-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Topping DX5 II
- Thread starter Matias
- Start date
Mario1969
Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2025
- Messages
- 65
- Likes
- 30
I meant what you had to do in the settings to enable it before?
Changelog?
Any chance that they fixed the PEQ with possibility to save 0.1 steps in db gain rather than 0.5?
Mario1969
Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2025
- Messages
- 65
- Likes
- 30
I'm shocked... I thought you were joking... but it's true .. T T saves 0.5 dB steps... what a joke... I honestly predict that in a few months EBAY will be full of DX5 II for $199, I still can't believe it
ICIETDIYEUR
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Even at this price I wouldn't want it and if it's a gift then it's 'poisoned' !
Roland68
Major Contributor
It's a good thing that the DX5 II is useless without PEQ, even though it has the best price-performance ratio on the market if you want a DAC/HPA combo with such high headphone amplifier performance
.
Bleib
Major Contributor
- Joined
- May 13, 2021
- Messages
- 2,806
- Likes
- 5,770
And for once, a great Topping remoteIt's a good thing that the DX5 II is useless without PEQ, even though it has the best price-performance ratio on the market if you want a DAC/HPA combo with such high headphone amplifier performance
To be fair the DC protection issue seems to be legitimate, but much more rare than the PEQ problems.It's a good thing that the DX5 II is useless without PEQ, even though it has the best price-performance ratio on the market if you want a DAC/HPA combo with such high headphone amplifier performance
Since the latest update that lets you adjust the DC protection I haven't read anybody complaining of it coming on.
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 5,805
- Likes
- 5,486
The SMSL DL200 will run it pretty close if you're only looking at price (lower) and performance (similar).It's a good thing that the DX5 II is useless without PEQ, even though it has the best price-performance ratio on the market if you want a DAC/HPA combo with such high headphone amplifier performance
Roland68
Major Contributor
Less than 1/4 of the power of the headphone amplifier is already much less power, definitely not similar.
Last edited:
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 5,805
- Likes
- 5,486
For that one performance measure, but it's one that's only important to the minority that need more power than the DL200 provides.
Roland68
Major Contributor
Strangely, even the L70 and A70 Pro are sold significantly more than the DL200.
There are now many headphones that require a bit more power. Otherwise, the demand for headphone amplifiers with outputs above 3 watts wouldn't have increased so sharply in recent years. The DL200 delivers less than 1 watt at the commonly encountered 50-64 ohms, e.g., the HE6se V2. However, it's also a very simple amplifier circuit for less than €2, but it's surprisingly good for that.
But the biggest drawback of the DL200 is SMSL's own, extremely cheaply constructed switching power supply, soldered directly onto the circuit board in individual parts. This saves SMSL a few more euros in production. On the other hand, the power supply can't even be replaced in the event of a failure.
The reports on Amazon platforms about DOA devices and failures in the first few days or weeks speak volumes.
For this reason, I wouldn't touch or recommend any SMSL device with these cheap power supplies with pliers.
SnakeLord
Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2025
- Messages
- 31
- Likes
- 49
The DX5II is currently an ubeatable package for around 300$. There is just nothing around to compete in this price region. SMSL and co. have no triggers, no such high HP power and no such display.
The only thing DX5II is "missing" are analog inputs which would make it to an proper pre amp too. Like perfect all in one package - DAC, HP amp, Preamp. But that is something i personally dont need.
I just hope that the build and parts quality from Topping are also at the top level and made to last.
ICIETDIYEUR
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hi.
Personally when I buy a ham sandwich, I like it to have ham in it and regardless of its value for money, I just want what is offered for sale to be what I get, that's all
Let them make a new version without PEQ and so for less money and everything will be fine and I would even buy it
And to further reduce the price, they can even remove MQA and only keep the FIR which allows the best measurements: we will save time by not having unnecessary functions
Personally when I buy a ham sandwich, I like it to have ham in it and regardless of its value for money, I just want what is offered for sale to be what I get, that's all
Let them make a new version without PEQ and so for less money and everything will be fine and I would even buy it
And to further reduce the price, they can even remove MQA and only keep the FIR which allows the best measurements: we will save time by not having unnecessary functions
Bleib
Major Contributor
- Joined
- May 13, 2021
- Messages
- 2,806
- Likes
- 5,770
Don't think MQA costs extra for the consumer these days
FIR is also built in into the chip, it doesn't add addition costs other than implementing them in the firmware, quite easy work
RAW MDA1 is without PEQ and already has a similar price, same DAC..so there's not really much to save here
MDA1 might be more suitable for those who need more digital inputs. But overall I think DX5 II is the better option
FIR is also built in into the chip, it doesn't add addition costs other than implementing them in the firmware, quite easy work
RAW MDA1 is without PEQ and already has a similar price, same DAC..so there's not really much to save here
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL RAW-MDA 1 stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by SMSL and it is a collaboration with Shenzehenaudio (available elsewhere as well) and is on sale for $246.
