Topping DX9 Discreet - What's the point?

[solawind]

I also think you should check what I have written first

it's cool that you like your purchase and enjoy the music, but all that emotional stuff is just from your own feelings and overall sentiment. if you really want to compare two pieces of audio equipment (two dacs, for example), you need to do blind tests to reveal what you actually hear. judging by your “feelings” is a very wrong approach here — a common mistake. so far, no one has been able to distinguish good-measuring dacs in a proper blind test, so the chances are very low that you will be the first one.

 

[thatnorthernsound]

The question is: what makes this device better as any other HPA/DAC combo for around 300-500$ on the market? Yeah, it does have a bit more HPA power, thats it?
I dont see that added 1k$ value besides some marketing "blabla". Its not even an proper preamp since its lacking the basic connectivity like multiple RCA/XLR in/outs. Nor is it a proper audio interface like an RME as example.

Considering the asked price of 1300$ i would always go for an established high quality and support brand like RME (made in Germany btw.) over Topping. At least at this point of time Topping clearly cannot compete with RME in terms of quality.
The bluetooth connectivity and higher power HPA are just not enough to justify the same price, especially considering that we are talking about an Chinese brand with much lower support and production costs.

Having previously owned a Topping D90 III with an A90 Discrete, and a current owner of an RME ADI-2 DAC FS, I can say that the build quality and sound quality between the two brands is equal.

But RME has way more functionality, which could be overwhelming to some, if not most, users. The old Topping remotes were absolute trash—I couldn't live with them so everything Topping went.

I'd love to hear the DX9 Discrete, just because I'm interested in trying balanced cables and the unique features. Plus I just like looking at it.

If the remote has been fixed I'll remain curious.

 

[smokey5454]

Is it worth it to sell my D70 Pro Sabre/ A70 Pro Combo for DX9 Discrete?
Is the sound better? Measurements are bit worse, but that's just one side of the coin.
Whats benefits beside the PEQ do I get?

 

[RandomEar]

Is it worth it to sell my D70 Pro Sabre/ A70 Pro Combo for DX9 Discrete?
Is the sound better?

No.

Measurements are bit worse, but that's just one side of the coin.

It's not. If it measures transparent, further tiny differences in measured properties cannot be audible.

Whats benefits beside the PEQ do I get?

Maybe a nicer display and a cool window on top.

 

[Deleted member 50136]

The RME ADI-2 DAC first released back in 2017, so that was nine years ago. Comparing that to something like the Topping DX9 Discrete doesn’t really feel like a fair comparison to me. I don’t think it’s a good example if you’re trying to justify there not being something on the market like the DX9 Discrete.

The DX9 Discrete seems to be competing directly with the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. It has similar features of the RME including EQ and Crossfeed. It's even at the same retail price of the RME at $1,299. But the DX9 has a fully balanced headphone amp with way more power, addition of Bluetooth, and more PEQ bands than the RME. Seems like a no brainer upgrade to me, assuming there are no issues with quality control.

i concur. i just want a little style with bleeding edge performance like topping introduced into the audio world. I remember reading threads all over online years ago about how
Topping changed the landscape when they came onto the scene. Before that, the audiophile world was full of super expensive DACs and amps that didn’t measure or perform as well as you’d expect for the price. I was watching the market pretty closely when Topping really started becoming a thing.

Back then, there were constant threads and forum posts about it. People were talking all over Head-Fi and other forums about how Topping was bringing incredibly performance-oriented amps and DACs to market — gear that measured extremely well — and doing it at a fraction of the cost of a lot of the established brands. It felt like suddenly you could get top-tier measurements and clean performance without paying boutique-level prices.

It was one of those moments where the conversation shifted from just branding and mystique to hard performance numbers. Whether you liked the sound or not, you couldn’t ignore the value proposition. That’s what made Topping such a big deal

 

[BeeKay]

Is it worth it to sell my D70 Pro Sabre/ A70 Pro Combo for DX9 Discrete?
Is the sound better? Measurements are bit worse, but that's just one side of the coin.
Whats benefits beside the PEQ do I get?

Same starting point for me. One box less. Still good looks and, most importantly, PEQ (what would allow me to bin my Roon subscription) is the list that tends to drive me towards the DX9 Discrete. Could have been perfect if Topping had implemented a HPF or a dedicated sub out.

 

[Deleted member 50136]

picked up the dx9 discreet along with the spirit torino radiante waves. Coming from Topping A30pro and D30pro stack. Will give listening impressions once Iv had more time with them.

 

[kandamrgam]

picked up the dx9 discreet along with the spirit torino radiante waves. Coming from Topping A30pro and D30pro stack. Will give listening impressions once Iv had more time with them.

it's bigger than I thought it would be.

 

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

it's bigger than I thought it would be.

Not so discreet then?

 

[mhardy6647]

Danged indiscreet amplifiers...

 

[Deleted member 50136]

using topping tune software with equalizer APO. Got it sounding how I like it, dark and as much energetic slam as possible

 

[Deleted member 50136]

dx9 discreet internals

 

[smokey5454]

Offtopic: I got the chance to try the D900/A900 Combo, and... the resolution increased. Soundstage was bigger, details in the background got clearer. Thats about it. Maybe 3-4 % better then D90 Pro Sabre/A90 Pro Combo. Still very enjoyable and same transparency. Not worth the extra 2000 € imo.

 

[Svend P]

Offtopic: I got the chance to try the D900/A900 Combo, and... the resolution increased. Soundstage was bigger, details in the background got clearer. Thats about it. Maybe 3-4 % better then D90 Pro Sabre/A90 Pro Combo. Still very enjoyable and same transparency. Not worth the extra 2000 € imo.

Odds are the percentage is closer to 0%. You need to test blind and level matched for your observations to have any value.

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Roland68]

Offtopic: I got the chance to try the D900/A900 Combo, and... the resolution increased. Soundstage was bigger, details in the background got clearer. Thats about it. Maybe 3-4 % better then D90 Pro Sabre/A90 Pro Combo. Still very enjoyable and same transparency. Not worth the extra 2000 € imo.

The problem is that the last 2-4% of development in every industry is 5, 10, or even 100 times more expensive. If the combination is actually audibly better, then Topping deserves a tip of the hat at that price.

On the one hand, the question is how much audibly better this combination is compared to, for example, an SMSL D1 and a Topping L30 II, if at all. Assuming sufficient power for the headphones.

On the other hand, I wouldn't spend that much money on one or two Topping products as long as they don't offer customers acceptable warranty and repair conditions for such devices, e.g., at least 10-20 years of warranty coverage for repair options, ideally with flat-rate repair costs, and/or the publication of service manuals and schematics.

 

[smokey5454]

Perfect blind testing isn't possible for everyone, I tried to make the sound level "even" by feeling (I know not very scientific but I dont have the instruments for that). I switched between both setups and the neutral sound was basically identical. After listening to very well known music the staging was noticeably better. Both on low gain but the D900/A900 was at 0/-20 db while the D70/A70 was at 0/-35 db for comparable loudness. Used the 4,4mm Pentaconn Output on both.

 

[Roland68]

Perfect blind testing isn't possible for everyone, I tried to make the sound level "even" by feeling (I know not very scientific but I dont have the instruments for that). I switched between both setups and the neutral sound was basically identical. After listening to very well known music the staging was noticeably better. Both on low gain but the D900/A900 was at 0/-20 db while the D70/A70 was at 0/-35 db for comparable loudness. Used the 4,4mm Pentaconn Output on both.

The measuring device you need costs €10-20 these days. A really good one costs around €40 or less.