Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[voodooless]

I pointed to COMPETATIVE market well executed amps.

Can you define this?

 

[pkane]

I don't know why you think this is offensive.

Not offensive, just factually incorrect:

To compare to a comparable amp with reasonable overhead, consider the PA5 to be more like a 20W amp

 

[antcollinet]

I pointed to COMPETATIVE market well executed amps. Not playing number games. Yes, the numbers on the PA5 are superb.
I stand by this little gem looks to be comparable IN USE to well executed 20W or so amps. GOOD amps. Ones listed for a lot more money.
I don't know why you think this is offensive. Do you know how much power you actually use for comfortable listening? Do you understand why Nelson Pass is so adamite about "the first watt"? Would I choose it to drive an Alexa V in a 500 sq ft room to concert levels? No. I might think the Benchmark marginal. Might it drive my Seas bookshelf's in my 200 sq ft living room for the constant pleasant music? Just maybe. If I was in an apartment where you can't drive to concert levels ( most of the world), it may be great. I ran a 10W Kenwood class A in my office for years. It could play louder than I could stand. Built a 6W tube, Again, fine.

WHICH ONES.

You keep saying it is really only a 20W amp. That it is comparable to a well executed 20W amp that has 3dB headroom. WHICH 20W rated amp can do 50W with low distortion. I've never seen an amp so conservatively rated that it can actually deliver twice its rated power clean. (or even a 50W rated amp that has the 3dB headroom that you seem to require)

Without a specific example it is very difficult to take your statement at face value. It sounds like just another "class D can't hack it against class AB"

 

[tvrgeek]

Competitive as in amplifies intended to be used in the same environment and expecting true high fidelity. Market is anyone in an apartment or a high end desktop who is looking for very clean sound. LIKE THE ONES I LISTED.

Gad, why are folks so obstinate today. This is simple. The produced a very nice little amp. One like almost all the market actually needs.

Can't hack? YOU ARE MAKING THIS UP. I actually want one. The first class D I am seriously considering. It looks like a great little amp. No it is not intended to drive large full range in big rooms to concert levels. That is a small market and requires much bigger kit. ( Though it would make a Klipshorn scream) Stick an L30 front with an Atom Dac and for $700 you can give half the Sterophile recommended a spanking for their $50K and up price. IF it sounds as nice subjectively as it suggests. Good specs do not always define good sound as they are incomplete, but bad specs do tend to do so. Sheezzz.

 

[pkane]

Gad, why are folks so obstinate today. This is simple. The produced a very nice little amp. One like almost all the market actually needs.

I think we all agree

 

[antcollinet]

Competitive as in amplifies intended to be used in the same environment and expecting true high fidelity. Market is anyone in an apartment or a high end desktop who is looking for very clean sound. LIKE THE ONES I LISTED.

Gad, why are folks so obstinate today. This is simple. The produced a very nice little amp. One like almost all the market actually needs.

Can't hack? YOU ARE MAKING THIS UP. I actually want one. The first class D I am seriously considering. It looks like a great little amp. No it is not intended to drive large full range in big rooms to concert levels. That is a small market and requires much bigger kit. ( Though it would make a Klipshorn scream) Stick an L30 front with an Atom Dac and for $700 you can give half the Sterophile recommended a spanking for their $50K and up price. IF it sounds as nice subjectively as it suggests. Good specs do not always define good sound as they are incomplete, but bad specs do tend to do so. Sheezzz.

I'm trying to understand why you keep stating it is equivalent to a 20W amp. You've not said it just once. It seems to make no sense. It can clearly deliver 50 very high fidelity watts - into 8ohm, much more into 4.

"Can't hack" is what it sounds like when you refuse, or are unable to give an example of an amp that is rated as you say this one should be.

 

[AudioArchitech]

It was pretty clear in the first post by Amir. Why the 20W statement? No need for that

2 x 83W at 4 ohm
2 x 48W at 8 ohm

 

[tvrgeek]

Better look at the left of the graph too.

 

[Xulonn]

Better look at the left of the graph too.

The only thing the left side of the power vs. distortion graph shows is that SINAD increases to 90dB at about 100mW at 8Ω and 85dB at about 400mW at 4Ω - much like the Purifi 1ET400A. Do you find that to be a problem?

 

[tvrgeek]

Can't accept it looks like a really nice small amp that should hit the market right on can you?

 

[BoredErica]

?????????????????
So how is it a 20w amp?

 

[antcollinet]

Can't accept it looks like a really nice small amp that should hit the market right on can you?

Don't think anyone's arguing with that. Just looking for an explantion of your "20W" statement, which you don't seem able to provide.

