Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[amirm]

@amirm: are these two red lines channel imbalance or two different gain settings?
If the last, what gain?

No, it is one measurement. The amplifier went into protection causing the graph to shoot backward. You can just ignore that line. The measurement is for medium gain as noted.

 

[amirm]

Can you tell the reason for using a power amp without any gain?

It just happens that with this level of power, you can drive the amplifier with zero voltage gain with an audio interface with high output voltage to full power. So it is possible but not what most members here have so I focused on medium gain for most of the tests.

 

[totti1965]

If you want to see a really weird layout, look up the Sony HAP-Z1ES.

I can see your point, ha ha ha! (From 2:24 min on)

 

[anphex]

The base improvement here is price/performance compared over the LA90D. But even if it's super clean, with 80 Watt you can only do so much.
Anyway, still glad to see topping pushing the boundaries further. Also, I REALLY hope this thing doesn't die after 1-2 years like some topping series do gladly JUST out of warranty. (looking at you, PA5).

EDIT: Wait, this is monoblock performance?! 80 Watt in a monoblock? Okay, I revert most of my praise above. I'd prefer the LA90D then.

 

[totti1965]

I'll bet more than a few of us have spent $600 or more for an amplifier that when all was said and done only effectively put out 50 watts or less. And at the time we may have even thought that the amp delivered nirvana.

Is this picture Norman Bates? lol

 

[Bleib]

I can see your point, ha ha ha! (From 2:24 min on)

Wait, is he really saying that changing to an SSD improves the soundquality? I get that the mechanical noise is gone but.. he seems to address that separately. Also, maybe no need for a fan with an SSD?

 

[JPA]

Two of my least favorite things in an amplifier combined: monoblock and external PSU
And it barely has enough power to drive some bookshelves. Well, one. Not exactly sure who this product is aimed at.

This is perfect for my use-case. I need a very clean low-to-mid-power amp to drive tweeters and midranges in my DIY active speakers. Electronics go in an equipment closet so I don't care about appearance or separate PSU. Of course, I realize my use-case is 0.001% (or less) of the marketplace.

 

[spigot]

Never seen the appeal of these. To get stereo you would have to buy two turntables and two LPs, and then drop the needle at precisely the same time, with just one channel going to each amplifier and speaker. Madness!!! At least I think that's how it works...

 

[audioje]

I will get them once my pa5ii stops working. This will be my endgame just like my sierra lx speakers.

 

[Sean_S]

Would this amplifier be using "feed forward" error correction, ala THX888 (Benchmark AHB2)? I guess there's no way to know unless someone from Topping can answer for us. I doubt they would be constrained by the patent since they don't sell directly in the US.

Such great performance from an A/B design, makes me think that it does.

 

[totti1965]

The base improvement here is price/performance compared over the LA90D. But even if it's super clean, with 80 Watt you can only do so much.
Anyway, still glad to see topping pushing the boundaries further. Also, I REALLY hope this thing doesn't die after 1-2 years like some topping series do gladly JUST out of warranty. (looking at you, PA5).

EDIT: Wait, this is monoblock performance?! 80 Watt in a monoblock? Okay, I revert most of my praise above. I'd prefer the LA90D then.

LA90D as Bridged Monoblock: 320 Watt Peak @ 4 Ohms for $ 1600,—
B100: 80 Watt @ 4 Ohms for $ 600,—
So the LA90D in Bridged Monoblock Mode can play about 6 dB louder / has 6 dB more reserve than the B100.

 

[REK2575]

The last point applies to the amplifier market of the last 30-35 years.
Not much has changed.

If the NAD 2200 and the matching preamp weren't so big, I wouldn't have a Topping PA5 on my desk.


In reality, there are 11 Yamaha amplifier tests compared to 8 Topping amplifier tests, which completely negates your sensationalist claim.
The reason there aren't more Yamaha amplifier tests is the high shipping costs, especially from other countries and continents.

So, 11 of the 12 Yamaha products tested were amplifiers, while 8 of the 53 Topping products reviewed were amplifiers... terrific.

I would have thought it was obvious that my point was not restricted to amplifiers.

 

[Salt]

Having an active speaker you wouldn't need an amp ... not?

 

[mhardy6647]

Can't say I've seen a class B. Amazing performance.

Many McIntosh amplifiers over the years have operated in Class B.
Here's a not-entirely-random example.

source: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-Audio/70s/Audio-1977-09.pdf (pp 70ff)

Class B amps are only used in RF due to crossover distortion. So the common version is a hybrid Class AB, not class B. Here, feedback is used so much as to nullify crossover distortion in class B. Much like the way Hypex amps use a lot of feedback to deal with all sorts of non-linearities in class D.

I think you may be thinking of Class C, @amirm?

Love the specs, needs 3-4x power.

So you need 5 to 6 dB more SPL? okey-dokey.

 

[billou5767]

with internal case in page 1

Someone can tell if there is good component ? japan ? or low chinese part ? for reliability plz

 

[Toroid]

What's the consensus for a mono block needed to drive inefficient speakers at high volume? This or V3 monos? V3 monos seems it can drive higher power and is a better value (although Sinad not quite as good)

 

[mhardy6647]

Are monoblocks a fad?

They were all the rage when the world was mono.

 

[amirm]

Would this amplifier be using "feed forward" error correction, ala THX888 (Benchmark AHB2)?

No. I asked them this and they said it is just plain feedback.

 

[amirm]

Just added to the review:

EDIT 2: Power Consumption
Standby power consumption is around 1.5 watt. Powered on but not playing, 9.1 watt.

 

[amirm]

Someone asked if it remembers the power state on AC disconnect. It does NOT. Goes into standby mode.