Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[transformer-coupled]

You must be surely joking, these are random incidents and they cannot be generalized to all B100 amplifiers. Such a warning would damage the good reputation of Topping manufacturer.

Thank you so much for reasonable normal response, obviously ASR reputation cant be better is the only one true INDEPENDENT measuring lab on world. Reputation is the manufacturer that obviously her reability could be way improvable heheheh

 

[EddNog]

He's right,even if it looks fine you (or the person who will buy it) will never know.
Since the amps are identical and they were subjected to the same condition it sure needs to be checked.

Frankly, were I not an overworked, overloaded, overly-busy father of 2, I'd take the time and effort to do that, but I am, and I won't.

Don't buy my amps on eBay if you look.

-Ed

 

[transformer-coupled]

The USB-C port is probably used for programming the following microcontroller:
https://www.nationstech.com/en/N32G435IC/

HEHEHEH thank you for posting actually is very interesting would be great to have more HD pics internals and better a teAR down but perhaps manufacturer doesnt allow.... any way this picture, im not engineer or technician but yeah heheheh it doesnt look very "100% discreet amp" right ? happy new year to all!!!

 

[transformer-coupled]

I'm not joking
I would simply communicate clearly where the limits are in practical use.
I wonder if Topping can make some improvements here, who knows...

Actually the idea is a "error feedback" (in this case not the output thd but customer experience feedback hehehe) so manufacturer in next version of this, again i think is a great product, can enhance the lowest output impedance of power amp so the amplifier would be ...durable and reliable as a rock solid Hypex

 

[Sokel]

Frankly, were I not an overworked, overloaded, overly-busy father of 2, I'd take the time and effort to do that, but I am, and I won't.

Don't buy my amps on eBay if you look.

-Ed

Nope.
No second hand for me,and that's probably one of the reasons.

 

[FERCSA]

I relieve the mystery or sort of. Firstly it's not a chip amp for sure. This amp uses 8 LFPAK56/SOT669 transistors in bridge. They're probably PHPT6*** series from NXP (my guess). There aren't much manufacturer whom use this package. Also it can be a pair in one package. No markings since they removed it (typical) and I'm not gonna characterise it until one of my unit fails.

On the input stage they used OP1656/OPA1612. No surprise here. What under the small pcb still a question mark but it has at least one chip with SON-8 package probably a 1612 again?

One more interesting thing the Nation controller uses an 4Mbit external flash so reviving a stuck unit may be possible with a simple manual reflash.

 

[miero]

That MCU has also 128kB flash and supports encryption.

 

[oleg2481]

I bought my pair of Topping B100 before the new year and managed to listen to them for a few days, via a balanced connection with Topping E70. The speaker system to which the B100 were connected was Audiovector K1 (with a modified filter simplified to the first order, one Mundorf silver gold Oil capacitor on the high-frequency speaker and an air-core Litz inductor on the low-frequency/mid-frequency speaker, plus a small correction with the equalizer in Windows). Just like the KEF from the user "EddNog", my Audiovector K1 have a nominal impedance of 4 Ohm, but after reworking the filter I do not know the real impedance of these speaker systems. I only know that the vifa_bc25sc55-04 tweeters have a minimum impedance of 3.36 Ohm. Plus I use a homemade 10-inch subwoofer in a closed box, built on the hypex_ds2.0 amplifier connected via an unbalanced high-level input to the main amplifier. My main amplifier is a homemade Russian Nataly Experience ULF tuned to a nominal 150W per channel at 4 Ohm, it produced a very clean and powerful sound with a small power reserve for my Audiovector K1. The Topping B100 in my configuration could not produce the same long-term power, as we have already found out here, as my previous amplifier. The sound quality of the B100 is impressive, it is even cleaner and more transparent than my previous amplifier, but not quite radically. With the B100, I lacked a little bit of power reserve, when I wanted to make it a little louder, the protection worked. I like to listen to loud music, but without distortion of course. So, just like with "EddNog", my left amplifier broke down . Now about the errors. In cases when increasing the volume, the error A = 1 B = 5 was always triggered in both amplifiers, that is, an impedance anomaly (I did not notice this right away, at first I thought it was an overheating error, but when I counted the blinks, it turned out to be an impedance anomaly, well, okay, let's say) once, during the next triggering of the protection system after increasing the volume, I went to reboot the left B100 refused to reboot, and gave an error A = 1 B = 2 (incorrect positive voltage), the right one rebooted successfully. The left did not respond to the touch button. After disconnecting the power supply, it stopped turning on, the power supply is working properly, but when connected to a faulty B100, it goes into protection and does not supply power. I could not resist and opened the faulty module. External inspection did not reveal any damage. And while I was touching the microcircuits with my hands, something happened and it started up again, supplied power and also blinked the error A = 1 B = 2. When rebooting, the error A=1 B=2 again. And then it stopped turning on again and the power supply does not supply voltage in the protection again. This is the story, they were bought on AliExpress. Sending them back to China is very expensive, besides, more than a month has passed and I did an autopsy, which voids the warranty. If it were possible to restore the faulty module on my own, it would be great, since the amplifiers are worthy of attention, but apparently you need to select the load for them more carefully and attentively so that they work in their normal mode.



