Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[amirm]

It's the combination of waranty support and repairablity that is lacking, if both lacking you're on your own and it's even not legal to import in the EU.

Who says it is illegal to sell in you EU? you are just making stuff up. On support/warranty, you can buy through retailers that do provide support such as Audiophonics. They provide 15 day return privilege which deals with any infant mortality.

 

[amirm]

A certain number of amps break. Given that it's a new product from a company that has had several high-failure amps, repairability and serviceability make a risky proposition less so. This is not to automatically assume that it will be unreliable.

Once more, you can't draw such conclusions arbitrarily. This is a new amplifier.

But yes, amplifiers fail more than any other audio component. This is just a fact of life.

 

[amirm]

That is also why the mainstream is neglecting them and you won't find them in shops down here.

That has nothing to do with support or reliability. They want margin and they are not going to get it out of a $299 product that is sold all over the place. They rather sell you a $1000 amp with worse performance. If that is what you want, go at it but don't complain about Topping and its business model.

 

[Ralf Stocker]

General question: Why are AB class amplifiers still being built that weight 30 kg when you can get better quality with so little effort? Is there still an advantage with AB?

 

[DanielT]

Question about load dependency: it seems like if you're doing room correction load dependency isn't an issue at all, since you're measuring the output and adjusting accordingly. But I'm really ignorant about issues with "nominal" impedance. If a speaker's impedance is all over the place, will you get different effects from load dependency depending on what other tones are being played at the same time? Or is it something you could EQ out perfectly?

If you are going to measure in your listening room and perform EQ, it does not matter. In addition, if you have a load dependent amplifier then it is a question of whether you would hear any difference with speakers X vs a non load dependent amplifier as Topping B100?

After all, it is the speakers and room acoustics that have the absolute biggest impact. What does 0.001% vs 0.0005% amp distortion matter if you have speakers with , at best , 0.5% distortion and maybe even up to 1-2% distortion?

What does, say, 1 dB increase in FR in the higher frequencies matter with a load dependent amplifier when the room acoustics can lead to peaks and valleys, swings by 10-15 dB in the lower frequency registers?
(but okay if you're going to EQ, just as well then do it in the entire frequency range)

 

[renaudrenaud]

General question: Why are AB class amplifiers still being built that weight 30 kg when you can get better quality with so little effort? Is there still an advantage with AB?

I suppose because when your measurement system rely only on weight, you produce the more heavy you can.

 

[RoA]

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.

50 watts is a LOT unless you have ridicilously inefficient speakers.

 

[RoA]

People here on this forum is of course who is being aimed at.

Funny this, there are many designers that have put a lot of work in to reducing overall negative feedback for decades to make amps sound less s**** and here comes Topping doing the reverse.

 

[RoA]

Performance was expected and depending the use-case can be adequate.
But is that front plate plastic???Cause it sure looks like it.

Thanks Amir!

Pride of ownership after splashing out $600 $800 = 0

 

[shuppatsu]

Once more, you can't draw such conclusions arbitrarily. This is a new amplifier.

What conclusions have I drawn about the reliability of the amp, arbitrarily or otherwise? I don’t think I’ve drawn any. Assuming it will be more reliable than Topping’s average is just as unfounded as assuming it will be less reliable. Let’s not do either.

They want margin and they are not going to get it out of a $299 product that is sold all over the place. They rather sell you a $1000 amp with worse performance.

You don’t mention the middle ground of Yamahas and Denons and Sonys that deliver 70-100 wpc of audiophile grade audio for $300-500 (for two channels) with a warranty that is actually usable. Some of which are reviewed and recommended on this site. Sure, it’s old tech but it’ll do the Kessel run in twelve parsecs.

Anyway, I like Topping and I wish them success. I’m super happy with both my Topping products (DAC and HPA). I hope going forward they enjoy a well-earned reputation for reliability.

