Topping DX1 II review: a well-built DAC with great specification that just fails grab you by the lapels

Date:
Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Topping DX1 II is a big step up from the original DX1 DAC, at least where specification is concerned, but it's a little laid-back to truly excite.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Topping DX1 II: two-minute review The world is not short of little DAC/headphone amps that want to bring a taste of authentic audio quality to your desktop experience and heres another one. The Topping DX1 II is a thorough update of a previous (and very competitive) in the Chinese brand's stable, and it makes a strong case for itself even before its started doing its thing.

The aluminum casework looks and feels good and the on-paper specification is difficult to lay a glove on. It includes deep breath a very hi-res ESS DAC, carefully considered digital and analog architecture, USB-C for both power
and data, sufficient grunt to drive most headphones without difficulty, a fistful of input and output options (including balanced analog connectivity), and the facility for plenty of end-user input where sound is concerned. The standard of construction and finish is more than adequate. And a little
remote control handset takes some of the pressure off an overworked physical control interface. The difference the DX1 II can make to your audio
experience when it sits between, say, your laptop and the headphones that are plugged into it is fairly profound. The Topping is by no means perfect it doesnt attack the top of the frequency range quite as willingly as it might, and it doesnt have the heft to make big dynamic variations as apparent as
they might be but its a far more convincing and well-realized listen than your laptop alone has a hope of being. Soundstaging, rhythmic expression, detail levels and all-around musicality all enjoy a big uptick, and the way the DX1 II handles a tonal balance is one of the most uncomplicatedly enjoyable things about it. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video
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The Topping DX1 II hasnt closed the door on other desktop-friendly headphone amp/DAC units at similar money, but its certainly made sure its on the inside of the conversation for the best on the market . (Image credit: Future /
Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II (White) at Amazon for 119 Topping DX1 II review: Price & release date Announced on May 18, 2026 (with availability from late June/July 2026) Priced $119 / 119 (around AU$169) The Topping DX1 II is on sale now, and in the United States it costs $119. Its 119 in the United Kingdom, while in Australia it goes for around AU$169.

So, it's a little pricier than the oh-so-portable iFi Go Link Max and the bigger, hip-flask-esque iFi Uno, say, but an awful lot cheaper than the also-new iFi iDSD GR2 .

What exactly are you getting for your money if you go for the Topping? Read on. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Topping
DX1 II review: Features ESS ES9039Q2M DAC Balanced and unbalanced outputs UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 Theres something quite admirable about the way Topping has specified the DX1 II Ive used bigger and more expensive DAC/headphone amps that dont come close to the level of this little device.

Its built around a very capable ESS ES90392QM DAC chipset and features dual-DAC architecture with a dedicated digital-to-analog converter for each channel, plus fully independent processing. Digital files of up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256 are supported.

A 16-core XMOS XU-316 assists with signal processing just as with the dual-DAC arrangement and the fully balanced analog stage, the idea is to keep noise and distortion to an absolute minimum.

Digital audio information can be delivered using either the digital optical input or the USB-C slot on the rear of the Topping. The USB-C input also provides power to the device. Outputs consist of an unbalanced 3.5mm
headphone socket, a couple of balanced 4.4mm alternatives (one for
headphones, the other for connecting the DX1 II to a system, a powered
speaker or what-have-you) and a line-level analog output on stereo RCAs.

Theres an optical output in case the digital signal needs to be preserved,
and a switch to toggle between UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 the first setting allows the Topping to be compatible with, say, the Nintendo Switch and the Sony PlayStation 5.

Topping has made provision for an awful lot of end-user input into the way
the DX1 II performs. Connect it to a computer and you can access both the
Home Web platform (from where stuff like gain can be adjusted and no fewer than eight distinct digital filters are available) and Topping Tune. This
uses a simple drag-n-drop interface to allow the user to easily create and adjust PEQ settings frequency, gain and bandwidth control across 10 bands (with independent left and right channel adjustment) can be tweaked and settings saved. Its available across each of the DX1 IIs outputs. Features score: 5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II review:
Sound quality Impressively detailed, easy-going sound Pleasant tonal balance Could easily sound more dynamic Its possible to make quite significant
changes to the ultimate sound of the DX1 II, of course those digital filters have a slight effect, but go crazy with the PEQ and you can achieve some pretty obvious alternations. What you cant do, though, is defeat the things the Topping does well or fully correct its shortcomings.

With a 24bit/48kHz FLAC file of The Record by Boygenius playing in the Tidal desktop app and incoming via USB-C, it doesnt take long at all to appreciate the facility the DX1 II has with detail retrieval. Its alert to even the most minor, most subtle occurrences in the recording, keeps an eye on the
low-level dynamics of harmonic over- and undertones, and deals with
transients confidently too. It gives these details good weighting, so the emphasis is always on the music and not solely on how deeply into it the Topping can peer.