Я купил свои пару Topping B100 до нового года и успел послушать несколько дней, через балансное подключение с Topping E70. Акустическая система к которой были подключены B100 Audiovector K1( с модифицированным фильтром, упрощенным до первого порядка, один конденсатор Mundorf silver gold Oil на высокочастотный динамик и катушка индуктивности с воздушным сердечником Litz на низкочастоный/среднечастотный динамик, плюс небольшая коррекция эквалайзером в Windows) Так же как и KEF у пользователя "EddNog" мои Audiovector K1 имеют номинальный импеданс 4Ом, но после переделки фильтра я не знаю реальный импеданс этих акустических систем. Знаю лишь что твитеры vifa_bc25sc55-04 имет минимальный импеданс 3.36 Ом. Плюс я использую самодельный сабвуфер 10 дюймов в закрытом ящике, построенный на усилителе hypex_ds2.0 подключен по небалансному высокоуровневому входу к основному усилителю. Основной мой усилитель самодельный российский УНЧ Nataly Experience настроен на номинальных 150Вт на канал на 4Ом выдавал очень чистый и мощный звук с небольшим запасом по мощности для моих Audiovector K1. Topping B100 в моей конфигурации не могли выдать такую же долговременную мощность, как мы уже здесь все выяснили, как мой прежний усилитель. Качество звучания B100 впечатляет, оно еще чище и прозрачнее моего прежнего усилителя, но совсем чуть чуть не радикально. Мне с B100 не хватало запаса по мощности совсем чуть чуть, когда хотелось сделать чуть чуть еще громче срабатывала защита. Я люблю слушать громко музыку, но без искажений конечно. Так вот так же как и у "EddNog" у меня вышел из строя левый усилитель. Теперь об ошибках. В случаях при увеличении громкости всегда в обоих усилителях срабатывал ошибка A=1 B=5 , то есть аномалия импеданса(на это я обратил внимание не сразу, вначале думал что это ошибка перегрева, но когда посчитал мигания то оказалось аномалия импеданса, ну окей, допустим) однажды при очередном срабатывании системы защиты после добавления громкости я полез перезагрузить левый B100 отказался перезагружаться, и выдал уже ошибку A=1 B=2( не правильное положительное напряжение) правый успешно перезагрузился. Левый не реагировал на сенсорную кнопку. После отсоединения питания перестал включаться, блок питания исправен, но при подключении к неисправному B100 уходит в защиту и не подает питание. Я не удержался и вскрыл не исправный модуль. внешний осмотр не выявил повреждений. И пока я руками трогал микросхемы что то произошло и он снова запустился подал питание и так же мигал ошибку A=1 B=2. При перезагрузке снова ошибка A=1 B=2. А затем снова перестал включаться и блок питания снова в защите не подает напряжение. Такая история, куплены были они на алиэкспресс. Отправлять обратно в китай очень дорого, к тому же прошло больше месяца и я сделал вскрытие, что аннулирует гарантию. Если бы можно было восстановить неисправный модуль своими силами было бы очень здорово, так как усилители достойны внимания, но видимо к ним надо тщательнее и внимательнее подбирать нагрузку, чтобы они работали в своем штатном режиме.

 

[EddNog]