 

[RoA]

Tiny 8341A contains 250 W for Bass (Class D) +150 W for Midrange (Class D) +150 W for Treble (Class D) amps and it's intended use is 1-1.5 meters listening distance.
Also note that those are active so way more efficient thatn something like the 84dB sens Kefs for example.

One would think that Genelec could get away for a lot less if such power is not needed.

It's what the market at that price demands, not what it really needs

 

[Roland68]

It's the combination of waranty support and repairablity that is lacking, if both lacking you're on your own and it's even not legal to import in the EU. Topping (and they are not the only one) has both not.

My laptop is Lenovo, also Chinese, also not repairable, but when it breaks down it's supported (a friend had it, and in a week he had a new one within waranty). Then unrepairablity is not an issue from consumer point of view (ecology is another thing, but that is a political discussion we don't do here).

If Topping fix one of those issues, the problem is solved. But untill now, it's grey import with little to no support from the company. That is also why the mainstream is neglecting them and you won't find them in shops down here.

There are enough retailers in the EU that stock Topping and comply with the relevant EU laws.
The device is new and is already available from Amazon.de, Audiophonics and muzix.eu. In the next few weeks it should be available from all Topping retailers in the EU.
Anyone in the EU can order the device with the normal guarantee or warranty.
So what is the difference to your Lenovo notebook (which cannot be repaired)?
In the future, the non-repairability will be a problem for many devices in the EU, including notebooks. It will be interesting to see how Lenovo will deal with the new repair obligation.

And contrary to your claim, the devices are imported into the EU completely legally and officially by importers and wholesalers.

 

[shuppatsu]

Funny this, there are many designers that have put a lot of work in to reducing overall negative feedback for decades to make amps sound less s**** and here comes Topping doing the reverse.

Because elsewhere the prevailing opinion is that negative feedback makes things sound bad and here the prevailing opinion is that it doesn’t. So far as I know the empirical literature supports the ASR position, but actually trying to nail that down is slippery than it ought to be.

Are you aware of any double blind studies where people have been able to differentiate level matched flat amps with minimal distortion simply on the basis of how much negative feedback was used?

 

[RoA]

The power supply is limiting the market from my perspective. I have one item with an external power supply.
NEVER AGAIN!
I'll happily pay more to not have an external power supply.

Why?

 

[Roland68]

General question: Why are AB class amplifiers still being built that weight 30 kg when you can get better quality with so little effort? Is there still an advantage with AB?

This has nothing to do with AB, but with the size of the devices, the power supplies and the power loss to be dissipated. Added to this is the lack of acceptance by certain groups of buyers for small devices and switching power supplies.
- Transformers are heavy and large
- The required filter capacities are also large
- The required housings are therefore larger and must be more stable
- For many customers, a good high-end amplifier must be heavy and bulky, the heavier the more expensive
- With high performance and power loss, large and heavy heat sinks are also required

As a comparison of size and weight, take the Topping PA7 Plus, SMSL VMV A2/Sabaj A30A and the Yamaha A-S 1xxx/2xxx/3xxx. Similar performance, but the Yamaha has the lowest performance, Topping the highest.
With the B100 and B200, Topping shows that smaller can also be used, but with the same performance, not as small as D.

 

[audioje]

It is always interesting to see many people looking for any possible flaws when it comes to Topping. Hope not many would buy B100 and it goes on sale soon! I can get them even cheaper! Anyway, with all those coupons and coins, I expect B100 to be around $200 during the november sale on Aliexpress!

 

[Purité Audio]

Funny this, there are many designers that have put a lot of work in to reducing overall negative feedback for decades to make amps sound less s**** and here comes Topping doing the reverse.

On their kitchen table designers?
Keith

 

[billou5767]

little amp but lot of post

the new apple in amp

 

[RoA]

On their kitchen table designers?
Keith

some big kitchen tables

 

[RoA]

In two months, if Topping employees are on holiday for one of them, there will be a newer version out and these can be picked up for peanuts (assumption on my behalf)