After I obtained the E50, I continued to play music without stopping for 48 hours. At the 49th hour, I personally listened to it and got a beautiful and elegant sound. The sound quality of the E50 is indeed much higher than that of the E30, and the details are also better. I highly recommend it!
@@ippothedestroyer I had the E30 too. I now have the E50 still testing it. The difference is not that big. Dont expect spectacular change in sound quality. I mean at double the price you got a slight difference. The e30 is still one of my favorite dac ever. I just wanted to let you know.
Thanks. I heard topping has a firmware upgrade for the e50. Have you found any reference on your dac which firmware came with your unit & where to find it ?
Just bought an E50 and a pair of Toppings RCA connectors going to powered speakers.Thinking of getting an L50 after seeing the good reviews. The Topping RCAs would change to TCT balanced then. About the Topping interconnects, they sound very good. Treble is clear and audible without brittleness and this is true with powerful bass and clearly recognizable bass instrument notes. The rest of the audio band was better too, just not as obvious. I’ve donated generously to a number of cable suppliers and the 3 foot pair of Toppings cables at 70 dollars can was a good deal for considering Topping’s performance. Yeah $70’s more than $15 but $15’ less than thousands, and a few thousand is only the start. A lot of those mega bucks interconnects get good reviews but I cannot conceive any of reality for the price. On our budget Topping side most people will use shorter cables (3ft). I “think” the Topping cables are really good, just sample before buying. There’s some nice $15 cables too.
I think that the Jameco Reliapro DDU050100H4660 is a worthwhile addition to the Topping E50. The sound stage is wider and deeper, there is a lot more air, and the refinement is definitely improved. For less than $15, this really raises the E50's performance significantly. I'm loving the E50 with this cheap upgrade and have no interesting in more expensive delta-sigma ChiFi DACs at this time, since my main DAC is the Musician Pegasus, and I'm very happy with that for more serious listening. If you buy the E50, I definitely recommend that you buy the Jameco, too!
is there a difference between dac and pre amp mode? i read online they are the same with different volume levels. Will it still do digital to analog conversion in pre amp mode? Im planning on using it for stereo receiver
E50 is definitely more refined than E30. No question. Compared to a mid-tier Dac like Smsl Su9, however, I found the treble/mid from E50 is less defined more edgy and the bass rumbles but is not as nimble as Su-9. This sound signature of bass is accentuated when playing with subwoofer. The bass note goes low but is not as weighty. Female vocals is full with hints of sibilance, but not as smooth as Su9. Sound stage is wider but tends to be flat. Well, my best half often says that you get what you pay for and, at this price point, she convinces me.
Hello, I like the review. Can I kindly ask for your opinion - how does the topping e50 compare with khadas tone 2 pro - since you have tested them both? Is it worth the upgrade from khadas which I already own to topping e50 - dac only?
It seems topping or smsl has separate linear power supply for sell at affordable price. I wish there could be comparison video with stocked switching power supply side by side.
Would the Xduoo XA-10 be a better option as a DAC? I don't mind spending the xtra money that the Xduoo would cost but was just wondering your thoughts on that. I know you really enjoyed the XA-10 and from listening to your sound sample of it with the Quad's. It did indeed sound very good. I would be using it mainly for speakers and not the headphone capabilities. Thanks! Enjoy your reviews very much.
Fantastic review! You inspired me to buy it, and I enjoy it very much. What do you think about the Loxjie D50 compared to Topping E50? Just wondering if I should buy the Loxjie D50 for a meaningful improvement in sound quality. Thanks again!
How would you compare this E50 L50 COMBO with SMSL SU8 and SMSL SH8 And what do you think would be the next step up in terms of price and quality ? Would be also nice if you could make a DAC comparison video with different DACS with same songs and the same equipment so we could easily compare the differences.
Hi Tharmabar, awesome vids as always. Would you know if the E50's pre-amp section is decent? or would a dedicated analogue preamp will still be better?
I bought the ifi zen dac Signature V2 brand new the week it released - had high expectations but was disappointed - I returned it. Nothing remarkable at all at that price. Later I bought a Hidiz S9 Pro dongle DAC (for a different purpose) and was pleasantly surprised by its sound. Clear, good balance and more punch than the ifi Zen Dac Signature (when used in my main system). Equipment used : Streamer - ifi Zen Stream, Blusound Node 2021, Amplifier - Marantz PM 6006, Sony STR DH 190, Hegel H190, SVS Soundbase, Speakers - KEF LS 50 Meta. I had tried the topping E30 earlier and the ifi Zen Dac Signature V2 sounded better than that to me. I do not know about the E50
Hello Tharbamar. Watching your previous videos I saw that you own a Marantz UD7007 so I decided to ask for your advice. Will the Topping E50 drastically improve the sound of my Marantz UD7007?
Thank you , really enjoyed your review , I felt it was very unbiased and scientifically biased. I ended up buying both the e50 and the l50 anf ifi power supply.. As a newby to the digital stuff I would some more detailed information on connection cables please. I find all the different terms . TRC, Coaxil etc confusing particularly when i need to connect to laptop.
You can use RCA or TRS to XLR or TRS to RCA cables etc depending on what you have but you can connect L50 directly to power amplifiers, you do not have to use pre amp between them.
Hi Tharmabar, I have a topping E50 + Topping PA5 stack, do you think this stack will be a good pair for the Polk R200 or even Wharfedale diamond 12.2/12.3? Should I go for the Polk or Wharfedale. Kindly help.
