Topping DX5II Balanced DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[HD800Fan]

Anyone with the unit who can confirm whether or not the PEQ automatically switches when you switch output?
By that I mean will it automatically switch from my headphone EQ to speaker EQ when I switch from headphone output to speaker output? So without having to manually change EQ each time

 

[ngs428]

Anyone with the unit who can confirm whether or not the PEQ automatically switches when you switch output?
By that I mean will it automatically switch from my headphone EQ to speaker EQ when I switch from headphone output to speaker output? So without having to manually change EQ each time

You can set the C1 and C2 buttons on the remote with saved device settings. I have a SE LO with EQ1 as C1 and BAL HP with EQ 3 as C2. It will switch PEQ profiles and outputs when you select c1 or c2.

 

[HD800Fan]

You can set the C1 and C2 buttons on the remote with saved device settings. I have a SE LO with EQ1 as C1 and BAL HP with EQ 3 as C2. It will switch PEQ profiles and outputs when you select c1 or c2.

Thanks, so I guess you could set C2 for XLR on the back with speaker EQ profile

 

[Jcrow]

Thanks, so I guess you could set C2 for XLR on the back with speaker EQ profile

I have mine set so when I change output it changes PEQ profile. You need to set PEQ memory to Output for this to work. But the C buttons also work the same.

 

[Space is the place]

The inbuilt PEQ settings seem really useful for headphone listening, not sure exactly what curves are the applied look like, but great for watching films where the dialog is a bit low down in the mix. Looking forward to trying the Dac as a preamp this weekend.
Has anyone got any graphs for the both the Pre EQ settings and the Filter settings?

 

[Minato]

The latest firmware was released last month, so I would say that all issues have been resolved and no new firmware versions will be released. Personally I have no problems and even Topping Tune V1.06 for macOS works perfectly! in fact it has never been updated. Let's enjoy the DX5 II!

 

[Mario1969]

Anyone with the unit who can confirm whether or not the PEQ automatically switches when you switch output?

Yes, it automatically changes the EQ when the output is switched..

 

[diddly]

Is the roll off at 20k just on the default filter or are they all like this? Has anybody tested the other filters?

 

[Berwhale]

Is the roll off at 20k just on the default filter or are they all like this? Has anybody tested the other filters?

The ESS DAC chips all have a standard set of filters. Amir has measured them many times before and they always look the same. There is no point in wasting time remeasuring them for each device.

They are also shown on page 46 of the DX5 II manual...

I think #2 is usually accepted as the 'most correct' filter. Note that none of the other filters fully attenuate by the Nyquist frequency (22kHz for 44kHz CD sample rate).

 

[Jcrow]

Is the roll off at 20k just on the default filter or are they all like this? Has anybody tested the other filters?

I haven't seen any other measurements. Though, I honestly don't think you would hear it. I have ok hearing at 38, and can hear up to around 17Khz (thus I wouldn't perceive it). I don't think my 4 year old daughter would notice a 0.5 db roll off at 20hz, and she can actually hear up to there. So, probably not something to fret about.

 

[Space is the place]

Been using the DX5II as a preamp/dac this afternoon, seems to function OK, not quiet as convincing as the headphone out so far, but i am using it between -35 and -22db.
Is it worth getting a balanced lead to try the HD650s with or doesn't it make much of a difference? If it's worth a try can someone point me towards a cheap one via Amazon, thanks

 

[Berwhale]

Been using the DX5II as a preamp/dac this afternoon, seems to function OK, not quiet as convincing as the headphone out so far, but i am using it between -35 and -22db.
Is it worth getting a balanced lead to try the HD650s with or doesn't it make much of a difference? If it's worth a try can someone point me towards a cheap one via Amazon, thanks

I use a balanced cable with my HD660S, but only because they came with one and the plug is neater than the 6.35mm one.

I have the 2.5mm TRRS version of this cable to use my HD660S with my Qudelix 5K... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BF4Z6XTJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I also made a short 4.4mm balanced cable by adapting a stock Sennheiser cable - you need to be pretty handy with a soldering iron as the 4.4mm Pentacon plugs are fiddly to solder...

