New: TOPPING DX9 Discrete Desktop DAC/Amp
A new chapter in Topping’s reference line
TOPPING has launched the DX9 Discrete, a fully-balanced DAC and headphone amplifier designed for listeners who treat precision as part of the pleasure. It’s a DAC built entirely without an integrated chip, relying instead on a discrete 1-bit converter that handles every step of digital-to-analog conversion with custom logic. Around that foundation, TOPPING has built a six-channel NFCA amplifier, ten-band parametric EQ, and hybrid relay volume control, with each circuit designed to preserve accuracy while giving users more direct control over the sound they hear.
A new kind of DAC architecture
Inside the DX9 Discrete is TOPPING’s self-developed PSRM 1-bit DAC, built from sixteen discrete elements per channel. Each element uses an independent voltage reference and an ultra-fast switching logic array that converts signal at nanosecond speed. It’s a different approach from chip-based DACs, where conversion, clocking, and filtering share silicon. By separating these functions into discrete components, TOPPING can isolate noise sources and push linearity to the physical limits of the hardware. The result is a converter with 131 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 131 dB dynamic range, and THD+N below 0.00006 %.
Power in reserve
The headphone amplifier stage is built around six discrete NFCA modules that handle both balanced and single-ended outputs independently. It’s capable of 7,080 mW × 2 at 32 Ω while keeping noise below 0.5 µVrms.
Precision volume and tone control
Volume is managed through a fully-balanced hybrid relay network rather than a standard digital attenuator. Each adjustment switches precision resistors in and out of the signal path to maintain perfect channel tracking and phase alignment. Alongside it, a ten-band parametric EQ gives users direct control over the frequency response of their system. Frequency, gain, and Q-factor can be set for each band in software, and profiles can be stored per output—one for your headphones, another for your speakers, another for late-night listening.
Signal integrity from input to output
The DX9 Discrete’s digital processing chain is built for stability. A CPLD-based clock management system suppresses jitter before conversion, while an AK4118 digital receiver and XMOS XU-316 USB processor handle incoming data up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD512. Each stage is clocked, filtered, and isolated to minimize phase error and noise coupling. The analog and digital power supplies are separated internally, so transient load changes from the amplifier never reach the converter stage.
Connections for any role
Inputs include USB, Bluetooth 5.1, two optical, two coaxial, AES, and IIS. Wireless transmission uses Qualcomm’s QCC5125 chip with full codec support—LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC—for high-resolution playback over Bluetooth. Outputs cover every standard connection: XLR and RCA line outs, plus 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm, and XLR-4 headphone jacks, all fitted with Neutrik connectors. The unit can function as a DAC, headphone amplifier, preamp, or all three simultaneously, making it adaptable to systems that evolve over time.
Built for the long term
The chassis is carved from a solid block of aluminum, with a glass top window revealing the discrete circuits inside. Dual 2-inch color displays show FFT spectrum, VU meters, and playback data through TOPPING’s Aurora UI. A 12 V triggersyncs power with other components, and a machined-aluminum remote gives access to gain, filters, and outputs. Internally, separate power supplies feed the DAC and amplifier to reduce crosstalk and keep background noise at the limits of measurement.
