The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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Networkn
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#2679049 23-Mar-2021 10:40

I don't personal experience with both, but reviewers I trust really rate the Topping. I decided against upgrading to a topping Amp recently due to the high price in NZ, and the fact there have been reports of reliability issues with the Topping Amps, reported by a number of sources, and with the delays in shipping from China and the likely headaches with support, I'll make do with what I have. I suspect a batch issue or something with the topping Amp, and I can't speak to the reliability of the Dac/Amp Combo.

Sorry, not sure that makes it clearer. Right now, I'd buy the Topping if I could find it at a decent price in NZ where I was protected by a local warranty, because I think it's a truly exceptional device.

Neither seem to support MQA, not sure if that's something you'll miss. Pretty mixed reviews for MQA, some people say it's great, others can't tell anything different about it.

I'd struggle to justify 2.2x the price for the RME, I suspect it *might* be a couple of percent difference. YMMV

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#2679058 23-Mar-2021 10:56

networkn:

Right now, I'd buy the Topping if I could find it at a decent price in NZ where I was protected by a local warranty, because I think it's a truly exceptional device.

Neither seem to support MQA, not sure if that's something you'll miss. Pretty mixed reviews for MQA, some people say it's great, others can't tell anything different about it.

I'd struggle to justify 2.2x the price for the RME, I suspect it *might* be a couple of percent difference. YMMV

Yep - the Topping is availably locally with warranty, so all good there.

MQA I am ambivalent about and besides, Roon does the decoding etc for any MQA stuff if I need it.

Yeah - in theory there should no audible differences between the two - it really does come down to the additional tools, toys and EQ etc on the RME, plus the build quality confidence...

As you say, not sure if any of the latter is worth another $1400!

networkn

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#2679103 23-Mar-2021 11:12

Item:

Yep - the Topping is availably locally with warranty, so all good there.

MQA I am ambivalent about and besides, Roon does the decoding etc for any MQA stuff if I need it.

Yeah - in theory there should no audible differences between the two - it really does come down to the additional tools, toys and EQ etc on the RME, plus the build quality confidence...

As you say, not sure if any of the latter is worth another $1400!

FOMO is real!

I used to just buy the best I can afford, pay once, pain once, no questions further down the track at what I was missing out on, but over time especially with audio stuff, I have come to realize the differences are so minor between a $500 amp and a $1500 amp, that it's more likely a slight mis of my headphones, or my personal situation (have I had enough sleep) is more likely to impact my listening experience, that I tend to focus on what's getting great reviews from people I trust and is considered to be fantastic value instead.

The only real difference would be if I really wanted a feature that something better value just didn't have.. A bad example would be a remote control.. If not having one would annoy me every time.

Ultimately, budget plays a part in it as always.

For me, the Topping would win this particular argument I think. The small concerns I have around built quality would be offset by the significantly lower price and local support if something goes wrong.

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#2679261 23-Mar-2021 13:45

I bought the Topping!

:)

networkn

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#2679268 23-Mar-2021 13:52

Item: I bought the Topping!

:)

Nice, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on it once you get it and have a play.

ShinyChrome

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#2679276 23-Mar-2021 14:03

Tardy to the party, but I bought a Topping L30 + E30 combo last year for WFH on the back of the massive ASR fervor for Topping; I was tossing up between local and somewhere like Drop, but ultimately the price difference wasn't enough that I wanted to give up CGA protection, so I sourced both from Rapallo.

I'm certainly not well-heeled or well-travelled enough to contrast the differences between DAC/amps, but they look like solidly built units (one of the things that stopped me going with an Atom stack), it drives my HD6xx perfectly, and never had any reliability concerns. It seems like they their early batches of products have to work out the kinks, but they seem to be quite actively involved with refining their products, especially if their designer's involvement over at ASR is anything to go by.

If only they could infuse their speaker amps with the same good design as their head-amps...

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#2679277 23-Mar-2021 14:04

networkn:

Item: I bought the Topping!

:)

Nice, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on it once you get it and have a play.

Will do!

Though superficial, my expectations have been exceeded in terms of the presentation and physical build quality. Nicely packaged and a solid, weighty unit with no rough edges or finish.

Probably unfair preconceptions around Chi-fi on my side, but still - pleasantly surprised!

