Audiowords
Topping DX3 Pro+

Topping DX3 Pro+

The ~$200 desktop DAC/amp that keeps winning on measurements, power and features — with one asterisk for very sensitive IEMs.

The '+' revision (2021): ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC, and a single-ended 3.5mm headphone output. Not the original DX3 Pro or the DX3 Pro LDAC/V2, which used dual AKM AK4493 DACs.

OverreviewDAC / Amp8 sourcesas of 2026-07-09

Topping's DX3 Pro+ arrived in late 2021 as a compact all-in-one desktop DAC/amp — an ES9038Q2M DAC, an NFCA headphone stage, LDAC Bluetooth and a remote, all in a small aluminium box aimed squarely at the first-upgrade market.

It replaced one of the most-recommended budget combos going, and quickly became a default answer to "what DAC/amp should I get for my HD 600s?" — praised for class-leading measured performance while carrying the usual argument about whether a transparent little box like this changes the sound at all.

The overview

A compact desktop DAC/amp built around an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, priced around $199. Reviewers broadly agree it measures superbly — top-tier SINAD and vanishingly low distortion — over a neutral, uncoloured presentation, with a genuinely strong 1.8W-into-32Ω headphone stage for the size, a feature set that punches well above the price (LDAC Bluetooth, dual coaxial plus optical and USB inputs, an RCA pre-out, four output modes, two gain settings and a remote) and a solid CNC-aluminium build. The recurring gripes are a single-ended 3.5mm-only output with no balanced or 6.35mm jack, no MQA, and a fiddly setup menu. The one real fight is background noise: with headphones and most IEMs the background is dead-silent, but the most sensitive, very-low-impedance in-ears can surface hum or hiss tied to the ungrounded external 15V supply. It also trips its protection circuit on the hardest low-impedance loads.

Where they agree

  • Class-leading measured performance for ~$199 — top-tier SINAD and vanishingly low THD+N (ASR-confirmed)
  • Strong power for the size — 1.8W into 32Ω drives most full-size headphones, planars and 300–600Ω loads with headroom
  • Neutral and transparent — it doesn't impose a sound of its own
  • Feature-dense: LDAC Bluetooth, dual coax + optical + USB, RCA pre-out, four output modes, two gain settings and a remote
  • Solid CNC-aluminium build and a genuine value benchmark at the price

Where they split

  • Background noise: dead-silent with headphones and most IEMs, but the most sensitive very-low-impedance in-ears can pick up hum/hiss tied to the ungrounded 15V supply — real for a minority, absent for everyone else
  • Whether a box that measures this transparent audibly changes anything at all — most owners hear more detail and call it a clear upgrade, a measurement camp calls the difference inaudible, and a minority find its ultra-clean presentation flat or compressed
  • The 3.5mm-only output: a non-issue to some, a dealbreaker for anyone wanting balanced or a native 6.35mm jack
The verdict, mappedEvery aspect on one axis — criticized to praised. Hover a point for its spread; click to jump.
CriticizedNeutralPraised

By aspect — in detail

Transparency

Moderate · 5 src

The core of its reputation: measurably transparent and consistently described as neutral and uncoloured. The measurement-minded call any 'sound' inaudible; a small minority of owners find the ultra-clean presentation flat, but the weight of both graphs and impressions lands on 'it doesn't add a character of its own.'

“you can expect the DX3 Pro+ to have a wonderfully neutral and distortion-free sonic presentation”

Prime Audio

“With a neutral-sounding signature, the Topping DX3 Pro+ is a good entry point for budget-conscious audiophiles who want a taste of a well-implemented ESS chip”

Headfonics
Measured

ASR measured worst-case distortion products at -125 dB and THD+N of 0.000146 (matching Topping's 0.00015 spec), putting SINAD in the top tier of all DACs tested — i.e. audibly transparent by any normal standard.

Power

Strong consensus · 5 src

A strong point of agreement for the size: a rated 1.8W into 32Ω (≈250 mW into 300Ω) that drives most full-size headphones — including planars and 300–600Ω loads — with headroom to spare. The one limit is the very hardest low-impedance loads, where the amp's protection circuit can intervene.

“You should have no problem driving 600-ohm headphones with the unit.”

Headfonia

“It drove them with authority, creating a dynamic response with tons of detail and superb tonality.”

Audio Science Review

“Aeon-RT are hard to drive. The DX3 Pro+ handles them easily with tons of headroom.”

u/Sproketz · r/headphones
Measured

Rated 1800 mW×2 into 32Ω / 900 mW into 64Ω / 250 mW into 300Ω, with output impedance <0.1Ω. ASR confirmed plenty of clean power into 300Ω and 32Ω, but found the amp 'doesn't like very low impedances' — its microprocessor-controlled protection kicked in at the lowest loads (e.g. the demanding Dan Clark Stealth at full output).

Noise

Contested · 4 src

The one contested axis. With headphones and most IEMs the background is described as dead-silent, helped by the <0.1Ω output impedance and two gain modes. But the most sensitive, very-low-impedance IEMs can surface audible hum or hiss — reported as a grounding issue with the ungrounded external 15V supply, and worse the lower the impedance. It reads as split, tracking the load and the outlet rather than a flat fault.

