Amazing Design, DAC and Power Output at 399$ D&A Alpha Review /vs Topping, Fiio, Ifi

I don't remember a device that was a company's first device creating that many ripples in the sea of audiophiles. Their Alpha Pro DAC was received pretty well among both subjective and objective reviewers, which to me is always such a surprise for a device like this.

Amazing Design

And not just that, its looks are so modern and, let's say, unique that it left an impression on me. It reminds me of another Chinese company called Nothing, which makes mobile phones, etc. This feels like it has been designed by the same team.

It uses glass and small LED lights to illuminate the surface of this DAC. By doing so, they created a unique design language for how you see and interact with the device. Now, without a screen, and by speaking to many manufacturers, adding a screen wouldn't be hard; at a cheaper level, it is hard to isolate its electrical interferences with other components fully. They now have, with constant illumination, a way to quickly and more intuitively see the source, bitrate, and volume by lighting specific elements of the product.

And while this is going to be a really subjective thought, I think even though it completely diverges from standard practices of audiophile gear, I find this device kind of good-looking as a device in itself. The reason why I say that is when this DAC stands next to your other gear, it certainly feels out of place. And D&A definitely needs to build an amp in this same design language.

But I think the design is well thought out, and the margins, spacing, fonts, and color are done well to create a nicely balanced design with lights pushing into eclectic territory.

But still, it is a very futuristic and modern design.

Tech Specs/vs. Alpha Pro

While there is a lot to talk about design and everything surrounding design, I think what is inside is equally if not more interesting, especially in this price range of 400 dollars.

Firstly, the Alpha Pro has the ESS9039 Pro inside, which is a flagship ESS DAC. Now we have 2 x 9039q2m balanced decoding architecture, which is a great compromise, as now we have two DACs that can tackle lower and upper frequencies at the same time. This DAC is, as expected, capable of processing DSD up to 512 and PCM 768khz/32 bit.

But what is fascinating is that we now have even stronger amplification, from the previous 6000mw to 9000mw, which is really nice robust amplification. That is so fascinating... which means more easily you can now drive your headphones.

But that amplification comes with 4-channel fully balanced discreet amplification. Now this is proof that Digi and Aesth are trying to branch into this market by offering as much as they can for less money.

Also, another really interesting architectural decision here is using two different clocks. One is a PLL clock, and another is a FEMTO clock. Now, as this is a new device, and while I was writing this review, this device is not out yet. I don't know how those clocks are being utilized and where in the chain they sit. But it is on paper an amazing thing. But it certainly deals with jitter greatly.Few more things: there is a preamplification function, power purification low noise modules, an Xmos chip, and many other high-performance components.

Regarding inputs and outputs, there are all the flavors you will ever need. There is a balanced XLR input, there is coaxial, optical, and line. There are 4.4 and 6.5 headphone inputs. It has all the same inputs and outputs as its older, more pro brother, except for the XLR output for headphones.

As you can see, for a price point of 399 dollars, you do get fantastic architecture inside this device. This, for me, is crazy good, as we know that the pro model costs 300 dollars more. It is such small compromises for 300 dollars less; you have to respect that.

One thing that I really dislike is that it does not have a remote control, so to switch between channels or gain output, you need to rise from your sofa and physically change them. And for this money, I just expect a remote control.

Sound Quality

But what is spectacular to me is how much sound quality is being retained from the PRO model. There is a lack of immediacy and a lack of extended treble that you can hear with pro models. The pro model is definitely more dynamic and detailed, but you get a lot of great stuff here that needs to be talked about.

The sound is very clear, nimble, and lean. It is one of those ESS DAC scenarios where utmost clarity and organization are a priority. So, decluttering the mids, presenting instruments on the soundstage with room and breath, is going to be this DAC's signature move.

But let's speak a little bit about sound from the ground up.

I hope you have some bass-oriented speakers or headphones with you, as the bass is very clear and has attack and is precise. But you might lack a bit of body and heft to it. This does not mean bad bass; it just means you need to prepare yourself for the sonic signature of this DAC.

But instrumentation in jazz, or generally instrumental music, can benefit from this, as it gives more clarity to music and production where the bass guitar is prominent. As you will be able to more easily notice picking and strumming. The same for synth-based music, when you have low roars, it will be easier to be placed alongside other instrumentations without covering the spectrum of other instruments.

This is good for people who love to see details in bass rather than density, as there is a lot of attack, presence, and clarity on the soundstage.

And as it is not so bloated, it shows organics in production pretty nicely as well.

