SMSL SU-1 vs Topping DX3 Pro+
106 facts in comparison
Based on 309 Reddit opinions. SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1 leads by 13 points.
309 opinions
SMSL SU-1 leads by 13pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
95%
A+
Based on
390 Redditors
Winner
SMSL SU-1
~$84.99
203 opinions
tldr; Compact DAC. USB source, clean output. Basic but effective.
Check pricesVS
82%
B+
Based on
249 Redditors
Topping DX3 Pro+
~$199
106 opinions
tldr; Compact Topping. Bluetooth, decent power. Desktop saver.
Check prices🎵SOU
⭐FEA
⚡AMP
🔇NOI
🔧BUI
100
Points
66
Points
Score by Category
Sound Quality
98%42%
Features & Connectivity
100%33%
Amp Performance
0%100%
Noise & Interference
100%0%
Build Quality
100%0%
Why is Topping DX3 Pro+ better than SMSL SU-1?
- Compact
- Bluetooth
- Good value
Based on 639 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1
Winning by 13 points (95% vs 82%)
Better sound quality
Better value
Better features
High confidence (639 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 639 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
SMSL SU-1
9.5/10
390 mentions
DX3 Pro+
8.2/10
249 mentions
SOUND QUALITY
SMSL SU-19.8/10
DX3 Pro+4.2/10
VALUE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX3 Pro+8.9/10
AMP SECTION
SMSL SU-10.0/10
DX3 Pro+10.0/10
FEATURES
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX3 Pro+3.3/10
BUILD QUALITY
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX3 Pro+0.0/10
NOISE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX3 Pro+0.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | SMSL SU-1 | DX3 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
Sound Quality | 98% | 42% |
Value | 100% | 89% |
Amp Section | 0% | 100% |
Features | 100% | 33% |
Build Quality | 100% | 0% |
Noise | 100% | 0% |
Category Wins
SMSL SU-1: 5|DX3 Pro+: 1
Head to Head
SMSL SU-1: 5|DX3 Pro+: 1
Sound QualitySMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-198%
DX3 Pro+42%
ValueSMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
DX3 Pro+89%
Amp SectionDX3 Pro+
SMSL SU-10%
DX3 Pro+100%
FeaturesSMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
DX3 Pro+33%
Build QualitySMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
DX3 Pro+0%
NoiseSMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
DX3 Pro+0%
SMSL SU-1
95%
82%
DX3 Pro+
SMSL SU-195%
DX3 Pro+82%
SMSL SU-1 wins by 13 points
Key Specs
| Spec | SMSL SU-1 | Topping DX3 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| DAC Chip | AKM AK4493S | — |
| THD+N | 0.00013% (-117dB) | — |
| PCM Support | 32bit/768kHz (USB) | — |
| DSD Support | DSD512 (USB) | — |
| Inputs | USB Type-C, Optical, Coaxial | — |
Key Highlights
SMSL SU-1Winner
📏 Compact
💰 Budget
🔊 Clean output
🔧 Needs amp
Topping DX3 Pro+
📏 Compact
📶 Bluetooth
💰 Good value
⚡ Powers most things
Topic Battles
SMSL SU-1: 4|Tied: 0|DX3 Pro+: 1
🎵Sound Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
98%
DX3 Pro+
42%
⭐Features & Connectivity
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
100%
DX3 Pro+
33%
⚡Amp Performance
DX3 Pro+ winsSMSL SU-1
0%
DX3 Pro+
100%
🔇Noise & Interference
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
100%
DX3 Pro+
0%
🔧Build Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
100%
DX3 Pro+
0%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for SMSL SU-1
Best Praise
+14 pts“Thrift store DVD player with a good DAC like SMSL SU-1 will sound like a £1000 CD player. For £100.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
ViewTop Criticism
+1 pts“With a good $1000 DAC, sure, there will be imorovements. With SMSL SU-1, no I don't think so.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Topping DX3 Pro+
Top Criticism
+14 pts“I bought the Topping DX3 Pro+ last week and within 24hours is just died, stopped detecting any input source so I returned it to Amazon disheartened. I really loved the sound but immediately noticed some quirks which should not have been quirks like not being able to change volume display between % and dB, or the fact that the lowest display brightness differs between both MX and DX which bothered me. The Custom menu on the DX also has limited options compared to the MX3s, why? No reason for it! So someone recommended the Fiio K7, more powerful, balanced output, no display or faff, no remote, just a big dial and loads of power. I love the headphones out of the MX3s, but it's obvious the HD650s want more power than what the 100mW x2 @ 300 ohm MX puts out, I have to put the MX at -2dB to match the loudness of the K7's dial at 3 o'clock and that's just with the 6.35mm output which is 140mW @ 300 ohms. Had the 650s since 2014 and finally now getting the most out of them, balanced and 540mW 😎”
r/headphones
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
SMSL SU-1
Topping DX3 Pro+
📈Historical Price Data
SMSL SU-1
Topping DX3 Pro+
SMSL SU-1
All-time low: $67.99(2023-06)
Topping DX3 Pro+
All-time low: $169.15(2022-11)
Which is Better?
SMSL SU-1 Wins
95%
SU-1
vs
82%
Pro+
SMSL SU-1 leads by 13 points based on 639 Reddit opinions.
Why SMSL SU-1Winner
- Better Features (100% vs 33%)
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 89%)
- More discussed (390 vs 249)
Why DX3 Pro+
- 📏 Compact
- 📶 Bluetooth
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
51%Positive
Positive
51%Neutral
48%Negative
1%Based on 390 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
36%Positive
Positive
36%Neutral
57%Negative
7%Based on 249 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SMSL SU-1 or Topping DX3 Pro+?
Based on 639 Reddit comments, SMSL SU-1 is the preferred choice with 95% positive sentiment vs Topping DX3 Pro+'s 82%. SMSL SU-1 leads by 13 percentage points.
Should I buy SMSL SU-1 or Topping DX3 Pro+?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, SMSL SU-1 has stronger approval ratings (95% vs 82%). However, Topping DX3 Pro+ may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about SMSL SU-1?
Reddit users highlight: Compact. Budget. Clean output. With 390 mentions and 95% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Topping DX3 Pro+?
Reddit users highlight: Compact. Bluetooth. Good value. With 249 mentions and 82% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 639 Reddit comments: 390 about SMSL SU-1 and 249 about Topping DX3 Pro+. Data was sourced from DACs community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
309 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/26/2026