Measured

Rated noise <2.1 µVrms (low gain) and output impedance <0.1Ω — good, and ASR's headphone-out SNR is 'clearly above average,' though Amir noted he 'was hoping for a little bit better' at 50 mV output. The reported hiss/hum tracks very-low-impedance IEMs plus the two-prong, ungrounded 15V adapter; it disappears on higher-impedance headphones.

Where it splits
Dead-silent — no hiss even with sensitive IEMs69%

“There is no hissing with sensitive IEMs so you're alone with your music and the black background.”

Headfonia
Audible hum/hiss with very-low-impedance IEMs (ungrounded 15V supply)31%

“inserted 35 Ohm IEMs and immediately noticed very audible noise even before I turned the device on, i.e. when it was in stand-by mode”

Greenv · Audio Science Review

Features

Moderate · 4 src

A headline strength for the money: LDAC/aptX-HD Bluetooth 5.0 (decoded by the ES9038Q2M rather than the Bluetooth chip), dual coaxial plus optical and USB inputs, an RCA line/pre-out, four output modes, two gain settings and a remote. The consistent knocks are a single-ended 3.5mm-only headphone jack (no 6.35mm or balanced) and no MQA.

“the DX3 Pro+ can be used as a headphone amp, headphone amp + DAC, DAC, and preamplifier. This gives it a lot of versatility for the desktop”

Prime Audio

“Topping decided to use a 3.5mm headphone socket instead of the usual 6.3mm. I don't really understand the logic behind this decision”

Headfonia

Ergonomics

Moderate · 3 src

The single multifunction volume knob has a satisfying, clicky detent that owners like, and input switching is fast. The recurring nuisance is the setup menu: most gain/filter/mode settings hide behind an unlabelled key-combo, and reviewers found the manual's instructions for reaching it wrong or confusing.

“the instruction on the manual on how to enter this menu is incorrect or confusing at best”

Headfonics

“Not to everyone's taste, but I enjoy the clicky feel of the volume knob.”

dsnyder · forum.headphones.com

Build

Strong consensus · 3 src

Consistently praised: a compact, CNC-milled aluminium chassis with a clean finish and a bright, legible display, feeling a step above its price. Isolated owner reports of protection trips or a defective unit exist, but the general read is solid and reliable.

“Build quality is very good as with other Topping units. The CNC milled chassis looks very nice”

Headfonia

“It sounds great and has been reliable.”

dsnyder · forum.headphones.com

Value

Strong consensus · 5 src

The other pillar of its reputation: near-unanimously called a standout for the money — measured performance, real power and a deep feature set for around $199, with owners repeatedly naming it the sub-$200 combo to beat.

“I can't think of a DAC/Amp for under $200 that I would recommend more highly.”

dsnyder · forum.headphones.com

“Absurdly good for $200.”

u/Sproketz · r/headphones

“You'd be hard-pressed to find another DAC/Amp in this price range that can express itself so effortlessly with such transparency and musicality.”

Prime Audio

Best for

  • A first desktop DAC/amp for full-size headphones (HD 6-series, Sundara and the like) on a budget
  • Anyone who wants LDAC Bluetooth plus a DAC and preamp/line-out hub in one small box
  • Listeners who value measured transparency over a coloured 'house sound'

Skip if

  • You need a balanced or native 6.35mm headphone output, or MQA decoding
  • You mainly run extremely sensitive, very-low-impedance IEMs and want guaranteed dead silence (and can't easily ground the supply)
  • You have exceptionally hard-to-drive low-impedance loads that push a small amp into its protection limit
  • You want a DAC/amp to add warmth or 'musicality' — this one is deliberately neutral

At a glance

↳Consensus
85 / 100weighted mean across 8 sources — an aggregate, not a single verdict
↳Type
DAC/Amp
↳Sources
8 · 4 classes
↳As of
2026-07-09

Where to buy

Sources8 reviews across 4 classes. Weight reflects expertise × independence; echoes collapsed.
  1. s1Topping DX3 Pro+ Review (DAC & Headphone Amp)Audio Science ReviewMeasurement2021-10w0.90
  2. s2Topping DX3 Pro+ ReviewHeadfonicsEditorial2022-05-21w0.90
  3. s3Topping DX3 Pro+ ReviewHeadfoniaEditorialaffiliate2022-02w0.80
  4. s4TOPPING DX3 Pro+ DAC ReviewPrime AudioEditorialaffiliate2021-12-07w0.75
  5. s5A week with the Topping DX3 Pro+r/headphonesCommunity2022-04w0.55
  6. s6Topping DX3 pro plus: noise in stand-by, possible grounding issueGreenv · Audio Science ReviewCritical2024-01w0.60
  7. s7Topping DX3 Pro+ — owner threadforum.headphones.comCommunity2022-10w0.55
  8. s8Idk if im coping or legit blown away with Topping DX3 Pro+r/headphonesCommunity2023-07w0.45

Limitations & method

Consensus-of-sources synthesis · as of 2026-07-09 · not a measurement verdict or ground truth.