Topping E30 II Desktop DAC Dual AK4493S DSD512 PCM 32-bit 768kHz USB-C Coaxial Optical Preamp Mode Remote r-BudgetAudiophile Sub-150 DAC

Topping E30 II Desktop DAC — Dual AK4493S, DSD512, Remote + Preamp Mode

Topping E30 II — the sub-$150 DAC that r/BudgetAudiophile keeps recommending. Dual AK4493S chips (successor to AK4493SEQ), DSD512 / PCM 32-bit 768 kHz, USB-C input, remote control, and switchable preamp mode. ASR “recommended” tier with THD+N around -117 dB. Perfect front-end for any budget amp — pair with AIYIMA A80, Fosi ZA3, or SMSL AO200 MKII. $149 on Amazon US.

Audiophile community verdict: See what audiophiles say on ASR forum review thread

$149.00

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Video Review

Topping E30 II — the go-to sub-$150 desktop DAC

The Topping E30 II is the update to the wildly popular E30, upgraded with dual AK4493S DAC chips (one per channel, dual-mono configuration) instead of single AK4493 in the original.

Why the audiophile community loves it

  • Dual AK4493S DAC chips — dual-mono for perfect channel matching, warmer/musical AKM house sound
  • Extreme sample rate support — up to DSD512 and 32-bit / 768 kHz PCM
  • Preamp mode — variable volume out via remote — feed directly into a power amp, skip an integrated
  • Reference measurements — THD+N around -117 dB, dynamic range 125+ dB
  • USB-C, Coaxial, Optical inputs — connects to PC, streamer, TV
  • Included remote — rare at this price

Who it’s for

Anyone building a hi-fi system with a Class-D amp that doesn’t have a built-in DAC (AIYIMA A20 MONO, 3e Audio A7, Fosi V3 mono, etc.). Also excellent as an upgrade over amp-built-in DACs for critical listening.

vs AIYIMA D20

Topping E30 II is a pure DAC + preamp (no headphone amp, no Bluetooth). AIYIMA D20 adds headphone amp + LDAC Bluetooth at similar money. E30 II wins on pure DAC measurements; D20 wins on features.

Where to buy

Amazon US $149. Link below.

Category: Brand:
Editorial synthesis of publicly-available Amazon 5-star reviews, YouTube reviews from named channels (cheapaudioman, Forever Analog, iiWi Reviews, Passion for Sound), and r/BudgetAudiophile / Head-Fi / Audio Science Review threads on sub-$200 desktop DACs as of 2026-08. Aggregated themes from real long-term owner reports.

What owners consistently praise

  • The community-standard sub-$200 desktop DAC. cheapaudioman's "New Good Cheap DAC?" and iiWi Reviews' "Topping E30 II DAC and L30 II Head Amp - New Budget References" both capture the recurring conclusion: for a pure DAC (no headphone amp) at this price, the E30 II is the reference every alternative gets compared against.
  • Dual AK4493S implementation is genuinely quiet — Amazon and ASR-adjacent Head-Fi threads consistently report the E30 II's noise floor is inaudible on any competent downstream chain, including balanced monoblock stacks like the AIYIMA A20 MONO.
  • Remote control at this price is a real convenience. Owners repeatedly mention this in reviews — being able to change inputs and volume without walking to the desk is unusual for the price bracket.
  • Preamp mode with variable output enables direct-to-amp stacks. The E30 II can replace a separate preamp for owners feeding a power amp like the 3e Audio A7 or an A20 MONO pair — saves a box and a box's worth of budget.
  • DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz decoding are real, not just spec. Owners feeding native DSD from Roon or JRiver confirm the E30 II shows the correct sample-rate indicator and passes bit-perfect.
  • Forever Analog's "$150 vs $200 DAC" shootout put the E30 II near the top for sound-per-dollar, and Passion for Sound's coverage keeps recommending it as the default DAC to buy when someone asks "what should I get under $200."
  • Build feels premium. Aluminum chassis, clean OLED-style front panel, real hardware buttons, no cheap plastic anywhere.

