Have you ever wondered if improving the sound quality of your PS5 could improve your gaming abilities? If so, Topping’s new inexpensive DAC is worth a hearing

Topping has revealed its new compact DX1 II desktop DAC
It’s relatively affordable at £119 (around $160, AU$240)
Multiple entrances and exits, some clearly designed for gamers

If you’re considering purchasing one of the best headphone DACs, it’s probably because you want to connect them to an audiophile-friendly hi-fi system, or even to your phone or a dedicated music player while on the go. But Topping’s latest option is aimed squarely at a very different audience: gamers.

The Topping DX1 II is a new kit that is slowly being released in different regions; it has just been released in the UK by Electromod. It costs £119 (around $160, AU$240), which undercuts many other options aside from models specifically designed for smartphones or digital audio players.

The DX1 II seems to have a specific user in mind, however. The DAC is designed for all curious, budget-conscious audiophile buyers, but it seems aimed more at gamers than most. And that’s thanks to a few key considerations that apparently make it a good choice for improving the sound of your games.

A DAC is for life, not just for games

While some gaming features are the flagship tools, the Topping DX1 II also seems to be a solid all-rounder – and given how much we liked the larger and more expensive Topping DX5 II, it’s worth a closer look.

The DAC can input from USB-C as well as optical, and output to RCA optical, stereo, 3.5mm or 4.4mm. Both 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD 256 are supported, so high-quality sound won’t be a problem. There are also EQ tools as well as filter and gain settings.

An integrated amplifier can deliver up to 1,000mW of audio, and since it’s quite compact at 10 x 10 x 3.2cm, it will fit into a variety of existing setups – and that glossy white casing will make it look perfect next to a PS5.

As a prolific gamer, I’m not sure I see a DAC being crucial to a hardware setup – although I absolutely recommend one of the best wired gaming headsets. That said, the Topping remains very useful as an affordable entry-level DAC for my music that can get dual use for gaming.