Ok, you convinced me......purchased! This will be my first dac since musical fidelity DAC1, over 10 years ago. Looking for BIG improvements for my Ls50 metas😊
I just listened to sound samples in both DX5 and SU9 Pro and correct me if I'm wrong but my obesrvations are following: DX5 more neutral, double bass and bass drum more in background, vocals clearer and more exposed (especially to hear after "look at the sky" pause). The scene is relaxed but somehow insteuments are distanced SU9Pro - I can hear that bass is in charge, nearly hearing when bass player is hitting the string, bass drum is guiding double bass (I'm bass player, so boths aspects are important for me in music). Vocal isn't so vivid but it's keeping up good in the scene. My conclusion is DX5 is more sterile, neutral, like studio monitor SU9 is more driven, more musical, has more emotions. @Tharbamar - could you confirm my observations as you for sure listened to more tracks on both sets. I use Rotel A10 with PSB Alpha P5 and I'm looking for DAC for this set. (Current in use simple smsl m2 usb DAC) Many thanks! Keep up your work and all the best in n 2023!!
I wanted to get smsl d300 but ended up buying topping dx7 - nothing but clean brilliant soft sound. before that I only used irdac, 2qute, dacmagic and musical fidelity. Topping is better. Cheers
Wow! Wonderfully transparent as you say. Superb instrument separation, as 3 dimensional as it gets. Thank you for discovering this wonderful DAC. I'm thinking of using it as a pre-amp/Dac for my bridged to mono Parasound power amps. Do you they'll match gain wise?
Thanks for your amazing review as always! Now you’re making me doubt if i should upgrade from my Denafrips Ares II to one of the 3 R2R DAC’s from your previous comparison, or maybe save a lot of money and just get this! Hehehe Thanks again!
Yes definitely but I will have a few more note worthy new DAC reviews coming from both camps, I love R2R DAC when playing DSD files and DS DAC for streaming and PCM files personally and very much enjoy using both, thanks
Hello! I have a question. If I connect topping dx5 to active monitors (eg focal alpha 80 Evo or Yamaha hs8) via xlr, how good can the result be? And which xlr cable would you recommend for this? Thanks in advance for your reply. Sorry for my bad english
Great video! I’m new in the game with limited budget and I only use iPhone and a pair of drop 58x headphones, would this improve the sound significantly ? Especially the depth of the soundstage ?
@Lone Star, Thank you but you must be mistaken because I am always have been 2 channel audio guy and headphone is just a tool for me because I do not like listening my music with headphones, thanks
Yeah, I don’t recall you doing any review on headphone but headphone-suitable dacs, DAC/amp/pre-amp then yes which was what made me follow your reviews, demos, etc… Tharbamar, you recommended the KLH Model 5 or Polk R700 but I cannot get them here. Would the Lincoln’s or the Evo 4.4 works?
@@Tharbamar you remember I have the R26, thank you. I found an importer who has a new set of Polk R700. What amplifiers do you recommend for R700 if I’d like an option of subwoofer (if required) and phono (maybe to add a turntable later)? What other equipments will I need? Otherwise, I think I’ll take my time because there are several other brands available and I have to learn more about amplifiers, etc… I just saw Dali Oberon 9 selling at the price of my ZMF Atrium headphone.
Ideally I like i2S and AES for best sound quality, secondary choice is USB or Coaxial for music listening, I only use optical when I'm watching Netflix with HiFi DAC. 99% of components don't come with all the inputs I prefered so I end up using DDC with i2S or AES.
Great videos. I’m considering a dac to my stereo system . so there are two in my current pocket list .May I ask how you would compare the ARIES II and this one? DX5 (full unfold MQA) sounds good transparent , detail sound quality , high performance, good price.ARIES II which have lots positive reviews sounds more vibrant, warm, deep and rich in dynamics (not harsh), and has more texture. Consider the price is doubled, would you recommend buying DX5 first or buying ARIES II directly? By the way , my music source is tidal, the speaker is rp-600m.Thank you!
Thank you for the very enthusiastic review! 👍 May I ask please how you would compare the SMSL DO200 and this one? I am not interested in the headphone/amp part, just the DAC sound reproduction quality. Thank you!
I was considering the SMSL SU10 DAC for my KLH Model 5s based on your prior recommendation but with this glowing review of the DX5 I may need to just save hundreds of dollars and get this instead. Thoughts? Is the improvement on a DAC like the SU10 nominal from this Topping DX5? Put another way, does the DX5 get one to 95% of the performance of the SMSL SU10?
