Topping D30 review – 3 years later

Topping D30

Topping D30

Tested at $119
7.5

Sound

7.0/10

Build

9.5/10

Value

6.0/10

Pros

  • Full and thick sound
  • Sturdy built

Cons

  • Fierce competition ~3 years after its release

Topping D30 is not new on the market, it has been around for some 3 years now. It’s still generously specced though. It uses Cirrus Logic DAC chip which supports Hi-Res files, DSD, and so on. It’s built really nice too. You get this great brushed aluminum finish, physical switches that give a nice tactile feeling. On the back, we found a typical trio of inputs – USB, Optical, and Coaxial so you can hook it up to basically anything. It doesn’t have a headphone out, it’s a dedicated DAC and that’s it.

A very nice thing about it – it has output protection and what that means is when you loose input signal, or there’s some connection problem it immediately turns off the output, and it works perfect – I never heard any POP or something like that I used to here on most other DACs. It’s just a good idea, it protects your speakers and your ears.

SOUND QUALITY

So let’s get to the important question, how does it sound? 

This written review was published much later than my initial video review on YouTube, so I updated it according to current competition at the moment of publishing.

D30 is on the thicker and juicer side of things. It has decent energy and punch, it’s a bit more fuller sounding than Topping D10. D30 doesn’t really resolve as many details as Topping D50, but unlike D50 it will avoid ever sounding too bright or too analytical. At the moment of its release, that was almost class-leading sound quality – I personally used it for some time and recommended it to others. But now, 3 years later, there is some fierce competition at this same price range. Even a bit cheaper SMSL M100 can offer more insightful sound but with a bit thinner sound signature. On the other hand, D30 simply can’t match the resolution and clarity of Schiit Modi 3, Loxjie D10, and great iFi Zen DAC.

CONCLUSION

Topping D30 was a great device when it was released and some time afterward. But now, whit 2019th almost ending, there are simply better choices you should consider if you’re on a market for a budget DAC.

UPDATE (MAY 2020): Check out the latest Topping E30 review.

TOPPING D30 – CHARACTERISTICS

Digital input: USB + S/PDIF (optical) + S/PDIF (RCA)
Input range, USB: 16–24 bit/44.1–192 kHz, DSD64, DSD128
Input range, optical: 16–24 bit/32–192 kHz
Input range, coaxial: 16–24 bit/32–192 kHz
Maximum output voltage swing: 2.1 Vrms
Frequency response: 10–20 kHz +/- 0.03 dB
Dimensions: Approx. 4.8 x 1.5 x 7 in (12.2 x 3.8 x 17.7 cm)
Weight: Approx. 14.4 oz (407 g)

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