BEST BUDGET DAC in 2020? | Topping E30 DAC Review

Today on TwoGuyzTech, Logan is going to be discussing his experience with the Topping E30 DAC that was sent to us by Apos Audio - let's see how it does!

If you'd like to have your Home Theater featured in a tour video in our channel, let us know using our contact email in the About page of our YouTube channel!

BEST BUDGET DAC in 2020? | Topping E30 DAC Review

--------- Recommended Products ---------

-------- Equipment Used To Shoot This Video -------

►Camera - PANASONIC LUMIX G7 4K

►Tripod - Ravelli AVT Professional 67-inch Video Camera Tripod

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

[BuildMontage]

Great work Logan. Such a well structured and executed review. Seems like a great product. Shame about the power supply - would you recommend anything specific to power it? Great to see you in front of the camera and I’m sure this is just the beginning.

[TorinTPG]

That rick roll....subtle, but awesome! You guys are killing the reviews recently. I like the detailed info that you provide. Your b roll footage is also looking great!

[johnsoriano]

Very nice take. Also, the details are on point. Thanks for this one

[hstudio]

Awesome review bud! Keep them coming. Their awesome little things 👌

[musicaEnvasadaa]

Hi. One question. Can I plug the topping dac into a power socket, ?since I dont have a computer and just wanna use with a cd player. Thanks for the review.

[onthecasejase]

Great review Logan! Well presented with heaps of info!!

[myhometheater]

This is an awesome video!!!! Very informative!!! Good job guys!!!

[BradleyAshley]

Awesome work guyz! I need to get into DSD audio!

[SpecOfTech]

Great video guys. I am experiencing an OrchardAudio DAC right now. A DAC can definitely make music more enjoyable.

[roberteshaw]

Very impressed. Great presentation. If you could explain, I didn't really understand about the need for 2 usb cables? I stream from my comuter via a nice DAC in my preamp. all through USB from computer to USB to preamp and sounds Great. Thanks Robert TN I enjoyed your video !!!

[annelouisemendoza]

I like this one. Thanks for the review :)

[nc]

I have this dac on order. I will be comparing it to a Topping D70s to see what the differences are. The D70s provides a bit more detail and more body than my Marantz CD 6006 while budget dacs typically fall just a bit short in detail in comparison. The differences are not that great but are noticeable with music you are accustomed to and if you consider that important. Typically, budget dacs I have tried have a bit less detail, less space/separation/layering of instruments and voices but sound different in the degree of forwardness or bass/sub-bass/midrange body and treble aire.

In comparison using CD quality, the biggest sound difference between the D70s and the CD6006 is in body with the D70s being a fuller sound while the CD6006 is a bit thinner sounding making instuments sound a bit more resolved. No clear winner as I can prefer one presentation over the other depending on music but I would say generally, the D70s is superior as judgement takes into account all marginal differences plus it allows hi rez PCM/DSD and MQA unfoldng.

I probably won't be subscribing to Tidal or downloading DSD music, otherwise the Topping D70s would be appropriate. So consider what you intend to use a dac for. What good is a Maserati in city driving?

If the Topping E30 sounds good enough in my system, I will keep it. If it provides a SQ that leans towards the D70S, I am willing to give up a bit of detail for that presentation. So I have a choice using my disc source as a player or transport. The other thing is in 2 channel movie/soundtrack performance. I liked the Loxjie D30 but the optical input wouldn't make a solid connection, an issue I had with SMSL as well, so back it went (I place my hand on the dac and the cable simply fell out). I tried a Lavaudio D600 (a Topping D50s clone) and find it has some of that ESS sound or glare/edge that I didn't want, but it is very detailed (you would have to get used to it). At the price I almost kept it but during some music play back I was getting a weird buzzing on the last track of one album I listened to. It was repeatable and when I tried my CD player and other dacs, the artifact wasn't there, so back it went although the form factor was great.

I really like the D70s, it is smooth, like the dac in my expensive gear (which I plan to sell as it is overkill for the way I listen to music), and full bodied. It is said to be close to R2R sound quality and probably would excel in hi rez PCM/DSD/MQA formats and gives good performance in pre mode. But if the E40 provides a close enough SQ, at less than a quarter of the price, then I will keep it as I need a dac first and foremost. I'm downsizing to less powerful and lighter equipment. Am I taking a hit in SQ....not so much in my environment and at the low to moderate listening levels which is my MO. If you want louder levels and have floorststanding or hard to drive stand mount speakers in a large room, then the more expensive gear will show its' capabilities over midfi.


Once I get into streaming, I may change my mind, but I am not there yet. If MQA became a streaming standard, then of course a dac with that capability would be a must. I will start with hi rez streaming over CD quality but what I need right now is a dac for movies without breaking the bank that sounds good with CDs as well. I don't do vinyl...but tempted now and then.

I preferred the Loxjie over the Lavaudio as it had a smoother sound without that ESS sharpness and a wider SS whereas the ESS chips push more into the middle. They are still nice dacs and the Lavaudio may be preferred with warmer sounding speakers. I am using a Keces E40 (tilts to the warmer side), Focal speakers (Brighter side), so I need a detailed enough dac. By enough I mean I can't hear much above 13K Hz...we all get older.

If you are younger than spend as much as you can on "better gear", upgrading as you go along. At some point, you will make a decision as to what is good enough for you. That takes time and experience and every decade that passes, what you think you hear does change a bit. Can you still hear the reverberations of a pin drop on a wood table?

Here's hoping the E30 budget dac will give me enough. I don't know how long dacs last in the chain of equipment but to me, it is the one thing that depreciates most and likely not repairable (doesn't pay to do so). So the most likely piece to be replaced over time. Tempted to try the Schiit Multibit and do lust after the Musician Pegasus...so who knows. With class D getting so much better every few years and don't forget about speakers...are we ever really done buying equipment?

Also, there's something to say about being able to put all your gear into a box that you can comfortably carry. Happy listening to all of you in your journey.

[allthisuselessbeauty-kr]

I understand the E30 possibly reverses polarity at its audio output? For anyone who's been around hi-fi long enough, you'd know getting polarity correct is important. Yeah you could reverse polarity at your speakers, but that's not a great advert for a manufacturer and wouldn't solve the problem in listening on headphones