By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified May 20 by Billy G.
Topping DX5 II
Topping DX5 IIvs
SMSL DO400
SMSL DO400
Worth-It Score: 71/100WAIT — WAIT under $509Topping DX5 II scores well, but current pricing sits above our fair-price band. Wait for a price drop before pulling the trigger.
✓VerifiedConfidence: 85%
Verdict: SMSL DO400 measures fractionally better and drives demanding planars harder, but Topping DX5 II's LDAC Bluetooth input is a practical daily-use advantage most buyers will use more than the extra 0.5W of balanced output. For dynamic headphones under 300Ω, both units are effectively transparent — the DO400's Class A advantage is audible only on the most power-hungry planars. Pick DX5 II for feature breadth; DO400 for demanding planars.
How we scored itSpec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial reviewOur methodology →
Winner: Topping DX5 II
Topping DX5 II: 9/10
SMSL DO400: 9/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
Topping DX5 II
SMSL DO400
dac_chip
Dual ESS ES9038Q2M
Dual ESS ES9039SPRO
amp_topology
NFCA discrete op-amp output stage
Class A discrete, full balanced design
output_power
2W balanced (4Ω), 760mW single-ended (32Ω)
2.5W balanced (32Ω), 1.2W single-ended (32Ω)
thd_n
-121 dB balanced output (A-weighted)
-122 dB balanced (A-weighted)
snr
130 dB balanced
133 dB balanced
inputs
USB, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth 5.1 LDAC
USB, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth 5.1 aptX HD
Topping DX5 II
What works
-121 dB THD+N is near-reference tier — exceeds audibility threshold with any headphone
LDAC Bluetooth input lets you stream lossless from a phone without a USB connection
NFCA amp section drives 300Ω Sennheiser HD 800S to full volume with clean dynamics
What doesn't
No MQA decoder — Tidal Masters listeners lose native unfolding
Remote control feel is plasticky relative to the price point
Balanced output at 2W is conservative vs SMSL DO400's 2.5W — a slight gap for very power-hungry planars
SMSL DO400
What works
ES9039SPRO is ESS's current flagship chip — measurably lower noise floor than DX5 II's ES9038Q2M
Class A headphone output gives the DO400 a warmer, more natural timbre with planar magnetics
2.5W balanced drives HiFiMAN HE-6se V2 (83.5 dB sensitivity) to concert levels without clipping
What doesn't
No LDAC support — Bluetooth is limited to aptX HD (24bit/48kHz), which falls short of LDAC's 96kHz ceiling
$50 more than Topping DX5 II for measurable differences most listeners won't perceive
Class A design runs warm — surface temperature reaches 42°C at full load, needs ventilation clearance
Bottom line
Our pick: Topping DX5 II. It edges out the alternative on -121 db thd+n is near-reference tier — exceeds audibility threshold with any headphone. That said, SMSL DO400 still wins on es9039spro is ess's current flagship chip — measurably lower noise floor than dx5 ii's es9038q2m — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.