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Product Description
New from Topping, a world leader in audio, the DX7 Pro is a DAC/amp designed for the most demanding listener. Following Topping’s highly regarded DX7, the Pro model showcases improved hardware and a sophisticated presentation Read More
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Can't say the DX7 Pro is going to have me packing up my Jotunheim and sending it off to the aluminum recycler just yet. True I have, from time to time, wondered what I might be missing by not having a Bluetooth DAC/Amp (or what I would be doing with it, if the Jotunheim had Bluetooth). Sticking to that feature (or lack there of) for just a moment, it seems to me that since I'd likely have DX7 Pro sitting on my desk and hooked to my iMac (as the Jotunheim is now via USB) and that all of the streaming apps I have on any of my devices, I also have on my Mac (along with my actual digital files), what use would I make of the the Bluetooth? In other words, whatever I might stream from a device to the Topping, I can already send to my Jotunheim via direct connection, from my Mac.
I guess the confusion for me has always been: does a DAC/Amp with Bluetooth send or receive that signal? I could think of several uses for one that did both (this ain't that one) but when the DAC/Amp is only receiving a signal (as I'm pretty sure this one is) that feature seems less...useful. Of course if one didn't have a computer but only had a phone or tablet, a DAC that receives Bluetooth might be handy. But seriously--who's that guy?
I could find a use for a DAC/Amp with both send and receive Bluetooth capabilities. I do have Bluetooth speakers, and I suppose a DAC that sent a nice clean 5.0 Bluetooth signal to them would be cool, but my (powered) speakers already have their own internal DACs and Amps (which I already paid for), so not seeing that as a big plus even if I found a send and receive combo unit. Besides, I can already send music to those Bluetooth speakers from my iMac (granted only in 4.0, not 5.0) but that's been fine so far. I can and do connect to them from my iPhone and iPad too--and that's handy, but Bluetooth is just one of the sources those speakers accept.
Even the blurb I found on the Apos site didn't clear up my Bluetooth confusion. They said:
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As for the bit about Bluetooth headphones, I don't get it--generally those are not your best cans and by now you've already figured out how to power yours with a portable system for those occasions when you need to get out and about. Portability is not what you'd buy the DX7 Pro for.
Okay, back to the Jotunheim vs DX7 Pro thing--what I use mine for at least half the time is powering a set of JBL Monitors (two, not one) on my desk. And while Zeos did seem to be pleased with the headphone options and power on the DX7 Pro, he didn't go into great detail (if at all) discussing the amps ability to power a set of speakers. I'm sure the DX7 Pro is up to the task, but I'm pretty happy with the Jotunheim/JBL combination--and so far I'm not hearing/seeing a reason to change what I've already got cooking.
Now as Zeos did point out, the DX7 Pro does do A LOT of tricks (it is one versatile unit) but frankly, unless you're the guy who's really going to make use of all those things, I don't find them all that compelling. I'm not going to connect a sub, I'm not going to connect my television, and you know damn well I don't have a playstation! Conversely, the Jotunheim really only does two things (decodes a digital signal and power your headphones and/or speakers). It doesn't have a screen or display to tell you what it's doing and it doesn't come with a remote to allow you to tell it what to do. I'm okay with that--my system and I are both sitting on or near the same desk.
But--let's suppose you think the DX7 Pro just might be the DAC/Amp of your dreams. How the hell are you going to make an informed purchase decision based on the scanty bit of info your "audiophile" palls at Drop have provided you? Hell, they didn't even show you a picture of the Pros back end!
Well I can help you on both fronts. First here's a shot of it's rear:
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And here's a link to a TON of additional information about the unit; same site Zeos referenced in his review:
https://apos.audio/products/topping-dx7-pro-dac-amp?_pos=1&_sid=546a96eed&_ss=r
And if you figured out what I'm missing or confused about regarding that Bluetooth feature, do set me straight in your comments.
Also curious to know how many folks, given the choice between the Jotunheim and the DX7 Pro would chose one over the other. Pretty sure MD would like to know too ;- )
Good luck!
RayFBluetooth is nice for those of us without a headphone jack on our phones and store our music on them. It's niche but it's what I do and having Bluetooth is needed for me
Seems like this is one of the better combo units out there for this price, was going to get the 788 a few weeks ago but it doesn't play nicely with AU/NZ power. DX7 Pro has a power switch and a built in power unit.
BlakeMorrowI was talking about the 788. I meant it needs a power converter to work in NZ, unlike the 789 which only needs a simple plug adapter.
