TOPPING DM7 8-CH DAC : what can replace it?

[SeanTek]

Don't confuse 8-channel DACs like the DM7 or DAC8 Pro with surround sound formats like 7.1.
They are completely unrelated.

My apologies. I should have said 8-channel DACs that I intend to put into use for 7.1 surround sound (without surround sound decoding). Something happened to my copy-and-paste job, even though I edited it by hand...I will have to enter it better or screenshot

I made a screenshot of the table. It is intended to answer the question, "if I am going to replace the TOPPING DM7 for multi-channel audio, at a similar price/performance ratio per order of magnitude, what options do I currently have?"

Red products, i.e., the Topping DM7 and Sound Blaster X3, are discontinued/unavailable. I clarified that the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 and MOTU 16A are on the list, in my mind.

 

[ppataki]

My apologies. I should have said 8-channel DACs that I intend to put into use for 7.1 surround sound (without surround sound decoding). Something happened to my copy-and-paste job, even though I edited it by hand...I will have to enter it better or screenshot

I made a screenshot of the table. It is intended to answer the question, "if I am going to replace the TOPPING DM7 for multi-channel audio, at a similar price/performance ratio per order of magnitude, what options do I currently have?"

Red products, i.e., the Topping DM7 and Sound Blaster X3, are discontinued/unavailable. I clarified that the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 and MOTU 16A are on the list, in my mind.

Theoretically, couldn't you add all the 8+ channel interfaces from this list?

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[SeanTek]

high-end options are Okto DAC8, or

Theoretically, couldn't you add all the 8+ channel interfaces from this list?

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Theoretically yes. In practice, I want to limit to under $1000 USD since the Topping DM7 was $599 USD. Exceptions are the Okto DAC8 Pro because a lot of people really seem to like it and it comes up on this forum over and over again, and the MOTU 16A (2025), which gives 16 channels so I guess you could bi-amp every speaker if you wanted to do such a thing.

I will investigate and add:

• ESI Gigaport eX
• Behringer UMC1820
• Tascam US-16x08
• EVO 16
• Presonus Quantum HD8
• Universal Audio Volt 876 USB Recording Studio

In my case I want to have 7.1 discrete channels for horizontal surround (no height speakers). As a parenthetical, my understanding is that if you want "height" speakers in your surround sound setup you need to use a receiver or a surround sound processor that supports Dolby Atmos, and your source material (which could be a Windows game) needs to stream the Atmos-encoded data directly to the DAC-device. There is no way to do height speakers with "8 channels" or "LPCM 7.1" because those formats don't support height information. Those products are entirely different than the Toppinc DM7 DAC that is the subject of this thread. Right?

 

[ppataki]

There is no way to do height speakers with "8 channels" or "LPCM 7.1" because those formats don't support height information. Those products are entirely different than the Toppinc DM7 DAC that is the subject of this thread. Right?

Correct. Even with a 8+ channel device you can't have height channels on a PC in real-time at least
(you can do decoding with Cavern but that is not real-time)

 

[SeanTek]

I updated and reorganized the Topping DM7 replacement list:

[Edited 1/18/2026]

I reorganized based on four categories: Topping DM7, then consumer sound card-type solutions, then "audiophile"-type sound solutions, then USB audio interfaces marketed to audio professionals. A few patterns start to emerge:

There isn't anything quite like the Topping DM7, and that's a shame. In the consumer sound card-type solutions, I could only find a couple of Creative products. Trying to push past that I decided to look at high-end motherboards to see if onboard sound has improved, and the answer seems to be "not really". At the very highest end motherboards, they still use Realtek chips but throw on a ESS ES9219 DAC somewhere in there. From the descriptions, I suspect that there is only one ESS ES9219 chip that powers the front panel headphone output (so only 2-channel), but I am not entirely sure. The marketing materials refer to "QUAD DAC" but that appears to refer to some kind of quadratic function in the ESS9219 stereo DAC, not four DACs. The ASUS motherboard manuals all indicate that in order to do 7.1 surround sound analog output, it's necessary to assign the two 3.5mm jacks in the rear and the two 3.5mm jacks in the front to the 8 channels, which tells me that advertising "7.1" really is about checking a box and not seriously trying to match or equalize the outputs in any meaningful way.

