the price tag.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks! In Uruguay the only way to get a dac Is buying it in Amazon AND a company charge us a Lot depending on weight AND size yo bring ir over. We are aloud to buy from usa 3 times per year AND each purchase can not be over 200 dolars!!! Is a bit dificult over here. But i Will get the best for under 200.
Hey thanks for the nice review! I'm looking for a portable dac/amp to use both at home with my ATH-WS1100iS headphones and on the go with Tin T2 IEMs. I don't really have many options because I can only buy locally and all I can find is: Topping NX4 DSD Dragonfly Black Topping NX2S FiiO BTR3 NX4 DSD seems like the best choice however I'm afraid of the channel imbalance when using it with such low power headphones and IEMs. What do you think?
If the channel imbalance is too much you can try lowing the volume from the source or if you can get a used ifi ie match or ear buddy cheap. (some downsides is the ie match ultra setting can sound too much and it can push some amps too much into distortion/clipping at high volumes so high setting should be enough). Otherwise you need to find something that has a digital volume control like the df black (does not have a built in battery so it will drain phone power).
@@retroericreviews8828 Thanks for the reply! As I said I can only buy locally and the things I listed are the only things I can find. Is there any disadvantage to lowering volume from the source? Or any disadvantage to digital volume control? Dragonfly Black is quite tempting but I'm afraid it won't sound nearly as good as the NX4 DSD. I am also planning on buying some more expensive cans and IEMs such as HD 600 and Tin P1 later on. So I think, NX4 would be much better for me if the channel imbalance won't be a big issue.
If you set windows to 16 bit, and you try lowering windows volume it will lower the bit depth. For example you lower to %80 volume instead of %100 you get 14-15 bit depth (forgot which one it divided into equally). The same can apply to other sources like phones. This is why on computers people download foobar and use asio or wasapi for bit perfect playback. A digital volume control will not have channel imbalance. So things like the q1 mark ii or q5s or thx aaa portable monoprice for example. If you plan on getting something like a 600 or 6xx then I would just go for the nx4 then. The ie match is good if you can get it cheap. Ultra setting may distort and sound too attenuated but high will sound mostly fine and is good for improving dynamics if* an amplifier has too much glare at too loud of volumes. It will lower volume so it allow you to crank the amp higher to where the channels are more matched.
@@retroericreviews8828 Ooh thanks for the detailed explanation! You're really knowledgeable about this stuff and nice enough to share your knowledge and help people! I really appreciate it! I have asked enough already so if you feel like you don't want to reply any further that's totally fine and understandable! But here goes the long block of text if you feel like reading it xD Doesn't Digital volume control on for example the FiiO Q1 Mk2 also reduce bit depth? If not, then why do they even put analogue volume control on AMPs? The ifi IEMatch would cost $75 to get it shipped here (due shipping costs, tax etc.), really out of my budget. But the ifi Ear Buddy would cost me about $35 so I can afford that one at least. I'm really not experienced with expensive headphones, DACs and AMPs. So, I really have no idea what to expect from a good DAC/AMP compared to a good onboard sound card (Asus X370 Prime) when paired with cheaper IEMs and cans like the ones I own. Like how much difference is there between a good onboard sound card and the FiiO Q1 Mk2 or the NX4 DSD? Is it night and day difference even on cheap and easy to drive stuff? I would ask the same question about Q1 Mk2 vs NX4 DSD. Again for the cheap and easy to drive stuff I own, is there any difference between them? I can get the FiiO Q1 Mk2 shipped here for $150 so it'd be much cheaper when compared to NX4 DSD ($200) and ifi Ear Buddy ($35) together. Although the FiiO would take 30 days to arrive, but so would the ifi Ear Buddy. So if the NX4 DSD won't make much difference when compared to the FiiO, I would rather buy the FiiO and save $85.
Well I am not knowledgeable enough to know exactly about digital volume on amps. But go to the fiio q5s websites features page and scroll down till you get to the ADC volume. Software volume is a totally different subject. The q5s for example just does processing so it does not have channel imbalance (think of it as a dac feature). $75 for the ie match is way too much (there is two versions, one is balanced only while the other does se or balanced), if you use it with the nx4 you would just need the cheaper ear buddy which is single ended only. (I don't have the ear buddy I have the other two which I paid less than 30 usd one was used and one was on sale new). It's going to be a much better difference with a headphone upgrade than it will be than a amp/dac upgrade. I would save the money for a headphone upgrade first and see how well it runs off your motherboard since it's probably decent enough compared to crappy solutions like laptops and phones. Not sure what conversion that price comes too but if that was usd that would be really high. But for $50 more I would get the nx4. If you think something like a ear buddy will be needed you can then pick one up but only if you think you need it. My unit only has a very tiny channel imbalance but that's at low volumes.
Not sure what you mean. The topping nx4 has two separate micro usb ports on the back. You can plug both into the computer, one is for charging and one is for playing audio and you can use them both at the same time with no* noise (static, hiss.ect)
Yes, I will do a review of the m0160 and m1060c. Next up is NX5 (recently got) and will talk a bit more about the Fiio A5 in that same video. Then I can get rid of some amps and I probably do the headphones next.
You forgot the power dude, how powerful the amp on this bad boy. hehe you have your standard fostex t50rps to check the power of this and the Sennheisers. let us know! thanks!
10-11 clock for m1060c and 58x on high gain and about 11-12 clock on low gain. T50rp MK3 about 11-12 clock on high gain and about 12-1 clock on low gain. The power is strong in this one.
