Topping DX7 Pro Review

Topping DX7 Pro

Headphones

 

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Even in balanced mode the Topping DX7 Pro isn’t overly warm, so if you like a warmer sound I would recommended using a warmer sounding headphone with it such as the Anada. If you prefer clarity, detail and precision with a more linear presentation, choose a more neutral headphone.

Let’s check out the synergy between the DX7 Pro and a series of mid and high-end headphones!

 

 

The Hifiman HE6SE

With this headphone the volume goes up quite a bit, but there’s no need for the high gain. I really like this combo and that comes to no surprise as these units more or less have the same traits.

In single ended mode you get the most transparent, linear and neutral HE6SE, while you in balanced mode get more body and emotion. Bass gets a bit bigger, the mids fuller and the sweetness factor increases. I love how you with the combo can get both styles of presentation: a more neutral one as well as a more engaging musical one. This combo for me perfectly translates how the DX7 Pro sounds and behaves in SE and balanced mode. My favorite combo? Oh yes.

The Audeze LCD-2 C(lassic)

A very popular headphone and one that many probably will want use with this unit. First thing to notice here is the bass which even in SE mode is very present. In balanced mode it for me even becomes too much bass and it completely overpowers the mids with a bass heavier presence. Bloated bass you say? Awful. The difference in vocal presentation is also very different. Where it in single ended mode is very linear and correct, it jumps out too much in balanced mode. I don’t recommend this combo in balanced mode. Bass is just too much and it’s not controlled, and vocals are not realistic. Single ended here is the way to go. So all-in-all not the best combo.

Hifiman Sundara

Another super popular headphone but not really one of my favs. That being sad the synergy with the DX7 Pro is pretty good. It’s not as impressive as with the HE6SE, but it’s still good. In single-ended mode you get a balanced and linear presentation. Safe but good. In balanced mode you get a bit more body and impact, with more mid presence, but it still sounds musical, precise and dynamic. The Sundara manages to stay in control, something the LCD-2c in balanced mode can’t pull off. This makes it a good combo to my ears, one many will appreciate.

Sennheiser HD660s

Another great headphone with excellent synergy with the DX7 Pro. The HD660s should be a headphone that pleases everyone and basically what it does from the Topping. Great sound stage width and depth, excellent linearity, great speed and top musicality. The DX7 Pro perfectly controls the HD660s and you get great PRaT and a very musical, natural presentation. Bass is always tight, fast and in control, and never overpowers. The mids are musical, dynamic and engaging and the vocals are to die for. The clarity from bottom to top is excellent and the highs extend nicely with enough energy to keep everything interesting. An excellent pairing!

Topping DX7 Pro

Topping DX7 Pro

Audeze LCD-1

The LCD-1 won our Recommended Buy award as it sounds very good from a whole set of sources, and it also goes for the DX7 Pro. An easy to like popular sound with increased bass presence, lush and powerfull mids and exciting treble. For some the bass presence might be a bit too much but his is the nature of the LCD-1. The DX7 Pro keeps it in control however. The combo sounds musical and very engaging. A great combo, but with technical limitations. That again is all on the LCD-1 however.

Beyerdynamic DT1990PRO

Dynamic headphone number 2, coming in at 250Ohm, is from Beyerdynamic. The DT1990 PRO for some reason is a headphone I don’t often use but each time I come back to it I really love it.

The synergy with the DX7 Pro in single ended mode also is excellent. You get a nicely neutral and linear presentation, with impressive bass and highs. Bass reaches down super low with huge sub rumble. At the same time the bass never overpowers and the DX7 Pro is always in control. The mids section is spacious and has great layering. The vocals are super clear and sound natural. The treble section is very clean and clear and extends well. The over all sound stage is wide and deep and there is excellent layering and spaciousness/separation from top to bottom. It’s a precise, energetic and very musical combo, one I could enjoy all day long.

Rosson Audio Design RAD-0

This combo to me sounds best in single ended mode where you get the most natural, linear and balanced sound. The sound stage is excellent, the airiness and spaciousness impressive. It’s the perfect mix of precision, dynamics and musicality. Everything is there and at a very high technical level. In balanced mode the RAD-0 sounds less linear with more body and more forward vocals. For me this combo carries too much bass and it’s not the tightest either. At the same time it’s really impressive bass and it doesn’t overpower the mids. Bass lover’s Walhalla. Yes, the RAD-0 in balanced mode with the DX7 Pro is more exciting and engaging, but it’s also extremer. I prefer a more balanced sounding RAD-0 and the 6.3mm output provides that.

Topping DX7 Pro

Topping DX7 Pro

Kennerton Audio Equipment Wodan

I don’t think I have posted anything about the Wodan on Headfonia yet as I only recently received it. It’s one of the headphones I’ve been listening to most these last few weeks and it’s the kind of headphone that easily pairs up with all sources. In single ended mode you get a nicely wide, spacious sounding Wodan, with great body from top to bottom. Bass is tight and has good body but it never is too much. The mids are full, spacious, well layered and very musical. The top end is extended but softer. All-in-all a very safe sound and combo. In balanced mode you get more mid balance, but extra spaciousness, better extension and improved decay. You also get a more spacious and airy presentation and an overall higher technical level. If the amount of bass and mid body and the bass impact isn’t too much for you, you’ll love it. A great mix of technicalities and musicality.

Sennheiser HD800

You either like it or hate it but a lot depends on how you power this headphones. As I’ve said many times before I in general prefer listening to the HD800 from a warm sounding OTL Tube Amp such as the LaFigaro 339 or the BottleHead Crack, but recently many solid state amps have pleasantly surprised me with this headphone. And the Topping DX7 Pro is one of them.

Like with most amps, the HD800’s sound stage width and depth is huge and you get the airy and spacious presentation you’re used to. The DX7 Pro in single ended mode gives the HD800 enough body, fulness and smoothness to make listening to the HD800 really enjoyable. You don’t get an analytic monster but a musically, full sounding high level headphone with a neutral tuning. In balanced mode the HD800 and DX7 Pro to me even had too much bass and it made the HD800 sound forced. The 6.3mm output here is the one to use, it’s excellent. The balanced one, not so.

HEDD Audio HEDDphone

This full range AMT driven headphones needs a bit of power to sound its best but the DX7 Pro, even in low gain, pulls it off. If you want the most neutral presentation, the single ended output is the way to go. If you want a fuller sound with more bass, smoother mids and more forward vocals, the balanced output is the way to go. It’s a good combo, but the synergy with the Burson DAC/AMP is better.

On the 4th page we check out the competition and share the conclusion. Click here.

4.4/5 - (399 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

7 Comments

  • Reply August 6, 2020

    Mike I.

    Very nice, extensive review again, Lieven. Thank you !
    How was the Beyer DT1990PRO in balanced mode ?

    • Reply August 6, 2020

      Wills

      I think the beyerdynamic DT series are all single ended only as the plug is a three pin plug.

  • Reply August 6, 2020

    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.

  • Reply August 8, 2020

    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.

  • Reply August 13, 2020

    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.

  • Reply May 7, 2021

    Alex

    > The Topping DX7 Pro is a bit cheaper than the Burson

    a bit ? ))) topping dx7 pro – 600$, burson 3xp ~ 1300$ 😉

  • Reply June 5, 2021

    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.

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