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Topping EX5 MQA Dual ES9038Q2M DAC Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC DSD512 PCM 768kHz Hi-Res Audio HiFi Decoder Headphone Amplifier (Silver)

£9.9£99Clearance
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About this deal

Topping EX5 is the latest DAC and Head-Amp combination from the brand, and it occupies their midrange offering with a reasonable price of 349 USD. This time around, Topping joined forces with an online audio gear retailer ShenzhenAudio to create this unit. I’m not sure in which capacity is ShenzhenAudio involved in this project, and if this is going to affect the usual Topping traits. To find it out, I’ll be putting this mid-ranger through its paces, so let’s start. Build and Connectivity Not as visceral and full sounding nor intensely impactful as some other more sophisticated DACs of the category, like the Schiit Bifrost, but still very, very good. In terms of features, I’m just impressed that Topping could just fit all the features of the A30 Pro/D30 Pro and more into the smaller EX5. Technical To get even better sound quality from Bluetooth, the built-in DAC of the QCC5125 is disabled and digital conversion is done through the main DAC circuit. Due to chip shortages around the globe and especially to the AKM factory fire, we’ll be seeing a lot of ESS-Sabre equipped units from now on, if you look closely that change is already happening. Most chip-based DAC manufacturers already moved to ESS Technologies silicon and EX5 is no different.

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On the other hand, linear and bright tilted headphones or loudspeakers will be immediately suggesting that you aren’t getting your money’s worth and some listening fatigue might crawl inside your ears. From my headphone collection, Hifiman creations didn’t work that well, starting with HE400SE and finishing with the HE1000SE and Susvara, I didn’t enjoy them that much out of the EX5, mostly for its linear tonality and for a somewhat limited power coming from its headphone amplifier circuit.Also, based on my measurement of XLR output and HP out, the power supply is a bit noisier than I expected.

the Topping EX5 amp really so bad? : r/headphones - Reddit Is the Topping EX5 amp really so bad? : r/headphones - Reddit

Various headphones were used like the Focal Clear Mg, Sennheiser HD660S and HiFiMan Arya V3 among others plus a couple of IEMs.The remote control on the other hand will allow the user to access all the menu options available to the EX5. Changing the DAC filters, changing the output modes and controlling the brightness, and muting the device can only be done with the remote control. OK, fine. A month later I registered a new account and posted a Topping EX5 review, and got banned immediately after posting, with zero reason given.

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The DX5 is able to present a wide open soundstage with precise imaging and plenty of air around the instruments. Although there is a difference between the softest and loudest tones, the EX5 slightly amplifies softer and gentler tones, presenting them with less finesse than expected. Although the EX5 can play loud, the slew rate of the amplifier is not fast enough to present those emotional crescendos normally found in orchestral recordings. DAC Soundstage imaging is sharper and more precise in the DX5 but the Aurora is of grander scale and more holographic I disagree about the sound stage. In my experience, the sound stage was absolutely the best among all DAC/AMPs I've listened to recently (so Topping EX5 vs SMSL HO200 + SMSL DO200, xDuoo XD-05 Plus, xDuoo TA-10, Fiio K5 Pro, Creative G6, Creative X-Fi HD + Schiit Magni Heresy). Timbre is realistic with convincing harmonic saturation, instruments and voices sound natural with a wealth of overtones.For Bluetooth input, on the other hand, the EX5 is equipped with a CSR8675, which is itself a DAC chip that also works as a Bluetooth receiver. However, the DAC section of the CSR8675 is bypassed in favor of 2xES9038Q2M DAC chips. After running the EX5 as a DAC/Amp, I tried upgrading the amp section by connecting the balanced outputs of the EX5 into my Burson Soloist 3X. This resulted in a mostly similar tonal balance. However, there are some marked improvements brought about by replacing the EX5’s amplifier section.

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However, if you examine the specs for a Topping amp for which the XLR HP output is clearly stated as “balanced”, e.g., the Topping L50, you’ll note the power out nearly doubles that for SE. This is not true for the DX5’s XLR. everyone makes mistakes. i tried my best (both intention and measurement equipments) to calibrate its performance, figure out the Ex5 circuit and understand how it works. I may miss something. Lemme know and I'll improve my review. Saying my contents are 80% lie is just bs. Deleting my content is surely hiding something they don't want their user see. The DX5 is not sterile, there is a touch of warmth and lushness, not very pronounced but still enough to make for an engaging and organic sound signature. Of course you don't have to use it since there is a fully functioning remote control with a couple of handy shortcut buttons.

On slower acoustic female songs, the rich nature and breathiness of the singer’s voice come across even with the more distant than expected and overall lean projection in the midrange. Although for gentler-sounding instruments such as piano, while it doesn’t get muted nor lose detail, doing a symphony with a violin will make it seem less emphasized. With the mid-bass hump complementing the more subdued mid-bass on the EX5. The richer midrange presentation on the HD600 on the other hand shone through despite the upper midrange recession on the EX5.

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