EPZ TP50
Intro
I have recently been trying out quite a few dongle dacs for mobile purposes which brought me to EPZ Audio‘s: EPZ TP50. I also have the EPZ TP20 Pro on hand for review but that will come at a later date. At any rate, the TP50 comes in at around $108 US, depending on where you shop. The price is competitive and is a very nice thing for consumers. Lately the market has been inundated with device after device which all promise great things. We hear and see brands pushing their “cutting edge” technology. Honestly though, they all kind of sound somewhat similar. Maybe just little deviations from each other. Don’t get me wrong, these are good problems to have. However, we don’t see too many outliers in this hobby. Not enough stand-out devices. One thing that isn’t so common is a dongle dac with the features and audio components that the TP50 has at this price. However, one thing we also have at the price it’s being sold… is other quality dongle dacs. I suppose this is where we find out if this EPZ product is worth the cheddar. If it can stand next to some of the other devices in the price point or fall into relative obscurity.
I’m all for it!
I have reviewed a handful of EPZ iems in the recent past and have come away feeling the same after each one; impressed. EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review), EPZ Star One (Star One Review), EPZ G10 (G10 Review), EPZ Q1 Pro (Q1 Pro Review) are all very well done iems which quite easily compete in their respective price points. You can tell that a brand has their ear to the community when you see so many wins. EPZ sees the current trends and has really done a great job of producing earphones that meet those trends. The quality of their audio devices is obvious as EPZ seems to always stretch performance per dollar. This has been the case with each review I’ve completed. Of course, this is the first time I’m spending time with one of EPZ’s dongle dacs which has been very nice thus far. Now, EPZ has only recently begun rolling out their line of dongle dacs. Beginning with the EPZ TP20 (Pietro’s TP20 Review). Quickly following that was the EPZ TP30 (2023 VGP Gold Award) (Pietro’s TP30 Review), EPZ TP20 Pro (Review coming soon), as well as the latest TP50. So, EPZ seems to really have a handle on crafting competent source devices, and friends… I’m all for it. Well, I think I’m ready to get into this review folks. The EPZ TP50…
Purchasing links:
TP50 Pros
-Build quality is nice (metal body/carbon fiber panel)
-Design is equally nice
-Detachable cable
-Very nice OLED Display & functionality
-CS43198 x2 dac chips/RT6863 x2 independant amps
-100 step volume control
-High/Low Gain
-All features controlled on the device
-Good output power
-Nice analytical sound, very clean
-Technically proficient in almost all ways
TP50 Cons
-Cable is a hair flimsy for the device
-Those who prefer a warmer sound won’t be thrilled
-Honestly, I don’t see any other hard cons
Gear used for testing
Packaging / Accessories
There really isn’t much to explain here as the packaging is pretty simple. The box that the TP50 arrived at my house was a narrow one with the same pattern on the front as the pattern on the TP50 itself. Nothing too crazy. They have a line drawing of the TP50 along with some specs. Inside you’ll find the TP50 as well as the cable sitting in foam cut-outs as well as some reading material underneath. Not too much to talk about as the unboxing was pretty cut n’ dry.
I probably would have liked to see a couple useful adapters also included but I suppose that is never a guarantee. Maybe a type-c to usb-a adapter, but this is not the case with every dongle dac that I’ve reviewed. Also, most people in the hobby do have one laying around. Of course, if you do not and you prefer to listen over your computer then you may have to pick one up. No big deal.
Cable
The included cable which comes packaged in the TP50’s box is a very nice copper colored and clear mixed braided cable. To be exact it’s an 8-core silver & copper mixed cable with a proper shielding. The materials seem to be of good quality. It has some black hard plastic strain reliefs which don’t feel cheap or easy to wear out. I think the cable is of high quality. Obviously one of the benefits of having a removable cable is that you can swap cables if needed. Now, I don’t necessarily feel that is required but I do feel the cable is a hair flimsy compared to the weight of the TP50. That’s not saying it is a heavy device either. Again, I don’t feel a cable swap is necessary, but it is something to keep in mind. Beyond that, the included cable looks very nice and only helps the overall aesthetic, in my opinion. Certainly, better than 99% of the cables which come with these devices.