Common use cases owners mention

  • Pure DAC feeding a dedicated headphone amp. Owners pairing the E30 II with the AIYIMA H4 or a Topping L30 II create a stack that competes with $500+ integrated DAC/amps.
  • Preamp mode into a power amp for a 2.0 rig. Direct into the A20 MONO pair or the 3e Audio A7 — no separate preamp needed.
  • Reference USB DAC for a mixing/mastering hobbyist. The AK4493S implementation is neutral enough for critical monitoring, and owners producing at home use it as the truth reference against active monitors.
  • Upgrade destination from a FiiO K3 / SMSL M100 / motherboard audio. This is the recurring "next step" recommendation on r/BudgetAudiophile for owners realizing their source is the weakest link.
  • Feeder for a streaming source (WiiM Pro / Bluesound Node) that lacks a great internal DAC. Owners with older streamers or Raspberry Pi builds use the E30 II as the external DAC that lifts the whole rig.

Common critical notes from long-term owners

  • No built-in headphone amp — this is a pure DAC. Owners buying it expecting a headphone jack are consistently surprised. If you need headphones out, look at the FiiO K11, FiiO K13 R2R, or the AIYIMA D20 (which adds preamp + headphone amp + balanced output for a modest price bump).
  • Not balanced — RCA output only. Owners planning a balanced monoblock chain should look at the AIYIMA D20 or a Topping E50 instead.
  • Bluetooth is optional (E30 II Lite has none) — check which variant you buy. The Bluetooth-equipped version has SBC/AAC only, no LDAC. Owners wanting hi-res Bluetooth should look at the D20 (LDAC + aptX-HD).
  • Remote is functional but plastic — not a premium wand. Fine, but do not expect a metal remote at this price.
  • Preamp mode output level requires setting once per input. Owners not reading the manual sometimes think a channel is broken; it is just the per-input volume memory. Set once, forget forever.

Best pairings from real owner reports

Recommended setup workflow

  1. Decide DAC-only or preamp mode before purchase. If you need a preamp/headphone amp built in, buy the D20 instead; if you want pure DAC feeding downstream gear, the E30 II is correct.
  2. Connect USB from your computer as primary input. Bit-perfect settings in your player, confirm the correct sample-rate indicator on the DAC.
  3. Set output mode. Preamp mode if feeding a power amp directly; fixed mode if feeding a preamp or integrated with its own volume control.
  4. Set per-input volume memory. First time on each input, set the level you want; the E30 II remembers per input.
  5. Position where the remote line-of-sight works from your listening position. Small detail, big convenience.
  6. A/B against your previous source after 100 hours. AK4493S implementations do settle slightly — give it time before making judgments.

Overall verdict from owner community: the Topping E30 II is the community-standard sub-$200 pure DAC on r/BudgetAudiophile and Head-Fi — the reference every "what DAC should I buy under $200" thread converges on. Skip it if you want an integrated headphone amp (FiiO K11, FiiO K13 R2R, or AIYIMA D20), if you need balanced XLR output (D20), or if you want hi-res Bluetooth (D20 for LDAC). For a pure, quiet, well-implemented AKM DAC at a price that used to buy far less, the E30 II is the answer.

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Specification

BrandTopping
ModelE30 II
TypeDesktop Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) with Preamp
Dac ChipDual AKM AK4493S (dual-mono configuration)
InputsUSB-C, Coaxial S/PDIF, Optical (Toslink)
OutputsRCA (line-level or variable preamp)
Sample RateUp to PCM 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD512
Thd NBelow -117 dB
Dynamic Range125+ dB
Remote ControlYes — input select, volume, mute, filter select
Preamp ModeYes — variable volume output for direct-to-amp use
In The BoxE30 II unit, USB cable, remote (batteries included), 5V USB power
Warranty1 year manufacturer

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