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At £235, this Topping DX5 II listing sits comfortably below the £299 new retail price and lands just under the £348 75th percentile for used GBP listings, making it a fair to slightly strong deal in the current market. With the median used asking price at £134, this unit is priced higher than average, but that reflects its “new condition” status and the fact that recent used comps skew low due to older or damaged units; the £235 price is still well below new and avoids the £348 ceiling where used deals become ambitious.
The DX5 II is a high-spec desktop DAC and headphone amp praised for its flagship-tier performance under £300, delivering 7,600mW per channel at 16Ω and a 133dB dynamic range that handles both IEMs and high-impedance headphones like the HD650 with ease. Its included VU meter, multiple headphone outputs (XLR balanced, 6.35mm, 4.4mm), and Bluetooth support make it a versatile, modern upgrade, and a new-condition unit at £235 is a genuine buying opportunity for enthusiasts wanting near-new performance without paying full retail.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Dual emerged from the Black Forest region of Germany in 1907, when brothers Christian and Joseph Steidinger began manufacturing clockwork and gramophone components in St. Georgen. The company adopted its now-iconic name in 1927 after pioneering dual-mode power supplies that allowed gramophones to operate from either mains electricity or mechanical wind-up mechanisms. This innovation marked the beginning of Dual's transition from component supplier to full-fledged audio manufacturer, establishing a foundation of engineering precision that would define the brand for decades.
Dual built its reputation primarily as a turntable specialist, becoming Europe's largest turntable manufacturer by the post-war era with over 3,000 employees across multiple factories. Beyond vinyl playback, the company expanded into cassette players, CD players, and broader consumer electronics throughout the 1970s and 1980s, demonstrating versatility across analog and digital formats. The company's focus on mechanical excellence and stable drive systems earned it recognition as a dependable, quality-focused manufacturer throughout its European heyday.
Today, Dual occupies a fragmented market position following corporate restructuring in the 1990s and subsequent ownership changes. The original German turntable line continues production in St. Georgen under Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH, maintaining traditional manufacturing standards and appealing to vintage enthusiasts and collectors. Separately, Namsung Electronics markets Dual-branded consumer electronics in the Americas at accessible price points. The brand's legacy rests primarily on its classic turntables, which remain highly sought after by collectors and audiophiles valuing precision engineering and heritage craftsmanship.
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