$150 vs $200 DAC - Can I really hear a difference in sound? 

You mentioned sanity. Sanity has nothing to do with our hobby! LOL I always look forward to your videos. I will let you do the hard work for me!

i've tried both. sonically i couldn't hear much if any difference. i kept the e50 because i like the display more and the balanced outputs. i'd like to see if there's any difference in sound by upgrading the power supply but i'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.

Neither. Last summer I was attempting to put together a small new system for our family room. I bought an E50 as the DAC/Pre-amp running the TV, Fosi V3, and such through it. It failed in less than 24 hours. When I looked at the code it was throwing Topping listed that code as a "defective unit". So the failure rate was so high they needed to have a designated code for that set of issues. I sent it back immediately and washed my hands of the company. For $200 I was not impressed. So I spent more on separates and have been thrilled ever since.

I own both, one is paired with a topping A70 Pro in a Desktop system and the other is in a small bedside stack with an L30II. A few notes for you: 1. The filters DO work on DSD files. 2. Compared side by side, on the A70 Pro, the level of instrument detail (especially strings) and soundstaging on the E50 is significantly better. This is both on RCA AND TRS, I can test it connected both ways and A/B with a switch it so it's not just the output stage. I may eventually get D70 Pro. Maybe it's the way the ESS chipset presents as opposed to the AKM, or the implementation.....and the E30II is not bad by any stretch. The E50 reminds me of a well done Tube preamp in the soundstaging.

I currently own a gc7 soundcard which I like for gaming, along with a topping L50 amp and a hifiman he400se. For now I don't use the balanced capability of the L50, I don't know how much the he400se would benefit from it; if it's only about volume it's plenty loud as it is, but are there other benefits from running a balanced setup? More impactful basses for instance? I was wondering if it was possible to hook the GC7 to a balanced DAC with the opt out; this way I would still retain the functionalities of the GC7. Could I also expect a bigger soundstage doing so?

Good afternoon 😎 from Toronto I went with a topping E50 DAC …and in order to get a substantial improvement in my digital playback…at nearly $1k more I went with the Denafrips Ares 12-1 DAC ..quite possibly an endgame for most people…including myself. Btw, on the E50 I went with an IFI power supply..it gave a better “black background “ …that being said the filter differences is meh . As far as I’m concerned…a DAC using the common chips (pick your poison) ..are dead to me now . Once you’ve had steak ..hamburger just won’t cut it. Have a great day. Set up: Denafrips DAC ,Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp,LCDX 21. 😎

Nicely done as usual Aaron... Questions: 1) if you just plug this into USB from a laptop or desktop computer, what sample sizes and speeds are available? (Control Panel ... Sound ... .... Properties ... Advanced) 2) Does it require special drivers for full function? 3) Is it compatible with Windows Exclusive (WASAPI) mode? Often times these DACs only give you 16 or 24 bit PCM up to 96khz without the drivers. Other times they will only give you the higher rates on a USB3 port. Thanks!

How do these compare to the SU-1? I keep throwing that thing in my cart, but my Schitt Modi seems fine for my bedroom setup. Thanks!!

DAC'S w discrete class A output stages best W4S 10th DAC2v2se 😊

what about comparing E30II with the latest Topping E50III? I think the differences are only marginal, nothing to rave about, only audio nuances. If you want to hear Real Audible differences, do these and furthermore rather cheap: 1. Use and external USB to Coaxial/optical adapter using the Xmos 208 chipset(cost=US$40-150 depends on requirements) 2. Use external very low noise high current 5Vpower supply (cost = US$15-100) depends on the made. use both. I own E30II it is very good for the money esp. with the above accessories.