Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[FERCSA]

Ha ha ha, that is exactly my problem: I have the normal Fosi V3 now and the B100 deliver only half the power. We will see .........
Not that I am not quite happy with the Fosi V3 but I am more than curious to experience how sounds an amp with real PFFT and with these increadibly low intermodulation distortions.
I am curious, if I can at least IMAGINE (or HALUZINATE?) the differences for myself....

I went through the same change. First impression was the stereo soundstage or 3D imaging got wider. Is it halu? maybe or maybe not.. let me know what's your first impression

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Ha ha ha, that is exactly my problem: I have the normal Fosi V3 now and the B100 deliver only half the power. We will see .........
Not that I am not quite happy with the Fosi V3 but I am more than curious to experience how sounds an amp with real PFFT and with these increadibly low intermodulation distortions.
I am curious, if I can at least IMAGINE (or HALUZINATE?) the differences for myself....

What truly matters is that you're enjoying what you have and not encountering any issues.
Whether PFFB is audible or not depends on the phase and impedance characteristics of your speakers.

 

[EJ3]

Ha ha ha, that is exactly my problem: I have the normal Fosi V3 now and the B100 deliver only half the power. We will see .........
Not that I am not quite happy with the Fosi V3 but I am more than curious to experience how sounds an amp with real PFFT and with these increadibly low intermodulation distortions.
I am curious, if I can at least IMAGINE (or HALUZINATE?) the differences for myself....

It's been many years since I change anything in my system. The last time was when I added a new oPPo 205 UDP. No need to change, it sounds great. Thinking about new speakers but I first want to get a test done on the ones I have.

 

[jan.didden]

A quality power amplifier starts with a low impedance, low noise power supply in close proximity to the output devices. Topping threw that out the window in order to hide the cheap, noise producing SMPS as far away from the amplifier as they could. I wouldn't be surprised to discover the "performance" figures quoted in the "specifications" were derived using a completely different (laboratory) supply directly connected to the board.

So you say they cheated and Amir did the same? That's not nice.

Jan

 

[transformer-coupled]

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)

A close friend of me also got protection mode with her T+A floorstanders (minimum impedance 2.7 ohm or so, and b100 specs warms about use with more than 4 ohm speakers, i guess they mean minimum not nominal impedance) with my Dynaudio Audience 62 (minimal 3.6 ohm) it works ok never protection but bass i think is noth full, and what works really good are with my Mark Audio Pensil 10.2 DIY floorstander (minimal 7 ohm) with deep bass extended highs and really transparent...not very sensitive thought and because 50w only you have to put high volume.... but yeah is not an amp for normal under 4 ohm quality multiway... is an amp for really easy load speakers and at low volume (with my passive volume control tranformer based)

 

[transformer-coupled]

I would guess their unique analog module.

yes lol i think its a chip-amp class-B right? is not discreet but with very easy load speakers -fullrange, klipsh some of then- it works great. But it doesnt drive my also loved Dynaudio doent drive so well

 

[Chr1]

I would love to see realistic/continuous power figures for these small amps. Can this be done easily without damaging them?

 

[transformer-coupled]

I would love to see realistic/continuous power figures for these small amps. Can this be done easily without damaging them?

yes power graphic at 3 ohm would be great but i guess manufacturer perhaps warmed about this would be incompatible....

 

[terryforsythe]

My pair of B100s came in before Thanksgiving. I have been using them to power my tweeters, and no issues thus far. Since they only are powering my tweeters, though, I am not stressing them hardly at all.

 

[bYOndo]

Ha ha ha, that is exactly my problem: I have the normal Fosi V3 now and the B100 deliver only half the power. We will see .........
Not that I am not quite happy with the Fosi V3 but I am more than curious to experience how sounds an amp with real PFFT and with these increadibly low intermodulation distortions.
I am curious, if I can at least IMAGINE (or HALUZINATE?) the differences for myself....

