Topping DX5 II: Affordable High-Performance DAC

You don’t always have to break the bank for a quality DAC, as demonstrated by the new Topping DX5 II—both in terms of specs and price.

The Topping DX5 II is a hi-res DAC that also functions as a preamplifier. At its heart are a pair of ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chips, utilizing ESS’s Hyperstream IV architecture. According to the manufacturer, this ensures extremely low noise and an exceptional dynamic range. Supported formats go up to 32-bit / 768 kHz PCM and DSD512.

There are three digital inputs available: USB, coaxial, and optical. Output-wise, you get both balanced XLR and standard RCA line-level connections. Headphone users are also well catered for with both a 6.3 mm jack and a balanced 4.4 mm output. Prefer to go wireless? No problem—Bluetooth is on board, supporting LDAC, aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC.

A full-color display provides information about the input signal and format, or you can switch to a spectrum analyzer or virtual VU meters for some visual flair.

As promised, the price is attractive: just £299.