Topping DX7 Pro+ Review (DAC & HP Amp)

[sibi1865]

Within these forums, I remember people commenting on the shallow angle of Topping's remote operation. Has that improved with the new design?

 

[lc6]

Beautiful performance

I wish topping/smsl/gustard etc would start adding more features rather than trying to marginally improve on their measured performances though

I want HDMI eArc, auto room correction, preset volumes per outputs etc

@JohnYang1997 it's time to creep up on MiniDSP and AVR territories now. With your engineering skills, you guys can make a big name for yourselves in these markets

Agree. If Topping added 7 or more channels of Class D amplification with SMPS, plus Dirac Live (with a future firmware upgrade to spatial correction), that would be a killer integrated amp or AVR.

 

[SKBubba]

@JohnYang1997 congratulations on another home run! My (early adopter) DX7 Pro is now feeling a little sad. Complimentary upgrade, maybe?

Now, for your next trick, if you could make an amp with 200 WPC into 8 ohms Topping will own the audio industry.

Plus an (optional?) streamer with raat, chromecast, and dlna. No app, no service integration, just basic black box stream playback from the app/service of your choice.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Well done SMSL!

Wrong company.

 

[Peternz]

Agree. If Topping added 7 or more channels of Class D amplification with SMPS, plus Dirac Live (with a future firmware upgrade to spatial correction), that would be a killer integrated amp or AVR.

Topping is in it's correct niche as far as I am concerned. The only thing I think is truly missing from their lineup is a no nonsense 2 channel power amplifier. If they can beat Benchmark at that game they are going to sell a lot of amps.

 

[juliangst]

Me too! That would be perfect for me. I'd imagine HMDI licensing would be deal breaker too, but I can dream!

Just use Toslink for watching TV stuff

 

[amirm]

Thank you, for the review @amirm,


My inner curious-cat would be very satisifed if you can show that I/O square-wave in a real-time scope view?

You can see the explanation/spectrum of the j-test signal here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...derstanding-digital-audio-measurements.10523/

The spikes on the left at 250 Hz are what are showing up there. They are toggling the rightmost bit of a 24 bit audio sample at that rate.

 

[amirm]

No word about the "balanced" 4.4mm being fake balanced?

The output is the same on all connectors as I mentioned in the review.

 

[amirm]

That price is absurd. You are in RME ADI FS territory for similar performance and no hardware EQ.

??? ADI-2 DAC is nearly double the price at $1,299. It is great hardware and I use it myself but is not the same price.

 

[amirm]

@amirm I might have missed it on the other pages, but I believe this one also has a tube-sound setting? Can you measure what that does? This review states they love it, and I wonder how much distortion it is adding .

Topping itself has published measurements of those:

 

[Jimster480]

Performance as expected. But man I really do not like the new design language, even my old boxy DX7s looks better to me, and the DX7 Pro was a lot cleaner. I hope they change it for whatever next DAC/Amp will be out by the time I need to replace my DX7s. Though I suppose EX5 would be good enough for my needs and that still looks good.

I Agree, I completely hate the new design language. I bought an EX5 for this reason. Probably will last me forever.

 

[imagidominc]

Topping really keeps topping themselves, dear god.

 

[Jimster480]

My experience is different with my own aeons, for loud listening I have seen the need of such amount of power.

You have measured 3W requirement from your amp to listen "loudly"? What device did you use to measure this?

 

[Jimster480]

Better is SMSL SP400 with AAA 888 and resistor ladder volume control - no channel imbalance issues

Good to 12 ohms

SMSL SP400 Review (headphone amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SP400 balanced THX headphone amplifier. It was kindly sent to me by one of their dealers, shenzhenaudio. It costs US $630 from them. The SP400 makes an attempt at luxury with glossy plexiglass top and digital display: As you see, there...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Isn't the price very similar to the A90D though?

 

[gvl]

??? ADI-2 DAC is nearly double the price at $1,299. It is great hardware and I use it myself but is not the same price.

There a healthy supply of them used in the $700-800 range. Anyone choosing this over a used RME DAC should rethink.

 

[Jimster480]

Thanks for the reply. Is that a concern here? Also, this doesn't have balanced out for DAC or HP, right? Does that matter?

it does not matter and you have plenty of power for 99.9% of headphones on the market today and in the future.

 

[Jimster480]

My aeon noire are getting about 2W and it’s not enough at all. I have to crank up my Topping A30 Pro to 3PM on some tracks.
The Stealth and Hifiman susvara need even more power than that.

You measured the need for 2W?

 

[SuicideSquid]

There a healthy supply of them used in the $700-800 range. Anyone choosing this over a used RME DAC should rethink.

It seems unfair to compare new pricing to used. Presumably in six months you'll be able to find a used Topping DX7 Pro+ for $450. The price seems totally fair for the performance and features on offer.

 

[gvl]

It seems unfair to compare new pricing to used. Presumably in six months you'll be able to find a used Topping DX7 Pro+ for $450. The price seems totally fair for the performance and features on offer.

A used RME for $700 is still a better value than this for $450.

 

[SuicideSquid]

A used RME for $700 is still a better value than this for $450.

That seems to be an entirely subjective judgment, but okay.