The category of "audiophile"-type sound solutions only yielded three products: the Okto dac8 PRO, MiniDSP Flex HT, and MiniDSP Flex HTx. These all have 12V trigger outs. You pay extra for balanced audio out and rackmount. Does anyone have detailed specs on what DAC chips are used by the Okto dac8 PRO?

The category of multichannel professional USB audio interfaces is much larger, but is also not really aimed at audiophile playback. Generally speaking you are paying extra for a lot of inputs (which I don't need) and the mixing software suite (which I also don't need). You are not really paying extra for rackmount since in this product category, most users are going to rackmount their gear. The DAC chips are not clearly specified since I am guessing professional audio engineers and musicians really don't care too much. Some have DSP effects and some don't. There are no products with 12V trigger out.
In the "Form" column, C means "console-top" (a large rectangular box with feet) and R means "rackmount" (has rackmount screw holes as part of the chassis, ships with rackmount ears, or in one case, has rackmount ears for extra money). I was not sure what the technical term is for A/V gear in a large rectangular box with feet that is not rackmountable. Desktop means a small rectangular box that you can comfortably put on your desk next to (I guess) a laptop or monitor.

 

[charlielaub]

I would like to see a comparison of some more meaningful specs. How about SNR? Distortion? Max output voltage? Cross OS compatibility? What channels assignments and channel counts are presented under Windows and Linux ALSA? I care much more about these metrics than "Form" or "DAC Chip" or "Connectors". Also, if it is a replacement/substitute for the DM7 it probably should have 8 channels (or more) to be in the running, so not really a useful to list that characteristic. Just exclude anything with less than 8 channels.

Other notes and comments:

The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 is a bit dated now. Better would be the Clarett+ 8Pre and it is about the same price (or used to be). Possibly a few hundred dollars more now.

The Behringer UMC1820 does not have RCA anything except for the coax SPDIF I/O. Its TRS connectors all around.

MOTU 16A is a completely different beast and probably should not be on this list.

Not sure why you are listing internal soundcards or motherboards in a comparison with a USB audio DAC. These things are not the same, at all.

Sadly, even 2 years later than when I started this thread, there is not really a good replacement for the DM7. There are pro audio USB interfaces but then you have all of the ADC stuff and often many additional output channels (for ADAT or whatever) to deal with. I spoke with some Topping people at an audio show a year or two ago and they said they would be releasing a DM7 type product, but none has ever shown up. For its circa $600 price, the DM7 was a heck of a deal and IMHO since it went out of production there has been nothing like it.

 

[terryforsythe]

I would like to see a comparison of some more meaningful specs. How about SNR? Distortion? Max output voltage? Cross OS compatibility? What channels assignments and channel counts are presented under Windows and Linux ALSA? I care much more about these metrics than "Form" or "DAC Chip" or "Connectors". Also, if it is a replacement/substitute for the DM7 it probably should have 8 channels (or more) to be in the running, so not really a useful to list that characteristic. Just exclude anything with less than 8 channels.

If you would like to see more comparison information, that is understandable. But, the best approach would be to look it up, then provide it to @SeanTek so that he can add it to the list if he wants, or you can add it to your own list.

 

[MCH]

To me, what differentiates the DM7 & co. from the multichannel interfaces is the combination of 3 simple things: display, master vol control, and above all, remote control. If you are good without that, the possibilities are endless.

 

[SeanTek]

Based on the feedback I fixed the Behringer UMC1820 listing so it says TRS, added the Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre (which is significantly more expensive than the Scarlett 18i20), moved MOTU 16A (2025) to the bottom, and added a Remote column.

