Updated October 2026 · prices checked Oct 10, 2026.
This was one of the most-searched DAC/amp matchups under $200. In 2026 both sides are out of production: FiiO has discontinued the K5 Pro ESS, and retailers are listing the Topping DX3 Pro+ as discontinued. The comparison below still helps if you’re weighing a used unit, but for a new purchase the answer has moved on.
Quick Verdict
- Buy a used FiiO K5 Pro ESS if you find one cheap, use wired sources only, and want plenty of single-ended power.
- Buy a leftover Topping DX3 Pro+ if you find it discounted, your headphones are easy to drive, and you want Bluetooth LDAC and a remote.
- Neither: buy new. The FiiO K11 R2R is the like-for-like K5 Pro ESS replacement; the Topping DX5 II replaces the DX3 Pro+ with far more power.
FiiO's current entry desktop DAC/amp and the direct K5 Pro ESS replacement, with a 4.4mm balanced output the K5 Pro ESS never had.
Topping's current one-box pick: Bluetooth LDAC, remote and about 6.4 W balanced into 32Ω.
Side by Side
| Topping DX3 Pro+ | FiiO K5 Pro ESS | |
|---|---|---|
| Status (Oct 2026) | Being phased out | Discontinued |
| Replaced by | Topping DX5 II (~$299) | FiiO K11 R2R (~$170) |
| DAC chip | ESS ES9038Q2M | ESS ES9038Q2M |
| Rated power (32Ω) | ~1.8W | 1.5W |
| Rated power (300Ω) | ~250mW (one listing: 160mW) | ~20 Vp-p (about 165mW) |
| Headphone output | 6.35mm | 6.35mm |
| Balanced output | No | No |
| Inputs | USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth | USB, optical, coaxial, RCA line in |
| Line out | RCA | RCA |
| Gain | 2 steps (+6 / +19 dB) | 3 steps |
| Bluetooth | Yes (LDAC, aptX HD, AAC) | No |
| Remote | Yes | No |
Power figures are the manufacturers’ published ratings as reproduced by retailers, not our measurements.
Output Power
On the published ratings, the two are closer than older comparisons (including an earlier version of this page) suggested. Topping rates the DX3 Pro+ at about 1.8W into 32Ω; FiiO rates the K5 Pro ESS at 1.5W into 32Ω and about 20V peak-to-peak into 300Ω. Both have more than enough for:
- HiFiMAN Sundara and HE400SE at normal levels
- Sennheiser HD 600/650 (300Ω): roughly 7V RMS of swing is plenty for these
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250Ω: comfortably loud on high gain
For easy loads like the ATH-M50x, DT 770 Pro 80Ω or Sony MDR-7506, power was never the deciding factor between these two.
Sound
Both use the same ES9038Q2M DAC chip, and published measurements for both are clean. Owner reports describe small differences in voicing that come down to the amplifier stage; at these distortion levels, how audible they are is debated. Pick on features, not on chip.
Features
DX3 Pro+: Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC, aptX HD and AAC, plus a remote. Useful if your phone is a regular source.
K5 Pro ESS: An RCA line input (so it can work as a pure headphone amp for an external DAC or other analog source) and a three-step gain switch. No Bluetooth, no remote, and no DAP dock: that was the original K5, not the K5 Pro ESS.
What to Buy in 2026
Buy the FiiO K11 R2R if:
- You want a simple wired desktop DAC/amp around $170
- You’d use a 4.4mm balanced cable now or later
- You were shopping for the K5 Pro ESS
Buy the Topping DX5 II if:
- You want Bluetooth LDAC and a remote
- You drive 300Ω Sennheisers or planars and want real headroom
- You were shopping for the DX3 Pro+
For headphone-specific picks, see the best amp for the HD 600 , best amp for the DT 990 Pro and best amp for the Sundara guides.
