Home Amp/DAC Comparisons Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

Is there something better on the horizon?

by Stuart Charles Black

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Part of a Topping Mini-Series

Hey guys! Before we get started, check out Apos Audio. They are a great up-and-coming distributor with a phenomenal-looking website and excellent customer service. They also offer free shipping, the lowest price guarantee, a 2-year warranty, and a 45-day return.

Also big thanks to iFi for their continued support of the blog and channel!

Greetings comrade and Welcome aboard… Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music .. all over again, so…

Let’s have a gander at the Topping E30/L30 stack, and find out how it… stacks up…against iFi’s Zen CAN Signature Stack!

In The Box

Topping E30/L30

E30 Pricing: Check Amazon! | Check Apos Audio!

L30 Pricing: Check Amazon! | Check Apos Audio!

E30

E30 DAC

USB Cable

Remote

User Manual

Warranty Card

L30

L30 Amp

1/4″ Adapter

Power Supply

User Manual

Warranty Card


Zen CAN Signature

Pricing: Check Amazon! | Check Drop!

Amp

iFi audio iPower X power supply with US Plug

20.5 in (22 cm) USB cable

21.5 in (55 cm) RCA cable with gold-plated connectors

6.3 mm to 3.5 mm converter

Owner’s manual

Manufacturer’s 1-year warranty

DAC

iFi audio iPower X power supply with US Plug

20.5 in (22 cm) USB cable

21.5 in (55 cm) RCA cable with gold-plated connectors

Owner’s manual

Manufacturer’s 1-year warranty


We’ll start with the build. 

Build

iFi products have always been incredibly rock-solid, and the Zen CAN Signature 6XX is no different.

Both the DAC and Amp are made of rugged, brushed aluminum chassis that feels extremely weighty in your hand.

Weight

  • iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX (Amp): 18 Oz. (526g)
  • iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX (DAC): 16.5 Oz. (483g)
  • Topping L30 (Amp): 11.8 Oz. (345g)
  • Topping E30 (DAC): 9.1 Oz. (267g)

Both the Topping L30 and E30 bear a similar sentiment.

The L30 actually feels a tad heavier than the Zen CAN amp, which was a bit surprising to me.

But, it’s not. It is significantly lighter.

I don’t know why it felt heavier at first, but the E30 DAC portion is a bit lighter but still feels very durable in your hands.

Volume potentiometers on both feel about the same. Neither feel cheap and are nice to turn.

The Zen CAN turns a bit more free-flowing, but it’s more of an observation than anything. I think its knob is more elegant looking. It’s also a bit larger.

Back Panel 

The back panel of the Topping E30 DAC reveals a pair of RCA outs, a coaxial output, an optical output, and a USB Type-B port.

There’s also a DC5V jack for your outlet.

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

All hooked up. With PS4 you’d just run an optical cable from the back into the input on the E30.

Topping supplies a cable, but you’ll need one of those USB bricks to plug into.

The back panel of the L30 Amp contains a set of RCA inputs and outputs.

Like the Zen CAN amp, you can use the L30 as a preamp into some separate speakers like the Presonus Eris e3.5s.

It also has a 15V AC jack and comes with another gigantic brick.

This thing is about as heavy as the one that Marv throws at Kevin in Home Alone.

SUCK BRICK, KID!!

 LOL.

ZEN CAN

The Zen CAN Amp has a balanced 4.4mm input, a 3.5mm single-ended input, a pair of RCA inputs, a balanced 4.4mm output, and a DC 5V jack.

The DAC portion has a balanced 4.4mm output, a pair of RCA outputs, a USB Type-B jack, and a DC 5V jack.

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

The Zen combo affords you the option of using a 3.5mm to RCA (as I’m using now) or RCA to RCA for the connection between the 2.

With the Topping stack, you’ll be using RCA to RCA exclusively.

The Topping doesn’t have any balanced inputs or outputs, but the Zen CAN doesn’t have optical or coaxial connections.

Topping

The Topping is also better for all you lazy couch potatoes out there who haven’t moved in decades.

Because the E30 comes with a remote, you don’t even have to get up from your couch if you want to adjust the volume.

This is a huge selling point for me specifically.

I set the volume of the amp first, and then adjust the volume on the DAC (with the remote) based on what film I’m watching or game I’m playing.

It’s the ultimate sedentary slob fest.

You won’t even have to clean Cheetos off your grubby paws. Just set it and forget it!

If you buy within the next 30 minutes, we’ll include 10 bags of assorted Doritos and a 12-pack of Mountain Dew at no extra charge to you.

Just pay shipping and handling!!

Jokes aside, the front panel has big bold alarm-clock-looking numbers that adjust based on what file you’re playing.

The E30 supports up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512.

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XXBoth support Tidal MQA.

