# Topping DX5 II vs SMSL DO100: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Topping DX5 II (Topping) and SMSL DO100 (SMSL) among dac amps. SMSL DO100 is the cheaper of the two at $239.

## Side by side

| Spec | Topping DX5 II | SMSL DO100 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299 | $239 |
| Brand | Topping | SMSL |
| Form factor | desktop | desktop |
| Dac chip | ES9039Q2M | ES9038Q2M |
| Max pcm (kHz) | 768 | 768 |
| Max dsd | DSD512 | DSD512 |
| Max power mw | 6400 | — |
| Snr (dB) | 133 | — |
| Thdn percent | 0.00006 | 0.00008 |
| Balanced output | Yes | No |
| Headphone jacks | 6.35mm/4.4mm/4-pin XLR | none |
| Digital inputs | USB/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth | USB-C/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth |
| Weight grams | — | — |

## Key differences

- Dac chip: Topping DX5 II ES9039Q2M vs SMSL DO100 ES9038Q2M
- Thdn percent: Topping DX5 II 0.00006 vs SMSL DO100 0.00008
- Balanced output: Topping DX5 II Yes vs SMSL DO100 No
- Headphone jacks: Topping DX5 II 6.35mm/4.4mm/4-pin XLR vs SMSL DO100 none
- Digital inputs: Topping DX5 II USB/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth vs SMSL DO100 USB-C/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth

## What reviewers say

**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.)

## Sources

- Topping DX5 II: https://www.topping.store/products/topping-dx5-ii-hi-res-dac-headphone-amp-combo (topping.store, verified 2026-07-11)
- SMSL DO100: https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/789.html (smsl-audio.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/dac-amps/topping-dx5-ii-vs-smsl-do100/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Topping DX5 II ($299) vs SMSL DO100 ($239) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/dac-amps/topping-dx5-ii-vs-smsl-do100/
License: CC BY 4.0.