Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[mhardy6647]

The efficiency of the R7 Meta is 88dB at 2.83V (2W) per KEF's specifications. The B100 should push the speaker to 103dB at 1m. With two speakers, that puts a pair at 106dB at 1m.

If you sit 2m (~6') from the speakers, the maximum SPL with both speakers will be just over 100dB. At 4m (~12') from the speakers, the maximum SPL with both speakers will be just over 94dB. I doubt you will listen to your music that loud in an apartment, unless you want to really piss off your neighbors.

With double the power, the B200 will give you an additional 3dB of speaker SPL. It might be nice to have the additional power for future use, but probably is overkill for use in an apartment with speakers that have 88dB efficiency.

Of course, the only problem with a paper assessment such as this is will one get 100 dB SPL across the full bandwidth of which the loudspeakers are capable, playing actual music, and -- if so -- for how long before thermal shut-down or other, similar sequelae?
I mean... maybe...

This being said, I fully (!) support the notion that 50 watts is a lot with loudspeakers of any reasonable level of sensitivity (and non-sadistic impedance and phase curves).
For loudspeakers of unreasonable (on the high side!) levels of sensitivity -- the exceptionally low noise and distortion of this amp at (very!) low output power levels could make these amps ideal for the tubes 'n' horns crowd (as a member of which crowd I include myself).
Ca. 104 dB per watt at 1 meter for my "real" loudspeakers (at 16 ohm nominal impedance), as a point of reference.
I.e., I'd be interested in hearing a pair of these little amps.

 

[Sokel]

I have a different perspective. Dirac Live, for example, measures frequency response at multiple locations. The minimum number of locations is 9 for tightly focused imaging, with more locations measured for focused imaging and wide imaging. Assuming the amplifier being used for the Dirac Live measurements is being used for regular listening, which typically is the case, Dirac Live is compensating not only for the room response, but also the amplifier's frequency response (if not linear) and the speakers' frequency response.

It's a big subject.
As what I'll ever know about the subject is probably a joke at the sight of the people who short of invented these stuff,I have this as my gospel:

What is your favorite house curve

OK. Next question for you folks. As far as I can tell there is no spinorama for the Focal Aria 926's, which happen to be my main speakers. However, Amir did do a spinorama for the Aria 906 standmount speakers. They use the same tweeter and mid driver as the 926, but lack the two woofers as they...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I DO try a gazillion of other stuff though for fun but that's my base.
Big,big subject with lots of parameters,so...

 

[EddNog]

A whole week!

My ca. 1960 EICO HF-81 just kind of chuckles.

I generally avoid gear older than I am, especially NOS vacuum tubes (I stick to new production stuff).

-Ed

 

[EddNog]

…. I'd be interested in hearing a pair of these little amps.

Are you anywhere near Cherry Hill, NJ?

-Ed

 

[mhardy6647]

Are you anywhere near Cherry Hill, NJ?

-Ed

In a global sense, yes.
We drive by the "Cherry Hill" water tower more than occasionally on junkets to visit son, daughter-in-law, and cats on the outskirts of DC.
But the loudspeakers aren't terribly portable.



Now, if you'd like to come up and tuck 'em in your gym bag... well... autumn's kind of nice up here!

 

[EddNog]

In a global sense, yes.
We drive by the "Cherry Hill" water tower more than occasionally on junkets to visit son, daughter-in-law, and cats on the outskirts of DC.
But the loudspeakers aren't terribly portable.



Now, if you'd like to come up and tuck 'em in your gym bag... well... autumn's kind of nice up here!

Hah…that looks hilly enough to be quite a good distance from flatter than flat (I know quite well, being a road cyclist) South Jersey!

-Ed

 

[mhardy6647]

Northern New Hampshire.

 

[terryforsythe]

Of course, the only problem with a paper assessment such as this is will one get 100 dB SPL across the full bandwidth of which the loudspeakers are capable, playing actual music, and -- if so -- for how long before thermal shut-down or other, similar sequelae?
I mean... maybe...

I don't know whether you missed it, but rdytro stated " I won't be listening loud as I'm in an apartment block." 100dB at 2m is more than sufficient for that intent, even considering music dynamics. Assuming his statement is accurate, he will not run into thermal shut-down unless there is a problem in the system, or the amplifier is put into a very small enclosure with no air flow.

I recommend that you set your music volume to your normal listening level, then measure the SPL. I have a SPL meter, but you also can do so with REW, or even a phone app. The results may surprise you.

 

[terryforsythe]

I recommend that you set your music volume to your normal listening level, then measure the SPL. I have a SPL meter, but you also can do so with REW, or even a phone app. The results may surprise you.

I have seen studies that indicate the average listening volume in a living room is 76dB. e.g.:

Comparative Examples of Noise Levels - IAC Acoustics

This blog post compares examples of noise levels. It is broken down by Noise Source, Decibel Level, and Decibel Effect.

www.iacacoustics.com

That seems correct to me. That is about the volume at which I normally listen. I play it lower if I have music on for background. Sometimes I may push it over 80dB, but not for long periods.

 

[Waxx]

i mostly stay in the 65 to 85dB range, 90dB is very loud in a typical living room. Nightclubs in Belgium are not allowed to go over 95dB(A) SPL average over 15minutes, and that is loud, i can assure you. A 50w stereo amp with 88dB sensitive speakers goes about 106dB/1m, that is more than 10dB headroom to club levels (that your neighbours will never like). That is more than enough in most living rooms. it's only when you're rich enough to have a very big room (over 40m³) that you need more than 100w with 88dB sensitive speakers.

