Topping
Topping DX5 II
$299Cheaper
Best Dac Amps · head-to-head
Topping DX5 II vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Topping DX5 II is cheaper at $299. Every spec and price links to its source.
AudioQuest
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
$300
Which is better: the Topping DX5 II or AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt?
The Topping DX5 II wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Topping DX5 II is the cheaper at $299. The Topping DX5 II both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Topping DX5 II | AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $299 | $300 |
| Brand | Topping | AudioQuest |
| Released | — | — |
| Form factor | desktop | dongle |
| Dac chip | ES9039Q2M | ES9038Q2M |
| Max pcm (kHz) | 768 | 96 |
| Max dsd | DSD512 | — |
| Max power mw | 6400 | — |
| Snr (dB) | 133 | — |
| Thdn percent | 0.00006 | — |
| Balanced output | Yes | No |
| Headphone jacks | 6.35mm/4.4mm/4-pin XLR | 3.5mm |
| Digital inputs | USB/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth | USB-A |
| Weight grams | — | — |
Sources — Topping DX5 II: topping.store (verified 2026-07-11). AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt: audioquest.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Topping DX5 II and AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 11). Matching specs are omitted.
- Form factor: Topping DX5 II desktop vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt dongle
- Dac chip: Topping DX5 II ES9039Q2M vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt ES9038Q2M
- Max pcm (kHz): Topping DX5 II 768 vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt 96
- Balanced output: Topping DX5 II true vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt false
- Headphone jacks: Topping DX5 II 6.35mm/4.4mm/4-pin XLR vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt 3.5mm
- Digital inputs: Topping DX5 II USB/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB-A
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Topping DX5 II
Only one whitelisted tester, TechRadar, published a hands-on review of the exact Topping DX5 II. TechRadar rates it a near-excellent budget DAC/amp (verdict 'generally excellent'), praising its poised, detailed and dynamic sound, exemplary build and comprehensive specification at $299, while flagging a tendency toward top-end brightness. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Poised, spacious, detailed and dynamic sound with strong low-frequency control; Exemplary build and finish quality across black, silver and white options; Comprehensive specification and flexibility (DAC, preamp and headphone amp) at an aggressive $299 price.
Flagged: Treble can tend toward brightness/edginess, making it picky about partnering equipment; Supplied remote control handset feels less tactile and interesting than the unit itself.
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
Two whitelisted testers, What Hi-Fi and TechHive, reviewed this exact DAC; both praise its clean, precise, detailed sound in a tiny plug-and-play package and rate it among the best small DACs, while flagging the premium price. Neither ran instrumented measurements, so all findings are subjective listening. No SoundGuys or PCMag review found. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Clean, precise, highly detailed sound with improved clarity over built-in DACs; Compact, pocket-sized, plug-and-play with no external power needed; Greatly improved timing and dynamics.
Flagged: Premium price for a USB-stick-sized DAC; Included DragonTail adaptor fits loosely and pulls out of phones; Status light shows green for sub-44.1kHz files, so it doesn't distinguish MP3 from CD quality.