Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[misterdog]

​

The power supply used is a DC SMPS located on the end of probably a 12ft run (2 core) of wire. A measly 38V@4A (claimed) capability, into a standard 2 pin microphone plug/socket for a "power amplifier". Right oh

GX 16 Series

Number of Contacts	2 Pin	3 Pin	4 Pin	5 Pin	6 Pin	7 Pin	8 Pin	9 Pin	10 Pin
Contact Arrangement
Rated Current	7A	7A	5A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A
Rated Voltage	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125
Withstand Voltage	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500
Insulation Resistance	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	2000	2000	2000	2000
Contact Resistance	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Panel Cut-out	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
Contacts OD	2.45	2.45	2.45	2	1.15	1.15	1.15	1.15

The GX aviation connector is a circular connector used for power and avionics in the aviation industry. It's a multi-voltage connector used in marine equipment, avionics, and soldering stations.

 

[transformer-coupled]

Better than Purifi and 3e audio PFFB dual mono (subjective review meets measurements)
I got a pair B100 yesterday from Zococity.es and its sounds great with that have 5 ohm minimum impedance 91db sensitivity speakers , clean detailed, all with high gain always, with my transformer volume control line stage it sounds great so far very high resolution and neutral caracther very transparent not fatiguing sound very nice, hope it has long live!!!!

 

[FERCSA]

Yeah the GX connectors are fine it's widely used in heavy duty applications.

Anyways I just made some quick and dirty power measurements.
Firstly the power supply is capable to give out 150W which is good!

Power consumption for one amplifier(L gain) is the following:
-1.3W when the psu connected but unit not powered on
-5.9W when the unit powered on but no signal
-stay around 5.9W during normal listening, sometimes go up to 7.5W when I crank it up (driving a 18" speaker in my active XO setup)

Compare to my older system. The Fosi V3 stereo used only 6W each, 18W total in a 3-way setup!

EDIT:
Footnote for my pictures.
First one is when the original psu from topping hooked up to my dc load. Second one is when the unit powered on without any input signal. Third one is the maximum power consumption. I'm using my bench psu here.

 

[pma]

These connectors are very good, as well as Lemo connectors. Nothing against it.

 

[capslock]

​

GX 16 Series

Number of Contacts	2 Pin	3 Pin	4 Pin	5 Pin	6 Pin	7 Pin	8 Pin	9 Pin	10 Pin
Contact Arrangement
Rated Current	7A	7A	5A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A
Rated Voltage	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125
Withstand Voltage	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500
Insulation Resistance	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	2000	2000	2000	2000
Contact Resistance	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Panel Cut-out	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
Contacts OD	2.45	2.45	2.45	2	1.15	1.15	1.15	1.15

The GX aviation connector is a circular connector used for power and avionics in the aviation industry. It's a multi-voltage connector used in marine equipment, avionics, and soldering stations.

what unit is the contact resistance? mOhms seems on the low side, Ohms way too high

Edit: google tells me they are specified at 5 mOhms, so higher than in your table but not way higher

 

[pma]

0.005 ohm AFAIK. But number of rated disconnect cycles is not very high, 500x. So not to be disconnected on daily basis.

https://renhotecpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GX-Series-Aviation-Connectors-Presentation-1.pdf

I prefer this

LEMO - The Original Push-Pull Connector | LEMO

With more than 75 years Explore LEMO's original push-pull connectors, delivering high-performance interconnect solutions for demanding environments for over 75 years.

www.lemo.com

But they are very, very expensive.

 

[pogo]

Practically speaking, what’s the intended goal of this approach?

To see how the amplifier behaves with complex loads. A purely ohmic load is unrealistic. Example:

 

[restorer-john]

440 uF capacity at 38 V amounts to a negligible amount of power reserve. 16 W for 20 ms. assuming full specified charge. It's definitely dependent of the power brick.

Put too much local capacitance on the PCB and the entire thing could become unstable.

 

[restorer-john]

​

GX 16 Series

Number of Contacts	2 Pin	3 Pin	4 Pin	5 Pin	6 Pin	7 Pin	8 Pin	9 Pin	10 Pin
Contact Arrangement
Rated Current	7A	7A	5A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A	4A
Rated Voltage	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125
Withstand Voltage	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500
Insulation Resistance	1500	1500	1500	1500	1500	2000	2000	2000	2000
Contact Resistance	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Panel Cut-out	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
Contacts OD	2.45	2.45	2.45	2	1.15	1.15	1.15	1.15

The GX aviation connector is a circular connector used for power and avionics in the aviation industry. It's a multi-voltage connector used in marine equipment, avionics, and soldering stations.

Some of us have been using these microphone connectors since the 1970s. Ever heard of a CB radio? Probably not.