But the greatest strength of this DAC is and will always be the presentation of instruments with clarity and transparency, so that the midsection can breathe and give enough insight and details that analytical listeners will be happy.

The soundstage organizes and compartmentalizes around instruments and voices. They are presentable as full and rounded on the soundstage, which allows them not to clash with each other.

This also helps the soundstage to be open and airy.

The vocals also are very neutral and have breath and space around them.This is that very neutral, in-the-mix presentation of vocals that does not wow, but it does great with true-to-life color of voices.

And generally, the tonality is on point with instruments and voices.

And we cannot commend the effort of treble here. And generally, how this DAC helps with insight.

If you ever wanted a more lean DAC, with great headphone amplification, then this might be for you. It is very nimble, open, and detailed at the top. It exposes the details with ease. It is not a hyper-detailed DAC, but it does help with more information to be exposed with this DAC.

It is how this DAC organizes information, pushing decibels to be more pronounced at the top end, allowing classical music, pop, and acoustic music to be really great. As you want to learn and be patient, it does provide a lot of micro-detail.

At first, this DAC might seem neutral; it might seem unimpressive. But the more I listened, I realized it did organize correctly, it did detail the sound great, it did show information and expose it to me more easily.

Therefore, it gave soundstage a boost, headphones a boost, and vocals a boost into having textures, so you can feel the organic production of it. And it becomes more vivid and alive on the soundstage.

Synergy and Pairing

Regarding the pairing and synergy, I mentioned this a little bit before. I would recommend warm headphones the most. But as this is a very neutral-sounding DAC, and balanced, I think there is no wrong pairing with them.

Only personal tastes will dictate how it will react to different sound signatures. Like I think it lacks a bit of bass, so warmer headphones are better; neutral will keep things pristine and clear with a small emphasis on dynamics.

While brighter headphones will accentuate the extension of treble and details even more. But for some, it might become fatiguing and harsh, bright. But not so much with, for example, Alpha or some SMSL.

vs. Topping DX 5 II

Now, quite obviously, the biggest competitor is the Topping DX5 II. It is a very popular headphone amp/DAC at $100 less, at $300.

There is a lot of similarity between these two. They use identical dual combinations of DACs. Alpha is a bit more capable regarding raw amplification, but not something you might be able to tell the difference among many headphones unless you want to drive really difficult ones.

Inputs and outputs are the same.

With DX5, you get a screen, albeit a small one; you get a parametric equalizer on the spot, which is sadly missing from Alpha.

Alpha has better implementation of clocks, and maybe even an I/V stage.

But you are not here for this; you are here to ask which one sounds better. And they sound very similar.

But I think that Alpha does resolve a little bit better; I think that it helps headphones that are talented to open more at the treble level.

Hi-hats, cymbals, and percussions are sounding more with urgency and precision, and more textured. Not something that DX5 does a bad job of, but DX5 is a true-to-life DAC in its most primitive way of thinking.As DX5 is a great conductor, that is clear and transparent without imposing its coloration. And with that relaxed presentation, it can at times, depending on what you listen to, sound more relaxed, clearer, and composed. If you like things like that.

But overall, sound quality is very similar to other devices. What will dictate if you want one or the other is the design. Topping is pretty dull and nothing special. While Alpha seems sturdier and built from nicer materials, it also is a talking piece with its design language and simplicity.

That way, if you want this good-looking DAC/headphone amp that provides more amplification and more details, there is a case for Alpha. I personally would give 100 more, but that is highly subjective. Otherwise, Topping still remains an amazing pound-for-pound DAC.

vs. FiiO K13

One other great alternative is Fiio K13. Now K13 is one of those DACs for the heart rather than the mind. And it is an interesting competitor in this price range. Firstly, having R2R ladder architecture, it inherently comes with a different sound to Topping and D&A.

But let's go through the first Regarding specifications, I think a big difference comes into play in that the K13 is primarily a DAC and secondarily a headphone amplifier. Its power output is significantly less powerful than the other two.

Inputs and outputs are similar; it's not that one has drastically more here. Fiio also has a 10-level PEQ, which is great.

But what separates this DAC from the other two mostly is its sound. It is a rich, warm, and musical sound that doesn't prioritize being the most clear or vivid. It's here to add a lot more body to music, to add lushness and smoothness in the midsection, especially with a lovely rendition of voices.

It gives more thump and drive to speakers and headphones. Also, the soundstage is really great.

