Is Topping E70 Velvet with AKM a better DAC?

00:00 Intro
00:32 About E70 velvet
02:15 Tip for better sound
03:06 Sound
07:30 vs Topping E70 (Sabre)
10:56 vs SMSL SU-9 Pro
14:40 Final thoughts

Test system:
Spirit Wind Speakers

#hifi #audiophile #dac #stereo

[VredesbyrdNoir]

I have the E70 Sabre version and another Schiit AKM DAC and been A/B-ing them with an L70 amp and Focal Clear Mg headphones. Both DACs are set up as Class 2 USB devices and using WSAPI from foobar playing FLAC files. I'm pretty sure any differences I can hear are so small that I would certainly fail a blind test....

[eddiebaby]

This is absolutely ridiculous the amount of different DACs that are being produced with miniscule differences. This trying to get a flavour DAC to suit ones needs or system is just so unpractical. The amount of money audiophiles are wasting to get barely perceivable changes is just idiotic. Why not just make DACs with their own DSP chip and also a parametric EQ so you can make it sound exactly how you want it. All 'well made' DACs now are pretty much good enough.

[sean_heisler]

"Then you don't feel like a lazy douche bag." 😂😂😂

[CraciunAlexandruGh]

Let's get serious. The AKM chip is probably 10$ more than the ESS.

[jurgenschleicher]

Topping E70 VELVET! Love it! Its " velvet-sound" is unbelievable! Makes "goose-bumps" at 30 degrees celsius! Thanx for your superb videos! 😊

[terenceyow]

Because of yours and Sandu’s review and backed up by validation from ASR I bought the E70V to upgrade from E30 for my bedroom nearfield listening. I can definitely hear overall SQ improvement for sure. Depth, separation, better bass and mids. A little more air and details in the highs. I’m a fan of AKM chips and I think $500 delta sigma dacs are far better than R2R dacs twice that price. You’re not cuckoo at all my friend. Keep up the good work.

[micomicic]

I believe it is time for DAC tier list witch should make some sense to all of us who want a new DAC

[bluepoint]

Thanks for putting tested tracks on the screen. I like your music taste and I am adding these to my streaming library.

[spamcan]

I'm annoyed when people ask "Will X amp work with Y dac?" so I agree fully with telling people to stop being lazy douche bags lol. To be clear, I don't have a problem with people asking questions. But you can tell who has at least done some research and those who want to be spoonfed answers.

[dasninjastix]

"and you don't feel like a lazy douche bag that just asks" - lol and here I thought that commenters that demand comparisons and recommendations specific to them were doing you guys a favor 😉. Appreciate the content, but sort of hate that brands like Topping and SMSL have all these different offerings at relatively close price points that make it more confusing than it needs to be if you're trying to pinpoint a solution for your setup. Though I guess if having several different models all doing relatively the same eliminates Topping or SMSL from your purchasing consideration.. maybe they're actually helping consumers?

[daviddmello]

Thank you very much for your usual insightful review. You are one of the few experts who can articulate the subtle difference between sound characteristics in a way that I can understand & prioritize for myself. I purchased the E70 Velvet from Amazon on a Friday & received it on Monday. China to Canada in 3 days! Very pleased with the performance of the DAC - all aspects. This DAC replaced my 19 year old Musical Fidelity X-DAC v3, X-PSU v3, X-10 v3 tube buffer combo in my main living room audio system. I purchased the Musical Fidelity DAC in 2004, way before DAC's became mainstream. I wonder if I will get 20 years of service from the Topping E70 Velvet! After 2 weeks of listening, enjoying my music in a new light. Thank you again!

[budgetaudiophilelife-long]

THANKS SRBOLJUB, FOR HELPING OUT THE COMMUNITY…and I hope you have a great evening 🤗💚💚💚

[alessandromarangio]

I have a pair of Focal Aria 926 speakers, an Audio Research preamp and an Adcom GFA 555 power amp. I listen mostly to rock (Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Radiohead, Metallica, etc.) and I love listening to drums. Just hearing that thump of the bass drum and the thump on the kick drum and the toms of the drum kit. Almost as if it sounded slightly forward. I am undecided between the Topping E70 and the Topping D70 Pro Sabre. Which of the two do you recommend with the characteristics I am listening to that I wrote to you? Thanks.

[ChopstickU]

You recommended disabling the Bluetooth radio. Was there an audible difference when you did that?

[InDueTime]

Agreed. Dont be lazy. I have binge watched several reviews of yours. Im definitely learning something. Great stuff!

[peterahlberg]

"In my head I'm always right - not always in reality but in my head" 😆 Love it - Rock on! 🤘

[AbsoluteFidelity]

What I would really like to know is how does the E70 compare to the D70S, which I consider to be the best DAC of all time...

[wim]

It's hard to tell when messing with the audio gear matching, the devil live within amplified signal I believe, still listening to an AKM chip based Fostex HP-A3 and an excellent DAC+preamp provided signal is amplified via a matched power amplifier, while not much nitpicking on the headphone amp section as just for occassional detailed analytical listening when evaluating digital audio from various sources.

[kerryvanderkamp]

I have been experimenting with upsampling to DSD with HQPlayer and have been shocked at the improvement (to my ears) in the soundstage and layering. AKM chips have a bypass feature which skips the on-chip delta sigma modulation and this plus HQPlayer gives me a 3D experience I’ve been only getting with Chord and R2R products.

[seanb]

I find that on Chinese DACs the variable output preamp quality is poor…thin and lacking in dimension. Do you find this true? I had to move up to RME ADI 2 FS DAC to find a good variable output pre. PS. Another great review thank you.