The Topping DM7 DAC ($599.99) is a high-resolution, eight-channel DAC that supports PCM and DSD sources but will not handle any of the common Dolby/DTS codecs. It employs the highly capable and respected ES-9038PRO DAC chip, ESS’s flagship. It has just one input, and it’s USB. Its eight analog outputs are fully balanced, but they are TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) phone jacks, which are more widely used in pro audio; most audiophiles will require adapters. Finally, it includes a master volume control and individual channel gain controls (all with 0.5dB resolution), but the finicky up/down buttons on the front panel dictate the use of the included remote for volume control. All these are minor, and they can fade in significance based on the DM7’s performance.
This is the second Topping audio device I have reviewed in Stereophile. The first—the Pre90 analog stereo preamp—and this eight-channel DAC share many features, many good and some less good. Both occupy the same clean, trim enclosure and sport the same crisply legible display. Both, on paper, claim great technical performance and features, and certainly the Pre90 lived up to the claims, performing well in my system and on the test bench. On the other hand, in certain areas, both are more limited than their competition, and they may be more limited in warranty support.1 Then again, both are cheap.
Thoughts while unpacking
Since the Topping DM7 has the same physical dimensions as the Pre90, it is no surprise that it comes in the same packaging. The packing materials are inexpensive, but they’re elegantly employed. An AC cord, USB cable, and remote control are included. The front panel resembles that of the Pre90, with a square On/Off/Multifunction button on the left and a legible OLED display dominating the center. During normal use, the DM7’s display shows the volume level in large font on
