TOPPING DX3 Pro+ ES9038Q2M DAC, USB/Optical/Coaxial/Bluetooth 5.0 to RCA DAC, 3.5mm Headohone Output DAC with 1800mW*2, DSD512 PCM32Bit/768kHz Hi-Res Audio DAC, Digital-Analog Converter (Black)

Product Information

There is USB input of course and Toslink. For coax input, you actually get two of them! So if all of your sources are digital, you have a nice little pre-amplifier on your hands. Topping DX3 Pro– The original was one of the thinnest and dynamically flattest sounding devices that I’ve heard. Pro+ may look the same but it is sonically vastly improved. For starters, the bassline has much more weight and slam, so everything sounds fuller and punchier through this version. Sound in general is cleaner and crisper, with more energy, faster transients, and better separation. What hasn’t changed is the thin and analytical tonality of the midrange. The unit is now properly burned. In and I finally get why AKM refers to this chip with 'velvet sound'. The crisp has softened and the whole sound is more cohesive than at first (don't read as worse instrument seperation or anything, just more balanced) Power is provided through a small switching power supply (double the size of typical phone chargers). All of my testing was performed using the provided power supply. The soundstage is pretty wide and deep, with good layering and imaging. While not ground-breaking or breathtaking in any ways, it’s pretty good for the price, just nothing worth going crazy about.

I did experience a burn in time with the DX3 Pro where it started off real strong and then got a bit dull and flat for quite some hours. After which it opened up again. I never am a big believer for burning in DACs or headphone amps... (Headphones and speakers with mechanical parts I do believe need to burn it) but this thing did seem to need some time to settle.. Adapt to every listening situation with the DX3 Pro+’s four output modes: headphone amp, headphone amp + DAC, DAC, and preamplifier. Product highlights Quite a similar situation on the vocal region as it doesn’t add unneeded sweetness or flavor for a simple flat delivery. Detail retrieval is a balance of great vocal textures in throaty characters only to lose the breathiness on some parts. The DX3 Pro+ Bluetooth module has been updated to the QCC5125 chipset with its built-in DAC decidedly bypassed relaying the digital signal directly to the onboard ES9038Q2M to handle for better performance.Designing some of the best DACs and AMPs in terms of cost-to-benefit ratio are these products. Dedicated engineers and audiophiles make up their R&D team. In addition, they have made significant investments in the most up-to-date audio testing equipment, such as the Audio Precision APx555.

Treble just continues what has been started by the midrange. Airy, crispy, neutral and pretty direct. A lot of late devices by other companies tend to focus mainly on clarity and detail retreival, and the Topping DX3 Pro isn’t any different. The overall balanced signature of the DX3 Pro+ allows the staging to breathe without any specific regions competing against one another with only an honest reproduction that moves far or near depending on the song. Layering could be better but the 1.8W amplifier is helping in the dynamics. DAC The DX3 Pro+ Bluetooth connection will pair instantly to a known device and in my test stayed connected for 10 meters behind two walls. From USB to Bluetooth the volume is slightly lower by around 3dB.I like listening to female vocals so clearly this has it's benefits. Also I pair it with a Lehman with Burson V6 discrete opamp. Which in turn does open up the sound. Without the Lehman the DX3 Pro outs are a bit more narrow and less sparkly. Next, that song has some sharp piano sounds. When the keys are hit, it's as if someone is tapping the inside of my skull when listening via the D50 - the sound is so sharp. With the DX3 Pro, that 'tap inside the skull' sharpness was missing. It was a little dulled and veiled. I also noticed that the treble on the D50 was a lot more extended and clearer. Flapping of the cups was to come though the moment I switched to HiFiman HE-400i. Power was amazing and clarity was superb. As I type this review I have been listening to this setup and it could not be more satisfying. My linear power supply for the DX3 Pro arrived today and I replaced the Topping D50 in my computer based HiFi system with the DX3 Pro + linear power supply. I'm listening to it as I type this post. The sound is beautiful. I preferred the Topping D50 in my headphones system. However, I prefer the DX3 Pro in my speaker-based system.

In that white box, you’ll get a remote control, which may come handy, especially if you plan to use the DX3 Pro in your stereo setup with no remote to control the volume. Also included is a mediocore, cheap power supply, usb cable and an antenna for bluetooth. Pressing the volume turns the unit on and succeeding presses will cycle through the five input choices displaying the sample rate briefly before showing the volume. Hitting the button twice will switch the output modes between RCA, 3.5mm, or both which is important to remember since choosing the last option will send a signal on both outputs at all times.

Sound Impressions

The TOPPING DX3 Pro+ DAC/Amp is TOPPING’s upgrade of their classic DX3 Pro. With a new Bluetooth chip and DAC chip, the Pro+ outperforms its predecessor while also coming in at a lower price point. The Pro+ has 60% lower THD+N (DAC), 85% lower THD+N (HPA), over 100% more power, and 90% lower output impedance than the DX3 Pro (LDAC version). My ears are completely immersed in the music as the soundstage is extremely focused with accurate instrument placement. It’s almost as if I’m sitting in a huge hall rather than a cramped living room. Verdict and Results of the Topping DX3 Pro+ Review

There are no front-facing I/O options except for the HP input. Right to left: RCA outputs; dual coax; optic; USB input. Additionally, we can observe that the DX3Pro+ is powered by 15V DC. Power So I got the Topping DX3 Pro for about 4 days now and I've been fiddling around with it quite a bit. I didn't care much for burn-in time etc, but the truth is that it's sounding better now after 3-4 days playing than when just out of the box. Less crisp. More smooth.

I/O

Topping manages to squeeze the controls of the DX3 Pro+ GUI using only the volume knob. There is a small learning curve using this method but it is fairly intuitive after going through each menu at least once. The DX3 Pro+ features a basic, two-color display that shows information about the active input type, sample rate, sample type, and active mode. It only took three versions for us to finally get our hands on Topping’s entry-level DAC/Amp combo, the DX3 Pro+. And since this unassuming little box is priced very competitively for the number of features it offers, it is one of those “better late than never” kinds of moments.