Specifications
-Brand: EPZ
-Model: TP50
-Dac chip: CS43198 x2
-Amplifier: RT6863 x2
-PCM: 32bit/768khz, DSD256
-Output: 3.5 single ended: 2vrms (121mW @32 ohms)
4.4 balanced: 4vrms [240mW @32 ohms)
-SNR: 3.5- +/-125db 4.4- +/-130db
-THD+N: +/- 0.0005%
-Dynamic Range: 3.5- +/-125db 4.4- +/-130db
-Outputs: 3.5 single-ended 4.4 balanced
-Frequency Response: 20hz to 80khz
Build / Design / Internals
Build Quality
One of the coolest attributes about the EP50 is its build quality. Folks, this thing is built wonderfully for the cost of owning this device. EPZ advertises the TP50’s build as a split design between the metal frame (aluminum?) as well as the carbon fiber panels. The frame was a process in and of itself. The TP50 frame went through 10 passes on a CNC machine which finely carved out the body. In hand, the feel of this lil guy is fantastic. Weighing in at only 28 grams the TP50 is not something that will wreak havoc on your type-c female port on your phone. I feel that EPZ did a great job of incorporating the carbon fiber panel without any visible signs of production scars. Everything is very smooth and cohesive. It has a rectangular shape (as you can see in my pictures), rounded corners and three slots for the buttons. I’m telling you; the build is quite nice. On one end you have the type-c female port and on the other end are the 3.5/4.4 female ports. Very nice.
Design
I love well designed… well… anything. Looking at the unit you’ll first notice just how slick looking the TP50 is. At the top of the device is the screen which looks aesthetically pleasing in blue font which sits in the middle of a blue and black carbon fiber styled hologram panel. Turn the device over and you’ll see another carbon fiber panel on the back. I honestly don’t have a ton to say about the TP50’s design other than it looks pretty dope. EPZ did a nice job in keeping with other EPZ design cues. Nice work EPZ.
Display
Yes, the build is very good, but I have to speak on the coolest part of the TP50 apart from its sound. That is the display screen. EPZ wisely added in a very nice and well-lit OLED Display which is roughly ¾” in length by about ⅜” in width. Perfect size for this device. I can tell you that the screen gets plenty bright, even in the sun. However, if it isn’t bright enough you can simply go into the settings on the device and change the brightness from 0-10. I have it on 10. The display gives off a lighter blue colored font and is easily legible. I love the screen as it is so very helpful. On it contains anything you’d need, any info you’d need like sampling rate, high/low gain, volume, sound filters, previous/next track etc. Truly a very nice addition that is more helpful than you know. Let’s put it this way, once you live “with” this nice display, it is very noticeable when you are using a device which doesn’t have it. I actually like it much more than an app. Though an app is nice to have too.
Buttons / Controls
One thing which had me somewhat troubled at the outset of learning about the TP50 was that there is no APP to go along with the it, for different features and functions. Not a problem because I quickly learned that the TP50 controls (three button controls) actually serve every function on the device itself.
Everything can be changed
You can bring up the screen by simply pressing the “M” button and holding down which also brings up the main screen which lists the current specs like sample rate, current volume, and sound filter being used. Pressing both the volume down and up at the same time cycles between the high & low gain. Now, from the main screen if you simply press and hold the “M” button you will be able to begin to cycle through many different settings. Next, by simply pressing the same “M” button you are able to actually go through those settings and changing them by using the volume +/- buttons. Those settings appear in this order: High/Low gain, left to right balance, Sound Filters, Dac Om which is a listening mode which converts the digital signal to analog for a more unfiltered listening experience. This is actually quite nice. Basically, a more uncolored and unsullied listening experience. Keep pressing the “M” and you will then get to S/PDIF off/on, H-Depop which is used to eliminate any crackles or pops, Display Brightness, Display Rotation, Display Timeout in seconds, Hide key on/off, UAD FW 1.20, and Reset settings.
