{"id":13193,"date":"2026-04-24T08:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/toppings-new-dac-promises-amazing-sound-from-headphones-and-speakers-alike\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T06:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T13:23:13","slug":"toppings-new-dac-promises-amazing-sound-from-headphones-and-speakers-alike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/toppings-new-dac-promises-amazing-sound-from-headphones-and-speakers-alike\/","title":{"rendered":"Topping&#8217;s new DAC promises &#8220;amazing&#8221; sound from headphones and speakers alike"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-82b7ec7f-642e-4d88-8617-d9764cb8b87a\">The DX9 is the latest DAC from Chinese audio brand Topping &#8211; although it&#8217;s also an amplifier and headphone amp &#8211; and it&#8217;s now available in the UK. Thanks to its combination of proprietary technologies, it promises &#8220;amazing sonic performance&#8221; from a wide range of systems.<\/p>\n<p>You can see it at work, too, thanks to its frosted glass window that reveals the circulation underneath. Each section is highlighted by a frosted glass, with the rotation illuminated by a soft orange light.<\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-82b7ec7f-642e-4d88-8617-d9764cb8b87a-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">And there&#8217;s a lot to see. Topping&#8217;s PSRM (Precision Stream Reconstruction Matrix) digital-to-analog conversion technology has a unique 1-bit structure, and uses a delta-sigma processing variant unique to Topping. This promises to isolate sound in a way that integrated chips can&#8217;t match, while being fully balanced, with 16 separate elements for each of the left and right channels reducing crosstalk.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">The article continues below <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"inline-block w-2.5 h-2.5 ml-2\" fill=\"currentColor\" preserveaspectratio=\"xMidYMid meet\" viewbox=\"0 0 1000 1000\"><path d=\"M1000 100L500 900 0 100h1000z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            You might like it<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The nanosecond speed of PSRM tends to introduce noise in analog audio signals, but this is accounted for by the Topping resistance output power supply, which ensures that each element of the DAC works with absolute precision. The result? &#8220;Extreme fidelity&#8221;, according to Topping, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 131dB.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Despite being small enough to fit on a desk, the DX9 Discrete packs plenty of digital inputs: asynchronous USB, two optical and two coaxial inputs, as well as AES and IIS-LVDS (I2S) inputs using XLR and HDMI connectors, respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The USB and IIS-LVDS inputs support PCM audio at 32-bit\/768kHz and native DSD512, while others support PCM at 24-bit\/192kHz and DSD64.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Bluetooth is also on board, supported by high-quality codecs LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-C7WWQgRE2oTaSxg3U9oFqE\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-C7WWQgRE2oTaSxg3U9oFqE slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest hi-fi, home cinema and tech news, reviews, shopping advice and deals, delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">These inputs all have their own dedicated chipsets: XMOS XU-316 for USB and IIS-LVDS; AK4118 for optical, coaxial and AES; and Qualcomm QCC5125 for Bluetooth. These chips work with a two-stage cleaning system that differs from Topping. Eliminates Jitter by matching a precise clock to a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-79fdd575-5e6d-49d4-8c68-29dcc93d33fc\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:3543px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h3pv93LsPzFEJfWK5RgLNW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Topping)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-11aa39a9-d525-4213-afcd-fcb7f000ecd3\">Topping has created its own proprietary I\/V conversion circuit to fully expose its PSRM DAC design. These include low-distortion op-amps with different characteristics to process signals with precision, and ensure focused audio performance.<\/p>\n<p>This is followed by a fully balanced hybrid relay-resistor network, which delivers highly accurate volume control and eliminates channel imbalance at low volumes.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            What you can read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>If you want to listen with headphones, you can use the 4.4mm output and 4-pin XLR, or the 6.35mm socket. Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA sockets allow you to connect the unit to amps and speakers.<\/p>\n<p>Topping&#8217;s NFCA (Nest Feedback Composite Amplifier) \u200b\u200bversion of the architecture promises to drive even the most demanding headphones, with power from its balanced headphone output rated at 7080mW per channel into 32 ohms and 10,000mW per channel into 16 ohms below, with a noise floor\u03bc\u03bc\u03bc\u03bc\u03bc\u03bc\u03bc. Which promises dynamic, detailed sound.<\/p>\n<p>You also get Topping&#8217;s PEQ (Parametric Equalizer) system, which lets you control frequency, gain and bandwidth across 10 bands. You can create sound profiles to load into the DX9 Discrete using the Topping Tune software on your computer.<\/p>\n<p>DX9 Discrete also has headphone crossfeed &#8211; this simulates HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function) and room acoustics to make your cans sound like speakers.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a great unit too, with multi-function rotary controls flanked by two color displays that can be customized using Topping&#8217;s Aurora UI.<\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s yours for \u00a31299 (approx $1750 \/ AU$2500). In the UK, it is sold by Electromod distributor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I <\/strong><strong>excellent DACs<\/strong><strong>    in all budgets<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong\/><strong>What is a DAC?<\/strong><strong>    And why do you need one?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The DAC is wrong! <\/strong><strong>7 mistakes to avoid with DAC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The DX9 is the latest DAC from Chinese audio brand Topping &#8211; although it&#8217;s also an amplifier and headphone amp &#8211; and it&#8217;s now available in the UK. Thanks to its combination of proprietary technologies, it promises &#8220;amazing sonic performance&#8221; from a wide range of systems. You can see it at work, too, thanks to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-audio-sound"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13193"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13195,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193\/revisions\/13195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}