Topping has launched the DX9 Discrete, a new flagship DAC, preamp and headphone amp.
It ditches traditional chip-based design in favour of a fully in-house, discrete 1-bit conversion system. Now shipping in the UK for £1,299, it’s positioned as one of the brand’s most ambitious all-in-one audio devices yet.
The headline feature here is Topping’s proprietary PSRM (Precision Stream Reconstruction Matrix) architecture. Instead of relying on off-the-shelf DAC chips from companies like ESS or AKM, the DX9 Discrete uses a custom-built 1-bit system.
This system converts digital audio into analogue using ultra-fast pulse streams. It’s a complex approach, but the payoff is impressive on paper, 131dB signal-to-noise ratio and extremely low distortion. Moreover, you get better channel separation thanks to a fully balanced design.
Topping has paired this with its upgraded NFCA headphone amplifier, delivering up to 10,000mW per channel for demanding headphones while noise levels remain low enough for sensitive in-ear monitors. In short, it handles everything from high-end planar headphones to everyday listening, no compromises.
Despite all that complexity, the DX9 Discrete is relatively compact. The aluminium chassis houses a tempered glass panel on top, giving a clear view of the circuitry underneath. A soft orange glow lights it up, while a central rotary control sits up front, flanked by dual 2-inch displays. These can show everything from sample rate and volume to real-time spectrum analysers or VU meters via Topping’s Aurora UI.
Connectivity is just as stacked. You’re getting USB, optical, coaxial, AES and IIS inputs, with support for high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. Plus, it has Bluetooth with LDAC and aptX Adaptive. A dual-stage jitter reduction system is also built in to keep timing errors down to extremely low levels.
There’s plenty of flexibility on the output side too. The DX9 Discrete can feed headphones, active speakers or a full hi-fi system simultaneously. It includes balanced XLR, RCA and multiple headphone outputs.
For more advanced users, Topping has added built-in parametric EQ and headphone crossfeed. This lets you fine-tune sound profiles or create a more speaker-like listening experience without needing external software running constantly.
The DX9 Discrete is available now in black or silver, and although it’s not cheap, it’s a good option for those after a single box that can handle high-end headphones and full speaker setups alike. This looks like one of Topping’s most complete packages to date.
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