That’s a lot folks. The number of settings controllable through the buttons is pretty outstanding. I find this feature to be completely helpful. EPZ made it very easy to cycle through everything and I also find it very intuitive. It took me doing it a few times and I was locked in. Really a simple and easy way to alter the sound to suit your preferences.
Internals
Inside of the tough looking exterior lies some talented circuitry which makes the TP50 a viable option at its price point. The innards of the TP50 begin with the all-important dac chip (digital analog converter chip). The TP50 actually has dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 dac chips which are fairly new as not a ton of dacs operate using these talented chips. So far, I’ve seen a few of the CS43198 dac chips. Or actually, one. I reviewed the Aful SnowyNight recently and was impressed with that device and so it’s nice to see the same implementation of Cirrus Logic’s latest chip in use here. EPZ also chose to use dual Ricore RT6863 amplifiers as well which gives the TP50 the output that it does.
The internal components allow the TP50 to have some impressive specs. First off, the CS43198 dac chip allows the TP50 to get up to 32bit / 768khz and DSD256. They’ll give you 130db SNR using 4.4 balanced, total harmonic distortion rating of 0.0005%, a dynamic range of up to 130db’s on 4.4 balanced, and a frequency response with a very wide range of 20hz to 80khz. Obviously, humans cannot hear past roughly 20khz but it’s nice to see that higher topside range. On top of that, the TP50 can output 121mW @32ohms on 3.5 single-ended and 240mW @32ohms on 4.4 balanced. These are not unheard-of numbers, but they are very good for a dongle dac at this price. Wrap that up with all the other features and you got yourself one heck of a device. One more thing, these internal components certainly are very highly regarded for a device at this price.
Features
High/Low Gain
One of my personal favorite attributes of any source device is to have on-board gain switches. This may not seem like a big deal and in all reality, it probably isn’t but I happen to use this feature regularly. Like I said earlier, simply long press the “M” button and then cycle through the settings until you get to “Gain”. Once you find this all you need to do is press volume up or down to change the gain. I found that the difference in gain amplitude is significant enough to warrant having the feature.
Sound Filters
The TP50 also has sound filters which actually does make some slightly noticeable differences in the overall sound. Keep in mind that these types of sound filters usually do nothing which the human ear can easily discern. So, I was quite surprised to see that the TP50 filters do effect some change. I cannot find much across the web about the filters anywhere. Keep in mind that most of the filters are pretty obvious as they tend to be similar across most devices. However, here is the list of filters in order: Fast-PC, Fast-LL, NON-OS, Slow-PC, and Slow-LL. I generally float between NON-OS and Fast-LL depending on the earphone. But if I’m being honest I rarely ever even think to change them. Generally, it is advised to let the tonality of your earphones dictate what filter you use but I would just cycle through them until you find what suits you.
SPDIF
One thing which is nice to see is an SPDIF through the 3.5 jack. SPDIF (Sony, Phillips, Digital, Interface) is a great feature for home audio setups, gaming, computers as well. I don’t really use this feature but it’s a feature, nonetheless.
Output Power / Drivability
The EPZ TP50 comes in with some decent output power settings. In fact, they are better than decent with the 3.5 single ended output hovering around roughly 121mW @32 ohms and the 4.4 balanced around 240mW @32 ohms or 4vrms. These are good numbers. To be honest, for simple earphones (majority of folks), this is more than enough on either single ended or balanced. You’ll be hard pressed to find many iems that are too much trouble for the TP50.
It has some juice
One thing I’m kicking myself over is selling my Final Audio E5000 and E5000 sets. These are perfect for testing source output. At any rate, I do have sets like the Aful MagicOne, certain earbuds like the Dunu Alpha 3, and many of my planar sets that arent exactly hard to drive, but they like more juice. That said, all of these were no trouble at all for the TP50, and each came alive using 4.4 balanced on high gain. Folks, we take these power numbers a bit too far sometimes. Also, just because a set is promoted as having some large amount of output, it doesn’t mean it’ll perform that way. I’ve seen this a few times over the past couple years. So much more goes into your listening experience. With this in mind, the TP50 is a powerful little device. Let’s put it this way, the Aful SnowyNight has a power rating of 300mw on 4.4 balanced to the TP50’s 240. Well, they quite literally drive my earphones the same. Almost no difference between them. The Hidizs MP145 is a set which can take anything you throw at it, and I love the sound pairing with the TP50, especially on 4.4 balanced. Beyond that, I am going to ask you all to forgive me as I have no full-sized cans to try to drive… unfortunately. I do hope you check some other reviews for help answering if the TP50 is enough. So, to cap this section, the TP50 has more than enough for any iem aside from maybe a couple outliers. Very nice.
