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Topping A70 Pro HP & Preamp Review

Rate this preamplifier and headphone amp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 16 4.2%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 8 2.1%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 42 11.1%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 314 82.6%
  • Total voters
    380
In terms of distorsion with an he1000se in xlr, better to use it with high or low gain? Dac is d90III set with xlr 5v output
 
Boduke said:
In terms of distorsion with an he1000se in xlr, better to use it with high or low gain? Dac is d90III set with xlr 5v output
Click to expand...
Always use the lowest gain that still gives you satisfying volume.

If Low gain gets loud enough for you, then use Low gain.

If Low gain is too quiet, even with the Amp set to Max volume, then use Medium gain.

Etc etc.
 
Hello... I am having a strange issue with my A70/D70 Octo set up.
When using BAL (XLR interconnects, 4.4 output) the right channel cuts out after 4 seconds every time. If I touch the vol knob on the A70 even one tick, the sound comes back for another 4 seconds and then cuts out again.
I have tried swapping the XLR cables, no change. Tried two sets of headphone cables, happens on both. However if I swap L and R connecting to the headphones, the L channel then cuts out. So, it's not the headphone drivers themselves.
No problems using SE via RCA interconnects.
I have emailed Topping but any ideas?
 
discountdaikon said:
Hello... I am having a strange issue with my A70/D70 Octo set up.
When using BAL (XLR interconnects, 4.4 output) the right channel cuts out after 4 seconds every time. If I touch the vol knob on the A70 even one tick, the sound comes back for another 4 seconds and then cuts out again.
I have tried swapping the XLR cables, no change. Tried two sets of headphone cables, happens on both. However if I swap L and R connecting to the headphones, the L channel then cuts out. So, it's not the headphone drivers themselves.
No problems using SE via RCA interconnects.
I have emailed Topping but any ideas?
Click to expand...
Is it on the latest firmware? I suspect it could be a broken unit.. hope you have a warranty.
 
Topping is emailing me back now, trying to determine the issue.
Quick update after testing a bit more: balanced works fine in pre-amp mode.
D70 Pro Octo-> XLR->A 70 Pro PRE MODE->RCA (Active Speakers) = OK
So this leads me to believe it is indeed somewhere in the amplification stage, not cables, the dac, etc.
 
discountdaikon said:
Topping is emailing me back now, trying to determine the issue.
Quick update after testing a bit more: balanced works fine in pre-amp mode.
D70 Pro Octo-> XLR->A 70 Pro PRE MODE->RCA (Active Speakers) = OK
So this leads me to believe it is indeed somewhere in the amplification stage, not cables, the dac, etc.
Click to expand...
Just as a last ditch effort before returning for warranty, maybe do a factory reset, then reflash the latest firmware and try it one last time. I just put together an A70Pro E70 9028Pro in 5v mode and the thing is literally the best amplifier I've ever heard using an optical USB cable to a hub. 2.02 is the current version.
 
Dunring said:
Just as a last ditch effort before returning for warranty, maybe do a factory reset, then reflash the latest firmware and try it one last time. I just put together an A70Pro E70 9028Pro in 5v mode and the thing is literally the best amplifier I've ever heard using an optical USB cable to a hub. 2.02 is the current version.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion. No change though.
At the suggestion of Topping, I put the XLR cables into the A70 Inputs backwards (see the image) and indeed the right channel was still the one cutting out.
Tried with other headphones and same problem.
Fingers crossed warranty service goes okay.
 