 

[Entropy]

Does anyone know how this one Compares to SMSL DA9 or SMSL AO200 ? Curious which one sounds "better" (better soundstage...)

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, as I haven't actually tried the a20a/da9/ao200 (basically the same thing), rather I've only tried the a10a, however, there really aren't a ton of differences in terms of sound afaik, but I could be wrong. The largest difference in the spec sheet is the SNR (98db on the Sabaj as opposed to the 110db on the ao200), ao200 might also have a better psu, I'm not really well-versed with the differences, though I'm sure somebody else here could list the differences in a more competent fashion. A10a has One Infineon MA12070. Ao200, two.

Moving on to my subjective impressions on the Jbl studio 530's (nearfield), with the Ifi zendac and Sabaj/topping. If it matters to you, The Zendac only has Se outputs so I'm using trs to rca adapters. Overall, I find that the topping just sounds... better, in almost all aspects. The Sabaj in comparison to this sounds a little soft, a little veiled. The topping has a better grip on the bass frequencies- it's more textured, extension feels better, and overall it's just more... satisfying. Probably the largest improvement. For the midrange, again, it sounds less veiled, Timbre is a bit better. Treble seems to be a touch hotter, and I prefer the tonality of the a10a more, however, pa5 is still less veiled, more detailed. Don't quote me on the hotness part though, I could just be imagining things lol. Gonna double-check.
The rest- instrument separation, Stage, imaging (especially center), better in a capacity, but it isn't huge.
Hope it helped.

 

[Xulonn]

Can't accept it looks like a really nice small amp that should hit the market right on can you?

That is a serious non sequitur. You seem to have difficulty comprehending the statements and questions of others who post here at ASR.

I wholeheartedly accept that the Topping PA5 is a really nice small, mid-powered balanced-input stereo amplifier with super-low distortion, and would not hesitate to purchase one if I needed an amplifier.

However, I personally am wary of Topping amplifier reliability, because I bought a PA3 about two years ago, and it died after about 7 months. I thought that was a fluke, and bought another one, which died in about 3 months.

 

[AudioArchitech]

I just did a search for reliability issues regarding Topping PA3 and didn’t see much. Am I missing something? Surely, there would be some chatter about it online if it was a problem.

 

[MarkWinston]

Can't accept it looks like a really nice small amp that should hit the market right on can you?

Cant accept a small amp puts out 48w at 8 ohms?

 

[anotherhobby]

I noticed my DAC and headphone amp were running pretty warm sitting on the PA5. I just got the little topping rack, and I have to say that noticeably less heat makes it to the other devices, and they both run much cooler now vs just stacking them on top of each other. Disappointingly, the rack doesn't come with those little bases, but I got them off Amazon for less than $7.

For Scale:

 

[Xulonn]

I just did a search for reliability issues regarding Topping PA3 and didn’t see much. Am I missing something? Surely, there would be some chatter about it online if it was a problem.

I think is was just bad luck for me. People would speak out if it were a big problem. Murphy was looking over my shoulder, because living in a remote part of Panama, returns are not really feasible.

 

[TimF]

I have a DIY amp with the Hypex NC502MP module which is a module that combines amplifier and power supply on one board. This DIY uses the common Ghent case. I don't like the Ghent case--it is too small, too tight a fit. I bought the amp from someone else who put it all together. The unit works fine. I'd like to put together a DIY Hypex based or Purifi based 2 channel stereo amp and do it in a bigger more spacious case than the standard Ghent cases. I have such a case that I bought. You can also get basic audio equipment cases from Chinese sources (Aliexpress) or from equipment supply stores for pro equipment. There is at this time no source for Hypex NC series or Purifi amp modules that I know of. Two questions: 1) Will the Hypex NC and Purifi amp modules continue indefinitely to be unavailable except for manufacturers and so I should give up hoping to buy one or the other? Is the Topping PA5 of such sound quality that the 'objectivist' specialists in ASR conclude there is very little if any sound quality identifiable difference between the Hypex NC MP modules, the Purifi modules and the Topping PA5 for general home listening (assuming that I do not need a high power amp)? Assuming a small room with efficient speakers and I don't play music loud. I know I should be able to study the respective reviews on ASR and draw the conclusions myself after reading this website for a year and more but I'd like other's opinions.

 

[Xulonn]

I noticed my DAC and headphone amp were running pretty warm sitting on the PA5. I just got the little topping rack, and I have to say that noticeably less heat makes it to the other devices, and they both run much cooler now vs just stacking them on top of each other. Disappointingly, the rack doesn't come with those little bases, but I got them off Amazon for less than $7.

View attachment 177327

For Scale:

View attachment 177328

That is a really nice, classy looking little audio component stack!