I just got this e50 DAC ..how are you powering it up? Wall outlet to a USB battery pack / charger and then to the DAC ..or straight from the battery only ( don’t go under 20 percent?? I’m confused..and everyone says it’s weakness is the power supply 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
@@Tharbamar thank you for your response. I also saw your smsl D300 review and it seems like a better dac over all. Would the D300 be a better pairing with my Musical Paradise mp-301 6.5watt tube amp?
Great review and agree with E50 performance. However, I ended up finally liking FiiO K5 pro, liked the big knob for attenuation and retro switches that were missing on E50. Did not like Topping forcing me to use their filters, could not find a way to disable it. Again, sound quality wise pretty much they are up to mark. Thanks for your review.
Both the Topping E50 and the SMSL DO200 got 5 stars from you. Which DAC has the better sound quality and does the SMSL DO200 justify the $200 premium over the E50?
Looking to get this stack for my LCD-3 and active studio monitor. Do I use DAC mode for both active monitor and headphone playing thru L50? My concern is how the volume is being controlled.. or do I use preamp mode for active monitor? Are there volume memory so it remembers the previous volume when I use preamp mode, while at DAC mode it will be at 0.0db?
@@Tharbamar Thanks for the reply. So DAC mode (100%) to L50 and preamp mode (50%) to active monitor? In another words, when switching between headphone and active monitor, volume will be played according to what was previously set (DAC 100% or preamp mode 50%)?
Hi, thanks for the review, I ended up with the E50 & L50 stack and pleased with them. I actually placed an order of the PA5 as well, look forward to your review of this. One question, when using with the L50 it should be in dac or pre mode?
Good morning I read in some forums that if you use a power supply with a higher amperage it improves the sound quality. For example 2.5A instead of 1.8A .... what do you think? anyway ... is a low noise power supply better than the one provided by the company? Thank you.
I would not go up higher than manufacturer recommended, E50 do not come with power supply btw, you can use high quality linear power supplies or power bank which I preferred for best noise control by getting off the grid, thanks
I compared the difference between E30 and E50, and found that the sound quality of E50 is more delicate and powerful at low frequencies, which highlights that the sound processing of E30 singers is slightly rough.
Hello, I bought the Topping E50, excellent bass and mids, but the sound is very compressed, as if a compressor treshold was activated, there is no spatiality, the cymbals or snare drums are stopped as if the sound does not continue. My pc's headphone jack audio does not have these defects, the difference is very noticeable. Can you give me some advice? Thanks.
@@Tharbamar Thanks for the reply. My amplifier is a Rotel A11, don't have balance connection. I also changed the power supply and usb cable, but only the background noise and other interference improved, not the strong sound compression. Maybe it's just my E50 that's having problems.
@@Tharbamar Hello, after several tests I finally discovered the problem. I changed usb cables, power supplies and rca cables to the E50, but the real problem was a bad quality rca / jack cable plugged into my pc's headphone output. This cable, connected to an input of my amplifier, generated a strange electrical problem (ground loop I think) that even entered inside the motherboard, busting the USB ports and degrading the signal. Incredible. Since I removed the problematic cable, the sound of the E50 is perfect, dynamics, detail, balance, all beautiful. I then discovered that the internal sound card of the pc, connected to the amplifier, produced strange effects, amplification of certain frequencies, volume changes, zero dynamics, terrible. The E50 is like a Ferrari in comparison. Thank you very much Tharbamar for the support. Have a good day.
Sir Tharbamar, I know you're very familiar with Wharfdale EVO 4.2, high frequency is rolled off. If I use E50 will I get an extension on my high frequency? Will this be a good pair? Thank you! P S Good review!
Best fix for me was adjusting the distance of listening position and toeing them in, try to see what is best height for you, I use 22" stands. If you still wants more extension new DAC is not the best way to fix it, tone control will do and may be you could also try Mogami W3104 or 3103 speaker wires, don't forget to replace the jumpers with same cables. Hope this help, thanks
Hi Danny I also use Evo 4.2..also have the problm because the sound is very warm..i try different kinds of amp..and for me perfect match is smsl da9.. Try it!!
@@johnretzelrejuso4798 HI John yes its warm sounding. I paired it with Marantz PM5005M because of its sound signature, boosted bass and boosted high frequency. One of the recommendation of Zero Fidelity is cambridge cxa81. He is also the one who recommended the Marantz PM5005M. Hearing your recommendation I watched to some reviews of smsl da9. All reviews are positive. I think I will try it. Thanks John
Hello, I have the Khadas Tone 2 Pro and I use it with a balanced Hifiman headphone bulb amplifier and a Sabaj Dali Oberon 1 speaker amplifier, do you think this E50 could complement the Khadas Tone 2 Pro? Would it help to get a different but pleasant sound with Dali Oberon speakers or headphones, if I use it with the Topping L30 headphone amplifier?
A very well-known gentleman (reviewer) on RUclips, out of respect I will not name, said "I felt that the E50 has a flatter and more neutral sound, a little more airy. The E30ii is warmer in the bass line, a little darker in the high, but even louder. Apart from the differences in tone, they are the same." What does "flatter" mean? Is it bad? Thanks.
Flatter means there is no forward or recessed frequency response in certain frequency ranges and that is by designed to achieve best results in sound reproduction. E30II is they improved from previous generations, more refined sound in audio terms compared to previous generation but I don’t recall E50 sound quality in my memory.
@@Tharbamar my friend, in what area of the sound the E70V will be better than E50? Would it justify paying more than double the value of the e50 just for sound? if yes i will go lol...