I tried B100s for your SAME exact reason; I already have an Hypex NC252MP, but I wanted to see (ehm *listen) if I could spot any difference between a Class D and a Class B amp. To my surprise I actually can and very easily, in a bad way for the Topping: I cannot give any quantification, I didn't measured them, but to my ears B100s "blurred" my stereo presentation.
My audio chain is Tidal Connect to Wiim pro to optical input of SMSL SU9 to XLR inputs of the amp to a pair of Kef R3 (non meta).
Take this very famous aria from Mozart "Don Giovanni" (I adore operas and in general symphonic orchestra and choral music):

Luca Pisaroni - Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar"

Listen to Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar" on your streaming service

tidal.com

With my beloved Hypex I can literally "see" by ears the 3 singers position and movement, in a nice forward "in front of me" stereo image. I a/b same track, roughly same volume (side note: from "50" with Hiypex I had to go up to nearly "80" with the medium gain setting on B100, it's fair and expected that): the B100s put everything behind the speakers and stereo separation was "meh..". I sincerely don't know why, maybe my low impedance Kefs are not happy with Toppings, maybe it's the bad BTL implementation, maybe any batch mismatch between the 2 B100s. Finally I repacked them and sent back to Shenzhenaudio (loosing a lot of moneys with customs taxes, returning shipping and 10%"restock fee").
Not happy at all, BUT I learned a very important thing (as other wrote in this thread): my audio chain is just nice and perfect to my ears and I must not change anything (if not broken)

p.s.: I swear that, when a/b the amps, I double checked everything, from cables insertion to speaker position (though it's difficult to move them accidentally )
p.p.s.: B100s ergonomics are just bad to me, because the (double) big external power bricks and those touch sensitive on/off switches (but without a remote! why?)...

 

[transformer-coupled]

I tried B100s for your SAME exact reason; I already have an Hypex NC252MP, but I wanted to see (ehm *listen) if I could spot any difference between a Class D and a Class B amp. To my surprise I actually can and very easily, in a bad way for the Topping: I cannot give any quantification, I didn't measured them, but to my ears B100s "blurred" my stereo presentation.
My audio chain is Tidal Connect to Wiim pro to optical input of SMSL SU9 to XLR inputs of the amp to a pair of Kef R3 (non meta).
Take this very famous aria from Mozart "Don Giovanni" (I adore operas and in general symphonic orchestra and choral music):

Luca Pisaroni - Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar"

Listen to Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar" on your streaming service

tidal.com

With my beloved Hypex I can literally "see" by ears the 3 singers position and movement, in a nice forward "in front of me" stereo image. I a/b same track, roughly same volume (side note: from "50" with Hiypex I had to go up to nearly "80" with the medium gain setting on B100, it's fair and expected that): the B100s put everything behind the speakers and stereo separation was "meh..". I sincerely don't know why, maybe my low impedance Kefs are not happy with Toppings, maybe it's the bad BTL implementation, maybe any batch mismatch between the 2 B100s. Finally I repacked them and sent back to Shenzhenaudio (loosing a lot of moneys with customs taxes, returning shipping and 10%"restock fee").
Not happy at all, BUT I learned a very important thing (as other wrote in this thread): my audio chain is just nice and perfect to my ears and I must not change anything (if not broken)

p.s.: I swear that, when a/b the amps, I double checked everything, from cables insertion to speaker position (though it's difficult to move them accidentally )
p.p.s.: B100s ergonomics are just bad to me, because the (double) big external power bricks and those touch sensitive on/off switches (but without a remote! why?)...

