Topping A30Pro Review (Balanced Headphone Amp)

[JohnYang1997]

I use my A30 pro with an RME over xlr. The RME can output 19dBu over xlr (~6.9 volts). I typically I have my volume set to 11dBu (2.75Vrms). However I have left it running at 6.9volts before. Nothing really happens except that it seems a little bit louder. It doesn't shut off or go into protection mode. Also, I would imagine the engineers when designing this amp have to account for all the different types of input voltage this unit would be seeing. If they made a device that could only funciton within a very narrow window. I am sure we would have heard about already! @JohnYang1997 are Amir's measurements for power output taken at 4V input? However, I am guessing since the listed sensitivity is 2.7 that maximum power is seen at this point.

I think so, as normally DACs have 4V output for balance output.

 

[faheem]

Topping A30 PRO Review

https://soundnews.net/amplifiers/he...ro-review-always-outnumbered-never-outgunned/

Just watched the video review. No bass with a Susvara, these types of reviews make no sense

 

[3kweave]

The reason I got the a30 pro is because you need a lot of power to add in 10dB of low shelf eq and then listen to a song with tons of bass. It sounds like I have a subwoofer on my head. The RME ADI can't really pull that off. I do have very inefficient planar headphones. I wonder if there is an actual explanation (beyond bias/placebo) why some amps sound more bass heavy or warm?

 

[Haze]

So, I have been reading that the A30 Pro's stated power output is misleading because Topping measured it using a 5 VRMS dac. What kind of power output would you be getting using a bog standard 2 VRMS dac plugged into the things RCAs?

 

[JohnYang1997]

So, I have been reading that the A30 Pro's stated power output is misleading because Topping measured it using a 5 VRMS dac. What kind of power output would you be getting using a bog standard 2 VRMS dac plugged into the things RCAs?

Input sensitivity is 2.7V. If you use 4V input it's much more than enough for full power. If the design made 2V full power the gain would be too high with XLR input.

 

[Haze]

Input sensitivity is 2.7V. If you use 4V input it's much more than enough for full power. If the design made 2V full power the gain would be too high with XLR input.

Okay. So how much power does the amp put out when used with a 2vrms dac?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Okay. So how much power does the amp put out when used with a 2vrms dac?

16Ohm 6W
32Ohm 3W
300Ohm 330mW

 

[Haze]

16Ohm 6W
32Ohm 3W
300Ohm 330mW

Thanks!

 

[the_brunx]

Before I do it, Is there anything that speaks against using an A30 pro to power a STAX SRD7 transformer to power electrostatic headphones? They say you need about 4 watts or more from any speaker amp.

 

[AXR]

Just bought one to pair with Gustard X-16 which also got high praise by Amir.

 

[Phos]

So I take it there's nothing that accounts for the input level difference between RCA and XLR (assuming normal voltage)? Would a differential amp have that ability?

Before I do it, Is there anything that speaks against using an A30 pro to power a STAX SRD7 transformer to power electrostatic headphones? They say you need about 4 watts or more from any speaker amp.

First I've heard of someone running an electrostat transformer off a headphone amp, not sure what the current requirements are.

 

[VariousArtists]

Just a quick check before I buy a pair of balanced passthrough cable - is this (https://www.torden.co/shop/p/trs-to-xlr-m) the right cable?

From description:
- 6.35MM (1/4”) TRS JACK TO 3 PIN XLR MALE
- PIN 2 SIGNAL PIN 1 & 3 GROUND

Is this the correct pin layout? Cheers!

 

[JohnYang1997]

Just a quick check before I buy a pair of balanced passthrough cable - is this (https://www.torden.co/shop/p/trs-to-xlr-m) the right cable?

From description:
- 6.35MM (1/4”) TRS JACK TO 3 PIN XLR MALE
- PIN 2 SIGNAL PIN 1 & 3 GROUND

Is this the correct pin layout? Cheers!

Doesn't look right. Why two pins are ground?

 

[VariousArtists]

Doesn't look right. Why two pins are ground?

Not sure but does that work as a simple TS cable that way?

 

[VariousArtists]

Doesn't look right. Why two pins are ground?

Do you have an example from Amazon or eBay I can buy?

 

[JohnYang1997]

Not sure but does that work as a simple TS cable that way?

You might be shorting out the upstream device using the cable. I recommend go to Amazon for some good cable.
Google "Amazon trs xlr" and you should get the correct one.

 

[VariousArtists]

You might be shorting out the upstream device using the cable. I recommend go to Amazon for some good cable.
Google "Amazon trs xlr" and you should get the correct one.

Thanks a lot. Does this one work?

TISINO 6.35mm Jack TS to XLR Male Cable, Nylon Braid Quarter inch 1/4" Mono to XLR Unbalanced Interconnect Lead - 2m https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083R4X...abc_P38ADK288H8603SK7HFX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[JohnYang1997]

Thanks a lot. Does this one work?

TISINO 6.35mm Jack TS to XLR Male Cable, Nylon Braid Quarter inch 1/4" Mono to XLR Unbalanced Interconnect Lead - 2m https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083R4X...abc_P38ADK288H8603SK7HFX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

It should be TRS instead of TS.
https://www.amazon.com/Tisino-Balanced-Signal-Interconnect-Quarter/dp/B07J5R4873

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Cable-XLR-Male-Jack/dp/B007WPI59E

 

[VariousArtists]

It should be TRS instead of TS.
https://www.amazon.com/Tisino-Balanced-Signal-Interconnect-Quarter/dp/B07J5R4873

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Cable-XLR-Male-Jack/dp/B007WPI59E

Ok, thank you so much!

 

[VariousArtists]

It should be TRS instead of TS.
https://www.amazon.com/Tisino-Balanced-Signal-Interconnect-Quarter/dp/B07J5R4873

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Cable-XLR-Male-Jack/dp/B007WPI59E

Turns out these 2 are not available immediately in the UK.

I found this one instead with the same pin layout:

TISINO 6.35mm Jack to XLR Cable, Nylon Braid Quarter inch 1/4" TRS Stereo Jack to XLR Male Balanced Interconnect Cord Patch Lead - 2m https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083R48YRS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_8C1H61TBBQT8673E397W?psc=1