Topping DACs - D50 vs DX7 Pro

[Entrigo]

I currently have a Topping DX7 Pro which I use as DAC and headphone amp. I have however just purchased a Lehmann Rhinelander to use as headphone amp - as I needed the analogue line in.

I have the Topping listed for sale, the plan being to sell this and buy a dedicated - and smaller - DAC, like the D70 - used so could be a like for like cost-wise or even cheaper. However, I had started thinking that I might be better off just keeping the DX7 Pro just as DAC, as used D70s are very rare.

Now have an offer on the table, and I could buy a D50 with about £50 to spare.

The question is - would there be any audible differences between the two? I'd be using the D50 to run my WIim Pro Plus via Coax and iPhone via USB.

I suspect not, but asking people who might know better...

 

[ToppingSMSL]

No. DACs tend to sound the same.

 

[Entrigo]

Exactly what I thought. Can't really say I hear much difference between the "clinical" ESS of the Topping and the "musical" AKM of the Wiim Pro Plus...

 

[PieterG]

Exactly what I thought. Can't really say I hear much difference between the "clinical" ESS of the Topping and the "musical" AKM of the Wiim Pro Plus...

Speakers or headphones?
My idea is that quality headphones tend to reveal more of the componentry between the source and the output. My two DAC/amps have ESS chipsets but sound different with headphones. I suppose there are more important actors than the DAC when you consider a speaker setup (room, power amp, speaker impedance, room).

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Exactly what I thought. Can't really say I hear much difference between the "clinical" ESS of the Topping and the "musical" AKM of the Wiim Pro Plus...

My Pathos Converto Mk2 has an ESS DAC but, it’s definitely not clinical. When I upgraded from an Audiolab M-DAC, it really brought my Focal Elegias to life.

 

[Jasonovich]

The common mistake people make, are the economies of scale.
Similar priced DACs have similar quality components due to budget constraints.
Chipsets rely on quality parts, such as capacitors, better MOSFETs, better switch or linear power supply, better circuitry, bespoke FPGA for the output or processing all contribute to the overall quality of sound.

Upgrading from my ESS Topping E50 to ESS Eversolo DAC Z8 brought an obvious boast to the Sound quality but I also had good headphones and good speakers that allowed the DAC to shine