Inside Tidal, just go File > Settings > Streaming, and scroll down to Sound and Sound Output.

Right next to sound output in parenthesis it will say (more settings). Click that.

Just tick the button to exclusive mode and Tidal will have control of the DAC.

Now when you play a Master File or album, you’ll notice the E30’s interface will switch to 96kHz (or 88.2 as seen above).

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

For the Zen, the halo ring light around the DAC’s potentiometer will turn Magenta.

It looks blue in the above picture, but it is indeed Magenta.

With the E30, you can cycle through your connections with the remote, or just tap the power/select button on the right-hand side.

Let’s be honest though, who’s actually gonna get up. LOL.

The L30 amp has 2 switches toward the left: one is used for the preamp, headphone amp, and off functions, and the other is your gain.

This thing has plenty of power with a +9dB boost, so don’t fret! I’m only at about 1 o’clock on the 0dB (no gain) setting.

The Zen CAN is also very powerful, with a 6dB, 12dB, and 18dB boost.

Instead of a switch, the Zen CAN utilizes buttons but also has the 3D feature and XBass button.

Press once for the XBass, twice for 3D, and a third time for both. A fourth time shuts them all off.

Do keep in mind I’ve been demoing the ZEN Can Signature 6XX version. Instead of XBass, the button says “HD6XX.” Yeah. That’s a rant for another time.

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XXTopping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

For most people, I’d just recommend the regular Zen CAN as it’s much more sensibly priced.

If you’re interested in an in-depth look at the Zen CAN 6XX signature stack and how it compares to the original iFi Zen Amp/DAC combo, click here: iFi Zen Amp/DAC vs. Zen CAN Signature 6XX.

If you plan to run balanced or need some extra-musical enhancements, the Zen CAN stack may be the way to go.

If you plan on never leaving your couch ever again, go with the E30/L30. Just make sure to throw some extra Toppings on that b*tch.

But how do these bad boys sound in relation to one another?

Glad you axed, HOMMIE.

Sound Comparison

Though the L30 technically has more power on paper, with no gain on both, I’m at 10-11 ‘o’clock on the Zen and about 1-2 on the L30 for roughly the same volume.

These are both comfortably loud volumes if that makes sense. Not too quiet, not too loud.

The L30 boasts a really impressive 3,500mW into 16 Ohms, 2,300mW into 32 Ohms, and 280mW into 300 Ohms.

In the above video comparing this stack to iFi’s, the L30 appeared to have more power on paper, but it was a bit of a misnomer.

Those numbers specify peak power and not continuous, but the unit still has plenty and you won’t have to worry too much about it.

I would just give you continuous power output numbers, but Topping doesn’t specify them.

They did however on the A50s/D50s, which is the next article in this series so sit back and CHILL! 🙂

By contrast, the Zen CAN Signature (peak power) provides 1,000mW @ 16 Ohm, 1,600mW @ 32 Ohm, 196mW @ 300 Ohm, and 98mW @ 600 Ohm.

I thought it might have just been my imagination, but early on I noticed that the E30/L30 combo sounded a bit more open and airy vs. the slightly warmer-sounding Zen CAN Signature stack.

To ensure that my impressions were accurate, I painstakingly calibrated the volume level on each to make sure they were exactly the same.

Keep in mind this is before looking at any specs of any kind.

When I noticed it again it kind of hit me.

For a while, I wasn’t really hearing much of a difference, but every so often it would come up again.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the discrepancy was, but it’s becoming more apparent now as the songs on the playlist start to add up.

Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

The Zen CAN Signature is a bit on the warmer side. It’s not a huge difference, but it is there.

The presentation of the E30/L30 reminds me a lot of the DragonFly Red. It’s like opening your window and letting a cool breeze in.

The Zen CAN is a bit more laid back, but still very detailed and clear. It’s a kickback and relax typa homie.

The sound of the Zen CAN signature portrays the music a bit more boxed in, while the E30/L30 combo opens things up a little more.

It sounds slightly more expansive and grand.

In short, the Topping stack is cleaner, with somewhat less noticeable distortion.

Now, I don’t find the Zen CAN to be distorted. I’m just saying that on paper, the sound contrast that I heard before reading any specs makes sense in context.

The L30 boasts a less than-minuscule 0.00006% THD, while the Zen CAN is showing less than 0.005%.

In the case of A/B’ing both of these back and forth, yes. There is a difference.

But like I always say, you’re never going to notice or care without both right there at your disposal.

Can I honestly say I would be able to tell which is which in a blind test? Maybe, maybe not.

I’m leaning towards yes this time around, only because I heard the discrepancy first without having to refer to any specs.

Still, it may take a while for you to hear it.