As stated in the video, as an amp only I did say the vocals are slightly louder/closer, but a very small difference. Both the A5 and Topping NX4 sound good for an amp, I would take the nx4.
Hi, Eric. I am impressed by Topping NX4 DSD. It is for sure the best source I have ever listened to. So what amp would you recommend for Fiio Q5 to beat NX4 DSD driving low impedance IEMs?
Both the fiio q5 and nx4 are an amp/dac. They now have a q5s out now. The nx4 may a bit more powerful then the q5, but things such as the thx aaa or fiio q5 or q1 mark ii have digital volume so you will not have channel imbalance for easy to drive stuff. I still like nx4, but I also like my thx aaa, fiio q5, and ifi xcan/xdsd. I am also getting a chord mojo soon too.
@@retroericreviews8828 There is number of AM modules for Fiio X7/Q5. May be you tried other than AM3A coming with Q5. If not nevermind. I enjoy NX4 and trust your opinion regarding any DAC/AMP
@@adilshal I got my fiio q5 with the stock am3 module, but I did get a am5 module for really cheap. In fact I have it in the box and have not got around to trying it yet. They have a newer q5s out now and they even have a thx aaa 78 module.
Awesome Review mate! Source : Sony nw a45 or Laptop with Tidal Hfi IEM : DGVP DM6 and Tin T2 Others : AKG K240 Which is better DAC? Topping nx4 ifi nano black label Fiio qmkii
I already mentioned it in the video. Btw, I know (remember) the ifi nano supports mqa if you care about that. The fiio q1 mark ii line you can easily tell the congestion and lower quality it is outputting, if I don't dac line out it and use it as a portable device and go balanced it actually sounds better (line out is piss poor). Now the line out on the nx4 and the nano is much closer to each other in terms of sound quality, I think the nx4 is slightly better tho.
@@jorgecosta7620 I have not tried any of the smsl products yet. My first will probably be the su-8 balanced dac (version 2, measures better from what I have seen on audio science review) and the sh-8 which is like the cheapest balanced amp you can even get. To be honest I have not yet check out what else they have.
... Toppling? Lol good review man, really thorough and informative which i really really appreciate since i'm considering buying this. But the mispronunciation was a little distracting!
Noise measurements does not tell one how it will sound. Also, the thx measured pretty good and most of what was probably found is not audible. - But, some people have reported a good about of hiss when using iems (not headphones). I don't have any iems to test that. - My unit does have some electrical noise when I have the volume from -5 (barely audible) to +16. I have not figured out what causes it, and sometimes it has no noise in that range. At normal volumes you cannot hear it at all and because of the thx technology it sounds cleaner than what it measures.
What's wrong with this background? Maybe I will play with the webcam setting to see if I can improve the picture quality, but otherwise I am too lazy to do any editing (or pick thumbnails), and I prefer the uncut review style. the next z on youtube? I don't think so, he is much more entertaining then me and other reviewers have better format video quality compared to mine. This is just a hobby as of now and even after like 3 years I don't expect to get more than 10,000 subs (or would I even get 1k subs at that).
Lucky you, amazon (topping audio seller) seems to have a newer version that is %100 compatible with ios and is on sale for $140 (vs massdrop $135). At first I thought it was the non dsd version (which they don't even sell anymore, but I think they now have a updated version now and it comes with lighting to usb). If you have any questions let me know.
@@retroericreviews8828 I see the NX4 DSD on Amazon for $140.79. Also, Amazon has a Topping NX4 DSD XMOS for $159.99, have you any thoughts on the one for $159.99? Again thanks!
@@rich00273119 The black one for $140 I was looking at is a listing mistake, because they also have a separate listing for the silver one for $140 and it's the non dsd version. Which means it's using the older xmos (or w/e) chip that does not do dsd or sample rates up to 768 khz, but the older version does have %100 ios support. The one for $160 has a option for black or silver and is the newer version with dsd and 768 khz support. Not %100 compatible with ios tho. If your in the us, maybe wait till it drops on massdrop again. If your not in the us, you may end up making customs. So may be better to get it direct from your country. Edit: Big ops. One reason not to impulse buy because of listing mistakes.
Thanks for the review! Any chance you know if this can drive anything from the Sennheiser HD series? I’m looking at upgrading to the HD6xx and since I’m on the go a lot I’m looking to pick up a solid portable DAC amp to pair it with. I’ve heard heard great things about the NX4 but I’m concerned it won’t be able to run the HD 6xx. From what I’ve gathered it can run the HD series pretty well but I’m curious how much headroom I’ll have in terms of power. If you could help I’d really appreciate it.
If power and noise is such a concern you should check out audio science reviews website. The nx4/nx5 is going to have more power than any other portable costing less. I don't see it as a concern. I heard the ifi micro (the big one) has a ton of power for a portable.
![Z Review - [2/3] Portable Amplifiers :: TOPPING NX4](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MHeYpfSLt5k/mqdefault.jpg)
Very nice review! Are these good for iems , I want something versatile. Also what would be your top pics for DAC amp combo under 150 dollars?
Topping nx4 has very low output impedance, so it should work fine with iems to full size headphones. With any portable you may find too powerful (which means, less linear volume control and hard to get the volume right, usually some amps have channel imbalance at the start of the volume nob, and some iems can just be too sensitive and create hiss).