4-conductor headphone cable

+1 for reterminating an HD650 cable for use with other dual entry headphones. I've replaced the cables on my HD800 and Aeon 2 Closed with HD650 cables reterminated on the headphone end. Much more supple and less microphonic. The litz wire may be a bit a of a pain if you're new to it. You...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The OEM Sennheiser cables are pretty cheap though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0028PGXRE?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2

 

[Madragon]

Hey guys, a couple of weeks ago I got my Topping DX5 II, and I’ve been having an issue, the Topping keeps disconnecting from my PC.

My setup consists of:
PC + Topping DX5 II + Mackie MR524 + active subwoofer

Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I finally solved the issue with my Topping disconnecting when using my subwoofer.

Before getting a ground loop isolator, I tried using ferrite cores, one of those 20-piece packs that cost around $10 and that
completely fixed it! I can now use my sub via RCA without any problems: no more signal drops or random disconnections!

Turns out the issue wasn’t a ground loop after all, but electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI), with the PC being the main
source. When I connected the sub, that interference increased beyond what the Topping could handle, causing instability
in the USB communication.

It would’ve taken me forever to test each cable one by one since the Topping took a while to reconnect after each failure,
so I just added ferrite cores everywhere, USB cables, power cords, and the sub’s RCA cable.

Anyway, that’s it. Problem solved! Leaving this here in case it helps someone else. Cheers!

 

[Minato]

I updated from V1.69 to V1.72 and my PEQ profiles in the DX5 II remained. Contrary to what someone said they were not lost. Only the settings were lost.

 

[Minato]

I haven't seen any other measurements. Though, I honestly don't think you would hear it. I have ok hearing at 38, and can hear up to around 17Khz (thus I wouldn't perceive it). I don't think my 4 year old daughter would notice a 0.5 db roll off at 20hz, and she can actually hear up to there. So, probably not something to fret about.

Here on the forum there are people complaining that Topping Tune rounds frequency gains to 0.5 dB because they seem to hear differences of 0.1 dB...

 

[christaras]

I updated from V1.69 to V1.72 and my PEQ profiles in the DX5 II remained. Contrary to what someone said they were not lost. Only the settings were lost.

Same here peq profiles remained.

 

[Space is the place]

I use a balanced cable with my HD660S, but only because they came with one and the plug is neater than the 6.35mm one.

I have the 2.5mm TRRS version of this cable to use my HD660S with my Qudelix 5K... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BF4Z6XTJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I also made a short 4.4mm balanced cable by adapting a stock Sennheiser cable - you need to be pretty handy with a soldering iron as the 4.4mm Pentacon plugs are fiddly to solder...

4-conductor headphone cable

+1 for reterminating an HD650 cable for use with other dual entry headphones. I've replaced the cables on my HD800 and Aeon 2 Closed with HD650 cables reterminated on the headphone end. Much more supple and less microphonic. The litz wire may be a bit a of a pain if you're new to it. You...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The OEM Sennheiser cables are pretty cheap though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0028PGXRE?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2

Thanks for that, i'll order one later this week and give it a go. DX5II seems to work better with the XLR outs at full or nearly full output than using the inbuilt volume control (volume control implemented by Teradak USB and Mac), or perhaps i'm listening slightly louder...or the Dac has run in, or i have , certainly sounds fuller and more dynamic, Dac is set to F-1 with PEQ turned off, really refined sound and revealing of what recording/mic/mixing techniques have been used.

Will give the Amp a try with some DT770s this week to see how they work.

 

[Kane1972]

Is the headphone amp volume digital or analogue? If digital, what size increments please? Is the PEQ better on this than the D50 mk3 or the same? Same number of bands etc? How do the figures stack up between the D50 mk3 and this? Thanks

 

[Bleib]

Time for another update

DX5 II version V1.76 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com

6. What's updated​

• Fixed: The issue that the gain may be amplified by 20dB when switching EQ.

• Fixed: Several other known issues.

 

[ziggurcat]

Did we all miss this FW update? From the change log file:

"V1.73 (2025-09-28)

Adjustment: Adapted for Tune software, allowing PEQ gain to be adjusted in 0.1 dB steps."