 

[SMen]

I have seen studies that indicate the average listening volume in a living room is 76dB. e.g.:

Comparative Examples of Noise Levels - IAC Acoustics

This blog post compares examples of noise levels. It is broken down by Noise Source, Decibel Level, and Decibel Effect.

www.iacacoustics.com

That seems correct to me. That is about the volume at which I normally listen. I play it lower if I have music on for background. Sometimes I may push it over 80dB, but not for long periods.

I only recently got a dB meter, and I always thought that I listened 'loud'. But I hate loud concerts ... it turns out my loud is peaking at 80 or just over ... a pleasant surprise.

i mostly stay in the 65 to 85dB range, 90dB is very loud in a typical living room. Nightclubs in Belgium are not allowed to go over 95dB(A) SPL average over 15minutes, and that is loud, i can assure you. A 50w stereo amp with 88dB sensitive speakers goes about 106dB/1m, that is more than 10dB headroom to club levels (that your neighbours will never like). That is more than enough in most living rooms. it's only when you're rich enough to have a very big room (over 40m³) that you need more than 100w with 88dB sensitive speakers.

... and 90 would indeed be too loud. I'm pretty sure they push higher than that in Switzerland (95dB(A) SPL)!

 

[shuppatsu]

It is always interesting to see many people looking for any possible flaws when it comes to Topping.

I understand how traditional audiophiles might feel threatened by these extremely fine measuring yet relatively inexpensive components.

I'm coming from the opposite direction. The Fosi monos are 40% the price, have better measurements where it matters (power), and worse measurements where it doesn't (SINAD in excess of 100dB). Similar serviceability/repairability issues, but the lower the price the less of a concern that is.

Outside of near-field (and how many passive near-field speakers are there anyway?) the Yamaha A-S series is probably better yet, giving you integrated PS, DAC, preamp, headphone out, phono stage, a useful loudness control, and lower $/W. Or the Wiim Amp, with even more functionality, adding load dependency but giving PEQ and room correction.

 

[terryforsythe]

I only recently got a dB meter, and I always thought that I listened 'loud'. But I hate loud concerts ... it turns out my loud is peaking at 80 or just over ... a pleasant surprise.

I just measured my music level. It is hovering in the 60's. I did get one peak reading that measured 74dB. These measurements were made at my listening position.

 

[totti1965]

I just measured my music level. It is hovering in the 60's. I did get one peak reading that measured 74dB. These measurements were made at my listening position.

Then you can combine a speaker with normal sensitivity with a nice Single Ended Triode (3 Watt) and have good headroom anyway. Happy You!

 

[EddNog]

I just measured my music level. It is hovering in the 60's. I did get one peak reading that measured 74dB. These measurements were made at my listening position.

That’s extremely close to where I measured out last week when I did this check for myself, for a full hour, C-weighted. 56 average, 73 peak:

 

[SMen]

I just measured my music level. It is hovering in the 60's. I did get one peak reading that measured 74dB. These measurements were made at my listening position.

Well, I'm certainly a bit louder than you ... so maybe I do listen loud ... must be those pesky trumpets!
I do find it changes with music genre, but I digress ... at least for me it isn't the 90 dbs!

 

[terryforsythe]

The Fosi monos are 40% the price, have better measurements where it matters (power), and worse measurements where it doesn't (SINAD in excess of 100dB).

Unless someone is using really inefficient speakers or playing the speakers in a really large room, they probably don't need more power.

Moreover, many people will use the B100 for bookshelf speakers. With a couple of exceptions (e.g., KEF Reference One), most bookshelf speakers will be exhibiting high levels of distortion and high compression by the time the power limit of the B100 amplifier is reached, and should not be played that loud.

 

[terryforsythe]

That’s extremely close to where I measured out last week when I did this check for myself, for a full hour, C-weighted. 56 average, 73 peak:

I turned the system up to the higher end of the range I listen. After I took the measurement I turned it down. Now I am listening in the 50's.

 

[SMen]

I turned the system up to the higher end of the range I listen. After I took the measurement I turned it down. Now I am listening in the 50's.

There are db's and realism to consider ...

A standard drum set ranges between 90 decibels to 130 decibels.
I would not want a drum kit in my room.

75 decibels might be an acoustic guitar played to the max ... so I could max out happily listening to an acoustic guitar maxing out at 75dbs ... but 50 db's would not be particularly realistic representing said guitar ...

 

[dzerig]

This reminds me of my Gjallerhorn, with a lot more headroom. I like the ability to run monoblocks via XLR so I may connect my main system with TT and CD player to my tv/streaming system from a preamp without setting up two Vidar or Aegir and adding significantly to global warming. This Topping sounds like an excellent alternative, though it sounds a little warm perhaps.

I've heard massive amounts of feedback (often used to get these kind of low numbers in AB amplifiers) can flatten the sound or narrow the soundstage width ... but I've never heard this or tried, has anyone compared an amp with heavy feedback to a low feedback, but good measuring a/b amps?

The ext power is great as it allows closer placement of the amp to the speakers, without a clunky a/c cord intruding.