If you have any of the issues above and you also want to improve the dynamics (sound quality, makes it a little more alive), then consider getting the ifi audio ie match (2.5 version is 2.5mm connector and balanced only, I recommend the regular version that does se or bal 3.5mm). I don't have any iems to test to see if it does remove hiss. Downside of this tho is any headphones that are hard to drive and you decide to put ie match on ultra setting, your amp will be doing a lot more work and you may find the amp to start to distort is the major downside (any weak amps, on somewhat easy to drive headphones on the lower setting I find that's it's fine, just be weary tho).
My current recommendations from highest price to lowest price:
- Dark Voice 336SE: If you don't mind the 60 watts power consumption and you want to go through like 100+ tubes to find the holy grail of sound. (Amp only, ops).
Aune x1s: I did not like it, but it does sound good.
- Ifi nano: Still very good if you prefer the sound on this and get it on sale.
- Topping NX4: Best budget sounding thing I have reviewed at a low price.
- Fiio q1 mark ii: You can get this about half the price of the topping NX4 and is a pretty good for under $100.
Things that may be added.
- Schiit magni 3. Have spent very little time with it, but it sounds pretty good.
- Fiio K1: Haven't not spent any time with it, but for under $50 it sounds pretty good, just missing features.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks, that was very detailed probably worth a whole video.
Topping NX4 it is then, I was Interested in the BGVP DM6 they seem to be highly praised in Japanese community and bad guy audio review also rated them very high. Would love to hear your opinions on them , they are very sensitive at 122db.
@@coffee-vz1nr I got a lot on my plate to also get into iems at this very time (but I got a ie match, so I am ready when the time comes, besides my full size headphones like the better dynamic range :P). I am a speaker guy and it's hard for someone to look at a very expensive iem. Same can be said for headphones (especially the closed variety which is my least favorite, probably why mr speakers is so popular because they say those sound open).
@@retroericreviews8828 What about the Chord Mojo?
@@jorgecosta7620 What about the chord mojo? I don't have one. Despite the ok measurements from ASR, I hear people say that it sounds really good, I just don't like the fact people complain about harmonics/noise when hitting the case is a bit concerning.
I have a fiio q5, and it's amazing.
This guy's doing better reviews out of his damn bathroom than 90% of reviewers on TH-cam. Great job man, keep it up.
Eric’s reviews are thorough and complete, not only on technical points, but all the sound details as well. Truly impressive! Subscribed :) All the best! - NYC, 4/1/2019
Thank you bro! Love that you compare in your video reviews. I find it to be accurate, and extremely helpful. Don’t change a thing! 🙏💪🏽😃👍🏽
Great review found it immensely helpful especially with all those really relevant comparisons. You've brought my month of indecision to an end. Thanks!
Great review. Not just about the product but the comparisons are very informative too.
Thanks Eric, very informative and detailed review. I am looking forward to check your next video.
Thanks man and keep up the good work!!
Peace bro
Hey buddy, very cool channel I like all this audio gear. Keep up the good work, respect from Melbourne (Australia) take care = )
thanks for the recommendation and detailed review.
Thank u for giving us an idea about this product model
Hi, I received the nx4 but usb c to micro cable doesn't work with my Sony L2 phone, any ideas?
Could be that the cable is bad?
@@retroericreviews8828 No, It's the phone doesn't support OTG connectivity because It works with other phones.. Now I have to root this phone to work with OTG and It's a slow difficult progress.
hi mate, What happens if I connect a headset to line in / out, and connect my phone to the usb dac port of the topping?
Usb input is to send audio signal from a source such as a phone, computer to the nx4.
3.5mm line input is just another input (analog). Do note on the nx4 using this input would mean the dac in the nx4 is not used. This is if your using some other dac which is then hooked up to your source.
That same 3.5mm line port can also be used as a output instead*. This is to send full line dac signal from the nx4 to another amplifier. DO NOT plug headphones into this while playing music otherwise it will be extremely loud and blow your hearing/headphones.
Then there is the 3.5mm headphone output. You plug your headphones into this port and use the volume wheel. Source can be phone or computer.ect when using usb input.
Nx4 dsd vs dragonfly red which one do you prefer?
How do you compare the sound of it with Fiio q1 mark 2 and Dragonfly black?
I have not done any comparisons between the two sorry.
Zeos says that bass boost on nx4 changes the frequency response also a bit.. Is that true?
It does boast the volume like most other devices that have a bass boast. For example if I am at 12 o clock volume, if I turn bass boast on I will need to adjust the volume to 11-10 o clock to get the same levels but with added bass.
No it does not vastly change how it sounds. It does add more upper bass then some other devices tho but one of the best in that regard. A bad example would be the old fiio q5 because it will sound quite muddy. A good example of something that takes a different approach would be ifi x series where it's mostly sub bass while leaving the rest of the frequency mostly untouched.
@@retroericreviews8828 I thought nx4's bass boost adds sub-bass, not upper bass..
@@jimis3167 It does add sub bass, mid bass, and upper bass. I was just saying it adds more upper bass then other devices I have used, but even with it off it still has more upper bass to begin with.
Most devices when the bass boast is turned on it's like having a low shelf filter on. Some devices will have a slope that ends somewhere around 200 or 500 or 1,000k frequency.
The ifi is a good example where it targets mostly sub 100 hz and has another option for just mid range (their 3d effect is much less than the thx portable which means the mid range boast will not really be needed for example cause it will sound bad on most headphones). Other devices you will not have to worry about something sounding bad in vocals or treble because it will not adjust the frequency (one exception, the fiio a5 was bad).
