The Topping DX3 Pro+ is a compact DAC/amp built around the ES9038Q2M chip and Topping's NFCA amplifier circuitry, delivering measurements among the best at any price. It pushes 1.8W into 32 ohms, decodes PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512, and adds Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC. Reviewers praise its honest, neutral character and exceptional value.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Topping DX3 Pro+ is a measurement standout. Headfonics reported THD of 0.00015% in both the DAC and amplifier sections, a 60% improvement for the DAC and 85% for the amp over the older LDAC version, and noted the device delivers a substantial 1.8W headphone power output. Audio Science Review's testing placed its SINAD comfortably in the top tier of all DACs tested, with distortion products sitting around -125 dB worst case, well below audibility.
Listening impressions back the numbers. Headfonia called it a capable little thing that delivers clean and crystal sound, excellent in terms of price/performance, scoring it 4.4 out of 5. Headfonics described an honest tonal character with ample output power and scored it 8.2 out of 10. In ASR's listening with the Sennheiser HD650 and Drop Ether CX, the amp drove both with authority and tons of detail, though the reviewer flagged that the protection circuit can activate on very low-impedance loads.
Build Quality and Design
The DX3 Pro+ packs a lot into a small footprint. The aluminum chassis houses an ES9038Q2M DAC and Topping's NFCA amplifier modules, with a front display, a multifunction control knob, and a 6.35mm headphone output. Around back it offers USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs plus RCA and 4.4mm balanced line outputs, and it integrates Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC for wireless playback.
The compact size is both a strength and a quirk. It saves desk space relative to the FiiO K7, but the smaller chassis means a busier, denser control layout. Build quality is solid Topping fare: tidy, functional, and clearly engineered around the measurement-first philosophy the brand is known for, rather than around lifestyle flourishes.
What Reviewers Loved
The DX3 Pro+ earns praise for combining top-tier measurements, strong amp power and useful features at a sub-$200 price. Headfonia highlighted that the price difference versus a bare DAC like the D10B is negligible considering you get a much nicer chassis, a great NFCA amp module, and LDAC capability. That feature-per-dollar story is the unit's core appeal.
Reviewers also value the neutral, honest voicing for buyers who want their DAC/amp to get out of the way. Combined with 1.8W of clean power and native DSD512 support, the DX3 Pro+ is frequently framed as the technical overachiever of the budget category.
Where It Falls Short
The most concrete limitation is the protection circuit, which ASR observed can trip on very low-impedance headphone loads, an edge case but worth knowing if you run unusual gear. The neutral, clinical voicing that measurement-focused listeners love can read as a touch sterile to those who prefer the warmth of the iFi Zen DAC 3.
There is no microphone input, so gamers who want an all-in-one chat solution should look at the Schiit Hel 2E instead. And while the compact size is a feature for tight desks, the dense control layout is less intuitive than the larger, knob-forward FiiO K7.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The DX3 Pro+ slots between the FiiO K7 and iFi Zen DAC 3 in character. It nearly matches the K7 on power with 1.8W, adds Bluetooth LDAC the K7 lacks, and measures at the top of the class, but it has a smaller, busier interface and a more clinical voice. Versus the Zen DAC 3, it offers more power and better measurements but a less forgiving, less feature-laden experience.
For a buyer who treats transparency and value as the priorities and likes the convenience of LDAC wireless, the DX3 Pro+ is arguably the smartest pure-performance buy in the group. It simply asks the listener to accept a neutral presentation rather than a colored one.
Value at This Price
At roughly $179, the DX3 Pro+ is the cheapest unit in this lineup, and on a pure performance-per-dollar basis it may be the strongest value of all. Headfonia made the case directly: the price gap versus a bare DAC like the D10B is negligible once you factor in the nicer chassis, the NFCA amp module, and LDAC capability. You are essentially getting reference-grade measurements, 1.8W of power and Bluetooth for the price of a basic DAC.
The value story only weakens for buyers who want a warm voice or a microphone input, neither of which the DX3 Pro+ provides. But for the listener who treats a DAC/amp as a clean conduit and wants the most measured fidelity their money can buy, nothing here undercuts it on price while matching it on performance. That combination is why it earns a place near the top of value-focused shortlists.
Who It's Best For
The DX3 Pro+ is for the value-and-measurement-minded listener who wants reference-grade transparency, plenty of amp power, and Bluetooth LDAC in a compact box, all under $200. If you prefer your source to be a clean, neutral conduit rather than a tone-shaping device, this is the pick.
It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a warm, forgiving sound, who needs a microphone input for gaming, or who runs very low-impedance loads that might trip the protection circuit. Those buyers are better served by the Zen DAC 3 or the Schiit Hel 2E. But for clinical accuracy on a budget, few units beat the DX3 Pro+.
Strengths
- +ES9038Q2M DAC with NFCA amplifier delivers class-leading measured performance
- +1.8W into 32 ohms is the most amp power in this group
- +Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC support for wireless streaming
- +PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512 decoding
- +Neutral, honest tonal character that does not color the sound
Watch-outs
- −Protection circuit can trip on very low-impedance loads
- −Neutral tuning may feel clinical to listeners wanting warmth
- −Smaller, busier interface than larger desktop rivals
- −No microphone input for gaming use
How it compares
The DX3 Pro+ offers the most amp power (1.8W) of the compact units here and adds Bluetooth LDAC the FiiO K7 lacks, but its neutral tuning is less forgiving than the iFi Zen DAC 3's warmer presentation.
Who this is for
At a glance: Value-focused listeners who want class-leading measured transparency plus Bluetooth LDAC in a compact, neutral-sounding desktop unit.
Why you’d buy the Topping DX3 Pro+
- ES9038Q2M DAC with NFCA amplifier delivers class-leading measured performance.
- 1.8W into 32 ohms is the most amp power in this group.
- Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC support for wireless streaming.
Why you’d skip it
- Protection circuit can trip on very low-impedance loads.
- Neutral tuning may feel clinical to listeners wanting warmth.
- Smaller, busier interface than larger desktop rivals.
Rating sources
“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 and a substantial 1.8W headphone power output.”
“It's a capable little thing that delivers clean and crystal sound, excellent in terms of price/performance.”
“The DX3 Pro+ sounds cohesive and expressive whether you're feeding it absurdly large DSD files or streaming from Spotify.”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