Mighty Ape

Shop now on Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

ren1316

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#2679416 23-Mar-2021 16:57

I have the RME. You can test drive if you are in Wellington area.

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#2679619 24-Mar-2021 09:24

networkn:

Item: I bought the Topping!

:)

Nice, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on it once you get it and have a play.

So!

Performance and sound-wise, very happy. The whole thing just gets out of the way and lets my headphones do their thing. Sounds great.

I have one annoyance on the functional side - unlike some of their later devices, the OLED doesn't have an "auto off" feature so it is on for as long as the unit is. The device "auto off" seems to rely on the USB being "Live" rather than on having audio actively playing and it is plugged in to my home media PC which is on 24/7.

The upshot is that:

1) I have to remember to turn the thing off manually when I am not listening

2) If I forget, the OLED is going to be at risk for burn-in

tkr001

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#2679752 24-Mar-2021 12:12

Item:

networkn:

Right now, I'd buy the Topping if I could find it at a decent price in NZ where I was protected by a local warranty, because I think it's a truly exceptional device.

Neither seem to support MQA, not sure if that's something you'll miss. Pretty mixed reviews for MQA, some people say it's great, others can't tell anything different about it.

I'd struggle to justify 2.2x the price for the RME, I suspect it *might* be a couple of percent difference. YMMV

MQA I am ambivalent about and besides, Roon does the decoding etc for any MQA stuff if I need it.

Roon does the decoding but you still need an MQA enabled DAC to get the full benefit of MQA. Having said that you are getting quite a lot with the decoding only

dafman

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#2685957 3-Apr-2021 10:47

I’ve been waiting for the Sennheiser True Wireless 2 to drop below $400 again, which they have just done ...

But I have just stumbled across the rumoured upcoming Sony WF 1000XM4 and am now torn on whether to pull the pin now on the Senns or wait for the new Sonys?

I nearly bought the current gen Sony a few months back but was put off by the larger size. The upcoming XM4 look more like the Sennheiser, so much more appealing. I expect the upcoming Sony will better the Senn for noise cancelling, but open question on whether they will be able match the current Senns for sound quality?

alasta

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#2685985 3-Apr-2021 12:58

I know that some of the recent Sony headphones are very popular and their performance is attracting positive reviews, but I honestly find them hard to take seriously as a high end audio brand. Every time I walk into a big box retailer I hear some awful monstrosity with a Sony logo going "boom boom boom" and it just tarnishes the brand for me.

networkn

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#2691335 12-Apr-2021 11:59

alasta:

I know that some of the recent Sony headphones are very popular and their performance is attracting positive reviews, but I honestly find them hard to take seriously as a high end audio brand. Every time I walk into a big box retailer I hear some awful monstrosity with a Sony logo going "boom boom boom" and it just tarnishes the brand for me.

To be fair, there is Sony audio and Sony Audio.

Their headphones are usually quite a bit better than the boom boxes they sell, which are for a totally different listening experience.

Their XM4's are streets ahead of the XM3s for sound quality whilst retaining the fantastic noise cancelling. Nothing they do wireless, is audiophile standard that I have heard, but things like the ZR1 are heralded for sure. They also have some nice high end music players too.

Dunnersfella

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#2691371 12-Apr-2021 12:38

Sony audio and Sony ES have been a way to clearly distinguish their levels of audio quality for years.

It's interesting that they don't pursue the Elevated Series angle with their wireless range, but I can only assume it's because they don't see enough profit in the Head-Fi space for that sort of technology.

networkn

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#2691373 12-Apr-2021 12:41

Dunnersfella:

Sony audio and Sony ES have been a way to clearly distinguish their levels of audio quality for years.

It's interesting that they don't pursue the Elevated Series angle with their wireless range, but I can only assume it's because they don't see enough profit in the Head-Fi space for that sort of technology.

Inclined to agree. The percentage of people looking for an Head-Fi Experience, vs Audiophile experience, vs just want something that plays sound acceptably, is very very very very very very low :)

Not an Anti Apple comment, but I'd say that on the whole most people would resent spending $500+ on headphones, unless it's made by Apple, because they feel they have no choice. The average consumer looking for headphones isn't spending that much, or looking for something that requires a DAC/AMP to drive as well.

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