Topping E30 - worth it?

[Mark Dunlop]

Hi All
I have the chance to pick up a hardly-used Topping E30 for half the new RRP. My CD player is a Rotel CD14 Mk1 and my question is this - Is the DAC in the Topping going to be better than the one in my CD14? No point in buying it if not. The DAC in the CD14 is a Wolfson IIRC. It's an Asahi-Kasei in the Topping, apparently.

Cheers.
m.d.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

My (un)educated guess is "no". Not worth the effort.

 

[Al ears]

I would say no as well as the E30 isn't simply a DAC it's also a preamp which you certainly do not need.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

FWIW I think you can turn off the pre-amp function and have fixed out. But if we're comparing a £500 CD player with DAC with a £50 DAC with pre-amp, I'd be pushed to think the latter was a better DAC. Different, maybe?

 

[Mark Dunlop]

Confirmed what I thought, guys - nice one. I shall politely pass on the offer.
m.d.

 

[Al ears]

FWIW I think you can turn off the pre-amp function and have fixed out. But if we're comparing a £500 CD player with DAC with a £50 DAC with pre-amp, I'd be pushed to think the latter was a better DAC. Different, maybe?

Whether or not it can be switched out is irrelevant, he will be paying for it.
That was my point.
If you're in the market for a DAC then simply buy a DAC.....

 

[Noddy]

Hi All
I have the chance to pick up a hardly-used Topping E30 for half the new RRP. My CD player is a Rotel CD14 Mk1 and my question is this - Is the DAC in the Topping going to be better than the one in my CD14? No point in buying it if not. The DAC in the CD14 is a Wolfson IIRC. It's an Asahi-Kasei in the Topping, apparently.

Cheers.
m.d.

The Topping E30 measures well:

Topping E30 DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E30 USB DAC. It was kindly sent to me by the company for testing. Unfortunately I did not get pricing information. As soon as I get it, I will post it. EDIT: just heard back. US cost is just $129.99! This is a bit of a new look...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The Rotel CD14 came out a few years ago, and at that price you’d expect to hear no improvement when using the Topping. Technically one might measure better than the other.

 

[DougK1]

All this Chi-Fi might measure well but does it actually sound better? Maybe the manufacturers are concentrating too much on measurements and not enough on how it actually sounds

Classic example, I bought a Topping A90D head amp, it measured exceptionally well but it is no better than the sockets on my CDP and amp. The only benefit was the facility to use a balanced connection which just gives more available volume. I'm not convinced.