Attachments

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discountdaikon said:
Thanks for the suggestion. No change though.
At the suggestion of Topping, I put the XLR cables into the A70 Inputs backwards (see the image) and indeed the right channel was still the one cutting out.
Tried with other headphones and same problem.
Fingers crossed warranty service goes okay.
Click to expand...
Where did you buy from? I buy audio equipment all the time and might know someone if it's a big retailer or tier one distributor.
 
discountdaikon said:
Thanks for the suggestion. No change though.
At the suggestion of Topping, I put the XLR cables into the A70 Inputs backwards (see the image) and indeed the right channel was still the one cutting out.
Tried with other headphones and same problem.
Fingers crossed warranty service goes okay.
Click to expand...
I see a couple of posts like that going around these days.
Maybe a major thread about failures with proof of ownership is not the worst idea after all as single posts sometimes gets ignored or get little attention.

It would be way easier this way to see a frequently failed device or just a bad sample.
 
well I hope this is cable related but I was running my A70 PROs through a cheapish XLR cable to my Meze 109 Pros. I could hear an occasional click noise through one ear cup and then a "surge" of louder volume and noise through it... happened a few times. Stopped using the cable and have gone back to my single ended cable and all has been well. Haven't got another balanced cable handy to test it with, but concerned something is wrong with either the XLR output or the balanced circuit.
 
discountdaikon said:
Hello... I am having a strange issue with my A70/D70 Octo set up.
When using BAL (XLR interconnects, 4.4 output) the right channel cuts out after 4 seconds every time. If I touch the vol knob on the A70 even one tick, the sound comes back for another 4 seconds and then cuts out again.
I have tried swapping the XLR cables, no change. Tried two sets of headphone cables, happens on both. However if I swap L and R connecting to the headphones, the L channel then cuts out. So, it's not the headphone drivers themselves.
No problems using SE via RCA interconnects.
I have emailed Topping but any ideas?
Click to expand...
I have the same setup: Octo Dac 8 Pro====>XLR=====>Topping A70 Pro. I have had zero issues. If you are having issues with only the A70 Pro and no other balanced input DAC, it's clearly the Topping and possibly a firmware problem. You should contact Topping, and maybe Pavel as well to see if another version of the Octo firmware works better.
 
Bleib said:
New firmware:

A70 Pro version V2.05 firmware update - TOPPING AUDIO

www.toppingaudio.com www.toppingaudio.com

What's updated:
Fix the bug where the screen displays abnormally in rare cases.
Click to expand...
I just flashed the new version. Nothing new on the menu and doesn't sound different. I think that display bug was all they did, or some other things that aren't noticeable unless the display is strange. Haven't run into that though. With the E70 9028Pro DAC this thing sound epic. I have the D70Pro Octo also, but it's all just form factor and connectivity (and price) that's different.
 
Dunring said:
I just flashed the new version. Nothing new on the menu and doesn't sound different. I think that display bug was all they did, or some other things that aren't noticeable unless the display is strange. Haven't run into that though. With the E70 9028Pro DAC this thing sound epic. I have the D70Pro Octo also, but it's all just form factor and connectivity (and price) that's different.
Click to expand...
The last firmware is it solves the problem about the low frequency?
 
Do not update to v2.05 if you use the button to switch between outputs (PRE or HPA) as it has a bug and it is not working... You cannot switch anymore between outputs even when in "advanced settings" the button is assigned to "output mode".

Topping and its firmwares... :rolleyes:
 
mcebrian said:
Do not update to v2.05 if you use the button to switch between outputs (PRE or HPA) as it has a bug and it is not working... You cannot switch anymore between outputs even when in "advanced settings" the button is assigned to "output mode".

Topping and its firmwares... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Write to them
 
mcebrian said:
Do not update to v2.05 if you use the button to switch between outputs (PRE or HPA) as it has a bug and it is not working... You cannot switch anymore between outputs even when in "advanced settings" the button is assigned to "output mode".

Topping and its firmwares... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

People seem to be attracted to amps that have USB port for firmware updates....

to me such a 'feature' for an analogue amp/preamp is a redflag.

Should just be done right, the first time - especially an analogue device like this.

Maybe streamers I can understand the craving for ability to update firmware.

There has not been a single firmware update for the Topping L50 I just bought - that's how it should be
 
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