Great subjective review , my B100 works fine but perhaps the trick is my speakers main I use (Mark Audio Pensil 10.2 with 7 ohm minimum impedance) are very high minimum impedance, I also had had Hypex "NCORE" (not real ncore I guess but kind of enhanced UCD with integrated SMPS, in this case not as harsh as normal standalone hypex SMPS) and the only thing hypex my ex nc252mp surpassed the topping b100 is in drive and power. Resolution, image, scene and details are better (I'm also using passive resistor-less TVC line stage ) with b100 monoblocks perhaps is due that really low distortion. But yeah with normal multi way loudspeaker "real world" minimum impedance like my also spare Dynaudio Audience 62 (3.6 ohm minimum impedance) it seems bass is not full and dynamics are limited...so is not a power amp for everyone, it can replace a little class a power amp of 20w or a 10w triode amp in a pre power setup very nice detailed and holographic high resolution with easy load speaker , but not a quad SS amo or hypex or Purifi amp for real hard speakers real world. Happy holidays to all and please bosses excuse my not science, subjective review

 

[pogo]

I think it's about time to introduce a rating with restrictions. Just reading through the beginning of this thread, you'd think the amp is performing well without restrictions. In the real world, however, it will only work well on a subset of speakers.
Also, the subset of tests performed does not seem to be sufficient.

 

[antcollinet]

I tried B100s for your SAME exact reason; I already have an Hypex NC252MP, but I wanted to see (ehm *listen) if I could spot any difference between a Class D and a Class B amp. To my surprise I actually can and very easily, in a bad way for the Topping: I cannot give any quantification, I didn't measured them, but to my ears B100s "blurred" my stereo presentation.
My audio chain is Tidal Connect to Wiim pro to optical input of SMSL SU9 to XLR inputs of the amp to a pair of Kef R3 (non meta).
Take this very famous aria from Mozart "Don Giovanni" (I adore operas and in general symphonic orchestra and choral music):

Luca Pisaroni - Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar"

Listen to Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar" on your streaming service

tidal.com

With my beloved Hypex I can literally "see" by ears the 3 singers position and movement, in a nice forward "in front of me" stereo image. I a/b same track, roughly same volume (side note: from "50" with Hiypex I had to go up to nearly "80" with the medium gain setting on B100, it's fair and expected that): the B100s put everything behind the speakers and stereo separation was "meh..". I sincerely don't know why, maybe my low impedance Kefs are not happy with Toppings, maybe it's the bad BTL implementation, maybe any batch mismatch between the 2 B100s. Finally I repacked them and sent back to Shenzhenaudio (loosing a lot of moneys with customs taxes, returning shipping and 10%"restock fee").
Not happy at all, BUT I learned a very important thing (as other wrote in this thread): my audio chain is just nice and perfect to my ears and I must not change anything (if not broken)

p.s.: I swear that, when a/b the amps, I double checked everything, from cables insertion to speaker position (though it's difficult to move them accidentally )
p.p.s.: B100s ergonomics are just bad to me, because the (double) big external power bricks and those touch sensitive on/off switches (but without a remote! why?)...

Any chance you performed this comparison blind and with the output level of the two amps accurately (with a dvm) level matched?

If not then your comparisons are uncontrolled and therefore without relevance to anyone but yourself.

 

[Esprit]

In the real world, however, it will only work well on a subset of speakers.
Also, the subset of tests performed does not seem to be sufficient.

Which real world?
That of subjectivism?

 

[pogo]

can it no be tested an the power cube on a lower power level

That would certainly have avoided some bad purchases.

 

[totti1965]

I tried B100s for your SAME exact reason; I already have an Hypex NC252MP, but I wanted to see (ehm *listen) if I could spot any difference between a Class D and a Class B amp. To my surprise I actually can and very easily, in a bad way for the Topping: I cannot give any quantification, I didn't measured them, but to my ears B100s "blurred" my stereo presentation.
My audio chain is Tidal Connect to Wiim pro to optical input of SMSL SU9 to XLR inputs of the amp to a pair of Kef R3 (non meta).
Take this very famous aria from Mozart "Don Giovanni" (I adore operas and in general symphonic orchestra and choral music):

Luca Pisaroni - Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar"

