Computers as a concept have undergone tremendous evolution over the decades with computing power and storage capacity multiplying countless times Yet there is one oddly frustrating and undeniable fact the sound quality of onboard audio seems to have been left behind by the laws of evolution After all these years it remains as mediocre as ever still sounding terrible distorted and broken as if nobody can do anything about it
Of course dear readers I am not talking about Apple Apple devices whether laptops or desktops produce sound that is well organised and respectable The output power may be modest but it is relatively clean and perfectly listenable As for the Windows ecosystem outside of Apple it seems that both system integrators and motherboard manufacturers have collectively decided that as long as onboard audio can produce some sound that is good enough Polishing its quality is simply not worth the return on investment For years this area has been completely neglected as if nobody really cares
But while manufacturers may not care consumers especially the growing number who want a better experience when watching movies playing games or even listening to music have been the ones suffering Many times people have come to me asking whether they can just plug their headphones directly into their computer and I always give them the standard three word diagnosis no cure no hope goodbye The onboard audio on Windows systems may have enough power to drive low impedance headphones or regular earphones but the sound is dirty gritty and noisy It ruins any headphone priced above 200 yuan So I always recommend getting a DAC/Amp all in one instead Ideally that would form a decent PCHiFi setup but even a reliable dongle DAC from a trustworthy brand would be a massive improvement over the onboard sound
And the subject of this article is a compact little device that is perfectly suited for building a PCHiFi setup It is the newly released Topping DX1 II Gaming & HiFi DAC/Amp All-in-One priced under 1000 yuan with a small cute design that is easy to use and offers versatile functionality It can affordably and effectively address many real world pain points
In terms of appearance the Topping DX1 II is remarkably compact and well designed with an aesthetic that is attractive and far from dull It is about the size of a palm light in weight and easy to place even on the most cramped of desks The build quality has seen a clear improvement over the first generation with rounded edges a smooth feel and good resistance to scratches and bumps To be honest domestic audio brands have made tremendous progress in both design and build quality over the past few years A few years ago many products still looked somewhat undercooked in design and slightly rough in execution but now these weaknesses have been fully addressed The Topping DX5 II already impressed me with its design and build quality and the DX1 II delivers a level of refinement rarely seen at this price point
On the front panel from left to right there are a 3.5mm headphone jack which supports microphone input for gaming and streaming scenarios and a 4.4mm balanced headphone jack a neatly arranged display screen with clearly separated function zones and a volume knob with crisp stepped feedback On the rear panel you will find a UAC mode toggle switch 4.4mm balanced stereo line outputs RCA stereo outputs SPDIF optical input and output as well as a USB input This connectivity lineup means it is not just a DAC/Amp all in one for headphones It can also serve as a preamp for active speakers via the RCA outputs or even function as a USB digital interface and DSP processor With optical input and output and PEQ adjustment via Topping s TOPPING Tune software the possibilities are extensive A small device offering this much functionality without increasing the price is a testament to the brand s sincerity
And correspondingly the remote control included in the box should not be underestimated As mentioned earlier this is not just a DAC/Amp for driving headphones its extensive functionality and versatility mean that the front panel simply cannot accommodate all the adjustment options Functions such as PCM filter switching output channel switching gain level adjustment EQ selection and Topping s thoughtfully designed custom C key scene presets all rely on this remote control Once you get used to it it becomes very convenient This is by no means a cheap accessory tossed into the box as filler it serves a genuinely important purpose
The main attraction of the Topping DX1 II is its ES9039Q2M DAC which represents a significant upgrade over the AK4493S used in its predecessor the original DX1 The USB solution has also been upgraded from XU208 to XU316 and the addition of UAC1.0 support along with one touch switching maximises device compatibility covering even the Switch and PS consoles On paper distortion and power figures have naturally improved as well but most importantly the amplifier output has jumped from 280mW x 2 to 1000mW x 2
As a veteran headphone enthusiast who has been in the game for twenty years I have used a fair share of PCHiFi devices ranging from Muse sound cards to German Tank sound cards from Creative sound cards to all sorts of DAC/Amp all in ones that came later Over the years I have tested countless headphones on these setups So I generally have a reasonable expectation of what a device at a given price point should sound like and what kind of performance it can deliver with different headphones However you simply cannot keep up with how fast the industry moves and how aggressively these new generation products have evolved
