Topping
Topping DX5 II
$299
Best Dac Amps · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. SMSL DO100 is cheaper at $239. Every spec and price links to its source.
Topping
$299
SMSL
$239Cheaper
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The SMSL DO100 is the cheaper at $239.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $299 | $239 |
| Brand | Topping | SMSL |
| Released | — | — |
| 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 | — | — |
Sources — Topping DX5 II: topping.store (verified 2026-07-11). SMSL DO100: smsl-audio.com (verified 2026-07-11).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 11). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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.
No sourced tester review yet.