[Kakax11]

You rather need a headphone amplifier that needs to be connected to the 400EX.

I have Topping DX5 pro, is that enough?!

 

[Zbell]

I have Topping DX5 pro, is that enough?!

Yeah, that'll work. You just need 2 balanced XLR cables (3-pin) to connect the D400EX to your DX5 (2 RCA cables would also work if you want to go unbalanced). @ahmonge is right, DX5 seems to only have XLR and RCA outputs, no analog inputs. Might need a different headphone amp if you want to use a standalone DAC like the D400EX.

 

[ahmonge]

I have Topping DX5 pro, is that enough?!

As far as I know, the Topping DX5 has no analog inputs, so you cannot use it as a headphones amplifier bypassing the internal DAC

 

[Kakax11]

Yeah, that'll work. You just need 2 balanced XLR cables (3-pin) to connect the D400EX to your DX5 (2 RCA cables would also work if you want to go unbalanced).

This is what I'm doing now, Connected the D400EX to my PC using USB and my MDR Z1R to the dual RCA in the back unbalanced

 

[Kakax11]

As far as I know, the Topping DX5 has no analog inputs, so you cannot use it as a headphones amplifier bypassing the internal DAC

You might be right

 

[Zbell]

This is what I'm doing now, Connected the D400EX to my PC using USB and my MDR Z1R to the dual RCA in the back unbalanced

There's only a pre-amplifier on the D400EX since it's only a DAC, has no headphone amplifier section. You will need to connect the D400EX to a dedicated headphone amplifier using XLR or RCA outputs on the D400EX and connecting to the XLR or RCA inputs on a headphone amp (on the back on the amp). Then, as far as I'm aware, you would need a headphones cable like this that connects to the single headphone out plug on the headphone amp (could be 4-pin XLR, could be 3.5mm or 1/4", but it's only going to be 1 plug).

 

[Kakax11]

There's only a pre-amplifier on the D400EX since it's only a DAC, has no headphone amplifier section. You will need to connect the D400EX to a dedicated headphone amplifier using XLR or RCA outputs on the D400EX and connecting to the XLR or RCA inputs on a headphone amp (on the back on the amp). Then, as far as I'm aware, you would need a headphones cable like this that connects to the single headphone out plug on the headphone amp (could be 4-pin XLR, could be 3.5mm or 1/4", but it's only going to be 1 plug).

I do have this cable you linked already and i was using it with DX5 pro, so now only i just need to connect the D400EX outputs to the DX5pro inputs and we're done? I think i can do that tomorrow morning after work

 

[Zbell]

I think the issue is that the DX5 is a combo DAC/AMP unit and doesn't have any inputs. The plugs on the back of the unit are outputs so that you can use the DAC on the DX5 and connect to an external amplifier.

 

[Kakax11]

I think the issue is that the DX5 is a combo DAC/AMP unit and doesn't have any inputs. The plugs on the back of the unit are outputs so that you can use the DAC on the DX5 and connect to an external amplifier.

In this case are there any amps you recommend?

 

[Zbell]

I think the MDR Z1R is pretty easy to drive, so just about any headphone amp should be able to drive it well. Because the DAC you plan to use is so good and transparent, you probably want at least a mid-tier Solid State Headphone amp at least so that it's not the bottleneck in your chain. I have a Schiit Jotunheim 2 and would absolutely recommend this amp for your use-case because I've found it to be exceptional for the money. You would probably just need the $400 "no module" version since you already have a dedicated DAC. With that said, there's lots of other options!

 

[Kakax11]

I think the MDR Z1R is pretty easy to drive, so just about any headphone amp should be able to drive it well. Because the DAC you plan to use is so good and transparent, you probably want at least a mid-tier Solid State Headphone amp at least so that it's not the bottleneck in your chain. I have a Schiit Jotunheim 2 and would absolutely recommend this amp for your use-case because I've found it to be exceptional for the money. You would probably just need the $400 "no module" version since you already have a dedicated DAC. With that said, there's lots of other options!

I was looking at this one but it seems outta stock everywhere

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/593.html

 

[Zbell]

I think it's been discontinued and replaced by another SMSL/VMV model (SMSL SP400). I don't have experience with SMSL amps, but I've used cheaper THX AAA circuit amps before and prefer the Jotunheim.

 

[Kakax11]

I think it's been discontinued and replaced by another SMSL/VMV model (SMSL SP400). I don't have experience with SMSL amps, but I've used cheaper THX AAA circuit amps before and prefer the Jotunheim.

Jotunheim sounds good for me, now i need the XLR 2 pack cables that works, amazon got tons of options for me GeariT seems the best one

 

[Zbell]

Jotunheim sounds good for me, now i need the XLR 2 pack cables that works, amazon got tons of options for me GeariT seems the best one

I don't think cables make a big difference in sound at all. With that said, I really like BlueJean Cables for their quality cables at affordable prices (in audiophile terms at least). Plus they're made and assembled in US if you care about that.

 

[Kakax11]

I don't think cables make a big difference in sound at all. With that said, I really like BlueJean Cables for their quality cables at affordable prices (in audiophile terms at least). Plus they're made and assembled in US if you care about that.

No i got a pack locally to be delivered now actually, thanx