Recommendation of headphone amplifier with measurements as good as Topping but more powerful

[LETRA]

Most of the common HPAs, DX9, A90D, L70, A70 Pro, SMSL H400, Singxer SA-1, etc., only run at +/- 15 volts.

You could try to get a used Violectric HPA V280. It also runs at +/- 26 volts, so over 50 volts.
100 ohms at 23 volts and 5.3 watts should still be significantly more than the usual suspects.
With a bit of luck, you can get one of these gems for just under €1,000. That's still much more sensible than sinking it into irreparable devices. Its lifespan with daily use is about 25-30 years, so it's not a risk even if it's used. It can be repaired and overhauled inexpensively by any workshop.

Alternatively, you could also try an HPA V200, which you can get used for €400-500. It also runs at over +/- 30 volts (i.e., over 60 volts total voltage).
I also know several users who run their Susvara, HE1000, etc., with this amplifier and never have to crank it all the way up.

I definitely can't crank my HE6se V2 all the way up on my Violectric HPA V200 (basically half a V280) at 0 pre-gain. At 12 o'clock, I reach my maximum listening volume; from 3 o'clock onward, it becomes unbearably painful, and the volume control goes all the way up to 5 o'clock. The HPA V200 is, of course, only an SE amplifier, but it also has two pre-gain stages, +6 and +12 dB.
The two Susvaras, various HE1000 and HE6 versions, all ran smoothly with the V200.

For the same maximum listening volume with the Topping L70 connected to high gain and balanced, I have to set it to -24 dB. It becomes unbearably painful at -12 dB.

That's a very interesting comment because I was weighing Violetric, there are even some Chinese clones that have their advocates. But apart from the price (I would be very surprised to find it for 1000€ in Europe) I discarded it when I bought the Flux Mentor because there were people who preferred the Mentor to the Violectric and then the Mentor did not convince me. Also the measurements of the Violectric are good, but not as good as the Topping, SMSL. And that it has a lot of power is not my only interest. The clarity, the transparency of the Topping. SMSL, that's what I'm looking for, but with much more power. The construction of the Violectric is much better, of that I'm sure, and if your choice rests on that it's a sure hit. But I don't plan to have the same HPA in 25 years. If the Topping's hold up for ten years I'll be happy with the purchase. And not because I plan to have them ten years, but because I will sell them second hand and the buyer will last several years as well. More and more people are using headphones and this is moving faster than the hifi of speaker equipment. It is not a good idea for me to spend thousands on a device thinking you will retire listening to music on it. Topping have made me a fan of Chinese hifi. I will wait with a little patience to see what can amaze me

 

[Jimster480]

That's a very interesting comment because I was weighing Violetric, there are even some Chinese clones that have their advocates. But apart from the price (I would be very surprised to find it for 1000€ in Europe) I discarded it when I bought thec because there were people who preferred the Mentor to the Violectric and then the Mentor did not convince me. Also the measurements of the Violectric are good, but not as good as the Topping, SMSL. And that it has a lot of power is not my only interest. The clarity, the transparency of the Topping. SMSL, that's what I'm looking for, but with much more power. The construction of the Violectric is much better, of that I'm sure, and if your choice rests on that it's a sure hit. But I don't plan to have the same HPA in 25 years. If the Topping's hold up for ten years I'll be happy with the purchase. And not because I plan to have them ten years, but because I will sell them second hand and the buyer will last several years as well. More and more people are using headphones and this is moving faster than the hifi of speaker equipment. It is not a good idea for me to spend thousands on a device thinking you will retire listening to music on it. Topping have made me a fan of Chinese hifi. I will wait with a little patience to see what can amaze me

Well Topping DX9 should have more than enough power.... Are you using it in balanced mode? It has more than 10W per channel... 47VPP...
Flux Mentor doesn't have voltage numbers attached to it but it has slightly more output power vs the DX9.... around 10%.

 

[Human Bass]

Ok. I don't fully understand the technical underpinnings of all this, but I understand what you're telling me. In any case in the measurements that have been made of the DX9 and the Flux Mentor are better for the Topping, except that of the RMS power. Is there no headphone amplifier on the market that has as good measurements as the Topping and yet is more powerful? I'm sure from all the opinions I've read on the internet, even on ASR, that headphones like Susvara or Immanis need more powerful amps than the DX9 to sound even better.

