Seemed like the OP asked a legit question that devolved into a discussion about the veracity of Amazon reviews and Chi-Fi QC vs SQ.
Has anyone listened to a D50 vs something more expensive? Or any of the Topping/SMSL type DACs vs the Chords, Myteks, Schiits, etc for that matter?
What did you think of the performance?
I bought the D50 to use with my TV for its compact size, decent remote, low price, and good specs. I use a spare LPS with Jung-type super-regulator lying around to power the D50.
It replaced a TEAC UD-301 and to my surprise, the difference was easily noticeable. Dialogues felt crisp even at low volumes, and sounds seem more focused and detailed leading to better immersion.
I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but I'm pretty impressed with the improvement given the cost.