There is a review on amazon saying the NX4 is cleaner sounding than the thx portable.. Is that right?
Due to the thx technology the thx portable will sound cleaner/clearer and pretty much uncolored.
hey eric is this ok with sensitive iem like sony xba n3ap? mine is distorted tks
The nx4 may a little channel imbalance at the start of the volume nob (because it's analog control) and your high sensitivity iem might be too easy to drive. My unit does not distort with my high sensitivity headphones, could be the iem or you got a faulty unit. The ohms is 32 which is plenty high so super super low output impedance is not a factor that could be causing it. If it's doing it on other gear then the unit is faulty.
My volume knob has a gritty feel when turned up to 12 o'clock. After the 12 o'clock mark it feels smooth. Is this normal?
No, should be smooth. Did dirt get in it?
Great review.
Retro Eric Reviews
Please How you used the NX4 with your phone and what apps you used or how you setup foobar2000 in your phone ?
Any tips I will appreciate it Thanks .
I do all my testing at the desktop computer. I don't take audio devices with me when going out.
As for foobar2000 on a computer. To get bit perfect you can download asio drivers and go into the settings and change the output to asio (device your using, may need to change the bit depth). Then just play a audio cd or file.
Thank you for your time Eric I really appreciate it !
Because of your reviews I bought the Nx4 and of course I love it I just feel I don't use it to his potential because I used it with my phone and bubbleupnp app
Because I can't get to figure out foobar2000 app for Android for now .
But eventually I will likely everything else .
Also in my PC I have foobar2000 fully working with topping combo D30/D10 and A30 and I really like it
Also have some and fiio dacs schit combo raspberry pi with hifiberry and Allo boards .
Bud I think I started to like more and more DSD !
Thanks again
Cheers !
@@senseisuarez Massdrop currently has the burson v5i op amps (dual x 2 for a30). Many people change the stock ones out because of some veil with the sound, maybe something to check out.
Just ordered one to try in the D10 thanks for the heads up ! ;)
Hi Eric, are the NX4 DSD neutral tuning i mean uncolored so it can show my true sounding of my iem? last can it used as reference? now im using ibasso dx160 but to my ears 160 are colored sounding. thank
If you want uncolored and neutral I would recommend the thx portable or the desktop version 788. (I have not had a massdrop/drop 789, monoprice 887, or smsl 888).
- They will lean towards the analytical side of things. It can sound a bit clinical but in a good neutral way. This is my reference for testing.
- Edit: I do have a fiio m11 pro, have not really used it or tested it yet, but on first impressions it sounds a bit more sterile.
- Edit: Things that are not thx but getting pretty uncolored and neutral for cheaper are like the jds labs atom and fiio k3. The newer geshelli labs archel pro 2.0 gets pretty close too.
The topping nx4 will be on the analytical side but it has more colorization and is not exactly neutral. Still sounds very natural.
The ifi stuff like the xcan is good at being natural and warm. I would not consider it uncolored and neutral tho.
@@retroericreviews8828 thank you 😁 I take NX4 DSD I like NX sounds and to my ears it even better then my iBasso DX160
Awesome review, thanks!
does the line out go mute or turn off when headphone is plugged?
The line out takes priority. Meaning the headphone out is either cut out, or some crosstalk.
Hey any chance you have the NX4 driver for PC? Seems their website is no longer operational for some reason, any help would be appreciated
The website is working just fine for me. Do you have a nx4 or a nx4 dsd? (two different versions, I have the newer dsd version).
- www.tpdz.net/wdzn_detail/newsId=59.html
- www.tpdz.net/wdzn_detail/newsId=56.html
edit: typing nx4 dsd driver and clicking on result does not load page. I just type topping audio and go to home page then support.
- www.tpdz.net/index.html
I’m having trouble getting sound with pairing it to my iPhone XS Max through the dac port, i have a usb camera adapter but still no sound. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Have you hooked up the usb dac port on the nx4 dsd to a computer and installed the drivers and made sure it is working so you know you don't have a faulty port? Also have you tried the camera adapter cable on another pair of devices to make sure it's not a faulty cable which can be very likely?
I don't know of any fixes. You may need to contact topping if you are having issues. I read some amazon questions and people said it works fine with their iphone (6 or 7 I saw), the problem is I don't know if the nx4 dsd* has full iphone/apple support (certified). But it does fully* support android users.
Edit: Btw, you don't need drivers for phone.
Hey, did you get things sorted out? I checked amazon, and topping seems to have one that is $100 compatible with ios and should come with a lighting to usb cable. If you contacted them, maybe they will swap it out for you unless you decided to just return it.
Edit: Sorry, amazon has a listing error. That one I was looking at was not a newer dsd version, that was the non dsd version.
I contacted Topping and said I can use even a powerbank with 5v/3a, nx4 will only take the 5v/1.5a charging It needs and will not get damaged..
Will you make xduoo xd-05 plus review and with other op amps?
I already have burson v5i-d op amps. I don't have an xduoo xd-05 plus yet but plan on trying one down the road.
ifi nano black vs topping nx4 ? only about SQ
I would take the cheaper nx4.
Retro Eric Reviews thank you. let me ask you about nx4 vs dragonfly red, on SQ?
@@dennisleon1040 I don't own a aq red so I can't say.
I have LG G6, can topping NX4 would be a good update over it?
I don't know what the LG G6 sounds like. But from my knowledge the lg phones have pretty decent dac chips in them but their amp is not great/powerful. I can say the nx4 is a huge upgrade over a crappy phone or laptop device and a good upgrade vs my motherboard audio. (Btw I don't know phone compatibility with the topping nx4).