Listen to Mozart: Don Giovanni, ossia Il dissoluto punito, K.527 / Act 1: "Notte e giorno faticar" on your streaming service

tidal.com

With my beloved Hypex I can literally "see" by ears the 3 singers position and movement, in a nice forward "in front of me" stereo image. I a/b same track, roughly same volume (side note: from "50" with Hiypex I had to go up to nearly "80" with the medium gain setting on B100, it's fair and expected that): the B100s put everything behind the speakers and stereo separation was "meh..". I sincerely don't know why, maybe my low impedance Kefs are not happy with Toppings, maybe it's the bad BTL implementation, maybe any batch mismatch between the 2 B100s. Finally I repacked them and sent back to Shenzhenaudio (loosing a lot of moneys with customs taxes, returning shipping and 10%"restock fee").
Not happy at all, BUT I learned a very important thing (as other wrote in this thread): my audio chain is just nice and perfect to my ears and I must not change anything (if not broken)

p.s.: I swear that, when a/b the amps, I double checked everything, from cables insertion to speaker position (though it's difficult to move them accidentally )
p.p.s.: B100s ergonomics are just bad to me, because the (double) big external power bricks and those touch sensitive on/off switches (but without a remote! why?)...

Thank you so much for your in-deep subjective review. I am also just 80% - 90% „scientific“ and to 10% - 20 % a Subjectivist.
You made me very curious to check my Setup with Purify /Hypex Amps!
My setup will be pretty much the same as yours.

Tidal / WiiM Pro Plus / B100 / HobbyHifi WaveMon 182/22 speakers (4 Ohms) or, if Gregor, a friend of mine, will lend me his SMSL:
Tidal / WiiM Pro Plus / SMSL SU-6s / B100 / HobbyHifi WaveMon 182/22 speakers (4 Ohms)

Your Chain: Did you use perfect XLR Cables (so XLR female to XLR male) or was it a kind of Cinch to XLR from the SMSL SU-9 to the B100???

In the posts from page 40 or so on in this thread there are severe Problems mentioned, if you would go Cinch to XLR (only 5 Watts, sometimes 4 Ohms didn’t work at all, etc.)!

 

[EddNog]

Thank you so much for your in-deep subjective review. I am also just 80% - 90% „scientific“ and to 10% -20 % a Subjectivist.
You made me very curious to check my Setup with Purify /Hypex Amps!
My setup will be pretty much the same as yours.

Tidal / WiiM Pro Plus / B100 / HobbyHifi WaveMon 182/22 speakers (4 Ohms) or, if Gregor, a friend of mine, will lend me his SMSL:
Tidal / WiiM Pro Plus / SMSL SU-6s / B100 /HobbyHifi WaveMon 182/22 speakers (4 Ohms)

Your Chain: Did you use perfect XLR Cables (so XLR female to XLR male) or was it a kind of Cinch to XLR from the SMSL SU-9 to the B100???

In the posts from page 40 or so on in this thread there are severe Problems mentioned, if you would go Cinch to XLR (only 5 Watts etc.)!

I’ve already ordered a Hypex NC252MP-based power amp using stock Hypex input stage, but it is going to take a few weeks to receive. Will be able to compare and advise back if anything different. We do know that the overall SINAD won’t touch B100, but we also know they produce significantly more grunt, so will see overall how performance compares at the highest volume the B100 will do with my LS50 Metas without safety cut-off.

Theoretically, the Hypex’s performance should still be good enough to be transparent between the two. Performance for the Hypex doesn’t drop off until turned up much higher than the B100s will ever go before cutting off for safety (theoretically as well).

-Ed

 

[antcollinet]

We do know that the overall SINAD won’t touch B100

Probably inaudibly so though. I think the Hypex amp is a much better buy: Lower cost, more (and more robust) power, likely better after sales support if you use a relatively local OEM as supplier.

 

[pogo]

LS50 Metas

Who recommended pairing your speakers with the B100? Take a look at the EPDR curve!: Link

 

[EddNog]

Probably inaudibly so though. I think the Hypex amp is a much better buy: Lower cost, more (and more robust) power, likely better after sales support if you use a relatively local OEM as supplier.

IOM in the Netherlands. So far, based on communication, Sipko is provided outstanding service prepurchase. Hopefully it stays the same post-purchase.

-Ed