 

[Sokel]

-1.3W when the psu connected but unit not powered on

That can't be right since it's sold officially in EU.

 

[miero]

Power consumption measurements of B100 on its power supply adapter using a NOUS A5T Tasmota power strip, which I calibrated using an incandescent light bulb:
- powered off: 3W
- powered on: 9W

 

[capslock]

That can't be right since it's sold officially in EU.

Hypex SMPS1200 has an idle consumption of 9 W according to its data sheet. One could argue that that is different as it is not a standalone unit with a plastic case, AC in and DC out. But then there are also amplifiers sold with this power supply. I guess if they have a real off-switch, it is ok.

The B-100 only has soft off, so different story. Audiophonics sell it, but as I have said before, I am doubtful that many other products they sell are in full compliance with EU regulations.

 

[Sokel]

Hypex SMPS1200 has an idle consumption of 9 W according to its data sheet. One could argue that that is different as it is not a standalone unit with a plastic case, AC in and DC out. But then there are also amplifiers sold with this power supply. I guess if they have a real off-switch, it is ok.

The B-100 only has soft off, so different story. Audiophonics sell it, but as I have said before, I am doubtful that many other products they sell are in full compliance with EU regulations.

The difference is that the Hypex is destined to be in a case with a switch,so one can shut it off completely (don't know what's its stand-by mode is though,I mean the one before it wakes up with a signal for example) .
Agree,it's a mess out there even if the 0.5W rule is strict.

 

[FERCSA]

That can't be right since it's sold officially in EU.

I just retested this. Interesting.. before first power on today it was 0.69W in standby but after I turned on and off the standby stays around 1.3W no matter how much cycle I do. I guess one of the cap charges up during the first power on then holds this charge and somehow influence the standby circuity. Weird.
Probably if I leave it for a few hours to rest it'll discharge then goes back to 0.69W. Anyways it's still not meet the half W requirement. I'll recheck this tomorrow morning just to be sure but personally I don't care since I have a main switch to turn off everything.

@miero I'm using a lab grade psu for these tests and measuring only the unit itself so the original psu's efficiency loss is not incorporated in my measurements.

 

[transformer-coupled]

Put too much local capacitance on the PCB and the entire thing could become unstable.

Im not sure if related with your post or not but this amp was close friends reported to went to protection mode with T+A floorstanders and Mogami 3082 coaxial speaker cable so perhaps indeed is in unstable sometimes but with my also big floorstanders Klipsch and Triangle and really high gauge parallel (normal shape) speaker wire seems to work very good...
Can anyone tell me if this B100 power amps are chip-amp ic-driven amplifier or it's discrete main amplifier circuit? @amirm
Thank you to all
Antonio

 

[pma]

Post #852

Topping B100 Amplifier Review

Well, maybe PMA received a unit without thermally conductive grease. It is not mine. I was asked by a colleague to test it. It arrived yesterday as a new unit. Amir wrote: The analyzer will drive the amplifier long enough to get a stable reading. Likely tens of milliseconds at most. It will...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Protection mode with my conventional 2-way CNO-T25 speaker (Troels Gravesen design)

 

[pma]

I would guess their unique analog module.

 

[somebodyelse]

Hypex SMPS1200 has an idle consumption of 9 W according to its data sheet. One could argue that that is different as it is not a standalone unit with a plastic case, AC in and DC out. But then there are also amplifiers sold with this power supply. I guess if they have a real off-switch, it is ok.

That's idle loss, not standby consumption which I don't see listed for the SMPS1200. For the SMPS400 idle loss is 7.5W while standby consumption is 450mW, less than the 0.5W maximum.

 

[Sokel]

That's idle loss, not standby consumption which I don't see listed for the SMPS1200. For the SMPS400 idle loss is 7.5W while standby consumption is 450mW, less than the 0.5W maximum.

Had a look at my low's amps and it seems ice honors their environmental commitment although as a high power amp is no champion when idle by all means:

 

[misterdog]

Some of us have been using these microphone connectors since the 1970s. Ever heard of a CB radio? Probably not.

I fear you may be confusing the 3A rated Amphenol 80-PC2F microphone connector from the 1930's, with the 7A rated GX Aviation connectors still used in the aerospace industry.

Microphone connector - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The 12 feet of 2 core cable you assume is supplied for the external power supply, well the PSU is a Class11 device and hence requires no earth connection.

Appliance classes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I hardly think anyone is supplying 12 feet cables, but when my B200 Amps arrive I will measure the length and report back for factual accuracy.
Unless a B100 owner could clarify.

The power supply used is a DC SMPS located on the end of probably a 12ft run (2 core) of wire. A measly 38V@4A (claimed) capability, into a standard 2 pin microphone plug/socket for a "power amplifier".