@the marklar SU10 is better in refinement and deeper bass quality than DX-5 and tonality is a bit richer, which I think is more suited to Model 5 in overall synergy, thanks
I’m slightly surprised by this recommendation especially giving 5 stars for everything. Other reviews mentioned from a sound quality perspective there’s barely any improvement over the £200 DX3 Pro+. You’re paying over double for the XLR connections.
It’s all depends on what their pairing equipment and speakers are, they are very different with different chipsets and not only XLR connections another big difference is balance and unbalanced design as well as noise performance.
Is there a big difference in sound quality between the e50+l50 and the e30+l30 for the hobby listener, especially if the e50 is much better for connecting to an integrated amplifier than the pd e30. Thank you. It is my pleasure to follow you.
I had yet to find a reviewer that could articulate my feelings about how amazing this unit is. Your review is completely accurate. I love my DX5!
Ok, you convinced me......purchased! This will be my first dac since musical fidelity DAC1, over 10 years ago. Looking for BIG improvements for my Ls50 metas😊
It will open up more in overall sound with cleaner bass and more, thanks
This one or the Fiio k9?
Sounds a little softer than the SU-9Pro but the treble region is more relaxed and palatable believe it or not.
Jak zawsze fajny test ;)
I just listened to sound samples in both DX5 and SU9 Pro and correct me if I'm wrong but my obesrvations are following:
DX5 more neutral, double bass and bass drum more in background, vocals clearer and more exposed (especially to hear after "look at the sky" pause). The scene is relaxed but somehow insteuments are distanced
SU9Pro - I can hear that bass is in charge, nearly hearing when bass player is hitting the string, bass drum is guiding double bass (I'm bass player, so boths aspects are important for me in music). Vocal isn't so vivid but it's keeping up good in the scene.
My conclusion is DX5 is more sterile, neutral, like studio monitor
SU9 is more driven, more musical, has more emotions.
@Tharbamar - could you confirm my observations as you for sure listened to more tracks on both sets.
I use Rotel A10 with PSB Alpha P5 and I'm looking for DAC for this set. (Current in use simple smsl m2 usb DAC)
Many thanks!
Keep up your work and all the best in n 2023!!
You are pretty much spot on, thank you.
Happy New Year!
I wanted to get smsl d300 but ended up buying topping dx7 - nothing but clean brilliant soft sound. before that I only used irdac, 2qute, dacmagic and musical fidelity. Topping is better. Cheers
ok, i bought one! this time you convinced me. If i don´t like it i will charge you for that!!!!😄😄😃😉
Wow! Wonderfully transparent as you say. Superb instrument separation, as 3 dimensional as it gets. Thank you for discovering this wonderful DAC. I'm thinking of using it as a pre-amp/Dac for my bridged to mono Parasound power amps. Do you they'll match gain wise?
It should work great with your Parasound amps, thanks
Thanks for your amazing review as always! Now you’re making me doubt if i should upgrade from my Denafrips Ares II to one of the 3 R2R DAC’s from your previous comparison, or maybe save a lot of money and just get this! Hehehe Thanks again!
Yes definitely but I will have a few more note worthy new DAC reviews coming from both camps, I love R2R DAC when playing DSD files and DS DAC for streaming and PCM files personally and very much enjoy using both, thanks
Sounds good, I'm waiting for the new bluetooth lossless products tho...
Topping E30 II DAC and L30 II or DX5?
DX5.
Hi... compared to his brother Topping E50 ? who is better? a thousand thanks
DX5 👍
Does this dac give a cleaner, more spacious 3d sound over smls d300 for 2 channel listening?
Yes in a way but D300 is slightly better in tonality.
Hello, how would you compare dx5 vs. E70V? Trying to choose for my b&w 607 s2 . Denon pma 600nene
E70v may work better with 607 S2.
Thanks!
Hello! I have a question. If I connect topping dx5 to active monitors (eg focal alpha 80 Evo or Yamaha hs8) via xlr, how good can the result be? And which xlr cable would you recommend for this? Thanks in advance for your reply. Sorry for my bad english
Hi, It will perform great with active monitors, you should only use XLR cables for best results, thanks
@@Tharbamar thank u so much!
what are the isolation feet you use under the DAC ?
I’m using Audiocrast isolation.
What are your top 5 dacs regardless of price?
Will let you know soon, thanks
Great video! I’m new in the game with limited budget and I only use iPhone and a pair of drop 58x headphones, would this improve the sound significantly ? Especially the depth of the soundstage ?
This might be worth getting just to switch flavors between R2R. Would there be any difference if you had curtains for music listening?
Curtains will help dampen the sound a bit of you don’t have room treatments.
I like your content but lately you are more involved into 2 channel systems please do review some headphones as well.
