Topping A30Pro Review (Balanced Headphone Amp)

[Raex]

The latter :/

Wow so not even coil-whine....thats interesting.
It seems that there are units without coil-whine or the speaker-thing, units with just coil-whine and units with both....wth

 

[Sharur]

If I can get a unit without coil whine I might have to do that...quite annoying

 

[JohnYang1997]

The coil-whine, the "internal speaker" or both?

The "internal speaker". Coil whine is probably just because there are venting holes hence it's more audible. It's very normal behavior. There's unit to unit variation. If it's too loud you can ask for a replacement.

 

[Sharur]

The "internal speaker". Coil whine is probably just because there are venting holes hence it's more audible. It's very normal behavior. There's unit to unit variation. If it's too loud you can ask for a replacement.

If the coil whine is normal behavior I'm not going to worry about it. The internal speaker isn't an issue under any normal conditions.

 

[usern]

If I can get a unit without coil whine I might have to do that...quite annoying

There's coil whine with INPUT switch OFF position also for my unit, but with window open and air purifier running I do not notice it. It is my second A30pro and both have had coil whine.

You could try getting big cloth mouse mat that absorbs high pitch reflections from desk and some sound absorbing panels to the back wall. If you use speakers then it's good to do that anyway.

 

[Sharur]

There's coil whine with INPUT switch OFF position also for my unit, but with window open and air purifier running I do not notice it. It is my second A30pro and both have had coil whine.

You could try getting big cloth mouse mat that absorbs high pitch reflections from desk and some sound absorbing panels to the back wall. If you use speakers then it's good to do that anyway.

I'll just use the off switch on the back

 

[Raex]

There's coil whine with INPUT switch OFF position also for my unit, but with window open and air purifier running I do not notice it. It is my second A30pro and both have had coil whine.

You could try getting big cloth mouse mat that absorbs high pitch reflections from desk and some sound absorbing panels to the back wall. If you use speakers then it's good to do that anyway.

Thanks for the clarification, why the second A30pro? First one faulty?

 

[usern]

why the second A30pro? First one faulty?

Because of this:

My A30pro just died. RCA inputs (from D10s), ground lift on. Was playing a game at medium gain 12 o clock volume, heard a pop and then silence. The white led shut off. Can't get the unit to turn on any more. The shell temperature was around 41 degrees Celsius when it happened. Headphones survived.

HiFiGo.com was a good sport and refunded that unit after sending it back. I bought a new one from amazon.de since regulations of ordering outside EU have become more strict meanwhile and it's easier to deal with warranty inside EU.

 

[Raex]

I'll just use the off switch on the back

Do you use XLR or RCA inputs?

 

[Sharur]

Do you use XLR or RCA inputs?

RCA

 

[Raex]

RCA

Maybe it's an RCA-thing as usern uses XLR and his unit is quiet....

 

[Sharur]

@JohnYang1997 can see your love for Etymotic with the noise floor of this amp

 

[Lupin]

I have to report that I also have a unit that has the coil whine issue. Coil whine is only present when the unit is warmed up, there is no coil whine when the unit is cold. Only solution is to completely shut of the power with the switch on the back... hopefully that switch is decent quality and doesn't wear out fast when used frequently.

 

[Raex]

Not happening on my A30pro. I'm using XLR inputs though.

Have you tried with RCA?

@Sharur Does is also happen when you use the XLR Inputs?


I'm fascinated by this, an electronic device that does something unintended that should not even be possible....a circuitry playing music itself, thats really something special haha

 

[Sharur]

Have you tried with RCA?

@Sharur Does is also happen when you use the XLR Inputs?


I'm fascinated by this, an electronic device that does something unintended that should not even be possible....a circuitry playing music itself, thats really something special haha

I don't have a balanced dac atm so cannot say I have

 

[sanakimpro]

So is the consensus that A30 pro is the most powerful and linear mid-range amp for single-ended headphones? Still looking for best amp for Beyer T1 600 ohms (1st gen) and debating Topping vs Schiit vs ifi. Probably not getting any balanced full-sized headphones but perhaps balanced IEMs in future. Any advice?

 

[Sharur]

So is the consensus that A30 pro is the most powerful and linear mid-range amp for single-ended headphones? Still looking for best amp for Beyer T1 600 ohms (1st gen) and debating Topping vs Schiit vs ifi. Probably not getting any balanced full-sized headphones but perhaps balanced IEMs in future. Any advice?

A magni heresy can easily drive those 600 ohm beyers to deafening levels as they are not too insensitive. Anything this amp can provide over the heresy will already be in the realm of incredibly high distortion. If you just want the best measuring single ended amp for extremely hard and extremely easy to drive loads, this is a good choice, but there will be absolutely zero audible benefits for the T1.

 

[vco1]

Coil whine is only present when the unit is warmed up, there is no coil whine when the unit is cold.

Warmed up and off? I'm a bit confused. Is this unit warm/hot even when it's not in use (i.e. not driving headphones)?

 

[sanakimpro]

A magni heresy can easily drive those 600 ohm beyers to deafening levels as they are not too insensitive. Anything this amp can provide over the heresy will already be in the realm of incredibly high distortion. If you just want the best measuring single ended amp for extremely hard and extremely easy to drive loads, this is a good choice, but there will be absolutely zero audible benefits for the T1.
View attachment 145440

Thanks, but I would like to keep the 4.4mm balanced for the benefit for IEMs. I really like amps offering both SE and balanced outputs. Hence, A30 Pro still better than Magni Heresy for me. I also own the less sensitive DT 990 / 600 ohm and apparently need around 250mW x 2 for 120dB SPL. Hence I would prefer ~300mW @ 600ohm as a threshold. This precludes both A90 and Schiit Magni Heresy.

Anything better than A30 Pro or no? Thanks for your time, friends.

 

[Sharur]

Thanks, but I would like to keep the 4.4mm balanced for the benefit for IEMs. I really like amps offering both SE and balanced outputs. Hence, A30 Pro still better than Magni Heresy for me. I also own the less sensitive DT 990 / 600 ohm and apparently need around 250mW x 2 for 120dB SPL. Hence I would prefer ~300mW @ 600ohm as a threshold. This precludes both A90 and Schiit Magni Heresy.

Anything better than A30 Pro or no? Thanks for your time, friends.

120 dB SPL on drivers with max rated SPL of 114 dB? The DT990s would produce nothing but garbage distorted sound at 114dB let alone 120 dB. If you want the balanced outputs, this is a fantastic choice nonetheless.