Topping DX3 Pro

Trying to change ASR is like trying to argue with a Scientologist. Not going to happen. Appreciate the effort though!

 

After using this dacamp for 17 months, I thought I needed to update my assessments.

Here are my (almost) final takes

1. Bottom line, it can't and didn't serve for serious purposes by any means. Even solely as a standalone dac.

2. As a dac, I believe this resembles what I remember for rme adi-2 dac og and it's not surprising I strongly disprefer both -- specifically for the following reasons.

• Unlike some reported I didn't specifically feel graniess or velvetness on highs with dx3, and might like its slightly more dimensional presentation (with speakers) over modi 3. However, both micro and macro stuffs are pretty much lame, which result in evident boringness in every context.
• For the first few months, I think I kinda liked its softer bass (than modi 3) -- and my speakers that time couldn't pick this up well (not bad for non-serious uses). But it became more noticeable drawback when directly compared to Modius. Yeah, I'm saying dx3 does bass more poorly even than modius se outs.
• Top end isn't extended well compared to Modius, either. Confirmed it with Verite, HE6SE, and M3 turbo S.

3. Using its headphone out "amplifies" all of its problems described above with several annoyance introduced additionally (e.g., lacking juice for decently efficient headphones). Depth benefit also magically disappears -- when compared dx3 hp out to dedicated head amps with dx3 fixed as a dac. Safely speaking I can't rock with it.

I still use it and will continue to do so at least for this year, because I can't quite think of good ways how to convince buyers in the used market. Somehow I like its convenience in feeding Creative Pebble speakers, too. But never ever buy it new or used.

 

Not to necro, but led back here many years later and have a DX3Pro+. My issue wasn't it sleeping or computer sleeping and not getting it back when it failed, but something electronic failing and then having to send it across the Pacific.

Something I haven't seen mentioned is its PCM filter settings and I am not sure if these are always applied or only in certain use cases.

Topping customer service was extremely helpful for me and my unit was repaired successfully. I am not sure if I got the same exact unit back. I am not sure if anything is different electronically from initial purchase in July, 2022.

https://imgur.com/a/S4DrutM

I, too, would not buy it again, and am looking at getting a Modi and Magni again. The remote is quite nice if you watch movies or TV and only have the DX3Pro+. It is better than a mouse (relatively standard, lacking a macro profile or keybinds to specific unneeded for use buttons on mouse). The bluetooth connectivity is nice, but in hindsight I would just use some kind of Samsung Dex sort of virtual desktop interface or screen mirroring for phone thing to get sound from your phone if not wanting to use something like an iBasso or xDuoo DAC. This requires an additional device, however.

For me, I can use the RCA outs to speakers simultaneously with the 3.5mm out to RCA into fills with no additional amp. Technically, I could probably figure out how to output to both the usb and 3.5mm out simultaneously, but I imagine then I might have to deal with a latency issue to fix between the two outputs.

There is probably some kind of thing where you could mod a bluetooth remote and receiver onto a amp/dac stack of some manner that isn't a Topping.

All that said, I believe some of these sonic issues have been at least partially ironed out through several firmware updates.