Review and Measurements of Topping DX3Pro DAC and Headphone Amp

[tharos96]

Received mine from Amazon today and it's a 1905. Works flawlessly so far.

 

[Schackmannen]

Mine was a 1905 as well

 

[tharos96]

Would be interesting seeing measurements for 1905.

 

[Schackmannen]

Topping has some measurements of their own but still it would be nice to see @amirm test one.

 

[cenix]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

 

[Schackmannen]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

Have you checked that all the volume settings on your computer are set to 100%?

 

[Patrick1958]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

I remember having a similar issue with a dac, turned out to be the headphone jack not completely pushed in.

 

[thomasjast]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

Maybe your cable or plug is TRRS instead of TRS? I have an extension plug that has to be in 90% instead of 100% or it cuts it that quiet.

 

[cenix]

Have you checked that all the volume settings on your computer are set to 100%?

Yes, everything else on Windows is on 100%

I remember having a similar issue with a dac, turned out to be the headphone jack not completely pushed in.

Nope, I made sure it's properly in.

Maybe your cable or plug is TRRS instead of TRS? I have an extension plug that has to be in 90% instead of 100% or it cuts it that quiet.

Nope, just regular TRS plugs.

Thanks for your replies. I made sure that everything on Windows has max output, so that the volume is dictated by the DAC+AMP. Just weird.

Btw, any way I can have the volume count 0 - 100 instead of -99 - 0?

Also I should not set it to high gain unless the max volume under low gain is not enough, is that right? It has issues driving the Tin P1 under low gain.

 

[josiah]

I just wanted to comment that I purchased a DX3 Pro from amazon based on all the recommendations. I also wanted to compare a true audio grade device to my GSX1000. Within a week mine died with minimum usage, and Amazon just refunded me even though I asked for a replacement at the cheaper price. I just took it as a sign to move on to something else. I recommend anyone that buys this product uses a credit card with an extended warranty, or purchases a third party warranty. I guess this is more of a PSA announcement than anything.

 

[Schackmannen]

I just wanted to comment that I purchased a DX3 Pro from amazon based on all the recommendations. I also wanted to compare a true audio grade device to my GSX1000. Within a week mine died with minimum usage, and Amazon just refunded me even though I asked for a replacement at the cheaper price. I just took it as a sign to move on to something else. I recommend anyone that buys this product uses a credit card with an extended warranty, or purchases a third party warranty. I guess this is more of a PSA announcement than anything.

Was it a V2 unit as it had 2 stickers on top of it instead of 1?

 

[josiah]

Was it a V2 unit as it had 2 stickers on top of it instead of 1?

I remember it having 1 sticker on top.

 

[Schackmannen]

I remember it having 1 sticker on top.

It was the V1 version then so it's unfortunate it happened to you but hopefully they fixed this problem in the V2 version.

 

[Gray]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

you installed the topping driver and WASAPI?
You tried using Foobar2000? Here's a tutorial to setup I found.
Is it the heaphone output, the DAC output or both?

 

[2ko]

Just received it. Switched it on and attached everything. On USB mode with headphone amp. It barely outputs any volume. Either the unit is defective or I must be doing something wrong. Something I forgot to install perhaps? I even tried +9 gain mode, still very quiet.

I just received mine today too. I am having the same issue, the volume is very quite. I set the volume to -50dB in low gain driving the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee Headphones I can barely hear the sound. With the same headphone on SMSL M3, I only need to set the volume nob to 9 o'clock and it is LOUD enough.

 

[Gray]

I generally put it around 45 to 35, -30 is already loud.
everything higher than -30dB will cause hearing damage in the long run.
(HD25)

 

[Hyldig]

-30 to -20 here to drive Massdrop/Sennheiser HD 5xx with enjoyable volume (gain mode not activated).

 

[pacman]

I guess the volume depends on variables like headphones sensitivity, musical taste, mastering you're listening to and, of course, your own auditive sensibility.

"Modern" music (like rock-pop-electro) from 1995 and above tends to be very loud and compressed and requires less volume compared to older recordings.

With Senn 660 S I listen to modern music on range of -25db to -18db on low gain and it's pretty loud.

With some old records (mostly classical, MPB and jazz stuff), I need to raise the volume up to -10db to achieve good listening experience.

A good example of modern record poorly mastered is Amy Winehouse's "Back to black". The CD is awfully clipped while the Island Records "half-speed mastered" vinyl is more dynamic and quieter and therefore more comfortable to listen to even at high volume.

 

[2ko]

I guess the volume depends on variables like headphones sensitivity, musical taste, mastering you're listening to and, of course, your own auditive sensibility.

"Modern" music (like rock-pop-electro) from 1995 and above tends to be very loud and compressed and requires less volume compared to older recordings.

With Senn 660 S I listen to modern music on range of -25db to -18db on low gain and it's pretty loud.

With some old records (mostly classical, MPB and jazz stuff), I need to raise the volume up to -10db to achieve good listening experience.

A good example of modern record poorly mastered is Amy Winehouse's "Back to black". The CD is awfully clipped while the Island Records "half-speed mastered" vinyl is more dynamic and quieter and therefore more comfortable to listen to even at high volume.

I see your point. One thing I'm confused about is when SMSL M3 can drive Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee pretty LOUD at 9 o'clock volume nob but why do I need to push the volume up to -30dB with DX3 Pro to hear the same level of loudness as M3?

 

[pacman]

I see your point. One thing I'm confused about is when SMSL M3 can drive Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee pretty LOUD at 9 o'clock volume nob but why do I need to push the volume up to -30dB with DX3 Pro to hear the same level of loudness as M3?

It appears that M3 uses an analogue potentiometer to handle volume, while DX3Pro uses digital. I guess it's different ways of volume handling that can't be compared directly.