The Topping DX1 II has three notable strengths that are exceptional for its sub 1000 yuan price point so much so that the sound quality alone when driving headphones directly is enough to justify a blind purchase
First the sound is exceptionally clean This is my biggest criticism of onboard audio and even many older external sound cards and some current sub 1000 yuan DAC/Amp all in ones that may have decent separation and power often fall short in this regard The Topping DX1 II however clearly benefits from well designed power supply and shielding with sound that is remarkably smooth and well behaved for its price a stark contrast to the noisy and gritty alternatives Noise floor control is also excellent If you are used to the onboard audio of a Windows system switching to this device might even feel unfamiliar like moving from a rundown motel to a comfortable business hotel Of course I fed it through a HiBy AP10 which further refined the sound but even when connected directly to a computer the difference is immediately obvious
Second the amplifier power of this device is genuinely impressive As mentioned earlier it delivers up to 1000mW x 2 output via the 4.4mm balanced output with a rated 115mW x 2 into 600 ohms This means this compact little unit can not only drive earphones and low impedance headphones but also handle high impedance headphones with confidence For earphones stick to low gain mode unless you are using a high impedance monster otherwise overdriving is likely Headphones like the Sennheiser HD660S2 and HIFIMAN Edition XV are where high gain mode truly comes into play While the soundstage may not be particularly expansive in high gain mode the fullness of detail bass extension and sense of space in the treble are all delivered with respectable control For a sub 1000 yuan device this level of performance is already punching well above its weight
Then there is the sound quality and tonal character As I just mentioned with the HD660S2 the soundstage does not open up massively In fact even with the MOONDROP Castle in the Sky the soundstage remains relatively modest In other words this is not a device that tries to create a grand expansive presentation The price point dictates that and a small device trying to force a large scale would likely end up sounding thin Instead it takes a somewhat different approach focusing first on establishing a three frequency balance and soundstage scale that fits its own positioning and then carefully delivering a well crafted presentation within that framework
With that in mind the Topping DX1 II delivers a remarkably good level of information retrieval with separation that exceeds expectations and a well organised evenly distributed presentation Instrument positioning and layering are notably tidy Details are rendered clearly and with substance not fragmented but with a healthy thickness and solidity slightly warm without being overly thick and with good elasticity and airiness The fundamentals are substantial and the harmonics have a pleasing softness resulting in a sound that is neither harsh nor messy nor chaotic It achieves a rare analogue like naturalness for a compact device in this price range with a composed and unhurried character that even evokes a sense of ease reminiscent of older classic gear If you were to compare it to larger more expensive units its resolution and scale would naturally fall short but what are its peers at this price point typically capable of Making a device sound free of digital harshness is already commendable The DX1 II not only accomplishes this difficult task with a full and natural presentation delivering vocals with energy and body but also offers a well structured framework and surprisingly good resolution for the price It even manages to sound remarkably smooth and even across the board
This is already exceeding expectations across the board leaving little room for criticism especially given the device s versatility and fun factor and especially given its build quality and aesthetics which make it a perfectly fitting piece of desktop decor All you need is a pair of 2.0 active speakers that match it in both sound and appearance and you have a complete PCHiFi setup that is both visually appealing and exceptional value for money
To wrap things up let me clarify the use cases clearly
First if you are looking to build a PCHiFi system on a reasonable budget whether for speakers headphones or both this compact device absolutely deserves a spot on your shortlist It handles all of these scenarios and at its price point it is virtually faultless
Second if you want to explore more advanced possibilities such as PEQ adjustment or using it as a dedicated preamp for a speaker system this is also an excellent and cost effective choice
Third gaming consoles projectors and similar devices are often overlooked by many audio manufacturers but this device can easily serve those applications as well
In summary the Topping DX1 II is a remarkably compact well designed and highly versatile device that offers exceptional value What is particularly compelling is that when driving headphones directly it not only delivers impressive power and technical performance for the price but also produces a remarkably natural comfortable and musical sound The tuning here is genuinely successful and highly enjoyable I believe anyone who can no longer tolerate the poor sound of onboard audio should consider spending a few hundred yuan to finally put an end to this decades long frustration
Source: Headphone Lin sir