DX7 pro runs fine in NZ, given you switch to 220.
raymateProbably a question of space. You'll get more flexibility for future upgrades splitting the product stack up but the DX7 is a bit overkill for your use. Admittedly, I use it for my 6XX so I'm no better. Both will serve you equally as well
I bought this a while ago and wanted to share my thoughts on it. While it is a nice unit with lots of features, I wouldn't recommend it over Topping's other cheaper offerings unless you really want a balanced output. If you do though, then it is hard to beat.
I compared this directly against a Topping E30 DAC and JDS Labs Atom amp. (I bought those some time after the DX7 pro for a set up on a different desk.) To compare them, I volume matched the levels and used my Senn HD 650s and a couple other closed backs I have and listened to FLAC files via Foobar2k. I also put the DX7 pro in DAC only mode and sent its output to the Atom's second input so I could directly and quickly a/b its DAC and the E30. For the life of me I couldn't hear a difference in either case. So YMMV, but based purely on sound quality (with the single ended jack) I don't think it's worth the upgrade. I think this might speak more to just how good a value the E30 is than that the DX7 pro is over-priced.
However, if you do want a balanced output, when comparing it to other cheaper balanced options out there, you'd have to weigh the value of the remote plus the variety of inputs including BT that you get over the more basic features in other DAC/amp stacks. The main reason I got it was I wanted to try something with a balanced output, and the DX7 pro was highly regarded. I don't think there is any other balanced DAC/amp, stack or all-in-one, with all the features the DX7 pro has such that the DAC/Amp stack still comes in under $600. However, if you don't care about having a remote and the various inputs the DX7 pro then there's cheaper balanced DAC/Amp stacks to be had that possibly have equivalent sound quality. I would enjoy comparing it to the Drop/Grace balanced DAC with a THX-AAA 789 amp, which would come in at $450. No remote and limited inputs on that DAC, but that amp is so highly regarded I have to think it would compare favorably. I would be interested to hear any other experiences comparing the DX7 pro to other balanced stacks.
redstangCan you please explain why you need a remote if you are listening to you music via headphones? With length of the balanced cables, as well as with most phone cables, you will be sitting right in front of this unit, so what exactly is the benefit of the remote?
rumata13With regards to comparing it to other things the remote is just one differentiator of functionality, and when looking at it strictly from the desktop, a relatively minor one. Either it appeals to your situation or it doesn't and therefore isn't a factor to consider at all, so paying more for it would be pointless. It is sort of a byproduct of the Toppings having lots of features though, vs. more basic units. If you don't have any features to access, then having a remote becomes truly pointless.
For the DX7 Pro the remote is primarily a convenience; in your standard desktop set up you don't need it. It does offer a couple advantages over using the knob however. 1) Direct access to various functions: gain, mute, display brightness, output modes, filters, et al. Some of those things can otherwise only be accessed by powering the unit off and on again into setup mode. 2) Allows you to have the unit at the back of your desk/out of the way (or not in a desktop situation). 3) Faster volume control. One thing I failed to mention above is that I really dislike the digital volume control with the knob. It is very granular, .5db per 'click', and while that gives you precise control of the level, it takes two full rotations of the volume knob to go from quiet to loud, vs usually about a half turn on any analog volume knob. Using the remote you can long press the volume up/down and it quickly moves multiple db.
For the E30 it's more necessary depending on the amp you use with it, but still really boils down to a convenience. It's the only way to control the pre-amp volume and get to other settings as that doesn't have a knob at all. But again if you're using the amp's volume control and are sitting right next to it, you set it and forget it and don't need the remote. If you're also using it with a set of powered speakers, either on your desk or in some other room, then the remote volume control is nice to have.
All that being said, I don't use the remote very much right now. At the moment I have 3 DAC/Amp options hooked up next to each other on the edge of my desk and have been switching between them just to compare. Eventually I'll probably move the DX7 to the back of my desk putting it out of easy reach and will use it more. The volume knob on the DX7 really does annoy me though; it's the one thing that is making me think about just using the E30/Atom stack full time on my main desk. I find myself often having to take multiple swipes at the volume knob to change the volume, vs a small movement when using the Atom, for example. And the clicky digital volume isn't as nice as a smooth analog one. If you love having a nice analog volume knob it's something to consider when thinking about buying the DX7 Pro.
SpaceCadet24As a wise man once said "How do you educate yourself without asking questions? Um, by looking? Reading? I was not born with any "Audiophile education and wisdom" but learned whatever it is I know by doing research, be it simple or in-depth."