Sound Impressions
Keep it simple
I’ve always had a hard time describing the actual sound of my dac amps apart from simply saying that they lean analytical and more transient tight or warmer and smoother etc. Trying to go through “Bass”, “Mids”, and “Treble” in categories of sound is a bit harder to accurately judge apart from how much more bass the TP50 adds compared to another source. Or did the TP50 supply the QOA Aviation with a bit more treble emphasis? Did the TP50 come across more forward here or there, more detailed, transient quick etc? I’ve always felt the best way to go about it is to simply generalize in and look for obvious changes so as to help you get a sense of the sound across the mix and how the TP50 may react with your iems/headphones.
Tonality
The TP50 comes across neutral to my ears. Or better said, the TP50 isn’t coloring the sound of my earphones with any direct tonality changes. There is the slightest tinge of warmth and color, but I still consider this neutral. If anything, the TP50 will take a warmer iem and clean them up a bit to a slight degree but for the most part I feel that the TP50 lets an iem be what it is. In all of my listening I hear a more punchy and moderate bass with good sub-bass extension. There’s good texture to the midrange with a slightly more forward approach and it’ll only benefit your warm/smooth sets with a hint more resolving capability. The treble sounds a touch more brilliant and very well extended for a $100 dongle dac.
Tonal swing
Take the Penon Fan 2 for example, this is a lauded and loved iem with a warm yet resolving sound. Attaching the TP50 will ever so slightly evaporate the warm veil I usually get with the Fan2. Still a milky, smooth and utterly musical sound though, nothing lost there. The bass region actually feels tighter. Probably less in weight, but tighter. However, the sound is tightened up from other “warmer” sources. The added air and treble energy also give the Fan 2 a slight feeling of levity. So, it doesn’t have some dramatic change. It’s a mild change that does either add or take away from the sound depending on your preferences. Like any source device. Again, nothing that will change the overall sound signature. On the flipside, because of the neutral tonal color of the TP50 you may think it would exaggerate this brighter quality on brighter sets. However, I don’t really get that to a detrimental degree. For instance, listening to the equally “neutral” to “bright/neutral” Simgot EA1000, I don’t hear the brightness expounded upon. I don’t hear anything that I’d consider out of control, sharp, glaring, or sibilant. Basically, the EA1000 sounds like the EA1000… just with some heightened technicalities. Yet, the TP50 is able to do so while never coming across as clinical to my ears. There’s a strong essence of musicality, punch and some macro-dynamic expression that really does come across nicely.
Examples
Another example, when the TP50 is paired with the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 it is clear that the TP50 brings upon slightly more openness to the sound. Also, listening with the Dunu Alpha 3 earbuds I noticed 1st that high gain was plenty to drive these earbuds and 2nd… the synergy is great. Clean, detailed, wide stage (earbuds), and the sound came across nicely dynamic.
Tonality cont…
I should also add that I don’t hear anything overly dry either. Like I just stated, the sound is dynamic enough, punchy enough, and holds onto some decent macro-dynamic vibrance enough to still sound engaging to me. That said, most notes generally won’t exactly have that thick and lush sound. Instead, most notes come across a hint thinner depending on your iems/headphones. Yet there is still some good density. Which again can vary depending on your iems/headphones. Generally, the TP50 has a nice crispness and note definition. This isn’t a smooth delivery per se. Note don’t sound blunted at the leading edge of attack and the transient swiftness is on the speedier side with less decay/sustain then some of the more rich and atmospheric sounding sources. Your warmer sets will more than likely sound slightly cleaner, maybe less veiled, and more resolving, give or take. Within reason of course. Your more neutral or brighter iems like the EPZ X-Tipsy Star One don’t all of a sudden become inundated with brightness and glare.