Headphone user? What headphones do you use? I am a headphone user but got the speaker poison now
@Lone Star, Thank you but you must be mistaken because I am always have been 2 channel audio guy and headphone is just a tool for me because I do not like listening my music with headphones, thanks
Yeah, I don’t recall you doing any review on headphone but headphone-suitable dacs, DAC/amp/pre-amp then yes which was what made me follow your reviews, demos, etc… Tharbamar, you recommended the KLH Model 5 or Polk R700 but I cannot get them here. Would the Lincoln’s or the Evo 4.4 works?
@Billy Kueek Personally I would not use R26 with Wharfedale speakers, Linton is slow and Evo may work better, thanks
@@Tharbamar you remember I have the R26, thank you. I found an importer who has a new set of Polk R700. What amplifiers do you recommend for R700 if I’d like an option of subwoofer (if required) and phono (maybe to add a turntable later)? What other equipments will I need? Otherwise, I think I’ll take my time because there are several other brands available and I have to learn more about amplifiers, etc… I just saw Dali Oberon 9 selling at the price of my ZMF Atrium headphone.
Love the detailed reviews. Do you prefer this over the Topping A30/D30 Pro combo?
Yes
What input did you use? Coax or optical?
Mainly USB and Optical.
@@Tharbamar Did you hear a difference or have a preference ?
Ideally I like i2S and AES for best sound quality, secondary choice is USB or Coaxial for music listening, I only use optical when I'm watching Netflix with HiFi DAC.
99% of components don't come with all the inputs I prefered so I end up using DDC with i2S or AES.
Hello Could you please review the topping g5? i think is an awesome dac too, thank you for the reviews they are very useful
Topping G5 is awesome for IEM and headphone..I use it to drive my planar magnetic IEM and headphone.. truly amazing DAC/Amp...
Great videos. I’m considering a dac to my stereo system . so there are two in my current pocket list .May I ask how you would compare the ARIES II and this one? DX5 (full unfold MQA) sounds good transparent , detail sound quality , high performance, good price.ARIES II which have lots positive reviews sounds more vibrant, warm, deep and rich in dynamics (not harsh), and has more texture. Consider the price is doubled, would you recommend buying DX5 first or buying ARIES II directly? By the way , my music source is tidal, the speaker is rp-600m.Thank you!
Answer is in your comment, you already described it you just need follow which is your type, thanks
Thank you for the very enthusiastic review! 👍 May I ask please how you would compare the SMSL DO200 and this one? I am not interested in the headphone/amp part, just the DAC sound reproduction quality. Thank you!
DO200 is a bit fuller in sound in the bass range but DX5 is transparent DAC, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you Sir!
Aha! First to comment! I want the Model 5 so bad but just can’t get it here.
I was considering the SMSL SU10 DAC for my KLH Model 5s based on your prior recommendation but with this glowing review of the DX5 I may need to just save hundreds of dollars and get this instead. Thoughts? Is the improvement on a DAC like the SU10 nominal from this Topping DX5? Put another way, does the DX5 get one to 95% of the performance of the SMSL SU10?
If you don't need the Amp/headphone portion of the Topping DX5 ... I'd get the SU-9 Pro DAC for $500 over this
@the marklar SU10 is better in refinement and deeper bass quality than DX-5 and tonality is a bit richer, which I think is more suited to Model 5 in overall synergy, thanks
I’m slightly surprised by this recommendation especially giving 5 stars for everything. Other reviews mentioned from a sound quality perspective there’s barely any improvement over the £200 DX3 Pro+. You’re paying over double for the XLR connections.
It’s all depends on what their pairing equipment and speakers are, they are very different with different chipsets and not only XLR connections another big difference is balance and unbalanced design as well as noise performance.
@@Tharbamar Thanks for the feedback and clarification.
Amazon link goes to DX3 Pro+
Corrected, Thanks
С таким усилением и колонками все играть более менее будет !
I don't have it because I returned it.
May i ask why ?
I'm having DAC review fatigue. Too many DAC reviews on all hifi TH-cam channels
I hear ya but I have many more to come 😀
I need more preamp reviews...
"pure" preamp or dac/preamp or integrated amp to use "only" as a preamp...
It never stops. A good DAC today is a good DAC tomorrow. Same with cables.
Cant wait for you to review the SMSL D400ex
@@RobS65 Yep, I still love my Marantz DAC from 2011.
"A Great DAC You Don't Have" ?? What do you mean?
Because it sounded very good for the price.
@@Tharbamar "you don't have"?
Is there a big difference in sound quality between the e50+l50 and the e30+l30 for the hobby listener, especially if the e50 is much better for connecting to an integrated amplifier than the pd e30. Thank you. It is my pleasure to follow you.