Today we look at the Topping DX7 Pro, which is selling for $599 USD or €599,99 Euro.
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Disclaimer: Topping sent us the DX7 Pro via the Aoshida-HIFI Audio Store for the purpose of this review, in exchange for our honest opinion.
Topping Audio
Topping is a Chinese company that makes all sorts of audio products. Their portfolio stretches from portable DAC/AMPS to desktop sized electronics. Topping has been founded in 2008 and has been on somewhat of a purple patch of late when it comes to bringing an impressive range of both digital and analogue gear to market.
In the past couple of years alone, they’ve released a range of DACs, amps, and hybrid units that have impressed both our review team as well as the personal audio community at large with thoroughly well-packaged products that combine performance and thoughtful design with extremely sharp pricing.
The following can be found on Topping’s website:
TOPPING is the top. We give a more profounder meaning for TOPPING that is, develop and expand, evaluation and quality. TOPPING always remains true to our original aspiration, adheres to this concept to pursuit and explore on the road of Hi-Fi.
TOPPING firmly believes that the Hi-Fi should be highly united with pleasant hearing and superb performance. Therefore, since its establishment, TOPPING has determined a R&D route of parallel hearing experience and parameters, and put the R&D in the first place. We set up the R&D department composed of senior engineers and audiophiles and invested a large amount of money in purchasing professional audio instruments to ensure performance.
In today’s review, we will check out how their latest DX7 Pro DAC/AMP performs.
Topping on Headfonia
The last few weeks and months several HFN writers have covered popular Topping units on the site:
Matty – Topping A90 Amplifier: https://www.headfonia.com/topping-a90-review/
Matty – Topping E30 DAC: https://www.headfonia.com/topping-e30-review/
Linus – Topping D90 DAC: https://www.headfonia.com/topping-e30/
The DX7 Pro we’re looking at today is the last Topping review of this series, but I’m sure we’ll feature most of their upcoming models from now on.
Topping DX7 Pro
DX7 Pro
The DX7 Pro is a DAC/AMP unit featuring the well-knows ES9038PRO DAC chip. We’ve seen many companies use this exact chip, such as Astell&Kern (KANN CUBE) and Matrix (X-Sabre Pro). The DX7 Pro isn’t an MQA renderer.
It’s a new and modern unit and so it also features Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC, a must if you’re into wireless HiFi. To do so the DX7Pro uses the CSR8675 chipset which supports DAC/AAC/SBC/APTX/APX LL/APX HD protocols. In addition to the USB (supporting Apple and Android) and BT input, the DX7 Pro also features an optical, IIS, COAX and AES input. All inputs support up to 24bit 192khz.
The DX7 Pro’s circuits have been designed to be full balanced. The analog section includes separate OPA 1612 operational amplifiers for each channel and the headphone amplification of each channel is assigned to an independent TPA6120A2 chip.
An nice DX7 Pro feature is that it sports 3 different headphone outputs: a standard single ended 6.35mm, a balanced XLR output and a balanced 4.4mm output. Can you wish for more?
Next to being a DAC/AMP, the DX7 Pro also has a pre-amp output mode. You can hook it up to a power amplifier, headphone amp or active speaker and you’ll be able to control the volume with the DX7 Pro. DX7 Pro’s volume control is digital, so there’s no channel imbalance at all.
You can download the Windows drivers for the DAC function right here: http://www.tphifi.net/drivers/dx7pro_manual_and_driver.zip
Topping DX7 Pro
Technical specs
The full list of technical specs is long and it along with its measurements can be found on the DX7 PRO’s official web page, at the bottom.
http://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/398244.html
Pricing & Accessories
The Topping DX7 Pro is selling for $599,99 USD and €599,99 Euro. It arrives in a standard but nice black box in which you will find:
① DX7 Pro＊1
② 6.35mm to 3.5mm connector＊1
③ Bluetooth antenna＊1
④ Remote control＊1
⑤ USB cable＊1
⑥ AC cable＊1
⑦ User manual＊1
⑧ Warranty card＊1
It’s another sharply priced unit from Topping, especially looking at the tech inside and the unit’s usability and versatility.
Design & Build Quality
The DX7 Pro looks and feels nice. It sports a full aluminium case and it has a small footprint, it really disappears on your desk and it doesn’t draw too much attention to it. In my case, it’s perfect for using at work.
The Topping DX7 Pro only measures 22.2cm x 17.8cm x 4. 5cm and merely weighs 1.4Kg. That does mean it will move a bit on your desk when plugging headphones in and out (especially with the XLR), but nothing to worry about either. It’s rather normal and accepted.
I find the DX7 Pro to look quite sexy. The case feels soft, the edges round and the buttons sturdy. I feel confident this unit will last for a very long time, unless you drop it of course. For $599, the quality is perfect.
The article continues on the next page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Mike I.
Very nice, extensive review again, Lieven. Thank you !
How was the Beyer DT1990PRO in balanced mode ?
Wills
I think the beyerdynamic DT series are all single ended only as the plug is a three pin plug.
MhtLion
In my opinion, DX7 Pro has too much gain in the headphone modules. It’s rather a common problem when over applying the voltage in order to increase the driving power.
For my ears, the XLR pre-outs were better – but by not much. As a pure DAC, I preferred D90.
CANiSLAYu
Buyer beware if you plan to out the headphone out with sensitive headphones or IEMs. The output impedance is quite high on this unit (4.7 ohm on SE and 9.4 ohm on BAL). This unit did not play nice with my HYLA Sarda (7ohm impedance) or Quad ERA-1 (20ohm impedance) as it affected the frequency response of those two (bloated bass, lack of clarity, etc.). No such issue on my Topping D90/A90 stack that I upgraded to.
Victor
I think timbre needs to be mentioned in a Dx7 Pro review. I had one and the original opamps in combination with the dac chip were really dry sounding. You can change the op amps, but even though the results are not optimal. (And you have to spend more money)
If you plan to use it without an external amp it will use two pairs of the LME op amps, the sound will be hyper texturized and nothing musical. It’s far from a natural presentation. So if that’s your cup of tea ok, but be aware what you’re buying.
Alex
> The Topping DX7 Pro is a bit cheaper than the Burson
a bit ? ))) topping dx7 pro – 600$, burson 3xp ~ 1300$ 😉
Siddesh
How will this do with Focal Elex (80 Ohms) and Clear (55 Ohms)? Will it be okay despite high output impedance?
IF at all there’s a change, will it matter that much or be too adverse of an effect?
Other than this I’m absolutely convinced this is a one and done device for powering headphones. The golden all in one.