The tonal balance it strikes is naturalistic and pleasant, and its over-all character is, in the most positive way, easy-going and quite laid-back. It
can do urgency if it absolutely has to, of course, but its fundamental attitude is one thats not in any way fatiguing. At no point is the Topping likely to grab you by the lapels its altogether too grown-up and, again in a positive way, polite for that sort of behavior.

Some of this comes about because of its relative lack of dynamic impetus. The headline dynamics of quiet and LOUD! in a 16bit/44.1kHz file of Life Metal by Sunn O))) are somewhat flattened by the slight shortage of headroom the DX1
II exhibits. The distance between these two positions is not as pronounced as it is when described by a DAC/headphone amp that breathes a little more deeply. Some of it is due to the Toppings slight-but-definite tendency to
roll off the highest frequencies. Theres acceptable extension into the top end, but not quite the attack or even assertiveness that makes treble sounds properly bite and shine.

Elsewhere, though, the DX1 II is on firmer ground. It has a good
understanding of rhythm and tempo, and controls its low-frequency activity to the point that theres a proper sensation of fluency to the way rhythms are expressed. It can open up a soundstage to the point that even quite complex recordings get a little elbow-room, and the stage is also controlled well.
And its worth noting that, unlike a couple of nominal rivals, the DX1 II doesnt alter its behavior depending on the volume youre listening at even when playing very quietly or really quite loud, its sonic stance remains consistent. Sound quality score: 4 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II review: Design 275g Aluminum chassis 32 x 100 x 100mm (HxWxD) The DX1 II is usefully compact (just 32 x 100 x 100mm, HxWxD), so wont hog space on your desktop or equipment rack. Built mostly from machined aluminum, its very well-made and finished its edges are nicely rounded and its not remotely sharp at any of its corners.

At 275g, its unlikely to be towed around your desktop by heavy-cabled headphones, either. Only the fact that some of the socketry is quite close together on the rear panel (which is inevitable, really) precludes the use of chunkier, more premium cables and constitutes any kind of issue. Design
score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II review: Usability & setup LED display Remote control handset Overworked fascia
control dial The majority of the fascia is occupied by a relatively large and gratifyingly legible LED display volume level, selected input and what-have-you is all revealed. Theres also a relatively large turn/press dial that covers a lot of the device's functions. In all honesty, the dial is not especially intuitive when you want to do anything beyond change input or adjust volume so its just as well Topping provides a little remote control handset that makes getting at your EQs, and all the rest of it, quite a lot more straightforward.

Set-up is the work of a moment, of course. Youll need to connect the USB-C slot to a source of power maybe this is also your source of music, if it
isnt then your source will need to be connected to the optical input. Then
you need to connect the DX1 II to its output device headphones, probably, or maybe the stereo RCA outputs to an amplifier or powered speaker. And then youre in business. Usability & setup score: 4 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II review: Value Small but feels premium Good standard of build Out-and-out sound quality not up there (but you won't feel short-changed) It may only be tiny, but Topping has managed to make the DX1
II feel and, to a lesser extent, look like it deserves to cost three figures. The standard of build is well up to snuff, too and when you take the thoroughgoing nature of its specification into account, too, the sensation of value for money is hard to argue with.

The value proposition isnt quite so cut-and-dried when it comes to
out-and-out sound quality - but even here the DX1 II does more than enough right to prevent you feeling short-changed. Value score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Should I buy the Topping DX1 II? Buy it if

You have a desktop audio system that just consists of a laptop and some headphones Putting the DX1 II between the two will result in a significant uptick in audio quality.

You want to enhance your gaming experience With UAC 1.0 selected, the signal from a console incoming and some appropriate headphones attached, gaming becomes a much more immersive experience.

You have some power-hungry headphones The Toppings balanced output is rated at 2 x 1000mW into 32 ohms, which is more than enough to deal even quite tricky headphones. Don't buy it if

Youre easily frustrated The fascia controls are not what youd call
intuitive.

You enjoy the dynamic aspects of music reproduction The DX1 II is unwilling or unable to put really convincing distance between dynamic extremes .

Youre especially attuned to high-frequency sound You can fiddle with the PEQ and/or the filters all you like the Topping is inclined to roll off the top end at least a little. (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Topping DX1 II review: Also consider Its more affordable than the DX1 II and it looks and feels it, too but the iFi Uno is a high-achieving little device that offers
a direct, confident and information-rich sound no matter the source of music its connected to. How I tested the Topping DX1 II I used the Topping DX1 II with an Apple MacBook Pro connecting to the USB-C slot allowed for data transfer and power supply at the same time, and gave access to numerous music streaming services.

I connected a pair of Sennheiser IE900 wired in-ear headphones to the unbalanced 3.5mm output, and also to the balanced 4.4mm output (the
Sennheiser have a selection of cables with different terminations).

I also connected a Sony PlayStation 5 via the optical input and sent the DX1 II output signal to the preamp in my reference system via its RCA outputs. Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee First reviewed: October 2026 Topping DX1 II: Price Comparison 119 View 119 View 119 View voucher gift Low Stock 119 View voucher gift Low Stock 119 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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