MIX on HEADPHONES? Get THIS! Topping E2X2 Audio Interface VS Scarlett 2i2

The Topping E2X2 Audio Interface hosts one of the best headphone amplifiers on any audio interface, regardless of price. How does it compare to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen 4? Is this the best audio interface for mixing with headphones?
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#ToppingE2X2 #AudioInterface #headphoneamp
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Topping E2X2 Audio Interface
00:20 WTF Are Topping?
01:29 Device Specifications
02:35 Why Is This Headphone Amp SO Good?
05:06 Audio Examples
08:30 Thoughts & Analysis

[@EdThorne]

What headphones and Interface combo are you using? 🎬kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXi4mZSaoNF0pa8

[@tnahsi]

How is it compared to Motu M2? I've got a Sennheiser HD490Pro and looking for a new audio interface (for mixing/mastering purpose)

[@milanzeeman4454]

in what for list would you put this interface meaning what would be below and above this interface in quality

[@TNThot]

How would this compare to MOTU M2 2x2, especially in the output?

[@garfieldadamsakaj.stemmons364]

thanks for the info!! now I just wanna know what monitors those are behind you... 🌾👀🌾

[@EdThorne]

PSI A23s + A125 subs. 🔥🔥

[@turbomet286]

I've already bought one. My card makes a constant preamp noise at maximum volume even if the microphone and guitar are turned off. Do you know if this is normal?

[@Audio-guy]

Got this one based on Julian Krause's review. Cool to see more people recommending it!

[@EdThorne]

How are you finding it?

[@Audio-guy]

@@EdThorne They used to have a link to their Ali Express page on their website but now I'm not seeing that. Got it there.

[@xioneksdot4660]

Been using my second hand Topping D10S + A50S for a couple years now. Working great so far. Can basically power all my headphones including planars but prolly not for electrostats Ed, maybe try covering the chifi market for IEMs? Imo chifi has beaten Sennheiser, Audio-Techinica, etc in almost all price ranges including the high end market like with Elysian Acoustics Lab or 7th Acoustics (strictly not chifi, cuz these companies are from Malaysia & Indonesia respectively but close enough haha)

[@LesVegasMusic]

Thanks for the heads up on the headphone amp in this little guy. Personally, I'm not in the market for a budget friendly interface but after hearing this comparison, I would recommend the Topping over the Scarlett to anyone who is. Especially for the headphone preamp - which I'll have to take your word for - and I do because I agree with your opinion on the Apollo headphone preamp.

[@ayoubmisbah2190]

How good this mic preamp ???

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Finally an interface that'll work well with my DT1990's. Thanks for the info. 👍

[@EdThorne]

It's genuinely a great headphone amp! Will easily power your 250 Ohm DT1990s.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@EdThorne I find it annoying that budget pre-amps skimp on the headphone output. "So, you want a great-sounding mic pre? No problem, but you won't be able to hear it." 🤣

[@EdwardKayeplus]

I route my scarlett out to a headphone amp. It's pretty annoying.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@EdwardKayeplus That's not a bad idea... Saves physically swapping the lead, as no mic pre will beat a good dedicated headphone amp.

[@EdwardKayeplus]

@@FatNorthernBigotI just got a Headamp 4. They're quite cheap and seem well regarded.

[@ramspencer5492]

Oit of curiosity And for the sake of those who are using outboard preamps, do you know if the DI input is able to bypass the pres? I've been interested in something from topping That lets you run some outboard gear through their high end converters....

[@EdThorne]

You can't bypass the pres. Only the Apollo rack-mounted interfaces allow you to do that, as far as I know.

[@ramspencer5492]

Ok. I had heard somewhere that there were a couple where the line in did bypass the pres.... What I'm using right now has a couple of track inputs That don't even have pres on them. It does make a difference... But it is subtle. Well I've seen that it makes a difference as far as noise measurements... Maybe it doesn't really make any practical difference in reality

[@JA-df5zq]

Looking at the specifications this review would apply to the E1x2?

[@EdThorne]

I believe so, and the ExX4.

[@user-nd4mv4mi2r]

If the microphone is using Bate58a, is there a big difference in the experience of topping e22 and id14?

[@EdThorne]

Not loads. I think the Audient preamps are better but the Topping headphone amp is way better.

[@Johnstath]

does it beat audient?

[@faaip0de0oaid]

Please do a comparison between this Topping interface and the Audient preamps, maybe the E4X4

[@EdThorne]

The Audient preamps sound better (richer, deeper, more airy).

[@faaip0de0oaid]

Thanks for your reply! I just cancelled the order for the topping 😅 so Audient it is

[@adambluming8569]

I had the Scarlett 2i2 -- I was always disappointed with the headphone jack (which sounded very thin) when recording guitar. I bought this to replace it and it was instantly a night and day difference. I'd say it's as good as the headphone jack in my Captor X.....maybe a bit better.