@@clabbem74 Just to clarify I don't do personal advices because everyone have different taste and opinions but it's worth every bit over E50 in sound quality alone but thats me, thanks
T2P is more transparent but less refined than E50 in my systems, sound stage may be a bit wider but brighter as well, E50 totally outclassed then in bass quality and musicality for me, thanks
@@r423fplip Musicality - it is the level of liking the sound reproduction. Higher musicality = more liking, lower musicality = less liking. @Tharbamar what is your point of view about that?:)
hi, i can hear pops or crack like sounds on my topping e50. what could you think be wrong? my power supply from a phone charger?or the need to upgrade my cables? rca . please comment
I agree with you, get rid of the MQA feature and drop the price. MQA isn't anything like what the developers told us that it is. I saw the documentation of third party testing done with files uploaded using the MQA software and there's a bunch of distortion in the audible range so in the higher frequencies it's not as clear. I get the concept, but it seems in execution it doesn't offer what they say it does. If something is recorded at a lower quality, how are you supposed to increase the quality of that recording if the data isn't there? For instance if a song is recorded 328 k, you can't uprate it to 44.1 khz because there wasn't 44.1khz data in the original recorded audio.
MQA sells to the masses, not to people like us that know better. And there are way more people out there that dont know, so its a wise marketing move for the company.
Hi there, so it is possible to recreate a signal using algorithms that interpolate what already exists in the original recording. It is similar to upscaling TVs from the 1080p to 4K resolution.
Time for a HAIRCUT! It's no longer 1977 when Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees ruled the music charts, but I guess trying to have the same hair style as Barry isn't so bad...LOL. Long hair aside, a very nice DAC review.
Hi Are you using AQ cables ? Nice to see. But i belive you mention that it was snake Oil. But Nice to se i use AQ my selv…..you should try the Niagara 1200 box you Will be amazed on how you ever could live without 👍 Thomas
I like to mix and match to find what is the best synergy with them in my system, I use all cables for what I need, yes some are overpriced for sure, thanks
This converter has a serious factory error when using spdif and optical input. Ever since they started using Cyrus as the receiver chip instead of the previous AK. I own it and I can say that USB works perfectly while spdif and optically interrupt and chop, I can freely say semi-finished product, unfortunately.
@@Tharbamar nice..will order soon to pair with my da9 and Wharfs Evo 4.2,by the way I orderdered the da9 for my Evo 4.2,the sound is very sweet!my evo shines with da9,and for the price the sound is very sweet!!
Hello bro Apple music က Hi-res ပြောင်းလာတဲ့အပေါ် အသံ အရေသွေးဘယ်ခေညက်ထိကောင်းလဲ ဆိုတာလေးပြောပြပေးပါအုံး တခြား online music တွေနဲ့ယှဉ်ရင် ပိုကောင်းလားသိချင်ပါတယ် လက်ရှိ Apple Music သုံးနေပါတယ် Apple က Dolby atmos အကြောင်းလဲ ရှင်းပြပေးပါအုံးခင်ဗျ 🙏🙏🙏
How does it compare to the D30 Pro sonically? I would use the E50 with my 5V linear power supply and don't need any of the features the D30 Pro provides.
I had D30 it is very nice neutral DAC but I never though of keeping it but this E50 really is an overachiever, I'm keeping it because I love how they sound. I would not hesitate to recommend it to my best friend, thanks
@@Tharbamar cool. I have a D30 and it is nothing special. Time for an upgrade. I am tempted by the E50 or Or the Geshelli Labs J2 DAC. It would be nice if you could review the Geshelli. I got the CSS TDX kit by the way. The upper midrange is incredibly clean sounding. Guitars and vocals are the best I've heard and great bass for bookshelf speakers. My only complaint is a big dip in he mid bass. I can hear the crack of snare drums but the body is missing. I am wondering if the higher quality inductors on the woofer circuit would improve that.
I bought the Topping E50 and compared it to my Schiit Modi Multibit, the Schiiit wins hands down! The tonality and texture of the of the Schiit is fleshed out which gives it more musicality and realism. The E50 may win in dynamics and bass slam but beyond that it sounds flat and 2 dimensional. My two cents!
Personally I’ve never find Schiit DAC have accurate sound, they are some what colored and only capable of PCM format. No DSD means not worth any money for me personally, thanks for sharing.
@@Tharbamar How much content is DSD at this point, just about none compared to other formats. I find the Schiit more musical...I guess it's a matter of opinion. 😄
All of these reviews on e50 does not explain about there's no connection to cell phones , they assume everyone uses a computer , wrong alot if people use there phones since there music is on it..
Sono molto dispiaciuto che non ci sia un commento o sottotitoli in italiano! questo fa si il mercato italiano non non sarà interessato a questo prodotto.
Why diregarding MQA? This DAC is already cheap for what it is. I don''t think serious companies would embrace the technology if it was a scam or about to die. Let's be real. And Tidal keeps getting better in the sound departement with each update they release. MQA is one the the very interresting ways to access great sound at home. Why disregarding? I don't understand why some audiophiles are looking down at it like if they want it dead. Why?
This cheap DAC will embarrass many DACS in sound quality, performance and features. I never bash MQA all I said was to offer without MQA because it’s going to die sooner or later and I never cared for it.
@@Tharbamar I like your reviews, really. But i don't share the same opinion on the future of MQA. I think it will survive and be one of the ways to enjoy high quality music at home. But I might be wrong. Who can predict the future?