The first thing I noticed was the much more polished display. It is also quite responsive to rotary control. If you click it in, you get the standard SMSL menu system that is functional and easy to use, albeit not as pretty. Back panel shows addition of more inputs:
We nicely have internal power supply and balanced outputs -- two...
The first thing I noticed was the much more polished display. It is also quite responsive to rotary control. If you click it in, you get the standard SMSL menu system that is functional and easy to use, albeit not as pretty. Back panel shows addition of more inputs:
We nicely have internal power supply and balanced outputs -- two...
MDA1 might be more suitable for those who need more digital inputs. But overall I think DX5 II is the better option
Last edited:
Roland68
Major Contributor
Since when does the DX5 II have MQA?Hi.
Personally when I buy a ham sandwich, I like it to have ham in it and regardless of its value for money, I just want what is offered for sale to be what I get, that's all
Let them make a new version without PEQ and so for less money and everything will be fine and I would even buy it
And to further reduce the price, they can even remove MQA and only keep the FIR which allows the best measurements: we will save time by not having unnecessary functions
I find it highly dubious of SMSL to continue beating the MQA dead horse and actively promoting and promoting MQA, even though it no longer exists and the streaming content has been removed from the internet.
I give Topping a lot of credit for stopping this nonsense and, above all, for not implementing it anymore.
Topping doesn't need to lower the price of the DX5 II, as it's unrivaled value even without PEQ. Even without PEQ, I would prefer it to any SMSL device with the €2 amplifier circuits or poorly implemented TPA6120a2, just as I would prefer it to any SMSL device with the SMSL proprietary, extremely cheaply constructed switching power supply, which is soldered in individual parts directly onto the circuit board.
I don't know of any device that offers this level of performance in a headphone amplifier at a similar price. And none of these devices have PEQ!
The closest device with this or slightly more power is the L70, which, with a balanced DAC, costs at least €430. Still without PEQ.
There have often been statements here that the DX5 II is broken or worthless without PEQ. Personally, I think that's absolute nonsense, even from my own experience. I would also prefer it to an SMSL DO400 any day, even at the same price.
If someone doesn't see that the DX5 II is a bargain even without PEQ, considering it's a complete device with the features and performance, there are plenty of other options. The closest device with PEQ, support, a better warranty, high quality, but much less HPA power can currently be found from RME starting at around €700.
And to pick up on your example, Topping offers a sandwich with 3-4 slices of ham (power) and cheese (PEQ), but currently only delivers 3-4 slices of ham without the cheese.
If someone now prefers to buy a single ham sandwich without cheese for the same price from another retailer, or a single ham sandwich with cheese for twice the price, that's their choice.
But since Topping has been improving the PEQ software (external and internal) bit by bit over the past few weeks, it's within the realm of possibility that they will deliver the cheese later.
Roland68
Major Contributor
Unfortunately, the RAW MDA1 is also one of those devices with the aforementioned cheap power supply and the much weaker €2 HPA circuit.Don't think MQA costs extra for the consumer these days
FIR is also built in into the chip, it doesn't add addition costs other than implementing them in the firmware, quite easy work
RAW MDA1 is without PEQ and already has a similar price, same DAC..so there's not really much to save here
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL RAW-MDA 1 stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by SMSL and it is a collaboration with Shenzehenaudio (available elsewhere as well) and is on sale for $246.
The first thing I noticed was the much more polished display. It is also quite responsive to rotary control. If you click it in, you get the standard SMSL menu system that is functional and easy to use, albeit not as pretty. Back panel shows addition of more inputs:
We nicely have internal power supply and balanced outputs -- two...
MDA1 might be more suitable for those who need more digital inputs. But overall I think DX5 II is the better option
That wouldn't be an option for me, not even at half the price. I'll take it as a gift, of course; there's surely someone I could give it to.
Nothing wrong with the SMSL RAW MDA1. Works absolutely fine here. The HP-amp has plenty of power to drive my DCA Aeon RTs.
Similar threads