[@EdThorne]

Awesome!

[@Lychegsye-nc6td]

hows the DAC on E2x2?

[@EdThorne]

It’s very good considering the price point. Not as high spec as their more advanced DACs/HP amps (like the DX7Pro+ I have) but still performs strongly.

[@Frantisek_Valena]

Do E1X2 and E4X4 have similarly good headphone outputs?

[@EdThorne]

The same I believe.

[@mwaves4152]

What mic would you recommend to connect with the topping? Or can any mic in particular work 🤔

[@EdThorne]

What are you recording?

[@mwaves4152]

@@EdThorne Got a standard condenser atm but want to upgrade

[@EdThorne]

@mwaves4152 The preamps on an Audient are better sounding IMO. But no interface under £1800 beats this headphone amp!!!!

[@kookaitune3667]

E2x2 OTG, the successor to E2x2, is now available :)

[@astloom8903]

Can you please tell me the difference between the 2?

[@chrisrevel2801]

@@astloom8903 The OTG can be connected to iphones and Ipads

[@thamjam90]

Chi-Fi! Love it ❤️

[@EdThorne]

Great term, isn’t it?😂

[@AntonWorks]

Hate the small power-cable going into the PC, so fragile and slippy. :/

[@AntonWorks]

on all devices except UX1. My scarlet is easier to use and understand but the USB powersupply-cable is weak and cheap

[@omnasy]

I can’t find this anywhere to buy online

[@EdThorne]

Links in the description.

[@omnasy]

@@EdThorne I tried that link but it says at checkout no shipping to the U.S. for me, then I tried to google search the product to get vendors that do sell it to the U.S. and nothing comes up, as if the product doesent even exist. Unfortunate

[@veritas7010]

Or does it?

[@Jazzguitar00]

Hmmm, there's no MIDI on this. Is there another version of this that has MIDI?

[@unsertrefflicher4678]

Nope

[@AntonWorks]

My voice tops at 500Hz with the scarlet, idk why

[@gutaninblanco]

Hi im thinking of buying new headphones and interface, im currently using akg k702 and focusrite 2i4 gen2, overal im happy but im filling like i want more detail and more deep and accurate low end so im thinking oh buying neumann ndh30 and my question is scarlett 2i2 gen4 have enough power,or maybe better option is to keep 2i4 gen2 and buy headphones amp for ndh30?

[@EdThorne]

The Scarlett HP amp sucks! The Topping is in a league of its own. The NDH30s are great headphones but they sound lifeless (which is the point so you create energy in the mix). Check out the HD490s too for detail and clarity. Unreal for the money.

[@matthewblake2258]

just got this interface, very high quality. the headphone amp is about 80% as good as the Topping L30 when I compare going line out of the interface into the L30. the guitar DI sounds fantastic.

[@MKD371]

On the vocals, the Scarlett sounds dull compared to the Topping.

[@adriel2598]

*promosm* 😃

[@risingphoenix1484]

It’s all marketing mumbo jumbo…. 20-40khz…. No human hears above 20khz… and only gets worse as you get older… that’s before we even start to talk about the listening format i.e earbud generation…it’s a 24bit/192khz interface like all interfaces….. so full dynamic range is not a big deal for final product that will be 16bit anyway. I really doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference after a mix and processing between any interface. At this point it’s all a money grab. If you want to pay for a better head phone amp capability that’s great but is it worth any additional price? My guess probably not.

[@EdThorne]

The point of the video is to highlight and focus on the ultra-low noise, high-power headphone amplifier. Bit depth/Sample/rate/frequency range is all the same in interfaces now, they've all hit those ceilings.

[@risingphoenix1484]

@@EdThorne I get it… it’s a sponsor. However, ultra-low noise. Really? That doesn’t matter for this type of interface, because there is not enough I/O to do any serious tracking. No one will use this interface to track drums or a band, there is just not enough I/O. This interface is basically introductory for a new bed room producer (or travel use) that is 9/10 most likely using software, maybe if they are doing any analog, it will be to record a guitar, bass or vocal…. The DI capability of the interface matters more for the guitar and bass. The low noise is really useful for the vocal recording but the quality of the microphone and recording environment/room would matter more. Being more seasoned now in music production. I want newbies to avoid my mistakes and save their money and to watch out for all the market BS. But I get it, it is a sponsor. I’m trying to balance the narrative.

[@EdThorne]

The point is it’s a great interface for mixing on headphones… I probably should have said in the video tbf😂

[@Jazzguitar00]

"Is it worth any additional price?" I hate to tell you but this thing is so cheap that it's not really any "additional price"

[@kennethdarlington]

For example I'm having much more superior sound with usb-c audio dongle with the phone, then without. More so, if I connect it to a PC to give signal for pretty good speakers WITH their own DSP inside, I still get better sound(especially in movies) then from a pretty average motherboard soundcard.