Why not a non MQA for less money? Because the MQA lobby wants to spread its use and seems to wield market power in the industry. Prices have gone up about 20-30% because of global supply chain disruptions. PLUS the added mqa royalty to compound price hikes. For me MQA is a resource light option for Hi Res in portable devices (lower kbps, smaller file sizes) but NOT for my main setup where I am not bandwidth or storage constrained. Live and let live, but please do not levy a "tax" for something I don't use. I'd love to see a return to the basic but high quality $100 DACs available just a few short months ago from several suppliers. Streaming services have lowered their prices. There is a market opening with new potential users. For $500 you could buy a great measuring /sounding dac-amp-hphone combo. This is low enough to be mass market.
If the music playing at the end of this video represents for the overall quality of this system i`ll pass. I think it`s abysmal sound quality, it just sounds like a bag of nails.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
just got the e50 last week. thanks for this video, now I am enjoying my music.
I’m glad to hear that, thanks
The only review I saw that explain ho set up the E50! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
The sound is good. This really is a good Dac, no matter the money. A very good DAC.
After I obtained the E50, I continued to play music without stopping for 48 hours. At the 49th hour, I personally listened to it and got a beautiful and elegant sound. The sound quality of the E50 is indeed much higher than that of the E30, and the details are also better. I highly recommend it!
Thanks for sharing.
I have the e30 right now which I like alot , is it really worth getting the e50?
@@ippothedestroyer I had the E30 too. I now have the E50 still testing it. The difference is not that big. Dont expect spectacular change in sound quality. I mean at double the price you got a slight difference. The e30 is still one of my favorite dac ever. I just wanted to let you know.
Thanks. I heard topping has a firmware upgrade for the e50. Have you found any reference on your dac which firmware came with your unit & where to find it ?
@@Tharbamar Hi, do you think the Topping E-50 can improve the sound quality of my $300 Yamaha CD-S300 cd player? Thank you.
Another great review T! Greetings from SE Asia. All the best .... 🙏🏽
Hello
Much information in this review, thank you. Disregarding bluetooth and MQA, how does the sound compare to the dac D50S?
I have the exactly same view and. The question..how this compares to D50s
Iwii says it Is better than d50s
@@leonardopapantoniou4227 On which field it is better ?
I'm extremely happy with the $110 Sanskrit 2. Details like the best.
Thanks for first detailed review of this dac. Sounds like a giant killer, maybe wd be fun to compare to the 1k RME
That would be interesting.
Just bought an E50 and a pair of Toppings RCA connectors going to powered speakers.Thinking of getting an L50 after seeing the good reviews. The Topping RCAs would change to TCT balanced then. About the Topping interconnects, they sound very good. Treble is clear and audible without brittleness and this is true with powerful bass and clearly recognizable bass instrument notes. The rest of the audio band was better too, just not as obvious. I’ve donated generously to a number of cable suppliers and the 3 foot pair of Toppings cables at 70 dollars can was a good deal for considering Topping’s performance. Yeah $70’s more than $15 but $15’ less than thousands, and a few thousand is only the start. A lot of those mega bucks interconnects get good reviews but I cannot conceive any of reality for the price. On our budget Topping side most people will use shorter cables (3ft). I “think” the Topping cables are really good, just sample before buying. There’s some nice $15 cables too.
I think that the Jameco Reliapro DDU050100H4660 is a worthwhile addition to the Topping E50. The sound stage is wider and deeper, there is a lot more air, and the refinement is definitely improved. For less than $15, this really raises the E50's performance significantly. I'm loving the E50 with this cheap upgrade and have no interesting in more expensive delta-sigma ChiFi DACs at this time, since my main DAC is the Musician Pegasus, and I'm very happy with that for more serious listening. If you buy the E50, I definitely recommend that you buy the Jameco, too!
How does it compare with D 50S for price performs and sound quality ?
hope 🤷♂
Thanks for the video. How does it compare to SMSL SU-8S?
is there a difference between dac and pre amp mode? i read online they are the same with different volume levels. Will it still do digital to analog conversion in pre amp mode? Im planning on using it for stereo receiver
E50 is definitely more refined than E30. No question. Compared to a mid-tier Dac like Smsl Su9, however, I found the treble/mid from E50 is less defined more edgy and the bass rumbles but is not as nimble as Su-9. This sound signature of bass is accentuated when playing with subwoofer. The bass note goes low but is not as weighty. Female vocals is full with hints of sibilance, but not as smooth as Su9. Sound stage is wider but tends to be flat. Well, my best half often says that you get what you pay for and, at this price point, she convinces me.
Hello, I like the review. Can I kindly ask for your opinion - how does the topping e50 compare with khadas tone 2 pro - since you have tested them both? Is it worth the upgrade from khadas which I already own to topping e50 - dac only?
Great review. Thank you. Subbed. 🙂
Great review. What would pair better with the SMSL D09….. Tooping E50 or Schitt Modius E? Please help.
Thanks... I have a doubt, what will be the advantage of using balanced output instead of RCA in the E50?
It seems topping or smsl has separate linear power supply for sell at affordable price. I wish there could be comparison video with stocked switching power supply side by side.
Would the Xduoo XA-10 be a better option as a DAC? I don't mind spending the xtra money that the Xduoo would cost but was just wondering your thoughts on that. I know you really enjoyed the XA-10 and from listening to your sound sample of it with the Quad's. It did indeed sound very good. I would be using it mainly for speakers and not the headphone capabilities. Thanks! Enjoy your reviews very much.