I disagree with MOTU 16A being "a different beast" because if you want multichannel audio, MOTU 16A delivers! It's also the only model I found (in this sub-$2000 price range) with Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 and 16 channels. Basically it's a much bigger beast, rather than a different one. For ~$1500, you have your pick between the Okto dac8 PRO and the MOTU 16A.

The Remote column really only confirms the three different market segments. Only the audiophile/home theater segment has remotes, and the Okto dac8 PRO remote situation is "complicated". Actually there is a thread already dedicated to it. Many of the professional multichannel USB audio interfaces have phone apps, which require either the audio interface to be connected to Wi-Fi, or to a computer that acts as a pass-through to connect to the Internet. The Creative SBConnect app is kind of moribund as it has not been updated in the Apple App Store since 2019. I own a Sound Blaster X3 and I have never used it nor needed to use it.

I think the Channels column is important because some devices (other than MOTU 16A) have more than 8 channels while still being in the same price range as the Topping DM7.

For specs like SNR, Distortion, Max Output Voltage, and Cross OS compatibility, the table is already getting too wide, and those questions are better addressed in a full product review. Manufacturers can quote whatever SNR and other specs they want but I think if you want accurate numbers there is no substitute for having the product and running it through tests. The same logic applies to cross OS compatibility: you have to actually have the product, download the latest drivers, and try to fiddle with it to see what currently works.

 

[EngineerNate]

I just got a used Motu 8A for an active FIR crossover project.

It'll be fed by an analog source where volume control will be handled, just like most pro audio DSP speakers used at home (Genelec, JBL 708P, etc).

Would love if someday I can get an AVP with digital outs to feed it, but right now the only units that do that are for a different income bracket than myself.

 

[SeanTek]

Based on the information I gathered, my recommendation for a Topping DM7 replacement would be: Creative Sound Blaster X3 if you can find it and want to stay under $200; MOTU UltraLite-mk5 in the same price range; MOTU 16A (2025) or Okto dac8 PRO depending on your "wants" for 3x the price of the Topping DM7. I personally like 32/192 support and would prefer to keep that spec if I am looking for a Topping DM7 replacement.

If 12V trigger out is a must-have for you and you don't want to spend $1500+ on the dac8 PRO, then Flex HT (for unbalanced RCA) or Flex HTx (for balanced TRS) are your only options. If direct DSD playback is important to you, then it looks like only the dac8 PRO is going to work for you.

None of these products advertise Dolby/DTS/bitstream decoding so if you're trying to watch a movie or listen to other bitstream-encoded multichannel audio, you need to rely on the computer to separate the channels. I believe that CoreAudio in the latest versions of MacOS supports Dolby Atmos decoding and assignment to height speakers, by the way.

 

[welwynnick]

I would like to see a comparison of some more meaningful specs. How about SNR? Distortion? Max output voltage? Cross OS compatibility?

Please see post #39. Or pull together a comparison.

I disagree with MOTU 16A being "a different beast" because if you want multichannel audio, MOTU 16A delivers! It's also the only model I found (in this sub-$2000 price range) with Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 and 16 channels. Basically it's a much bigger beast, rather than a different one. For ~$1500, you have your pick between the Okto dac8 PRO and the MOTU 16A.

I think the current MOTU 16A is a brilliant value converter, but only for applications that can use the USB or Thunderbolt inputs. I'm close to getting one myself.

Good options with AES3 inputs are thin on the ground. There are good options like Apogee Symphony , Merging HAPI, Grace m908 , AVID MTRX II or DirectOut, but they're quite expensive. At the cheaper end, had you considered used options like the Lynx Aurora 16 or Apogee DA-16X?

I wouldn't consider Behringer, Crestron, Ferrofish or Tascam options, as they're used for audio distribution rather than recording & mastering, and don't really measure up.

 

[mdsimon2]

The Remote column really only confirms the three different market segments. Only the audiophile/home theater segment has remotes, and the Okto dac8 PRO remote situation is "complicated". Actually there is a thread already dedicated to it.