What headphones are you using, if they are sub par you may want to upgrade the headphone first since that will a bigger improvement.
Thank you for this review, you are the first person i found that talks about battery run time on these units. I'm considering nx4 vs the q1 mk2. Have you had the chance to run the q1mk2 with line in on battery run time? I'm leaning towards the nx4 because of the run time you reported with the line in, and the sound output you report back seems to be more inline with what i prefer. Thanks.
I did run the fiio q1 mark ii with line in, but I don't remember what the battery life was sorry. Mind you if you use the line in your don't take advantage of the built in dac. If that is the case you may want to consider the nx5 instead which has even longer battery life anyways.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks for the reply, i checked out the nx5 review you did I decided to go nx4 because i dont know how good the dac in my device is going to be and it sounds like everything you give positives on the sound output for the nx4 seems like it would fit my taste also. Although that q1mk2 still seems like a very nice mobile unit. Thanks again, helped me out a lot.
Which would you prefer for the 58x ..nx4 or nano black ???
One of the best amp/dac I own atm is the monoprice thx aaa portable.
I really like the geshelli labs amp/dac combo on the 58x tho because there is some colorization. As for the nx4 vs ifi nano both are really good but I think I prefer nx4.
I'm currently looking into buying a portable DAC/amp. I see you've had a chance to use pretty much all the ones I'm looking at.
1. Fiio Q1 mk2
2. Topping nx4 dsd
3. Ifi nano idsd black label
4. Xduoo xd-05
Which one would you go with if you had to choose one for on the go listening from a phone? Really appreciated and input. Thanks
Any of those have good sound quality/sound signatures. Bare in mind the topping nx4 (usb dac port) some people have issues running on their phones (some are compatible). But this is what I recommend if you get it on sale.
I bought the monoprice monolith thx aaa portable with %20 coupon and it sounds the best of the things I currently own (funny it sounds so good even tho the port is single ended).
- Some people have had issues especially with the earlier units. I have had no issues so far with it (works fine) other than for some reason mine only lasts 6 hours on the usb input.
- Edit btw the guy who left a 2 star ratting sounds like the same guy who got a bad unit on audio science review forums (same issues I don't have).
@@retroericreviews8828 awesome man. Thank you. Much appreciated
Hi good review, do you think the NX3s is comparable in quality to the NX4? Thanks
I don't have a nx3s, so I don't know how it compares.
It does have a higher output impedance which means it may make lower impedance headphones sound like you have a bass boast turned on. At least that's what it's like for my focal elears on the topping dx7s for example.
Nx1s I did have and it was meh. Nx2s I never got around to making a video and is just collecting dust. From what I remember from last using is the treble is a bit harsher and soundstage is better at least.
@@retroericreviews8828 Hi thanks for the fast reply, I may get that one, still deciding....you are so good and thorough explaining these, I learned almost everything from your videos, and got nothing out of all the other videos out there. You cover every aspect. Keep up the good work it is greatly valued and appreciated!
Compare with ifi nano bl? But Toping as amp only please
Topping NX4 is DAC and AMP Combo, it has the newest ESS Sabre DAC with better tonality; for the price, this cant be beat. Ifi Nano BL is good but much more pricey, and you get better results on NX4 than Ifi nano.
@@OliviaRosalesVlogs soundsignature is same?
@@ultramenricky3805 did you even watch his review? He said, it has great tonality and dynamics agaisnt the nx4 dsd. Which is what read too on reviews of the nx4 dsd in reddit and other online reviewers. Theyll take this over ifi nano dsd bl because, its cheaper and better performer.
The nx4 Dac is slightly better. The nx4 Amp is also slightly better and can have more power (better dynamics without iematch, read description).
I can still recommend the ifi nano especially if you get it on sale and you would rather prefer the more neutral sound signature (slightly forward mids and little bright highs) and tonality vs the nx4 v shape and warmer but more natural better quality tonality.
should i get this over the fiio q1 mk2???
I would get the nx4 dsd version over the q1 mark ii. Better sound, more power. Bare in mind that easy to drive cans/buds may have a slight channel imbalance at start of volume nob because the volume control is analog and some people have reported faulty included cables. I have seen the q1 mark ii for around 50 to 75 usd and the nx4 100 to 130 usd.
@@retroericreviews8828 would you recommend using those dac amps for smartphones? i'm using a nokia 6 and i do have lot of flac files and mp3s (320kbps) and "hi-fi" earbuds
@@goodnightmoon yes
@@retroericreviews8828 thank you, i will definitely get the nx4 dsd ❤️
Hi eric, I want to ask, I have NX4, not DSD, why can't I use DAC only, does NX4 not support it, is it only the type of DSD that supports
DSD is a format. If your asking why the non dsd version can't play DSD is because it's not supported.
Both versions have a built in dac. You want to use the micro usb input on the nx4 so it works as both a amp+dac.
If you only use the 3.5mm line in then your only using the amp portion of the unit and if you use the 3.5mm line out to another device then your only using the dacs line output.
Retro Eric Reviews honestly I do not understand about like this do you have IG for me to ask questions
@@bayumochi8924 IG = instagram? no I don't have one. What do you not understand about? Did I read your question wrong?
Retro Eric Reviews I don't think it's too hard to explain. I made a video of how I sent the video to you
Retro Eric Reviews I tried to replace with Device Xiaomi Redmi 4x using HF onkyo player and what happened was only the audio output route that was detected was only the NX4 phone was not detected what was the solution?
