Topping Centaurus Review

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Let’s get the obvious out of the way, the Centaurus doesn’t sound like old triple-crown Philips TDA1544 implementations old guys keep around to listen to female vocals exclusively. Both Holo and Topping have created a very versatile DAC that excels with physical instruments but never falters if you throw it some Moderat or even Haus Arafna. The Centaurus will gallop along wherever your musical tastes will lead. I felt that my amp choices made a larger impact on the genre versatility of the overall system.

When it comes to timbre the Centaurus is more organic than most chip-based DACs I’ve heard but less coloured than other usual-suspect R2Rs. The highlight here is the mids which are rendered in a way that translates supreme realism. Of course, it has to be there in the recording in the first place. The bass is deep and insightful but to be honest I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard bad bass from a DAC. Treble is okay but I’ve heard more finesse from some AKM-based implementations.

Staging on the Topping x Holo Centaurus is interesting or rather – chameleonic. For example, the SMSL RAW-DAC1 constantly throws a wider stage. The Centaurus on the other hand is very recording-dependent. It can sound intimate with some songs and completely transform with others. In my opinion, it’s more faithful to the recording. The resolution is fine for its price point but I was rarely wowed by it. It’s the whole package that sells the Centaurus to my ears with exquisite midrange and deep adaptability to recording characteristics.

Comparisons

FiiO K19

Here I’ll be talking about using the K19 ($1,299.99 USD) as a dedicated DAC only. It’s currently FiiO’s top dog all-in-one and uses a pair of ES9039SPro chips with an all-opamp output stage.

The power supply is a switcher which provides the source voltages for all the regulators to regulate down to whatever is required. Its other highlight is the use of a dedicated SHARC DSP chip which allows for 31-band PEQ – a treat for EQ surgeons gone wild.

Compared to the Centaurus the FiiO K19 is more vivid sounding with some FiiO signature warmth to the sound. The technicalities of both are roughly on the same level with the K19 sometimes rendering a wider soundstage whilst the Centaurus has more depth. In an identical system, the Centaurus was always able to render the music in a more realistic manner whilst the K19 always remained a tad unnatural and stereotypically hi-fi. Upping the amplifier section to the Feliks Audio Euforia Evo the Centaurus scaled up more in overall fidelity.

SMSL RAW-DAC1

The SMSL RAW-DAC1 is a single AK4499EX chip implementation with an all-opamp output stage and SMPSU power. It’s a good bit more affordable than the Centaurus but I’m a sucker for AK4499EX sound and it gives us a useful baseline for an organic sound. Features-wise it’s quite similar to the Centaurus – a pure DAC. It does have an extra set of SPDIF and optical inputs which can come in handy in some hi-fi systems.

What surprised me when comparing the two, was that I preferred the RAW-DAC1 in some cases to the Centaurus. And when I analyzed those cases, they were all when I was using a lower-grade amplifier or less-resolving headphones. For the Centaurus to pull away in technicalities and realism, I had to stick to my Euforia Evo and have either the ZMF Auteur Classic or the DCA Noire X glued to my head.

Conclusion

I think the Centaurus is the answer to Topping’s high-end conundrum – more heart, soul, and character without paying the price of overall fidelity. Yes, it won’t sell with SINAD figures alone, because you have to hear it to believe it. Yes, the spectrum analyzer shows more grass under -120dBFS, but your ears will love to touch it. 

Do I recommend it to everyone without reservation? Almost. There are DACs with more R2R characteristics around the price point the Centaurus inhabits. I don’t think they’ll have the same genre bandwidth as the Centaurus but they might work better for some. Those chasing raw detail can end up disappointed by the Centaurus, at least until they invest in better downstream equipment. 

What nudges the value proposition of the Topping x Holo Centaurus into “great” territory ultimately is the addition of the DSP chip to do PEQ. It can rescue something like a Sennheiser HD800 which can be had for silly money 2nd hand or correct bass peaks in a speaker system. Therefore I’m giving it a “Headfonia Recommended” award and urge everyone to try the Centaurus out themselves.

Summary

Pros:

• Immersion and realism
• Exquisite midrange rendition
• PEQ, if used correctly, can move mountains
• The screen is beautiful
• Highly unfatiguing sound
• Great dynamics

Cons:

• Some UX quirks
• No lossless Bluetooth in 2025
• RCA for SPDIF
• Not the last word in technicalities