I have to assume that remote thread is about the Okto dac8 Stereo, not the Okto dac8 PRO. Not to mention it seems more like user preference/error regarding source selection than a real issue. Unlike the Stereo the PRO doesn't really have inputs to switch between, but rather modes of operation (Pure USB, Pure AES, USB/AES)

As already mentioned by @MCH, IMO IR volume control is a key differentiator in these products, with only the Topping DM7, Okto dac8 PRO and miniDSP HT/HTx having it.

Michael

 

[welwynnick]

I have to assume that thread is about the Okto dac8 Stereo, not the Okto dac8 PRO. Not to mention it seems more like user preference/error regarding source selection than a real issue. Unlike the Stereo the PRO doesn't really have inputs to switch between, but rather modes of operation (Pure USB, Pure AES, USB/AES)

I think the thread is about the 8 channel dac8 PRO rather than the stereo version.

As already mentioned by @MCH, IMO IR volume control is a key differentiator in these products, with only the Topping DM7, Okto dac8 PRO and miniDSP HT/HTx having it.

Yes, I think an audio interface without remote volume control is a non-starter for domestic applications.

However I seem to recall that a lot of professional audio interface manufacturers produce separate stand alone products called monitor controllers. I think they do what's wanted, though they typically use a wired USB connection rather than IR. I'm sure that's not an insurmountable problem though, when the motivation is to get the best sounding immersive system for a fraction of the cost of a high end processor.

 

[Roland68]

I have to assume that thread is about the Okto dac8 Stereo, not the Okto dac8 PRO. Not to mention it seems more like user preference/error regarding source selection than a real issue. Unlike the Stereo the PRO doesn't really have inputs to switch between, but rather modes of operation (Pure USB, Pure AES, USB/AES)

As already mentioned by @MCH, IMO IR volume control is a key differentiator in these products, with only the Topping DM7, Okto dac8 PRO and miniDSP HT/HTx having it.

Michael

This thread is mainly about alternatives to the Topping DM7, including the Okto dac8 PRO, but not the Stereo.

 

[mdsimon2]

I think the thread is about the 8 channel dac8 PRO rather than the stereo version.

Doubtful. Thread starter's first post on ASR was about the Okto with wifi and optical input, two features only present on the Stereo.

Okto dac 8

help! My okto came without an aerial because the previous owner used his connected to the network physically., He recommended the tp-link ac1300. Has anyone tried that? I haven’t had any luck with it actually connecting yet. When i eventually get it connected im wondering how it works Do...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Michael

 

[mdsimon2]

This thread is mainly about alternatives to the Topping DM7, including the Okto dac8 PRO, but not the Stereo.

I was referring to the thread about the remote. Edited my post to explicitly say that.

Michael

 

[Roland68]

Doubtful. Thread starter's first post on ASR was about the Okto with wifi and optical input, two features only present on the Stereo.

Okto dac 8

help! My okto came without an aerial because the previous owner used his connected to the network physically., He recommended the tp-link ac1300. Has anyone tried that? I haven’t had any luck with it actually connecting yet. When i eventually get it connected im wondering how it works Do...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Michael

You are in the wrong thread and with the wrong thread starter.

 

[mdsimon2]

You are in the wrong thread and with the wrong thread starter.

Please look at the quote I was responding to and the link within that quote.

I was refuting the point that the Okto remote situation was "complicated". I am not sure how I can make this any clearer, I'm done.

Michael

 

[welwynnick]

Michael's a good guy, no need to bust his chops just because this is ASR and that's what people do.

A glimmer of hope for audio interfaces. Apart from the Okto, my favourites are Merging, Antelope and MOTU.

MOTU have a firmware download available for 1248, 112D, 16A, 24Ai, 24Ao, 624, 828es, 8A, 8D, 8M, LP32, M64, Monitor 8, Stage-B16, UltraLite AVB, UltraLite-mk4 that provides something called Touch Console, which runs on a tablet or phone. Not quite sure how it works - I think it uses WiFi.

- Overview