I saw you wrote you have a Q5. I miself have one and like it a lot, but would like to know how would it compare to NX4 as a dac and amp. I've heard people say NX4 has a good dac, but a coloured amp. My headphones are Fiio FH5 and Sennheiser HD600(for wich i'm making a 2,5mm 4pin cable to use it in balanced for extra power). I'm planning on getting BGVP DM6/Kanas Pro headphones too. I had Fiio A5 in the past, but found the stock amp module (AM3A) on the Q5 to be better sounding, even if it's a lot less powerfull.
I have not tried the am5 module yet and have not compared my q5 (used it much) too make a full opinion on it. Without going into too much detail the q5 is quite warm (especially with bass boast turned on, I think it distorts in balanced mode tho) and it has a nice spacious musical sound too it without it sounding too laid back but I can get lost into the music. It's a nice experience trying one out and I do think the sound quality is a notch higher than the nx4.
But, I think $350 is a bit too pricey imo, I would recommend it (comes with more features) if someone had a %20 ebay coupon (+ ebay bucks) and got it closer to what I paid which is like $200-250 (depending if you buy it from the $300 seller on ebay).
For $130 the nx4 is pretty darn good for the price and if you already have a q5 the nx4 can still be worth trying, who knows maybe you like the sound signature and it's not much of a downgrade.
@@retroericreviews8828 I haven't said anything about AM5 module, i mentioned the A5 amp. The AM3A balanced output doesn't distort on my Q5, i have tested it with Fiio FH5 with a 2,5mm cable and HD600 with a 2,5mm cable in a showroom. That's why i'm making a HD600 2,5mm 4pin cable, to use is with the AM3A. Two guys in my area suggested the same, after testing AM5 vs AM3A on balanced output, with HD600, the AM3A on balanced sounded better and louder. I don't use the bass boost, it's a really really crappy implementation, Fiio just can't make a decent bass boost like Ifi do for example.
@@ionescugeorge5606 hmmmm
My q5 bass boast is really warm and it can be quite muddy on headphones that are already warm and bassy. Also, my q5 the bass boast is one of the strongest if your running it in balanced mode (stock module) and due to the effort in bass it's putting out I can hear a little bit of distortion in the bass on the headphones I have.
I will go into more detail after I have spent more time with it since I have not used it much, mostly first impressions. There is also filters for this on the fiio software if you blue tooth it to your phone or tablet. I will try one of the narrower filters to see if I can hear a difference (but worth mentioning).
@@retroericreviews8828 It's really not a bass boost, as it starts from 500hz, so it boosts the lower midrange a lot and makes the bass lose control and definition real bad. It's unusable even with bass light headphones like HD600. You just need to connect the Q5 via BT to set-up the low pass filters, after that the setting remains even if you close it or connect it to any device. The differences are very gentle, but you can notice them if you change them while listening and use decent headphone like Fiio FH5 at least. If somebody played with them without telling me, i wouldn't be able to tell anything has changed, it's that small of a difference.
Great review! Do you know if it would sound better if I used the NX4 as a standalone DAC for my laptop and plugged in my FiiO A3 amp in the line in/out or just using the NX4 as the DAC and amp? I received the FiiO A3 amp as a gift and am in need of a portable DAC for my laptop/smartphone. I am considering buying the NX4, but am unsure.
I like the nx4 better in terms of a portable dac/amp. I use a lcx which is pretty transparent in terms of testing dacs, not sure if some people would notice the difference tho on their setup.
Hello Eric!! I'm from Uruguay. My english Is not the best. I'm about yo buy a dac. Wich would u buy betwen 50 AND 120? Y want good quality natural sound. Y mostly listen techno but also a Lot of 70s rock! Topping Cambridge fiio? Thank u AND cheers from Montevideo Uruguay!
Hi mate. You need desktop or portable?
- Portable recommendations (usd): ifi xdsd $400, ifi xcan $300, monoprice thx aaa $250, ifi nano $200, topping nx4 $130, topping nx5 $80, fiio q1 mark ii $60.
- Since your international I don't know what options you have that would be a good deal without paying extra for shipping+customs.
- Sound can sometimes be subjective to what exactly one would want, but what I can say is the monoprice thx aaa or the topping nx4 are good choices if you get them on sale.
@@retroericreviews8828 thank u very much for ur quick answer. How much diference Is un sound quality betwen the ifi xcan and the topping nx5? Chau! Gracias! I Will go for a portable probably so i can use it mostly with my desk receiver wich is not very good ( denon avr 520bt) AND also use it for travel with mi headphones)
@@jeanprochet3082 There will be a bigger difference between headphones than their will be between amplifiers. If your debating it, it might be better to save the money on the amp and just go with the nx5 and put the rest of the budget towards a headphone. Receivers may not have good built in dacs. For me the ifi xdsd and xcan I do feel good when listening to it, but the small difference may not be worth the price tag.
@@retroericreviews8828 thanks! In Uruguay the only way to get a dac Is buying it in Amazon AND a company charge us a Lot depending on weight AND size yo bring ir over. We are aloud to buy from usa 3 times per year AND each purchase can not be over 200 dolars!!! Is a bit dificult over here. But i Will get the best for under 200.
Hey thanks for the nice review!
I'm looking for a portable dac/amp to use both at home with my ATH-WS1100iS headphones and on the go with Tin T2 IEMs.
