Topping DX3 Pro+ Review (DAC & Headphone Amp)

[antcollinet]

Has anyone compared the Topping DX3 Pro Plus to the SMSL RAW MDA 1? If so would you share your thoughts on the comparison? Thanks.

Welcome to the forum.

People here tend not to compare DACs. We know that there is no audible difference between well designed DACs so there is no point. Thought process goes like:

Look at measurements : Yep -that is a 100% transparent DAC for all humans. It will sound identical to all the other well measuring DACs. I'll just choose based on price, features, brand, aesthetics etc, knowing I don't have to worry about sound quality.

 

[Lion♡]

If you’re getting the “HP err” message, check your firmware version. I use a DX3 Pro+ as a secondary headphone amp, and after finally updating its overdue firmware a few days ago, I started seeing HP err regularly. I’d run it for years without issues or any DC-cut filter, so I suspected the update—and rolling back to an earlier version fixed it. The problematic version was 1.28.
Since older firmware isn’t available on the official site, I’ve uploaded versions 1.23, 1.24, and 1.25 (including files I received from ASR and directly from Topping) at the link below. Feel free to download them if you need.

Topping DX3PRO+ Firmware

 

[gozaine]

Can it drive low-impedance IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) at 16 ohms?"

 

[jr41]

Can it drive low-impedance IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) at 16 ohms?"

The original review of this amp/dac (I.e. page 1 of this thread) states the amp goes into protection mode for headphones =< 20 ohms, so if that information is still current, then the answer is no.

 

[oleg87]

The original review of this amp/dac (I.e. page 1 of this thread) states the amp goes into protection mode for headphones =< 20 ohms, so if that information is still current, then the answer is no.

That happens at high output levels. Unless you have one of the very few IEMs that is low-sensitivity enough to draw meaningful amounts of current from the amp at those impedances, I would worry most about the 50mv SNR figure.

 

[Limopard]

The original review of this amp/dac (I.e. page 1 of this thread) states the amp goes into protection mode for headphones =< 20 ohms, so if that information is still current, then the answer is no.

The protection with a 16 ohms load kicks in at slightly above 2 volts output. Only with very insensitive IEM it wouldn't get loud enough.

 

[staticV3]

OTOH, the DX3Pro+ had no trouble putting out 2W+ at 16Ω when L7Audiolab tested it, no protection in sight:

https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/topping-dx3proplus/

 

[jr41]

Sorry, I shouldn't have provided a definitive answer without a proper understanding.

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

Hello, this is my first post here.
I would like to ask if this Topping amp has enough power to drive a pair of Sennheiser hd650.
Has anyone tried this combination? Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I couldn't go thorugh the whole 97 pages of this thread.
All the best and thank you for taking the time to read these lines.

 

[Limopard]

Hello, this is my first post here.
I would like to ask if this Topping amp has enough power to drive a pair of Sennheiser hd650.
Has anyone tried this combination? Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I couldn't go thorugh the whole 97 pages of this thread.
All the best and thank you for taking the time to read these lines.

Yes, I'm using this combination, works fine at high gain. It may be useful to change the 650 stock cable to one with a 1/8'' plug since the adaptor is a bit bulky.

 

[staticV3]

I would like to ask if this Topping amp has enough power to drive a pair of Sennheiser hd650.

It can drive the HD650 to 123dB SPL Peak, theoretically.

In practice, you'll destroy the headphone and suffer hearing damage, before you reach the end of the volume knob.

For reference, my usual listening volume of 80dB Peak is about 5% of the DX3Pro+'s maximum volume.

 

[Limopard]

It can drive the HD650 to 123dB SPL Peak, theoretically.

In practice, you'll destroy the headphone and suffer hearing damage, before you reach the end of the volume knob.

For reference, my usual listening volume of 80dB Peak is about 5% of the DX3Pro+'s maximum volume.

My comfortable listening volume is between -43 and -35 dBfs, depending on the source material. Plenty of reserve left.

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

In practice, you'll destroy the headphone and suffer hearing damage, before you reach the end of the volume knob.

Jajajaja good to know

 

[staticV3]

My comfortable listening volume is between -43 and -35 dBfs, depending on the source material. Plenty of reserve left.

That'd work out to 80-88dB SPL Peak or 5-9% of the DX3's maximum volume, given 0dBFS Peak content levels and DX3 in High gain

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

Yes, I'm using this combination, works fine at high gain. It may be useful to change the 650 stock cable to one with a 1/8'' plug since the adaptor is a bit bulky.

thanks!

 

[jr41]

Hello, this is my first post here.
I would like to ask if this Topping amp has enough power to drive a pair of Sennheiser hd650.
Has anyone tried this combination? Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I couldn't go thorugh the whole 97 pages of this thread.
All the best and thank you for taking the time to read these lines.

The original review on page 1 of this thread states

"Topping DX3 Pro+ Listening Tests
I performed all of my testing in high gain and there, the DX3 Pro+ had no trouble bringing out the best fidelity in both Sennheiser HD650 and Drop Ether CX. It drove them with authority, creating a dynamic response with tons of detail and superb tonality."

 

[Staxxx]

I would like to use this as a standalone DAC. Has anyone hooked it up to their audio system (I use an integrated amp) rather than their headphones. Any issues? and any set up suggestions?

 

[Limopard]

I would like to use this as a standalone DAC. Has anyone hooked it up to their audio system (I use an integrated amp) rather than their headphones. Any issues? and any set up suggestions?

The device is perfectly suitable as a pure DAC - absolutely transparent. Maybe you could have the same performance cheaper without the headphone amp, but with the DX3 pro+ you are prepared in case you buy a good headphone in the future.

 

[amanieux]

The device is perfectly suitable as a pure DAC - absolutely transparent. Maybe you could have the same performance cheaper without the headphone amp, but with the DX3 pro+ you are prepared in case you buy a good headphone in the future.

you always loose money when futurproofing, buy exactly what you need at the moment you need it, resell and buy a more appropriate device when your need changes, it will always saves you money and improves tech as tech gets better over time, if you want a pure desktop dac, a $70 smsl su1 or $80 douk k5 if you also want a headphone plug, they are good enough, it will sound 90% as good as $200+ dacs because dac differences are true, they all sound slightly different but differences are minimal

 

[Limopard]

you always loose money when futurproofing, buy exactly what you need at the moment you need it, resell and buy a more appropriate device when your need changes, it will always saves you money and improves tech as tech gets better over time, if you want a pure desktop dac, a $70 smsl su1 or $80 douk k5 if you also want a headphone plug, they are good enough, it will sound 90% as good as $200+ dacs because dac differences are true, they all sound slightly different but differences are minimal

I basically agree, but the resale value of budget DAC should be next to zero and I don't expect that many improvements in such devices in the future.