Yes it is very good DAC for with good headphone amp, E50 is very good for the price and sound quality you’re getting, I liked both. thanks
Fantastic review! You inspired me to buy it, and I enjoy it very much. What do you think about the Loxjie D50 compared to Topping E50? Just wondering if I should buy the Loxjie D50 for a meaningful improvement in sound quality. Thanks again!
How would you compare this E50 L50 COMBO with SMSL SU8 and SMSL SH8 And what do you think would be the next step up in terms of price and quality ? Would be also nice if you could make a DAC comparison video with different DACS with same songs and the same equipment so we could easily compare the differences.
Hi Tharmabar, awesome vids as always. Would you know if the E50's pre-amp section is decent? or would a dedicated analogue preamp will still be better?
Pre Amp is ok but I would rather use it as just DAC, thanks
@@Tharbamar have you measured the pre amp section ? What could be done to improve it ?
Great, man, does this e50 have any harshness in the mids or highs?
It will be depending on paring components, thanks
I am thinking about this one or ifi zen dac Signature, for an A/V Marantz anf Q series speaker from Kef, which one would be better for me? thank you
I bought the ifi zen dac Signature V2 brand new the week it released - had high expectations but was disappointed - I returned it. Nothing remarkable at all at that price. Later I bought a Hidiz S9 Pro dongle DAC (for a different purpose) and was pleasantly surprised by its sound. Clear, good balance and more punch than the ifi Zen Dac Signature (when used in my main system). Equipment used : Streamer - ifi Zen Stream, Blusound Node 2021, Amplifier - Marantz PM 6006, Sony STR DH 190, Hegel H190, SVS Soundbase, Speakers - KEF LS 50 Meta. I had tried the topping E30 earlier and the ifi Zen Dac Signature V2 sounded better than that to me. I do not know about the E50
Hello Tharbamar. Watching your previous videos I saw that you own a Marantz UD7007 so I decided to ask for your advice. Will the Topping E50 drastically improve the sound of my Marantz UD7007?
No, not at all.
UD7007 built in DAC sound quality is as good as any $500 modern DAC.
@@Tharbamar Thank you my friend.
Thank you , really enjoyed your review , I felt it was very unbiased and scientifically biased. I ended up buying both the e50 and the l50 anf ifi power supply.. As a newby to the digital stuff I would some more detailed information on connection cables please. I find all the different terms . TRC, Coaxil etc confusing particularly when i need to connect to laptop.
For the laptop and E50 connection USB cable is best choice, thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you , but I was meaning what you use between the L 50 and presumably a pre amp ?
You can use RCA or TRS to XLR or TRS to RCA cables etc depending on what you have but you can connect L50 directly to power amplifiers, you do not have to use pre amp between them.
Can you do a comparison between e50/l50 combo vs ex5? Both using headphones and also balanced out to a budget class d amp?
I no longer have EX5.
Would you still suggest this in 2024? Or any other competition? Thanks
Technically still very much relevant to 2024 specs, if the price is right go for it, thanks
@@Tharbamar thanks for the great reviews!
Hi Tharmabar, I have a topping E50 + Topping PA5 stack, do you think this stack will be a good pair for the Polk R200 or even Wharfedale diamond 12.2/12.3? Should I go for the Polk or Wharfedale. Kindly help.
Yes R200 would be really good together, R200 is better sounding speaker.
@@Tharbamar thank you so much for your input.
I just got this e50 DAC ..how are you powering it up?
Wall outlet to a USB battery pack / charger and then to the DAC ..or straight from the battery only ( don’t go under 20 percent??
I’m confused..and everyone says it’s weakness is the power supply 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Awesome review as usual! Would the E50 be a good match for a 6.5 watt tube integrated amp? Keep up the good work!👍
It should be fine in your set up, thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you for your response. I also saw your smsl D300 review and it seems like a better dac over all. Would the D300 be a better pairing with my Musical Paradise mp-301 6.5watt tube amp?
Great review and agree with E50 performance. However, I ended up finally liking FiiO K5 pro, liked the big knob for attenuation and retro switches that were missing on E50. Did not like Topping forcing me to use their filters, could not find a way to disable it. Again, sound quality wise pretty much they are up to mark. Thanks for your review.
How better is D70s over the E50?
Same question
Both the Topping E50 and the SMSL DO200 got 5 stars from you. Which DAC has the better sound quality and does the SMSL DO200 justify the $200 premium over the E50?
Yes, if you like more refinement in sound.
How would you compare the D30Pro with the E50 ...?
I like E50 more personally.
Hi. Would there a marked difference from E30.
Yes, I actually made that comment in the video.
@@Tharbamar Thanks.
Looking to get this stack for my LCD-3 and active studio monitor. Do I use DAC mode for both active monitor and headphone playing thru L50? My concern is how the volume is being controlled.. or do I use preamp mode for active monitor? Are there volume memory so it remembers the previous volume when I use preamp mode, while at DAC mode it will be at 0.0db?
Yes DAC mode is must with L50, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thanks for the reply. So DAC mode (100%) to L50 and preamp mode (50%) to active monitor? In another words, when switching between headphone and active monitor, volume will be played according to what was previously set (DAC 100% or preamp mode 50%)?
@@hide598 I no longer have these components to answer your question correctly.
Hi, thanks for the review, I ended up with the E50 & L50 stack and pleased with them. I actually placed an order of the PA5 as well, look forward to your review of this. One question, when using with the L50 it should be in dac or pre mode?
