Topping DX5 II crossfeed processing
A just-released firmware update adds a significant new user-selectable feature: Headphone Crossfeed processing, designed to deliver a more ‘speaker-like’ experience when listening through headphones.
Developed by Topping’s renowned in-house engineers, this convolution-based crossfeed precisely simulates HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) and room acoustics, improving imaging accuracy and spatial depth while greatly reducing the in-head localisation and close-ear listening effect common to headphones. Through meticulous tonal calibration, the system balances tonal accuracy with realistic spatial presence, avoiding the distortion that can result from simply flattening frequency response.
A second, simplified crossfeed mode is also available, producing a natural, speaker-like presentation whilst maintaining more of the typical characteristics of headphone listening. This is based on the BS2B (Bauer Stereophonic-to-Binaural) algorithm, which aims to reduce the ‘stereo fatigue’ that can occur when using headphones to listen to music mixed for speakers.
Headphone Crossfeed adds to the DX5 II’s already impressive array of user-selectable ‘sonic tailoring’ options including parametric EQ – these sophisticated facilities are highly prized by the ‘head-fi’ community and extremely rare in such an accessibly priced DAC/headphone amp.
The new Headphone Crossfeed feature is available free-of-charge to every DX5 II owner who updates their unit’s firmware to v2.07, perfectly illustrating Topping’s determination to continually develop and enhance its products and, where possible, pass the benefits on to existing owners without additional cost.
Topping DX5 II DAC/headphone amp (RRP £299).