About this deal
On the Topping L50 headphone amp, the volume knob is not as firm as it could be when adjusted. This makes it feel a bit on the inexpensive side. Adding a slightly more expensive knob would give the amp more of a premium look and feel. When shut off, the L50 automatically outputs the signal to RCA or TRS without amplification, so you can keep the L50 in your audio chain even while using active speakers and/or a DAC’s preamp function. Hey folks. Another month is passing by and that’s music to my ears as finally, my seasonal allergy would fade away, but for the audiophile community around the world that resonates with one thing only: Topping is going to announce brand new products. Before you start lighting your torches and sharpening your pitchforks, Topping isn’t doing that on purpose, as again AKM’s factory fire left a dirty mark on everything related to digital audio, we felt broken-hearted and audio engineers around the world dismayed as there aren’t alternatives for that velvety sound goodnes s. AKM announced that their renowned AK4497 and 4499 reached end-of-life status, including lower tiered chipsets as AK4493 are no longer found on the biggest e-commerce platforms as Mouser and Farnell.
Since L50 meets the requirements of multiple ideal amps at the same time, it leads you break the inertial thinking in the choice of amps: From now on, there is no need to choose amps based on the impedance of headphones. All you need to do is choose L50, and then choose your favorite headphones, L50 can easily drive them well. Despite looking much like its smaller brother, the E30, the E50’s internals is very different. Firstly, it’s equipped with an ES9068AS DAC chip, with an XMOS XU216 USB controller. This combination allows the E50 to decode PCM streams up to 32bit/768kHz, DSD 512, and even MQA.
This is what great SINAD does for you at the top of the class: incredibly low noise where you need it with sensitive IEMs: ES9068 is a current output DAC chip, meaning that a current to voltage conversion (I/V) stage needs to be built around it. Thankfully, Topping went with smooth and natural sounding OPA1612 op-amps, instead of LME op-amps that were sitting in their older devices. OPA’s are better suited for ESS implementations and is seems that Topping is already going on the right path. I’m glad that Topping used all 4 channels of this particular DAC chip, meaning that E50 is indeed a true balanced DAC. The rear of the device on the other hand is made of matte-finished plastic that houses both the input and output options. Impressive technicalities at very attractive price points resonates with Topping, as they showed so many times now. I liked this combo even more to the newest SMSL SU-8S and SH-8S combo that weren’t transmitting as many emotions, delivery a dead-flat neutrality. Considering their high price-performance ratio, I’m gladly bolting a Silver Award on top of their metallic bodies and I’m congratulating them for that! The E50 comes equipped with the Topping’s iconic LED display with the orange font. The display layout is quite simple. You see the volume level, sample type and rate, active input, and output. Furthermore, the E50 does not have a volume pot or any means of navigation, you only get a touch-sensitive, multifunctional button which is located on the front panel, next to the LED display. This multifunctional button supports tap and hold actions but does not let you access the complete menu without entering the ”setup menu”. You will have to press and hold the power touch button while the device is in standby mode to access this menu. I must say that without the remote, it is quite hard to navigate, select and apply individual settings so I recommend you to use the remote controller instead. I appreciate the effort that Topping has put to offer us a way to control the device with only a button without the remote though.
The main difference here compared to bigger brothers is that it clips with higher impedances whereas they don't. Up to nearly 7 volts there is no load dependency. The E50 sounds precise, accurate, and tonally correct to my ears without sounding harsh or tiring. I paired the L50 with the Gustard X16 to see whether it scales well with higher-priced equipment and the results were quite good. Gustard X16 is a very detail-oriented DAC that has a way of emphasizing macro and micro details and present them to you. The L50 acted as an amplifier, a middleman, and nothing more, I heard the signature of the X16 without any saturation, coloration, or manipulation. The L50 can easily be paired with DACs that cost double its price tag.
Accessories and unboxing
Imaging/SoundstageI usually say staging and Imaging are more headphone dependent. This is very much the case here. I heard no added benefit to the stage or imaging. I usually like when an amp adds a little of its own flavor for staging but I just couldn’t tell a difference like I do with the main competitor from S.M.S.L. Let’s talk about the layout. On the front of the device, we see the color-matched volume pot, two nostalgic level-style switches, a single-ended 6.35mm headphone out, and a balanced XLR out. The far-left switch acts as a power switch and output selector at the same time. The other switch is purely for controlling the gain. There are 3 gain options, low, medium and, high. The layout is simple and easy to use. The switches are very practical and they seem pretty durable. The front fascia of the E50 features a screen with a 7-segment display which is surrounded by other status displays for the input mode, output mode, and the file type currently being decoded. Right beside the screen, there is a solitary touch button that can be used to access the various options available on the DAC.