Topping D50
- Thread starter E.Auer
- Start date
fredgarvin
Super Member
Be careful if your amp is DC coupled, the folks from Little Dot have said that when used as a preamp it can pass dc to a DC coupled amp and damage your speakers. I was going to buy one but that changed my mind.
GSS61
Super Member
Thanks, I read about that... I have it hooked up to a TPA3250 based chip amp (FX502S PRO) in my desktop computer near field system; it has coupling capacitors (not direct coupled) so I think I'm good to go. Sounds fine so far, no problems.
GSS61
Super Member
Interesting, mine definitely has them... maybe an earlier version didn't?
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JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
Doh!!!
I got off my lazy duff and looked at mine. You are correct. I have no idea why I thought there were no variable line level outputs.
The reason I bought it is mostly because it's OTL, although the adjustable gain is a nice feature. Every time I've heard an OTL amp driving planar or esl speakers I've loved the results. The same sort of sound from headphones is my goal. As I'm mainly using either Monolith M-560's or M-300's I think I'm on the right track. Mine runs rather hot which prompts me to not leave it on for long periods of time.
I've never been all that fond of headphones. None that I've ever heard produce any sort of soundstage for me (binaural recordings excepted). That lack of a soundstage has always bothered me. However, there are other attributes of headphones I like.
BTW: The M-300's work especially well with my AGPTEK Rocker 2. That the Rocker 2 does DSD files is a big plus for me. It's very reasonable cost doesn't hurt either.
I got off my lazy duff and looked at mine. You are correct. I have no idea why I thought there were no variable line level outputs.The reason I bought it is mostly because it's OTL, although the adjustable gain is a nice feature. Every time I've heard an OTL amp driving planar or esl speakers I've loved the results. The same sort of sound from headphones is my goal. As I'm mainly using either Monolith M-560's or M-300's I think I'm on the right track. Mine runs rather hot which prompts me to not leave it on for long periods of time.
I've never been all that fond of headphones. None that I've ever heard produce any sort of soundstage for me (binaural recordings excepted). That lack of a soundstage has always bothered me. However, there are other attributes of headphones I like.
BTW: The M-300's work especially well with my AGPTEK Rocker 2. That the Rocker 2 does DSD files is a big plus for me. It's very reasonable cost doesn't hurt either.
AlphaEcho35
Super Member
So my Topping D50 finally showed up today. What's even better, it powered up! 
For now, I connected with the included USB to power converter cable with an iphone charger. Here's a pic of it sitting on top the Raspberry Pi running Ropieee as the streamer for my Roon setup. The Bifrost Multibit is down below. I have a Y coax cable coming out of the Raspberry Pi/Allo DigiOne into both the Bifrost and the D50. I'll do some listening and A/B comparisons and report back here-what-I-hear.
For now, I connected with the included USB to power converter cable with an iphone charger. Here's a pic of it sitting on top the Raspberry Pi running Ropieee as the streamer for my Roon setup. The Bifrost Multibit is down below. I have a Y coax cable coming out of the Raspberry Pi/Allo DigiOne into both the Bifrost and the D50. I'll do some listening and A/B comparisons and report back here-what-I-hear.Attachments
AlphaEcho35
Super Member
I would think you could, however, the little control toggle is so small, I wouldn’t think it would be useful to use in anything more than a desktop headphone type environment. I haven’t been able to spend much time with it yet, but definitely couldn’t use it as a preamp easily in a standard system with speakers type arrangement.
nedseg
Well-Known Member
Finally got mine! Was worth the wait and uncommunicative seller on Ali.
Yes, you can, but per above, even for desktop use, it's a small (and probably fragile?) knob...hard to hit in a hurry, but the 'push to mute' feature is handy in an emergency.
I inserted an Emotiva Control Freak 'big knob' between the D50 and JBL 305s, which is faster to reach & spin, and far less fragile for quick access.
The D50 is an upgrade to the 'audiophile' PC card that came with the PC 6yrs ago, and the sound quality improvement is startling, to say the least. I think I'm finally hearing what the little 305s are capable of!
FWIW, I'm running it on Win7, with Musicbee3.2.6693 (WASAPI). I have been listening to everything from mp3s to DSD256 multi-channel, and it all sounds fantastic.
Yes, you can, but per above, even for desktop use, it's a small (and probably fragile?) knob...hard to hit in a hurry, but the 'push to mute' feature is handy in an emergency.
I inserted an Emotiva Control Freak 'big knob' between the D50 and JBL 305s, which is faster to reach & spin, and far less fragile for quick access.
The D50 is an upgrade to the 'audiophile' PC card that came with the PC 6yrs ago, and the sound quality improvement is startling, to say the least. I think I'm finally hearing what the little 305s are capable of!
FWIW, I'm running it on Win7, with Musicbee3.2.6693 (WASAPI). I have been listening to everything from mp3s to DSD256 multi-channel, and it all sounds fantastic.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
The D-50 is available again on massdrop for $199 and worth every penny. These drops don't last long.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/topping-d50-dac?mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Drop: Request Launched&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Drop: Request Launched&utm_content=1526303142761.413878805573886708404777&referer=ZU39SC&utm_content=1526303142761.413878805573886708404777
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/topping-d50-dac?mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Drop: Request Launched&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Drop: Request Launched&utm_content=1526303142761.413878805573886708404777&referer=ZU39SC&utm_content=1526303142761.413878805573886708404777
GSS61
Super Member
That is really an amazing deal... tempting!
corbin
Well-Known Member
I'm having a hard time deciding whether this would be an audible upgrade in my modest vintage system from my Creative USB external "audio interface" (EMU 0202 USB; has inputs for mics and instruments) which I bought years ago for $50 and use as a soundcard. I tend to think that most improvements in soundcards/DACs come from moving it out of the motherboard area. It already sounds as good as my CD player so not seeing much room for improvement.
Creative products have been long criticized for not being well suited for audiophile-grade duties. I haven't been very happy with my SB Audigy2 ZS notebook card, which doesn't sound right even in digital "bit-accurate" bypass mode, when I use its optical output to an external DAC. I'd say go for it.
GSS61
Super Member
OK, I couldn't resist and joined the Topping D50 drop... looking forward to checking out this new state-of-the-art high value DAC 
I was very pleased with my Topping D30 (before it was bricked by a nearby lightning strike) and really like the Topping D10 DAC's I'm currently using in my setups
I was very pleased with my Topping D30 (before it was bricked by a nearby lightning strike) and really like the Topping D10 DAC's I'm currently using in my setups
Perhaps, but if I had a 10 y/o sound device of questionable pedigree I'd feel I'm way overdue for an upgrade. There have been some advances in USB and DAC tech in the last 10 years.
AlphaEcho35
Super Member
Looking at your equipment list in your signature, I think you would probably see some improvement going with any decent stand-alone DAC. The D50 would be a good fit. What's your music source?
corbin
Well-Known Member
To be fair, the 0202 USB is essentially a standalone DAC. I think my source is pretty decent, foobar2000 FLAC files (CD rips) from laptop.
I may have bought another headphone amp which only has a 1/4" headphone out because I wasn't paying attention! So I now have a SMSL unit and a xDuoo(from massdrop). The xDuoo has dual Wolfson dacs which is what caught my eye? It also has a single tube, 12au7, which I have already bought a replacement Telefunken?
The question is, can I expect decent results from either of these hooking up direct to RCA inputs on a 2 channel stereo from the headphone jack if one sets the volume control at a proper level? I do have a pair of headphones, but I really don't use them.