To me, out of the three a here, as pure DAC, I might always go with the K13, even though the Alpha is a close second in that regard. But as a DAC/headphone amp, the K13 is last. And especially if you have warm headphones, it just isn't that spectacular. You really need to think about synergy and pairing to get the most out of this DAC. And if you have headphones and IEMs that need power, this might not be the best option. But for 330 dollars as a DAC, it is a great choice.

vs. iFi Zen DAC v3

One thing more to look forward to is the iFi Zen DAC v3, which is cheaper than all of these devices, but provides enough power and a good DAC, and enough features and connectivity options to be a great cheaper alternative. Plus, it looks pretty decent as well.

Conclusion and just great offering at 399

This DAC is amazing, and it has such a unique appearance and character. Is this the best in this price range? Hmm, it depends. If you want absolute value, you go with Topping, but if you want a bit more details and resolving power, more power output for headphones, and really great looks and design, you might want to consider Alpha, as I would. The design of Toppings, SMSL, etc., are boring, and I would want something better looking on my table. If the price difference were larger, then I would definitely not consider design in that regard and go with other alternatives, but you get something prettier for a little bit more money.

But what I know for certain is that this is much better value than the Alpha Pro. The Alpha Pro is more robust; it does have better dynamics in both bass and treble. But you get 80% of that amazing sonics for 300 dollars less. This is not a small price difference. In that sense, Alpha is a miracle and a breath of fresh air on the scene.

This is a neutral sound that leans towards brightness. It declutters well, it resolves great, and it provides really robust power output for headphones. It is built from awesome quality materials and inner components that should last a long time. The two clocks and power filters are a great add-on.

So, knowing all that, it comes down to a subjective interpretation of the values of this product. This is an amazing device, but depending on what you appreciate more, it might be perfect or just good.

Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy my content. And if you do, please like and subscribe. All the best, keep daydreaming, and see you in the next video. Bye.

Pros

Design & Build

• Unique, futuristic design with glass and LED illumination.

• Distinctive “Nothing-like” design language – stands out from typical audiophile gear.

• Well-executed industrial design: good spacing, fonts, colors, and overall balance.

• High-quality materials; feels sturdy and premium.

• LEDs provide intuitive visual feedback for source, bitrate, and volume without needing a screen.

• A real “talking piece” on the desk compared to dull-looking competitors.

  
  

Architecture & Features

• Dual ESS 9039Q2M DACs in balanced configuration.

• Supports DSD512 and PCM 768kHz/32-bit.

• Very powerful headphone amplification (up to 9000 mW).

• Fully balanced 4-channel discrete amplification.

• Dual clock system (PLL + Femto) aimed at reducing jitter.

• Includes preamplifier function, power purification, low-noise modules, XMOS USB.

• Excellent I/O selection: XLR input, coaxial, optical, line in, 4.4mm & 6.5mm headphone outs.

• Same connectivity as Alpha Pro, at much lower price.

  
  

Sound Quality

• Very clear, lean, and transparent presentation.

• Excellent instrument separation and soundstage organization.

• Open, airy, and well-compartmentalized soundstage.

• Neutral, realistic vocal reproduction.

• Strong micro-detail and treble resolution.

• Great for analytical listeners and critical listening.

• Bass is fast, precise, and well-defined.

• Especially strong with jazz, acoustic, classical, and instrumental music.

• Retains about 80% of Alpha Pro’s sound for $300 less.

  
  

Value & Positioning

• Outstanding value at $399 for the internal architecture.

• More power and slightly better resolution than Topping DX5 II.

• Much better value than Alpha Pro in price/performance ratio.

• Combines high-end specs + strong headphone amp + premium design in one box.

  
  

Cons

Usability & Features

• No remote control – inconvenient for sofa/desktop use.

• No screen.

• No parametric EQ (unlike Topping DX5 II or FiiO K13).

• No balanced XLR headphone output (present on Alpha Pro).

  
  

Sound Signature

• Bass lacks body and physical weight.

• Tonality leans bright and lean, not warm or lush.

• Not a “fun” or “musical” tuning for everyone.

• With bright headphones, can become fatiguing or slightly harsh.

• Lacks some dynamics and treble bass extension compared to Alpha Pro.

  
  

Comparisons

• Sounds very similar to Topping DX5 II, making the extra $100 subjective.

• Less rich and emotional than R2R alternatives like FiiO K13.

• Design can feel out of place next to traditional audiophile gear.

• Still not the absolute best “pure DAC” compared to warm, musical competitors.