- Compact size, good connectivity, LDAC and aptX
- Automatic S/PDIF and ADAT detection and mode switching
- US$199 / €199 (approx £175 / AU$400)
“Topping releases new DAC” isn't really news: the company makes a bunch of them, from the ultra-affordable D10 to the portable G5 DAC/headphone amp to the premium D90 III Saber. But what's interesting about the new E50 II is that it's an impressive Hi-Res Audio DAC that's very desktop-friendly.
It's cheap too: $199/€199 (around £175/AU$400). This means that it undermines many of the best dacs for headphones and sells for the same price as a pretty good one iFi ZEN DAC 3although the two devices have key differences: the iFi is also a headphone amplifier, but it lacks the Bluetooth capabilities of the Topping.
Topping E50 II: main characteristics
The Topping E50 II is based on the AKM AK4497S DAC and is capable of playing linear PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512 (DoP DSD up to DSD256) via USB.
Despite its compact size, there are plenty of connectivity options: USB-C, coaxial and optical S/PDIF. RCA and balanced jacks take care of the outputs.
The digital interface is based on the XMOS XU316, and the digital inputs support both S/PDIF and ADAT (the latter on the optical input). The E50 II automatically detects whether the input is processing S/PDIF or ADAT and switches modes without having to lift a finger.
Wireless support is also good thanks to the Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth module with LDAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD in addition to the mandatory SBC and AAC codecs. However, aptX Lossless does not exist.
Topping E50 II is now available in three finishes: black, silver and white. The front panel can be any color, but only black.
The best headphone DACs for any budget
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