E50 should be in DAC mode when paired with amplifier, Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thanks got it! Will you review the PA5?
DAC mode. Change via power button.
Good morning I read in some forums that if you use a power supply with a higher amperage it improves the sound quality. For example 2.5A instead of 1.8A .... what do you think? anyway ... is a low noise power supply better than the one provided by the company? Thank you.
I would not go up higher than manufacturer recommended, E50 do not come with power supply btw, you can use high quality linear power supplies or power bank which I preferred for best noise control by getting off the grid, thanks
Which forums?
@@willmac5642 in an old discussion that took place a long time ago ... I don't remember anymore
Yes I did, there is no major difference in sound quality other than darker background with power bank, thanks
@@johnm3544 It's the option for those who wants absolute best possible performance.
Thanks for reviewing this e50. Did it beat the e30?
Yes, but don't expect to hear a difference.
E30 uses warmer sounding chipset so it depends on rest of your system. Maybe look at Geshelli J2 also
I compared the difference between E30 and E50, and found that the sound quality of E50 is more delicate and powerful at low frequencies, which highlights that the sound processing of E30 singers is slightly rough.
@@r423fplip lol
Hello, I bought the Topping E50, excellent bass and mids, but the sound is very compressed, as if a compressor treshold was activated, there is no spatiality, the cymbals or snare drums are stopped as if the sound does not continue. My pc's headphone jack audio does not have these defects, the difference is very noticeable. Can you give me some advice? Thanks.
That is strange, have you tried with balanced outs? May be owners would help.
@@Tharbamar Thanks for the reply. My amplifier is a Rotel A11, don't have balance connection. I also changed the power supply and usb cable, but only the background noise and other interference improved, not the strong sound compression. Maybe it's just my E50 that's having problems.
I would think so, if you are using Windows check for driver update on Topping website. Thanks
@@Tharbamar Hello, after several tests I finally discovered the problem. I changed usb cables, power supplies and rca cables to the E50, but the real problem was a bad quality rca / jack cable plugged into my pc's headphone output. This cable, connected to an input of my amplifier, generated a strange electrical problem (ground loop I think) that even entered inside the motherboard, busting the USB ports and degrading the signal. Incredible. Since I removed the problematic cable, the sound of the E50 is perfect, dynamics, detail, balance, all beautiful. I then discovered that the internal sound card of the pc, connected to the amplifier, produced strange effects, amplification of certain frequencies, volume changes, zero dynamics, terrible. The E50 is like a Ferrari in comparison. Thank you very much Tharbamar for the support. Have a good day.
Hi. The advantages you say it has over e30 which I have and enjoy, are they seen with CD quality or MP3 music or just with hi res?
HiRes and CD quality.
Is the sound close to Draco DAC?How it compares to it?
Sir Tharbamar, I know you're very familiar with Wharfdale EVO 4.2, high frequency is rolled off. If I use E50 will I get an extension on my high frequency? Will this be a good pair?
Thank you!
P S
Good review!
Best fix for me was adjusting the distance of listening position and toeing them in, try to see what is best height for you, I use 22" stands.
If you still wants more extension new DAC is not the best way to fix it, tone control will do and may be you could also try Mogami W3104 or 3103 speaker wires, don't forget to replace the jumpers with same cables.
Hope this help, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you I will...Im not practicing toe in and not considered the height of my stands. Will up grade cables too. Thank you so much!!!
Hi Danny I also use Evo 4.2..also have the problm because the sound is very warm..i try different kinds of amp..and for me perfect match is smsl da9.. Try it!!
@@johnretzelrejuso4798 HI John yes its warm sounding. I paired it with Marantz PM5005M because of its sound signature, boosted bass and boosted high frequency. One of the recommendation of Zero Fidelity is cambridge cxa81. He is also the one who recommended the Marantz PM5005M.
Hearing your recommendation I watched to some reviews of smsl da9. All reviews are positive. I think I will try it. Thanks John
Hello, I have the Khadas Tone 2 Pro and I use it with a balanced Hifiman headphone bulb amplifier and a Sabaj Dali Oberon 1 speaker amplifier, do you think this E50 could complement the Khadas Tone 2 Pro? Would it help to get a different but pleasant sound with Dali Oberon speakers or headphones, if I use it with the Topping L30 headphone amplifier?
Tone 2 pro is transparent but this E50 is slightly warmer than that it should work great in you set up, thanks
@@Tharbamar thanks man!
How does this compare to new 2021 loxjie d30 sound quality wise? they Share the same dac chip but have different features.
E50 is slightly warmer in my system.
@@Tharbamar i was talking about the new 2021 loxjie d30, not topping e30.
Corrected.
A very well-known gentleman (reviewer) on RUclips, out of respect I will not name, said "I felt that the E50 has a flatter and more neutral sound, a little more airy. The E30ii is warmer in the bass line, a little darker in the high, but even louder. Apart from the differences in tone, they are the same." What does "flatter" mean? Is it bad? Thanks.
Flatter means there is no forward or recessed frequency response in certain frequency ranges and that is by designed to achieve best results in sound reproduction.
E30II is they improved from previous generations, more refined sound in audio terms compared to previous generation but I don’t recall E50 sound quality in my memory.
How do you compare E50 to E70?
As always we got what we paid for.
@@Tharbamar my friend, in what area of the sound the E70V will be better than E50? Would it justify paying more than double the value of the e50 just for sound? if yes i will go lol...
