Kef R 3.
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Poll for Topping PA5 owners only please.
- Thread starter Eggs Ackley
- Start date
I was considering one of these amplifiers for a secondary system until I found this thread concerning the poor reliability issues (regardless whether it's the brick power supplies or design flaws). In the first post of the review thread Amir gave this amplifier his recommendation. I have not read every page of the review or this thread, but has he commented on the reliability problems? Changed his recommendation elsewhere? Is there a reason he wouldn't have modified the original post to mention these issues or remove the recommendation?
Amir doesn't test reliability and there's no way he really can. The pictures inside the equipment can help us decide if it's manufactured well, and good testing equipment should also point to good manufacturing techniques but the PA5 proves that's not always the case. The PA5 was tested as a technical marvel, especially for it's price point. Many of us here have found it to be unreliable. I'm on my second one. The sellers seem to handle the returns differently so that makes the situations and feelings vary. No one knows how many PA5's were sold so we may be a small sample size in the forum. The Topping LA90 discrete looks like the best deal going now, but, zero reliability data. At least it doesn't have bad reliability data yet!
Another viewpoint: while Amir can’t follow every model’s reliability, when there is an obvious flaw (acknowledged by the vendor), affecting a substantial number of ASR posters, and when the vendor promises to be more present and responsive here (but doesn’t follow through), it would seem at a least a footnote or some comment on the original review would be in order.
I, personally, remain puzzled and disappointed by Amir’s failure to do so.
I, personally, remain puzzled and disappointed by Amir’s failure to do so.
Thanks for those quick replies for a newbie.
Obviously, there's no way to test reliability initially, but after so many failures you'd like to think Amir would alter the original recommendation.
While Amir never updated his PA5 review regarding its high failure rates, I note with interest that his review posted today of the LA90 Discrete states "P.S. Power amplifiers are least reliable audio products (due to high currents and voltages involved). New designs sometimes need to prove themselves in this regard. So if you are risk averse, please don't be the first to purchase this amplifier."
Wow! That is just an unbelievable statement.
Since Topping doesn't appear to make a particular product model for more than a year, how do they create a track record for reliability? Durability should matter!
Topping seems to compete on low price/best test and then on to the next. Thats been their pattern and I don't know that it will change. I've been critical of that before because Toppings prices bring high end products into a market that has less money to spend. Its great for the cheapskate audiophile (me) but not so great for the person stretching their budget to get the great specs and then have something fail.
Same
aphysically
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Is there any consensus or knowledge on what is failing here when they get static in one channel or has Topping ever commented? I've read through a while, but I haven't found.
Nothing known.
Firespeed
Member
Just to participate to this thread...
The same for me as I reported in december 2022 : https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...pping-pa5-review-amplifier.28512/post-1418414
Still no issues at all with E50 + PA5.
Martinvb
Active Member
This made some sense to me:
Post in thread 'Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)'
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...pping-pa5-review-amplifier.28512/post-1350283
“maybe micro degradation of one of those opamps, ne5532 is very reliable, not sure of that opa1612 tho.
or cracked solder joints due to the potting compound contracting/expanding over time.”
Which is pure speculation. All we know is he ripped the thing apart, put it together again, and it worked.
I would also suspect stresses due to the potting compound, having experienced similar in a completely different industry. But is is only supposition until someone actually demonstrates it unambiguously.
Martinvb
Active Member
Of course, but as you say: it may be a lead. It will remain difficult to proof the claim without access to a substantial amount of PA5s, and putting them to a test. I would go for a ‘clinical trial’: 100 PA5s without the potting, and 100 standard ones, all playing at high volume until failure (perhaps with controlled switching them on/off from time to time). Then do a comparative ‘survival analysis’ on both groups, something like this could occur:
BoredErica
Addicted to Fun and Learning
My right channel is exhibiting some issues now. :^)
