'The best of both worlds': This innovative DAC and headphone amplifier uses a unique processing system that basically converts your Hi-Res audio to DSD on the fly, to give you ultra-low distortion music, and is equipped with wired and wireless connectivity.

Topping announces DX9 discrete DAC and headphone amplifier
Uses delta sigma processing like an integrated DAC, but in discrete components like an R2R DAC
It will go on sale for £1,299 (around $1,750, AU$2,600)

Topping Audio may not be the most prolific hi-fi company, but when it hits, it hits hard; a recent DAC, amplifier and preamp combo called the DX5 II demonstrated this. And his latest team is just as ambitious.

The brand has announced the Topping DX9 Discrete, which is now on sale in the UK for £1,299 (around $1,750, AU$2,600); That’s not cheap, but given the technology it contains, it’s also something of a bargain.

This DAC and headphone amp combo builds on its predecessor in a few key ways, most importantly featuring Topping’s proprietary PSRM architecture for digital-to-audio conversion (which I’ll return to in a moment) and support for a 10-band PEQ. Fortunately, it retains the design of the previous version, including an attractive transparent structure.

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The DX9 has a display on the front that allows you to monitor various factors and change settings, and has a wide range of inputs and outputs including USB, optical, coaxial and HDMI, achieving PCM/DSD512 decoding up to 32-bit and 768kHz.

The Topping DX9 Discrete supports Bluetooth 5.1 with LDAC, various aptX, AAC and SBC standards, and functions as a headphone amplifier with six channels, capable of handling even particularly demanding cans. But easily its most interesting feature is in the DAC space.

The company continues to improve

As audio fans will know, choosing an audio system can be difficult, with many sophisticated technicians solving one problem only to raise another. Do you prefer an R2R DAC, with a discrete architecture that creates a warm harmonic sound but often with more distortion, or an integrated chip that has less distortion but can sound colder and more digital?

Topping believes it can offer the best of both worlds using its PSRM system. It uses discrete components, similar to R2R DACs, but uses them for delta-sigma processing, as an integrated chip, all through a 1-bit pipeline at extremely high sample rates (supposedly in the megahertz range).

According to Topping, this is a bit like converting all your high-resolution audio files to DSD, which is natively based on the idea of 1-bit high-frequency files.

The promise is that all of this results in greatly reduced distortion compared to R2R DACs, while retaining a slightly more analog sound for your music.

It’s a neat trick, and I’m sure audiophiles will flock to it, at least to see how well it works. But selling points aside, this still looks like a sold DAC-amp combo that should stack up well against other favorite options…