Further,

some people may enjoy that little bit of extra distortion. Ever heard of a Tube amp? If you weren’t aware, there’s a reason people buy them. It’s because they sound good. So no, distortion is not a bad word.

You are aware of this invention they call the tube amp, and with this invention, it plays music well, right?

Video Comparison

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What’s my final word here?

Final Word

I’m not recommending either of these anymore as the Zen Stack is horribly overpriced and I don’t really trust Topping as a company.

Their lack of transparency and overabundance of products turns me off and I’d much rather you buy from a reputable brand like JDS Labs.

So if you’re looking for a neutral desktop offering, I like the JDS Labs ATOM Amp + DAC.

If you’d rather save a bit of money and not have to worry about stacking, FiiO’s K5 Pro is the perfect solution and incredibly versatile to boot with a price-to-performance ratio that’s through the roof.

Learn More:

 

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX comparison, and are better equipped to make a purchasing decision!

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Which of these options sounds best to YOU? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

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Photos..

Photo Gallery

Please bear with me as I fix the gallery issue.

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Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX

Gaming & Film..

Gaming & Film

Watchmen (2009)

Raising Arizona (1987)

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Carlito’s Way (1993)

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Matrix (1999)

The Pianist (2002)

Rushmore (1998)

Fallout 4 (2015)

Specs..

Topping E30/L30

iFi Zen CAN

iFi ZEN CAN (DAC)

Topping E30/L30

4.7

Build

4.8/5

Features & Connections

5.0/5

Sound Quality

5.0/5

Power Output

4.8/5

Accessories

4.0/5

Pros

  • Incredibly neutral sound
  • Extremely versatile
  • Plenty of power
  • Output to separate speakers
  • Plays well with console gaming and film

Cons

  • Remote is sometimes finicky
  • Fingerprint magnet
  • Would have liked some RCA and optical cables in either package

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4 comments

EthanFriend November 28, 2022 - 4:11 am

I bought a fiio k5 pro ess for 230€ over two months ago and now the brand new k7 pro which is way better is selling for 220€. I’m mad.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black November 28, 2022 - 2:15 pm

Ethan,

Please, please don’t do that. Just enjoy what you have because it doesn’t matter. You have to understand that this is how the industry operates. They create FOMO (Fear of missing out) but there will always be another product around the corner. Guaranteed. Plus you’re not really missing out on anything except for a shiny new object and that feeling will fade. So just take a deep breath and relax. It’s going to be, okay. 🙂

Reply
Martin Mens February 6, 2024 - 4:56 pm

I have a E30 DAC (first version), a IFI Signature V2 DAC and a L30 II AMP so far. You might wonder why the expensive DADC in between? Well I needed volume control at the time and I was having issues with unwanted PC noises. Turns out it happens because of your motherboard mostly. I’ve been buying high end motherboards for the past few years so I don’t have the same issue any longer, but what would happen is that I would hear high frequency noise when I move my mouse around even when just at the desktop in windows. I upgraded motherboards over the years always buying more expensive models and it seems to have gone away last time I checked. My favorite brands being MSI and ASRock atm. But yeah. What the fuck? I once read on the internet that IFI Amps have more distortion and sound worse somehow than Topping AMP’s. I wonder if it’s bullshit. I just know that my IFI DAC Signature DAC V2 sounds so much smoother than my Topping E30 one which I only use for cheap audio now adays where it’s analytical clearness is appreciated. My ears can take it otherwise. I’m I alone? My question is what the fuck is up with that? are the amps any different or is the DAC the only thing that matters and amps just do their thing? (make more noise)

Reply
Stuart Charles Black February 10, 2024 - 9:31 pm

Martin,

Thanks for stopping by! Interesting story.

As for the Topping/iFi thing, yeah, it’s B.S. Lol. In fact, you could even argue that Topping amps have too low of an output impedance rendering them overly sterile, but they’re mostly fine. iFi’s amps are also completely fine. Sometimes the stuff people come out with just makes me chuckle, but I’m not going on a rant now heh.

The smoothness you’re hearing could be that iFi DACS typically aren’t completely neutral but it’s a very subtle distinction.

As far as amps and dacs, it’s funny you ask that because I just wrote an ethos on where I stand with most audio related things. But in short, yeah the amps can absolutely be manufactured and designed differently (internals and all) but the effect that they have on sound, as well as any differences between them, are again very subtle.

I would say both Amps and DACS matter to an extent; i.e. their dac chip, output impedance, and some other factors like Signal-to-noise ratio, etc., and the amp’s analog output stage certainly matters, but my stance has always been what you allude to. They’re both meant to do a specific job and evaluating them any further than that in terms of “sound” starts to quickly delve down a rabbit hole that shouldn’t really even exist.

Hope that helps! Let me know.

-Stu

Reply

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