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

Product Information

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 The amplifier section of the 2 devices though is quite different, where the XA-10 is equipped with a class A headphone amplifier section capable of 4W into 32Ω through the balanced outputs, and 3W into 32Ω through the single-ended output.

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. Wireless-wise it does have access to the latest arsenal such as the LDAC, and AptX HD via Bluetooth 5.0, thanks to the premium-tier CSR8675 Bluetooth chipset. Topping states that they bypassed the decoder of the CSR8675 and connected it directly to the dual ES DACs to improve SQ. The bass got a bit fuller sounding losing the slightly dry default tuning of the combo and continuing to a drum and bass guitar placement that is much more pinpoint. There is also improved technicality in the midrange revealing microdetails smoothed over by the unit’s amplifier for a more textured vocal listening satisfaction. Initially, after I received my EX5 (about 2 months ago), I also had this problem (or thought I had it), because EX5 was almost hot to the touch during operation (connected via XLR to a stereo amplifier), while the stereo amplifier (Sabaj A20a) was cold to the touch during operation. I was more alarmed by the fact that even in standby, the EX5 remained warm to the touch (this problem was reported by other users in this topic who also measured the standby consumption which was some 1.5 W, compared to some 5 W when "on" with no signal, concluding that it is better to keep EX5 "on" all the time considering the standby consumption and temperature). It is true that at that time the ambient temperature was quite high (28 degrees Celsius in my room), but still Sabaj A20a remained cold in the same conditions. Shenzhen audio on the other hand is one of Topping’s largest distributors. They are an online retailer that can ship to all corners of the globe.

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 Topping EX5 είναι το πιο πρόσφατο μοντέλο της εταιρείαςτο οποίο κατασκευάστηκε κατόπιν συνεργασίας και με προδιαγραφές που έθεσε η Shenzhen Audio, η μεγαλύτερη πλατφόρμα διαδικτυακών πωλήσεων της Κίνας με εξειδίκευση στις συσκευές ήχου. Είναι ένας ψηφιακός μετατροπέας (DAC) με ενσωματωμένο ενισχυτή ακουστικών και έξοδο προενισχυτή. The lower treble on the XA-10 is more prominent but still ends up being more glossed over comparatively. The more elevated lower treble region continues onto the upper treble region, allowing the XA-10 to present a bit more air, while not being shrill in a real sense. There are other DACs that can sound more holographic and grand but the DX5 is by no means a slouch when it comes to depth layering and communication of the recording ambience. The DX5 is one of the least fatiguing ES9068AS implementations, highly technical yet controlled and almost smooth without sounding bright or artificial.

Most of the time it was playing tunes as an all-in-one combo driving plenty of headphones, ranging from IEMs, portable over-ears, to desktop dynamic and planar-magnetic headphones. I have also used it in the living room, driving directly a power amplifier of my choice (it was either a Benchmark AHB2 or KECES S300) and a pair of KEF Reference 3 loudspeakers. Later on, I left its preamp duties to the Topping PRE90 or to a Benchmark HPA4, driving the same power amplifiers and loudspeakers. Output impedance has been going up and down in some Topping products of this class so good to see them target a near zero impedance yet again. EX5 is an extremely IEM friendly combo and you could use it directly with power amplifiers in a stereo setup, without the need of an active or passive power conditioner. As you can expect, every other IEM, portable or desktop headphone behaved exactly the same and a slightly more sensitive Natural Sound NS-17 bookshelf loudspeaker didn’t increase the noise in my room. EX5 might be small and cute, but it fights AC noise with ferocity and it’s very good at that. I’m impressed! Any growing music library will be future-proofed with its capability to receive Native DSD 512 and 32bit/768kHz of PCM signal via USB and 24bit/96kHz through LDAC wireless connectivity. 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.While differences are not that pronounced from the line outputs (both balanced and unbalanced), it cannot be said the same for the headphone amplifier.

Gear used​S.M.S.L. SU-9/SP400, iFi hip dac, THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance, DUNU EST 112, Sennheiser HD560S , DCA Aeon 2 Noire. I paired the EX5 with my Android phone. The process was quite straightforward and hassle-free. My phone detected the LDAC codec immediately and was ready to stream. I used Tidal and the same headphone setup and the result were quite satisfactory. The sound quality was quite good, the details and the dynamics did not take a huge hit and managed to surprise me. For everyday use, the remote should be enough but for hidden controls such as lineout mode and phase polarity, one should go through the setup menu which is accessible by pushing the volume while flipping the unit on. As said above the headphone amplifier is not balanced so you are effectively listening to one phase of the signal.

Power switch and volume knob​

However, I currently no longer consider that Topping EX5 have an overheating problem during operation.

The DX5 supports USB input that can be connected to a PC or OTG mobile phones and tablets plus coaxial and optical digital inputs. Recreating a round of applause from an audience and instruments such as chimes and trumpets diffuses with great resolution and air. While it is approaching shrillness with brighter song choices, its ability to sift through top-end microdetails enables it to not sound grainy as an upside. It sounds more effortless and lifelike with more convincing tonality while technicalities are also improved. EX5 διαθέτει στο μέσο της πρόσοψης μια μικρή και ωραία οθόνη με κίτρινα στοιχεία η οποία απεικονίζει τις απαιτούμενες πληροφορίες.

Sound(overall)​These final impressions were done off the Topping EX5 with no external amp usage. This will be what the EX5 sounded like with all the headphones I used. Things like headphone pairings or using different external amps will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.