Topping has launched the DX1 II, a compact DAC and headphone amplifier priced at £119 that aims to improve sound quality across music, gaming and other digital audio sources.
Most everyday devices rely on a basic built-in DAC to turn digital audio into sound, and that internal hardware is rarely tuned for genuine quality, which is the gap Topping built the DX1 II to fill.
Measuring just 10 x 3.2 x 10cm and weighing 275g, the DX1 II is small enough to travel in a bag while housing DAC and amplifier circuitry Topping normally reserves for pricier products.
At the core of the DX1 II sits the ES9039Q2M, a 32-bit chip from ESS Technology’s Sabre 32 Reference range paired here with a 16-core XMOS processor for input handling.
In practice, that combination lets the DX1 II separate the left and right channels cleanly and keep background hiss out of the signal, the kind of detail that becomes audible through sensitive in-ear monitors or open-back headphones.
Connectivity stretches further than most budget DACs, with a USB-C input that switches between USB Audio Class 1.0 and 2.0 to work with consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch as well as PCs and phones.
An optical input and output sit alongside two headphone outputs in 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced formats, and the 3.5mm socket doubles as a gaming headset microphone input, so voice chat and game audio can run through the same connection.
Image Credit (Topping)
Beyond headphone use, the DX1 II adds stereo RCA and balanced 4.4mm line outputs for an amplifier or active speakers, switching between fixed and variable volume depending on the setup. Sound shaping comes from a 10-band Parametric EQ, tuned through either the Topping Tune desktop app or the newer Topping Home Web browser tool, which means listeners can correct for a specific pair of headphones or a room’s acoustics rather than relying on a single fixed sound signature.
A central LED display shows volume and sample rate at a glance, while a rotary dial and bundled remote keep day-to-day use simple without needing a connected app. Eight digital filter settings and two headphone gain modes round out the controls, giving owners a way to match the DX1 II’s output to headphones of differing sensitivity.
The DX1 II will be available from July in black, white or silver through Electromod, Topping’s UK distributor, with UK buyers covered by a two-year warranty and local support.
The post Topping’s DX1 II is a budget-friendly audio upgrade appeared first on Trusted Reviews.