Technicalities
Trying to pinpoint exactly what is helped or aided as far as “technicalities” are concerned (soundstage, resolution, separation, Imaging, transients, details etc.) isn’t always the easiest thing to accomplish in a source review. However, thankfully I have quite a few dongle dacs to compare against. For all intents and purposes, I would actually consider this device to be very technically inclined. Certainly, it is a more analytical approach, as I’ve said numerous times. I do feel that the TP50 is a nicely detailed device as well and will help your iems to come across better in this area. So, it should not come as a shock when I say that one of the benefits of the TP50 is increased resolution across the mix. Detail retrieval is also a benefit of the TP50. On top of that, I feel that the stage is not one which feels cramped or inward. It’s a wider stage presence that doesn’t flatten out, which is nice to hear. I can also say for certain that the EPZ TP50 does have solid imaging and aids in separation of elements on an imaginary stage quite well. The TP50 does a very nice job of balancing technical skill and musical flare and does so very well for the price.
Downsides to the TP50 sound
If iI were to come up with some subjective issues or preferential gripes that some folks may have I’d definitely say that the sound may come across dull to those who enjoy a more robust and fun sound. Those who want elevated bass and more warmth can find better dongle dacs for these purposes other than the TP50. That’s about it. I honestly feel that this is one of the better sounding dongle dacs in the price point. Really a nice device.
Comparisons
Note: I am going to keep these comparisons short and will also speak in very general terms using very broad strokes. As per usual with my comparisons. I simply try to find differences so to help explain the device I am reviewing. This is not a duel to the death and I’m not trying to crown one device better than the other.
Hidizs S9 Pro Plus ($90)
The Hidizs S9 Pro Plus is Hidizs Audio’s successor to the wildly popular Hidizs S9 Pro. I reviewed the S9 Pro Plus (S9 Pro Plus Review) later last year and was one of my more favored dongle dacs of 2023. Coming in with an ES9038Q2M dac chip (old reliable) and a gorgeous design, the S9 Pro Plus certainly outclassed its predecessor.
Differences
First off, both devices use an aluminum chassis with very cool designs. Both builds are fantastic. Now, the TP50 has that awesome screen and so many more features and ways you can change up the sound. The S9 Pro Plus doesn’t exactly lack in this dept., but it is a huge plus to have the OLED screen of the TP50. I feel that both devices are equally cool looking as each has a bold and intriguing design. The TP50 does have quite a bit more output power on 4.4 balanced (240mW -180mW) but oddly enough, the S9 Pro Plus actually has a slight bit more power using 3.5 single ended (138mW-121mW). I would certainly say that the TP50 has the more updated and talented dac chip (CS43198 vs. ES9038Q2M) as well.
Sound Differences
First off, the S9 Pro Plus has the warmer sound signature to the TP50’s closer to neutral sound. The TP50 has a slightly crisper note structure with more defined and contoured note definition. Certainly, the TP50 is the more technical of the two. Granted these are small margins but they will show up in your listening. I feel the low-end is a bit more colored on the S9 Pro Plus with slightly less treble extension. The stage is wider on the TP50 with easier to delineate separation and is slightly more detailed. Both devices are great for what they are, and both serve your iems/headphones just a little differently.
Final thoughts
If you are choosing between the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus or the EPZ TP50, I’d 1st ask you if you desire a slightly more colored and smoother take on your music? Or would you rather enjoy a cleaner presentation with better resolution, a tidier approach, a bit more power on balanced and that gorgeous screen with the multitude of easy to reach options? As for myself, I cannot help but enjoy the TP50 a hair more as I love the way it reacts to my iems and seems to synergize a bit easier.
Aful SnowyNight ($109)
The brand new Aful SnowyNight is Aful Audio’s latest dongle dac to grace the market and I for one was sold on it, as it has a good number of features, and it also has the same dac chip that the EPZ TP50 has (CS43198). I reviewed SnowyNight earlier this year (SnowyNight Review) and it was one of the better surprises for me personally. At least for the price. The SnowyNight has a lot to like about it. Let’s see how they compare.
