SMSL SU-1 vs Topping DX5 II
82 facts in comparison
Based on 442 Reddit opinions. Close race—SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1 edges ahead.
442 opinions
SMSL SU-1 leads by 3pts
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
92%
A
Based on
408 Redditors
Topping DX5 II
~$299
239 opinions
tldr; Reddit overwhelmingly recommends the Topping DX5 II. With 94% positive sentiment across 408 mentions, this is a clear community favorite.
Check prices🎵SOU
⭐FEA
⚡AMP
🔇NOI
🔧BUI
100
Points
96
Points
Score by Category
Sound Quality
98%78%
Features & Connectivity
100%100%
Amp Performance
0%95%
Noise & Interference
100%100%
Build Quality
100%100%
Why is Topping DX5 II better than SMSL SU-1?
Both products have similar ratings. Check the detailed comparison below.
Based on 798 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1
Winning by 3 points (95% vs 92%)
Better sound quality
Compact
Budget
High confidence (798 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 798 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
SMSL SU-1
9.5/10
390 mentions
DX5 II
9.2/10
408 mentions
SOUND QUALITY
SMSL SU-19.8/10
DX5 II7.8/10
VALUE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX5 II10.0/10
AMP SECTION
SMSL SU-10.0/10
DX5 II9.5/10
FEATURES
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX5 II10.0/10
BUILD QUALITY
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX5 II10.0/10
NOISE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
DX5 II10.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | SMSL SU-1 | DX5 II |
|---|---|---|
Sound Quality | 98% | 78% |
Value | 100% | 100% |
Amp Section | 0% | 95% |
Features | 100% | 100% |
Build Quality | 100% | 100% |
Noise | 100% | 100% |
Category Wins
SMSL SU-1: 1|DX5 II: 1
Head to Head
SMSL SU-1: 1|DX5 II: 1
Sound QualitySMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-198%
DX5 II78%
Value
SMSL SU-1100%
DX5 II100%
Amp SectionDX5 II
SMSL SU-10%
DX5 II95%
Features
SMSL SU-1100%
DX5 II100%
Build Quality
SMSL SU-1100%
DX5 II100%
Noise
SMSL SU-1100%
DX5 II100%
SMSL SU-1
95%
92%
DX5 II
SMSL SU-195%
DX5 II92%
Close race - SMSL SU-1 edges ahead by 3 points
Key Specs
| Spec | SMSL SU-1 | Topping DX5 II |
|---|---|---|
| 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-1
📏 Compact
💰 Budget
🔊 Clean output
🔧 Needs amp
Topping DX5 IIWinner
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Topic Battles
SMSL SU-1: 1|Tied: 3|DX5 II: 1
🎵Sound Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
98%
DX5 II
78%
⭐Features & Connectivity
SMSL SU-1
100%
DX5 II
100%
⚡Amp Performance
DX5 II winsSMSL SU-1
0%
DX5 II
95%
🔇Noise & Interference
SMSL SU-1
100%
DX5 II
100%
🔧Build Quality
SMSL SU-1
100%
DX5 II
100%
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 DX5 II
Top Criticism
+5 pts“Very common. My ears are very sensitive to sibilance, for example. My DX5 II introduces it in some of my favorite songs on my cans while my other DACs do not. I almost sent it back over it but kept it because of the price and network features which my older dacs do not have. I don’t need a blind test to know when my ears hurt because an “s” sound is too sharp for me, regardless of volume level. I don’t think all of these dacs really sell themselves on complete audio transparency. A lot of them add some color or filters or roll off to the music. The question is whether their respective additions or changes make your music more enjoyable to you or not.”
r/headphones
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
SMSL SU-1
Topping DX5 II
📈Historical Price Data
SMSL SU-1
Topping DX5 II
SMSL SU-1
All-time low: $67.99(2023-06)
Topping DX5 II
All-time low!
Which is Better?
SMSL SU-1 Wins
95%
SU-1
vs
92%
II
Close race, but SMSL SU-1 edges ahead by 3 points based on 798 Reddit opinions.
Why SMSL SU-1Winner
- 📏 Compact
- 💰 Budget
- 🔊 Clean output
Why DX5 II
- Still a solid choice depending on your priorities
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
51%Positive
Positive
51%Neutral
48%Negative
1%Based on 390 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
55%Positive
Positive
55%Neutral
42%Negative
3%Based on 408 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SMSL SU-1 or Topping DX5 II?
Based on 798 Reddit comments, SMSL SU-1 has a slight edge with 95% positive sentiment vs Topping DX5 II's 92%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy SMSL SU-1 or Topping DX5 II?
Both have similar approval ratings (95% vs 92%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
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 DX5 II?
Topping DX5 II has 408 mentions on Reddit with 92% positive sentiment. It's frequently discussed as a solid option.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 798 Reddit comments: 390 about SMSL SU-1 and 408 about Topping DX5 II. 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.
442 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/21/2026