@@clabbem74 Just to clarify I don't do personal advices because everyone have different taste and opinions but it's worth every bit over E50 in sound quality alone but thats me, thanks
🙋🏿♂️
So e50 over soncoz la-dxd1 for you?
Thx 👍🏿
Good review, thank you. How does it compare to the khadas Tone 2 Pro (with balanced cables) sonically and in terms of the stage size?
T2P is more transparent but less refined than E50 in my systems, sound stage may be a bit wider but brighter as well, E50 totally outclassed then in bass quality and musicality for me, thanks
@@Tharbamar what is musicality ?
@@r423fplip Musicality - it is the level of liking the sound reproduction. Higher musicality = more liking, lower musicality = less liking.
@Tharbamar what is your point of view about that?:)
I’m torn between topping e50 and geshelli j2 to run both headphone amp and speakers on a desktop situation
J2 is comparable to E30 but E50 is much improved in sound quality, highly dynamic performance with still musical.
@@Tharbamar How does E50 compare to D70S ? What would be the next step up that would be worth it ?
hi, i can hear pops or crack like sounds on my topping e50. what could you think be wrong? my power supply from a phone charger?or the need to upgrade my cables? rca . please comment
Try with power bank or different cables to see if the noise is still there because these DAC are very quiet. Thanks
@@Tharbamar i will thank you again.
it worked. thanks
How would you compare E50 to ifi zen dac v2? Thanks...
E50 is more transparent. Thanks
I agree with you, get rid of the MQA feature and drop the price.
MQA isn't anything like what the developers told us that it is. I saw the documentation of third party testing done with files uploaded using the MQA software and there's a bunch of distortion in the audible range so in the higher frequencies it's not as clear. I get the concept, but it seems in execution it doesn't offer what they say it does. If something is recorded at a lower quality, how are you supposed to increase the quality of that recording if the data isn't there? For instance if a song is recorded 328 k, you can't uprate it to 44.1 khz because there wasn't 44.1khz data in the original recorded audio.
MQA sells to the masses, not to people like us that know better. And there are way more people out there that dont know, so its a wise marketing move for the company.
Hi there, so it is possible to recreate a signal using algorithms that interpolate what already exists in the original recording. It is similar to upscaling TVs from the 1080p to 4K resolution.
@@AbsoluteFidelity the same people that think power cables make a difference. And the best of all, audiophile network switches.
@@r423fplip power cables dont, but power sources do.
Does anyone know where I can get a twin balanced 1/4 inch jack to 2.5mm trrs cable. This is to connect the E50 balanced out into an xCAN.
I have link for that in video description. Thanks
@@Tharbamar thanks!
How is L50 amp vs khadas Tone 2 Pro for iems on the balanced output?
I find it L50 is more musical, T2P is more neutral. thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you for your input! So I assume L50 is warmer sounding?
@@lolerinu Yes but I would say closer to analog sound than T2P.
Please, don't use "musical" when you mean "warm" or "coloured"
How would you compare E50 to Soncoz LAQXD1
LAQXD1 is a bit more neutral, overall E50 has better refinement and sound quality.
Time for a HAIRCUT! It's no longer 1977 when Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees ruled the music charts, but I guess trying to have the same hair style as Barry isn't so bad...LOL.
Long hair aside, a very nice DAC review.
Hi
Are you using AQ cables ? Nice to see. But i belive you mention that it was snake Oil. But Nice to se i use AQ my selv…..you should try the Niagara 1200 box you Will be amazed on how you ever could live without 👍
Thomas
I like to mix and match to find what is the best synergy with them in my system, I use all cables for what I need, yes some are overpriced for sure, thanks
Just 1 queation, i have a smsl da 9, wiil the topping e50 be compatible with it?
Yes, use TRS to XLR cables for best results.
@@Tharbamar NICE!! thank you, always enjoying all your reviews!! Keep it up!!!
great hair bro!
hello, how this one compare to soncoz la-qxd1? which is more musical?
I love E50 more than anything I’ve tried under $500. Thanks
What is musical ? Can someone tell me how a transparent and dead flat dac sound any different ?
@@r423fplip I tell you what, measurement isn't everything in audio.
@@r423fplip Just try this all dacs by yourself, get the E30, E50 and D30 pro and compare to each other. After that ask this question again:) Peace:)
This converter has a serious factory error when using spdif and optical input. Ever since they started using Cyrus as the receiver chip instead of the previous AK. I own it and I can say that USB works perfectly while spdif and optically interrupt and chop, I can freely say semi-finished product, unfortunately.
HI, which usb cable you used with thid dac?
Please see video description.
Is there a way to have the E50 display only the bitrate?
I don’t think it can.
@@Tharbamar Thanks.
I just learned that it can. It has to be in "DAC" mode, as per the instructions.
E50 is great! Kick is so obvious.
Did you try the e50 with smsl da9?
No but I did try with AO200 which is slightly better version of DA-9, they sound very nice together.
@@Tharbamar nice..will order soon to pair with my da9 and Wharfs Evo 4.2,by the way I orderdered the da9 for my Evo 4.2,the sound is very sweet!my evo shines with da9,and for the price the sound is very sweet!!
which power supply do you recommend with is dac?
Cirrus Logic the unsung hero in delta sigma DACs. Zero dollars on advertising that's why.
