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Pairing to the DX3 Pro+ via Bluetooth was super easy on my Sony NW ZX-300, iPhone and Pc. LDAC was selected automatically with my Sony DAP while I was restricted to AAC when using the iPhone (damn you Apple)! The Bluetooth Audio quality is fantastic, especially when using LDAC or aptX HD. Setup It replaces EX5 with its great design, very good performance, and extensive feature list, earning the HFN Recommendation Award from us! As expected, the digital volume control produces perfect response with essentially zero imbalance until you get to max volume attenuation of 99 db. No headphone amplifier using analog volume control comes remotely close to this kind of performance. If you don’t like to carry an additional DAP with you, you can get the Chronos and have an almost entry-level DAP performance in a miniature chassis. The DX3 Pro+ comes in an understated, clean white box that’s almost bare apart from the TOPPING logo on the top. Inside the box, the DAC/Amp is seated securely in a soft foam insert with an additional foam pad on top.
Topping DX3 Pro | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org Topping DX3 Pro | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
On top of the device itself and the Bluetooth antenna, which you need to install manually, the SMSL C200’s box comes with a rather slim set of accessories which only includes the remote control, a USB to USB-C cable and the power cable. There are also a manual and a warranty card. Design & BuildAnd continuing Topping’s trend of lower THD in every update of its products, the DX3 Pro+ measured 0.00015% THD in both its DAC and Amplifier section. This is a 60% improvement for the DAC and 85% for the amp compared with the LDAC version values. Once again, the brand didn’t reinvent the wheel and took all the good points found in the basic and plus version, and polished them. Balanced circuit with a 4.4mm output, Bluetooth chipset, no more channel imbalance, and the same sound signature. Add a mind-blowing bundle with an excellent price/performance ratio. Surprising for a small unit, as seen in the picture, you get a remote control and all the functionality in its larger brother, the Topping DX7s. You can select the volume control to apply to line out, headphone out or both. So you could use this to drive powered speakers for example without a need for pre-amp and use the remote control as needed.
SMSL C200 review: tiny but mighty - Soundphile Review
Although it’s so small, the SMSL C200 is able to drive practically any headphones out there. Even fairly demanding headphones such as the HiFiMAN HE-560 are driven easily and show no issues at all.
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Pair it with a good set of headphones (Meze or Beyer) or some nice IEMs (those yummy GE800) and you’ll be set up for years! A no-brainer, outperforming almost every DAC/Amp available at the time of writing , giving you the perfect setup on a go! The Violectric DHA V590 is a strong all-around performer. In the beginning, I wasn’t too impressed with the internal DAC, but the more I used the unit, the more I used it as a DAC/AMP combo. They’re just made and tuned for each other. Headphone wise the HDA V590 is a great all-around performer as well. No matter the driver technology used in the headphone, the V590 will sound really good to great with at least 90% of the headphones you hook up to it. My absolute favorite being the Audeze LCD-XC.
TOPPING DX3 Pro+ USB DAC Headphone Amp, USB/Optical/Coaxial
The market of compact DAC/AMP modules is getting stronger and better each month. ddHifi with all of their units, and especially this TC44B, prove they are one of the most important players when it comes to high price/performance ratios in miniature-sized portable units. They outperform their price tag and they deserve the HFN recommendation award, without any doubts. Be sure to try them if you are looking to upgrade your desktop rig. You won’t be disappointed. The Cayin RU7 has a tuning which is more to the neutral side, but with its full body and powerful, controlled bass impact, it is a very musical and engaging DAC/AMP dongle. There is no significant change in the midrange, keeping its flat response aside from some tweaks in female vocals that sounded a bit sweeter. This continues to the treble receiving a small dose of airiness and scale. Bluetooth Sound-wise the Colibri with the ESS DAC chip performs well with a full presence and a natural and musical delivery. Not only does the Colibri sound good, but you also have a battery inside. This means you get a super clear sound, and it also doesn’t draw power from your source’s battery. On top of that you can control the volume via the device and engage a bass boost when needed.
I was really curious what to expect from the Mojo 2, but after multiple weeks of listening I can say I really love what Chord Electronics has done with it. I have to be honest that I don't use the headamp that much since I got my Lehman (Burson v6) which I also use as a pre-amp for my studio monitors. This pairs amazingly with the AKM DAC. The overall balanced signature of the DX3 Pro+ allows the staging to breathe without any specific regions competing against one another with only an honest reproduction that moves far or near depending on the song. Layering could be better but the 1.8W amplifier is helping in the dynamics. DAC
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