Remember that after 100db (many would say even less than that) you are actually damaging your hearing

And well, Topping A900 is about to launch, and it will be quite powerful.

 

[Jimster480]

Remember that after 100db (many would say even less than that) you are actually damaging your hearing

And well, Topping A900 is about to launch, and it will be quite powerful.

Definitely, I try to keep the volume under 90db specifically

 

[LETRA]

Well Topping DX9 should have more than enough power.... Are you using it in balanced mode? It has more than 10W per channel... 47VPP...
Flux Mentor doesn't have voltage numbers attached to it but it has slightly more output power vs the DX9.... around 10%.

Yes, but there is a difference between DX9 and Flux Mentor. I tried the T+A Solitaire P headphones with the DX9 and I had to turn the volume all the way up on high gain. Maybe I listen to music louder than you, but the thing is that the DX9 didn't have enough power. However I tried them with the Flux Mentor and the volume was at 08:00 AM, although the sound was not as good and in my comparisons I much preferred the DX9 / HE1000 Stealth duo to the Mentor / Solitaire P. Those watts of difference are very noticeable when the headphones require a lot of power.

 

[LETRA]

Remember that after 100db (many would say even less than that) you are actually damaging your hearing

And well, Topping A900 is about to launch, and it will be quite powerful.

I have been following the news on ASR about the Topping A900 and I don't think I will buy it. It has features I don't need, such as four XLR outputs for headphones. We'll have to see what people say when I test it with Susvara, etc, but I'm not looking forward to its release.

 

[Human Bass]

I have been following the news on ASR about the Topping A900 and I don't think I will buy it. It has features I don't need, such as four XLR outputs for headphones. We'll have to see what people say when I test it with Susvara, etc, but I'm not looking forward to its release.

Btw, DX5 II can easily do Susvara for 299.

Power itself wont fix the limitations of a headphone, EQ will.

 

[Chagall]

Btw, DX5 II can easily do Susvara for 299.

Power itself wont fix the limitations of a headphone, EQ will.

DX5 II is riddled with bugs and even hardware issues. I wouldn't touch it for at least 6 months.

Topping DX5 II

Dual DAC, hybrid powerful HP amp, large screen and PEQ on all inputs. Of course it should have excellent measurements as all modern DACs and HPs amps from Topping do. And it looks very nice too! Seems like a winner to me. Edit: price is 350 usd at the official Topping Store. (subscribe to...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[Human Bass]

DX5 II is riddled with bugs and even hardware issues. I wouldn't touch it for at least 6 months.

Topping DX5 II

Dual DAC, hybrid powerful HP amp, large screen and PEQ on all inputs. Of course it should have excellent measurements as all modern DACs and HPs amps from Topping do. And it looks very nice too! Seems like a winner to me. Edit: price is 350 usd at the official Topping Store. (subscribe to...

audiosciencereview.com

If the person wont EQ and do any software stuff, just use as a straight dac amp, it is totally ok.

 

[Chagall]

If the person wont EQ and do any software stuff, just use as a straight dac amp, it is totally ok.

Susvara without EQ? That’s already a compromise I would give it more time to iron out the bugs and revisions.

 

[Human Bass]

Susvara without EQ? That’s already a compromise I would give it more time to iron out the bugs and revisions.

Can apply EQ on the pc.

 

[kandamrgam]

Have you tried Topping A70 Pro? I can't imagine anything measuring better, nor delivering more Watt per dollar.

 

[kandamrgam]

Thanks for the suggestion. The Topping A90D has similar power, and I don't know if a little lower, than the Topping DX9 15th that I use. I once tried it with Susvara and it was underpowered. I have also had Flux Mentor, a high-powered headphone amplifier, and its measurements are average and although it drives high-powered headphones, the sound is not of Topping quality. So I'm just waiting leisurely for high impedance headphone amps to be sold, but as good in measurements as the current Topping or SMSL.

Where did you come across measurements of Mentor? And I am not sure our hearing is good enough to discern differences in measurements. The Flux Lab amp measured here was good.

 

[J-Fly]

I’ve had the Flux Labs M-Field dual stack for about a week. It’s still going through the 100 hours of warm up. But comparing it to the A70 Pro and H400, this thing is clean, powerful, and can’t be matched. It’s warmer than the Mentor and slightly less powerful at 26W vs 33W.