Hello bro Apple music က Hi-res ပြောင်းလာတဲ့အပေါ် အသံ အရေသွေးဘယ်ခေညက်ထိကောင်းလဲ ဆိုတာလေးပြောပြပေးပါအုံး တခြား online music တွေနဲ့ယှဉ်ရင် ပိုကောင်းလားသိချင်ပါတယ် လက်ရှိ Apple Music သုံးနေပါတယ် Apple က Dolby atmos အကြောင်းလဲ ရှင်းပြပေးပါအုံးခင်ဗျ 🙏🙏🙏
Is it Better than smsl su1?
How does it compare to the D30 Pro sonically? I would use the E50 with my 5V linear power supply and don't need any of the features the D30 Pro provides.
I had D30 it is very nice neutral DAC but I never though of keeping it but this E50 really is an overachiever, I'm keeping it because I love how they sound.
I would not hesitate to recommend it to my best friend, thanks
@@Tharbamar cool. I have a D30 and it is nothing special. Time for an upgrade. I am tempted by the E50 or Or the Geshelli Labs J2 DAC. It would be nice if you could review the Geshelli.
I got the CSS TDX kit by the way. The upper midrange is incredibly clean sounding. Guitars and vocals are the best I've heard and great bass for bookshelf speakers. My only complaint is a big dip in he mid bass. I can hear the crack of snare drums but the body is missing. I am wondering if the higher quality inductors on the woofer circuit would improve that.
@@johnm3544 my bad, it was D30 Pro.
No need to use a linear power supply, just plug it in the wall. All power filtering is built .
@@r423fplip I know that a LPSU is useless but I like to plug in my ridiculously thick power cables from aliexpress xD
I'd say no mqa nor balanced output and bluetooth with all codecs available. For 150 dollars 😀
Basic. No mqa, single ended output. $100-120
A new D10, or similar Atom, Schiit, etc. A return to recent "basic level".
@@juanmillaruelo7647 smsl sanskrit 10th mkii or topping E30 then
hi tharbamer, will new topping e50 deliver much better sound than the the built in dac of my yamaha as801 integrated amplifier, thanks
It should E50 have better DAC chip, thanks
What speakers are you using with your AS801? Thanks
@@danieloherrick6332 hi, it's kef r300 and wharfedale evo4.4 with yamaha as801
I bought the Topping E50 and compared it to my Schiit Modi Multibit, the Schiiit wins hands down! The tonality and texture of the of the Schiit is fleshed out which gives it more musicality and realism. The E50 may win in dynamics and bass slam but beyond that it sounds flat and 2 dimensional. My two cents!
Personally I’ve never find Schiit DAC have accurate sound, they are some what colored and only capable of PCM format.
No DSD means not worth any money for me personally, thanks for sharing.
@@Tharbamar thanks
@@Tharbamar How much content is DSD at this point, just about none compared to other formats. I find the Schiit more musical...I guess it's a matter of opinion. 😄
Personally I have 70% of DSD, most of them are SACD ripped. I can’t listen to PCM files for longer sections, too noisy for me.
PCM too noisy, never heard of such a thing. Good recordings sound wonderful and I bet the majority of users still use PCM for most of their listening.
Try Fiio Bta 30 pro the transceiver from Fiio. Try it as usb dac. Much superior to this
All of these reviews on e50 does not explain about there's no connection to cell phones , they assume everyone uses a computer , wrong alot if people use there phones since there music is on it..
Sono molto dispiaciuto che non ci sia un commento o sottotitoli in italiano! questo fa si il mercato italiano non non sarà interessato a questo prodotto.
What the f am I gonna do with a "sound sample" jeez
Whatever the F you wish, I don’t give a schiit.
Why diregarding MQA? This DAC is already cheap for what it is. I don''t think serious companies would embrace the technology if it was a scam or about to die. Let's be real. And Tidal keeps getting better in the sound departement with each update they release. MQA is one the the very interresting ways to access great sound at home. Why disregarding? I don't understand why some audiophiles are looking down at it like if they want it dead. Why?
This cheap DAC will embarrass many DACS in sound quality, performance and features.
I never bash MQA all I said was to offer without MQA because it’s going to die sooner or later and I never cared for it.
@@Tharbamar why do you think it will die ?
@@Tharbamar I like your reviews, really. But i don't share the same opinion on the future of MQA. I think it will survive and be one of the ways to enjoy high quality music at home. But I might be wrong. Who can predict the future?
@@r423fplip most of the recently upgraded hi res streaming services don't need MQA, that's one reason
Why not a non MQA for less money? Because the MQA lobby wants to spread its use and seems to wield market power in the industry. Prices have gone up about 20-30% because of global supply chain disruptions. PLUS the added mqa royalty to compound price hikes.
For me MQA is a resource light option for Hi Res in portable devices (lower kbps, smaller file sizes) but NOT for my main setup where I am not bandwidth or storage constrained.
Live and let live, but please do not levy a "tax" for something I don't use.
I'd love to see a return to the basic but high quality $100 DACs available just a few short months ago from several suppliers.
Streaming services have lowered their prices. There is a market opening with new potential users. For $500 you could buy a great measuring /sounding dac-amp-hphone combo. This is low enough to be mass market.
audioquest cobra $180 scam
I can't understand why audio fans are still on about MQA. It's been outed as a fraud, stop talking about it as a desirable quality.
Looks like comment without watching whole video.
Check out Hans Beekhuyzen's video on MQA.
@@cablebrain9691 why ?.
Random!
Fu.. man! Your hair! I didn't watch this channel for some time...
If the music playing at the end of this video represents for the overall quality of this system i`ll pass.
I think it`s abysmal sound quality, it just sounds like a bag of nails.
Topping, please get rid of MQA