Topping D10S DAC Review - A Sabre DAC for only $100!

A review of the budget Topping D10S DAC including comparisons vs the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and Topping D50S.

0:00 Introduction
1:19 Inputs and outputs
3:09 Glamour video
3:53 Performance as a USB bridge
5:01 Power supply (non) options
6:37 Sound quality
7:57 Comparison vs AudioQuest DragonFly Red
10:03 Comparison vs Topping D50S (with external power)
11:13 Op-amp swapping
11:53 Overall conclusion

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Active Speakers: Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 3 Speakers

Amps

Headphones
Closed: AudioQuest NightOwl Carbon (these may have been discontinued)

Portable

Earphones

Bluetooth Headphones

Reviews filmed using:

[FabioKasper]

3:53 Performance as a USB bridge

That's a strong statement. Can you elaborate more on that, maybe on another video?

Thanks!

PS.: Using a FiiO K3 here -- similar price -- and I don't hear any sound degradation when doing digital outs to another DACs.

[PostExpert]

Thanks for this review!

I have 2 questions. Why would the sound degrade if used as a bridge? Digital to Digital should not be degraded unless a conversion D to A and then A to D is performed. Also, if I input (by USB) a 192 kHz digital signal, will the Spdif output be also 192 or lower?

Regards,

[ahuesphoto]

In my opinion the main benefit of the D10S is the bait to change the Op-amp. Thanks for the great review!

[SovonHalder]

Hi, nice review! I have a question.
I'm currently using a pair of Qacoustics 3020i passive speakers with Yamaha WXA-50 streaming amplifier being fed from a Mac Mini M1 via 3.5mm to rca cable (I bought these 6months ago and in Indian market these were the only budget options available then). I've recently started to hear static noise on the speakers late at night (not sure if the noise was always there) and found out that it's because of the amp(tried other speakers as well, same result). Interestingly this noise is present when Aux-input is selected on amp, and on bluetooth input the noise is almost reduced to nothing, and on optical the noise is nonexistent. I asked around various forums but nobody could help me so far. I can't afford another expensive amp now. I've decided to get a D10S to use the usb to optical conversion & send it's Toslink output to the yamaha amp. Would you say this is a good decision in my current scenario? Also what should I expect in terms of SQ, better, worse, same? Will I be able to control the volume using my computer keyboard?
Thank you.

[WorldView]

Hi Lachlan. Do you have any recommendations for a qualityUSB bridge instead of using the rather basic-fi D10s? Any knowledge or view on the SMSL PO100 USB bridge or even the Douk Audio U2 Pro? Best,

[Hard_Work_Is_Rewarding]

Thank you for the reivew. Would you please have a look at Douk Audio U2 Pro?

May I please have a look at your measurements from which you draw conclusions about overall audio quality and ecspecially the proof of the fact that the audio signal was degraded when device was acting as a USB bridge? Where is the data that conclusion was based on? Was it based on any objective measurements? Or just a personal perception of a "background being not as dark" not even checked by double blind listening tests?..

Much appreciated.

[ptvav]

Hello. Please tell me, is Topping D10s really that bad as a converter? If so, can you recommend a good inexpensive converter? Thank you.

[olsza]

what dac do you recommend for higher quality than topping D10?

[Panslapper]

I actually found this to be one of the most honest, well detailed and fair reviews of this dac and very helpful, thanks!

[beetooex]

I'm aware it doesn't have a hardware volume control but can you not use the windows volume slider like other usb audio devices?

Great review and also some very informative responses to commenter's questions.

[DEMOzene]

If I watch 5.1 movie on laptop, use this TOPPING sound card with optical SPDIF to the Denon amplifier, what will happen with the channels? Will Denon get all 5.1 channel?

[hubsi]

Iam using a Musical Fidelity M5si, is the Topping DAC better as the internal from the MF?

[andrewskiiii]

If I have the DAC connected to my stereo Is there any way I can then connect the DAC to my TV through the optical output?

[JoseFerreira-zbwh]

Hi. Do have any suggesttions of a good amp in the same price cattegory to pair this with? Is there any recomendation in the Topping lineup? Thank you

[sevontiy]

I quote your words "If you are asking it to change the format of the signal, whilst also maintaining perfect sound quality or even improving it ideally" could you provide an example how a USB bridge could improve sound quality? I can not understand this. Thanks

[yellowjacket]

All of these topping DACs will sound EXACTLY the same in blind testing. The differences in these DACs are barely measurable and not audible. Even with different power supplies. In a double BLIND test, they are all 'the best'. Even professional audio engineers with decades of experience and trained ears can not RELIABLY and CONSISTENTLY tell the difference. Then if some can say 'this one is different' it is usually because the DAC filters are a little different and this will effect the treble volume perception very slightly (1-2 db). Spend your money on headphones (or speakers) and amplifiers not DACs, unless you need certain features in the DAC. I have this D10s coming out of my PC it then runs to my ADI-2 DAC via optical. The ADI-2 DAC sounds exactly they same if I have it on the optical input from the D10s or straight in from the PC via USB. Which is very easy to A-B (not blind, but very quick) just switch inputs via the remote. You can tell the difference? Double blind test or it did not happen. Signed- Not an audiophile.

[LordRedDragon]

i have arc MK1 which have an optical input and sybasonic DAC. is d10s better than sybasonic. would u recommend buying d10s.

[Phew]

Hello, thanks for the helpful review. A word of advise from you would be appreciated, I am currently running my nad c368 integrated amp via toslink through my PC motherboard(since my amp does not have a USB option), I was wondering if adding this into the chain and connecting PC to D10s and then connecting D10s to nad368 amp via toslink/coaxial would help improve sound quality by any means or degrade it? Looking forward to your advice.

[joontech]

Hi! Can you recommand a DAC under $1000 best matching with Soloist 3x performance? I have Stellia, hd800s, Lcd2closed to use. And This video is so helpful btw. I will get this to match with my liquid spark.

[pierre]

Hey :)
What cable would you recommend to plug it into an amplifier like the Marantz pm5005? Thank you !