Differences
Both the EPZ TP50 and the Aful SnowyNight are built very well. I think the SnowyNight has a bit more of a streamlined and trendy look, but I like the solid build and display of the TP50 a bit more. Of course, they both look fine. We care about sound and functions though. So no, the SnowyNight does not have a display screen, yet it still has a multitude of functions as it does have a couple buttons for controls. However, the TP50 simply gives you easier control over more, which is nice when you have a screen looking back at you. The price is roughly the same for these units and so you can begin to see the value in EPZ’s product. Neither device uses an app, both have high/low gain, both have sound filters and sample rate indicators. Of course, the SnowyNight has an indicator light, whereas the TP50 has a screen. Other than that, the SnowyNight has a highly regarded and very good cable. In fact, it was one of the SnowyNight’s selling points. Not that the TP50 has a bad cable but it is something to mention.
Sound Differences
Both devices use the same dual CS43198 dac chips and both have good output power. Granted the SnowyNight has the TP50 beat on paper. However, in real life usage I cannot tell the difference (300mw-240mw). Folks, if I’m being honest, both devices really do sound alike. Both using the same chips isn’t a given that the sound will be similar, but in this case, they are very close. I won’t go into huge detail, but I feel these both offer close to the same great sound. I would probably say that the TP50 has a hint of better extension into the upper treble as well as illuminating details a bit better. The SnowyNight does have a slightly smoother approach to the TP50’s “slightly” crisper sound to my ears, but the difference is negligible. Honestly, I don’t see many other huge differences between the two.
Final thoughts
I guess this comparison all comes down to what you actually prefer aesthetically and functionally. I would say that the better device would probably be the TP50 just because of the use of that great screen and how easy it is to cycle through settings and such. However, you may feel that the inclusion of that awesome cable would be enough to put the SnowyNight over the top. Both units have basically the same functions. So, there you have it folks. Both good devices and both are fantastic for music playback.
Is it worth the asking price
The real question that you all should be asking is if the EPZ TP50 is even worth the price that EPZ is asking? Meaning, there could be many devices which eclipse the TP50 for your particular style or use case that are less expensive. I suppose this would all come down to what your own preferences are. Do you enjoy something warmer and more colored sounding, enhanced bass? Do you want a more fun sound? If so, then the TP50 probably won’t be worth the $109 that it’s going for…for you, that is.
The Why…
However, if you like a very talented dongle dac for the price which rides the line of musical and technical and which doesn’t overly color your iems than I may have the exact dongle dac for you. If you wan’t a dongle dac that doesn’t break the bank yet has an easy to use and perfectly vibrant OLED screen, then I probably have the dongle dac for you. If you want a dongle dac with a boat load of easy to navigate features with very nice functionality than I’d say that I have the dongle dac that may just be your next purchase. For me, for my library, and for my particular use cases I feel that the EPZ TP50 is well worth the $109 that EPZ is asking.
Conclusion
Thank you!
To conclude my full written review of the EPZ TP50 I want to thank any of you who read this review. Truly it means the world for mobileaudiophile.com. Every click onto the site matters to us. We are a small operation but trying to expand in an organic way and each one of you are pertinent to our success. So yes… Thank you very much.
Other perspectives
Please do yourself a favor and check out other reviews of the EPZ TP50. It will only benefit you. $109 is a lot of money to the great majority of our planet and we have hobbyists covering the globe. $109 is quite a bit. However, when you pan out and look at the landscape of dongle dacs, $109 is actually a great price for what you are getting. However, please don’t only take my word for it, read, listen to, or watch other reviews from other reviewers as it should help you to make an educated decision.
One last thing
I cannot end this review without officially recommending the EPZ TP50. I feel it is one of the best you can buy for the cost. Of course, I haven’t heard them all but the TP50 does so many things so well. It truly is a very talented piece of audio equipment and EPZ deserves a pat on the back. Great job with this one! With that, I think I’m done. I hope each and every one of you are well and good. Stay as safe as you are able and always… God Bless!