I don't really have many options because I can only buy locally and all I can find is:
Topping NX4 DSD
Dragonfly Black
Topping NX2S
FiiO BTR3
NX4 DSD seems like the best choice however I'm afraid of the channel imbalance when using it with such low power headphones and IEMs. What do you think?
If the channel imbalance is too much you can try lowing the volume from the source or if you can get a used ifi ie match or ear buddy cheap. (some downsides is the ie match ultra setting can sound too much and it can push some amps too much into distortion/clipping at high volumes so high setting should be enough).
Otherwise you need to find something that has a digital volume control like the df black (does not have a built in battery so it will drain phone power).
@@retroericreviews8828 Thanks for the reply! As I said I can only buy locally and the things I listed are the only things I can find.
Is there any disadvantage to lowering volume from the source? Or any disadvantage to digital volume control?
Dragonfly Black is quite tempting but I'm afraid it won't sound nearly as good as the NX4 DSD. I am also planning on buying some more expensive cans and IEMs such as HD 600 and Tin P1 later on. So I think, NX4 would be much better for me if the channel imbalance won't be a big issue.
If you set windows to 16 bit, and you try lowering windows volume it will lower the bit depth. For example you lower to %80 volume instead of %100 you get 14-15 bit depth (forgot which one it divided into equally). The same can apply to other sources like phones. This is why on computers people download foobar and use asio or wasapi for bit perfect playback.
A digital volume control will not have channel imbalance. So things like the q1 mark ii or q5s or thx aaa portable monoprice for example.
If you plan on getting something like a 600 or 6xx then I would just go for the nx4 then. The ie match is good if you can get it cheap. Ultra setting may distort and sound too attenuated but high will sound mostly fine and is good for improving dynamics if* an amplifier has too much glare at too loud of volumes. It will lower volume so it allow you to crank the amp higher to where the channels are more matched.
@@retroericreviews8828 Ooh thanks for the detailed explanation!
You're really knowledgeable about this stuff and nice enough to share your knowledge and help people! I really appreciate it! I have asked enough already so if you feel like you don't want to reply any further that's totally fine and understandable! But here goes the long block of text if you feel like reading it xD
Doesn't Digital volume control on for example the FiiO Q1 Mk2 also reduce bit depth? If not, then why do they even put analogue volume control on AMPs?
The ifi IEMatch would cost $75 to get it shipped here (due shipping costs, tax etc.), really out of my budget. But the ifi Ear Buddy would cost me about $35 so I can afford that one at least.
I'm really not experienced with expensive headphones, DACs and AMPs. So, I really have no idea what to expect from a good DAC/AMP compared to a good onboard sound card (Asus X370 Prime) when paired with cheaper IEMs and cans like the ones I own.
Like how much difference is there between a good onboard sound card and the FiiO Q1 Mk2 or the NX4 DSD? Is it night and day difference even on cheap and easy to drive stuff?
I would ask the same question about Q1 Mk2 vs NX4 DSD. Again for the cheap and easy to drive stuff I own, is there any difference between them?
I can get the FiiO Q1 Mk2 shipped here for $150 so it'd be much cheaper when compared to NX4 DSD ($200) and ifi Ear Buddy ($35) together. Although the FiiO would take 30 days to arrive, but so would the ifi Ear Buddy. So if the NX4 DSD won't make much difference when compared to the FiiO, I would rather buy the FiiO and save $85.
Well I am not knowledgeable enough to know exactly about digital volume on amps. But go to the fiio q5s websites features page and scroll down till you get to the ADC volume. Software volume is a totally different subject. The q5s for example just does processing so it does not have channel imbalance (think of it as a dac feature).
$75 for the ie match is way too much (there is two versions, one is balanced only while the other does se or balanced), if you use it with the nx4 you would just need the cheaper ear buddy which is single ended only. (I don't have the ear buddy I have the other two which I paid less than 30 usd one was used and one was on sale new).
It's going to be a much better difference with a headphone upgrade than it will be than a amp/dac upgrade. I would save the money for a headphone upgrade first and see how well it runs off your motherboard since it's probably decent enough compared to crappy solutions like laptops and phones.
Not sure what conversion that price comes too but if that was usd that would be really high. But for $50 more I would get the nx4. If you think something like a ear buddy will be needed you can then pick one up but only if you think you need it. My unit only has a very tiny channel imbalance but that's at low volumes.
Can I plug into AC power and plug into PC to get the benifits of the DAC? All at the same time?
Not sure what you mean. The topping nx4 has two separate micro usb ports on the back. You can plug both into the computer, one is for charging and one is for playing audio and you can use them both at the same time with no* noise (static, hiss.ect)
great thx
Please do a review on the M1060 and, if possible, compare it with the HD58X. Thanks for your work, nice videos
Yes, I will do a review of the m0160 and m1060c. Next up is NX5 (recently got) and will talk a bit more about the Fiio A5 in that same video. Then I can get rid of some amps and I probably do the headphones next.
You forgot the power dude, how powerful the amp on this bad boy. hehe you have your standard fostex t50rps to check the power of this and the Sennheisers. let us know! thanks!
10-11 clock for m1060c and 58x on high gain and about 11-12 clock on low gain. T50rp MK3 about 11-12 clock on high gain and about 12-1 clock on low gain.
The power is strong in this one.
On the Topping, when using as an AMP ONLY, are the vocals recessed as well? For an AMP, did you prefer the A5 or the Topping more?
As stated in the video, as an amp only I did say the vocals are slightly louder/closer, but a very small difference. Both the A5 and Topping NX4 sound good for an amp, I would take the nx4.
Hi, Eric. I am impressed by Topping NX4 DSD. It is for sure the best source I have ever listened to. So what amp would you recommend for Fiio Q5 to beat NX4 DSD driving low impedance IEMs?
Both the fiio q5 and nx4 are an amp/dac. They now have a q5s out now. The nx4 may a bit more powerful then the q5, but things such as the thx aaa or fiio q5 or q1 mark ii have digital volume so you will not have channel imbalance for easy to drive stuff. I still like nx4, but I also like my thx aaa, fiio q5, and ifi xcan/xdsd. I am also getting a chord mojo soon too.
@@retroericreviews8828 There is number of AM modules for Fiio X7/Q5. May be you tried other than AM3A coming with Q5. If not nevermind. I enjoy NX4 and trust your opinion regarding any DAC/AMP
@@adilshal I got my fiio q5 with the stock am3 module, but I did get a am5 module for really cheap. In fact I have it in the box and have not got around to trying it yet. They have a newer q5s out now and they even have a thx aaa 78 module.
Awesome Review mate!
Source : Sony nw a45 or Laptop with Tidal Hfi
IEM : DGVP DM6 and Tin T2
Others : AKG K240
Which is better DAC?
Topping nx4
ifi nano black label
Fiio qmkii
I already mentioned it in the video. Btw, I know (remember) the ifi nano supports mqa if you care about that.
The fiio q1 mark ii line you can easily tell the congestion and lower quality it is outputting, if I don't dac line out it and use it as a portable device and go balanced it actually sounds better (line out is piss poor).
Now the line out on the nx4 and the nano is much closer to each other in terms of sound quality, I think the nx4 is slightly better tho.
@@retroericreviews8828 Thanks mate. Keep posting more reviews!!
I've heard the SMSL sap-11 is a nice DAC/amp too.
@@jorgecosta7620 Thanx dude. Will check !
@@jorgecosta7620 I have not tried any of the smsl products yet. My first will probably be the su-8 balanced dac (version 2, measures better from what I have seen on audio science review) and the sh-8 which is like the cheapest balanced amp you can even get.
To be honest I have not yet check out what else they have.
... Toppling?
Lol good review man, really thorough and informative which i really really appreciate since i'm considering buying this. But the mispronunciation was a little distracting!
Same
Also you keep saying the monoprice thx aaa portable is great, but it measured quite poorly on ASR
Noise measurements does not tell one how it will sound. Also, the thx measured pretty good and most of what was probably found is not audible.
- But, some people have reported a good about of hiss when using iems (not headphones). I don't have any iems to test that.
- My unit does have some electrical noise when I have the volume from -5 (barely audible) to +16. I have not figured out what causes it, and sometimes it has no noise in that range. At normal volumes you cannot hear it at all and because of the thx technology it sounds cleaner than what it measures.
Look at the xduoo xd05
Very nice! You really know your audio! Get yourself a nicer review background, you are the next Z on TH-cam:)
What's wrong with this background? Maybe I will play with the webcam setting to see if I can improve the picture quality, but otherwise I am too lazy to do any editing (or pick thumbnails), and I prefer the uncut review style.
the next z on youtube? I don't think so, he is much more entertaining then me and other reviewers have better format video quality compared to mine. This is just a hobby as of now and even after like 3 years I don't expect to get more than 10,000 subs (or would I even get 1k subs at that).
Great review! (as I reach for my credit card...) : )
Lucky you, amazon (topping audio seller) seems to have a newer version that is %100 compatible with ios and is on sale for $140 (vs massdrop $135). At first I thought it was the non dsd version (which they don't even sell anymore, but I think they now have a updated version now and it comes with lighting to usb).
If you have any questions let me know.
@@retroericreviews8828 I see the NX4 DSD on Amazon for $140.79. Also, Amazon has a Topping NX4 DSD XMOS for $159.99, have you any thoughts on the one for $159.99? Again thanks!
@@rich00273119 The black one for $140 I was looking at is a listing mistake, because they also have a separate listing for the silver one for $140 and it's the non dsd version. Which means it's using the older xmos (or w/e) chip that does not do dsd or sample rates up to 768 khz, but the older version does have %100 ios support.
The one for $160 has a option for black or silver and is the newer version with dsd and 768 khz support. Not %100 compatible with ios tho.
If your in the us, maybe wait till it drops on massdrop again. If your not in the us, you may end up making customs. So may be better to get it direct from your country.
Edit: Big ops. One reason not to impulse buy because of listing mistakes.
I love your job
So i living in Senegal
You should've added Topping Nx3s 😭
Thanks for the review! Any chance you know if this can drive anything from the Sennheiser HD series? I’m looking at upgrading to the HD6xx and since I’m on the go a lot I’m looking to pick up a solid portable DAC amp to pair it with. I’ve heard heard great things about the NX4 but I’m concerned it won’t be able to run the HD 6xx. From what I’ve gathered it can run the HD series pretty well but I’m curious how much headroom I’ll have in terms of power. If you could help I’d really appreciate it.
If power and noise is such a concern you should check out audio science reviews website.
The nx4/nx5 is going to have more power than any other portable costing less. I don't see it as a concern. I heard the ifi micro (the big one) has a ton of power for a portable.
"Topping!"
Informative, yet the monotone tone in the voice makes it boring to watch.
topling
I love your job
So i living in Senegal
Thanks. As of now it's just a hobby only.