I bought my pair of Topping B100 before the new year and managed to listen to them for a few days, via a balanced connection with Topping E70. The speaker system to which the B100 were connected was Audiovector K1 (with a modified filter simplified to the first order, one Mundorf silver gold Oil capacitor on the high-frequency speaker and an air-core Litz inductor on the low-frequency/mid-frequency speaker, plus a small correction with the equalizer in Windows). Just like the KEF from the user "EddNog", my Audiovector K1 have a nominal impedance of 4 Ohm, but after reworking the filter I do not know the real impedance of these speaker systems. I only know that the vifa_bc25sc55-04 tweeters have a minimum impedance of 3.36 Ohm. Plus I use a homemade 10-inch subwoofer in a closed box, built on the hypex_ds2.0 amplifier connected via an unbalanced high-level input to the main amplifier. My main amplifier is a homemade Russian Nataly Experience ULF tuned to a nominal 150W per channel at 4 Ohm, it produced a very clean and powerful sound with a small power reserve for my Audiovector K1. The Topping B100 in my configuration could not produce the same long-term power, as we have already found out here, as my previous amplifier. The sound quality of the B100 is impressive, it is even cleaner and more transparent than my previous amplifier, but not quite radically. With the B100, I lacked a little bit of power reserve, when I wanted to make it a little louder, the protection worked. I like to listen to loud music, but without distortion of course. So, just like with "EddNog", my left amplifier broke down . Now about the errors. In cases when increasing the volume, the error A = 1 B = 5 was always triggered in both amplifiers, that is, an impedance anomaly (I did not notice this right away, at first I thought it was an overheating error, but when I counted the blinks, it turned out to be an impedance anomaly, well, okay, let's say) once, during the next triggering of the protection system after increasing the volume, I went to reboot the left B100 refused to reboot, and gave an error A = 1 B = 2 (incorrect positive voltage), the right one rebooted successfully. The left did not respond to the touch button. After disconnecting the power supply, it stopped turning on, the power supply is working properly, but when connected to a faulty B100, it goes into protection and does not supply power. I could not resist and opened the faulty module. External inspection did not reveal any damage. And while I was touching the microcircuits with my hands, something happened and it started up again, supplied power and also blinked the error A = 1 B = 2. When rebooting, the error A=1 B=2 again. And then it stopped turning on again and the power supply does not supply voltage in the protection again. This is the story, they were bought on AliExpress. Sending them back to China is very expensive, besides, more than a month has passed and I did an autopsy, which voids the warranty. If it were possible to restore the faulty module on my own, it would be great, since the amplifiers are worthy of attention, but apparently you need to select the load for them more carefully and attentively so that they work in their normal mode.



Я купил свои пару Topping B100 до нового года и успел послушать несколько дней, через балансное подключение с Topping E70. Акустическая система к которой были подключены B100 Audiovector K1( с модифицированным фильтром, упрощенным до первого порядка, один конденсатор Mundorf silver gold Oil на высокочастотный динамик и катушка индуктивности с воздушным сердечником Litz на низкочастоный/среднечастотный динамик, плюс небольшая коррекция эквалайзером в Windows) Так же как и KEF у пользователя "EddNog" мои Audiovector K1 имеют номинальный импеданс 4Ом, но после переделки фильтра я не знаю реальный импеданс этих акустических систем. Знаю лишь что твитеры vifa_bc25sc55-04 имет минимальный импеданс 3.36 Ом. Плюс я использую самодельный сабвуфер 10 дюймов в закрытом ящике, построенный на усилителе hypex_ds2.0 подключен по небалансному высокоуровневому входу к основному усилителю. Основной мой усилитель самодельный российский УНЧ Nataly Experience настроен на номинальных 150Вт на канал на 4Ом выдавал очень чистый и мощный звук с небольшим запасом по мощности для моих Audiovector K1. Topping B100 в моей конфигурации не могли выдать такую же долговременную мощность, как мы уже здесь все выяснили, как мой прежний усилитель. Качество звучания B100 впечатляет, оно еще чище и прозрачнее моего прежнего усилителя, но совсем чуть чуть не радикально. Мне с B100 не хватало запаса по мощности совсем чуть чуть, когда хотелось сделать чуть чуть еще громче срабатывала защита. Я люблю слушать громко музыку, но без искажений конечно. Так вот так же как и у "EddNog" у меня вышел из строя левый усилитель. Теперь об ошибках. В случаях при увеличении громкости всегда в обоих усилителях срабатывал ошибка A=1 B=5 , то есть аномалия импеданса(на это я обратил внимание не сразу, вначале думал что это ошибка перегрева, но когда посчитал мигания то оказалось аномалия импеданса, ну окей, допустим) однажды при очередном срабатывании системы защиты после добавления громкости я полез перезагрузить левый B100 отказался перезагружаться, и выдал уже ошибку A=1 B=2( не правильное положительное напряжение) правый успешно перезагрузился. Левый не реагировал на сенсорную кнопку. После отсоединения питания перестал включаться, блок питания исправен, но при подключении к неисправному B100 уходит в защиту и не подает питание. Я не удержался и вскрыл не исправный модуль. внешний осмотр не выявил повреждений. И пока я руками трогал микросхемы что то произошло и он снова запустился подал питание и так же мигал ошибку A=1 B=2. При перезагрузке снова ошибка A=1 B=2. А затем снова перестал включаться и блок питания снова в защите не подает напряжение. Такая история, куплены были они на алиэкспресс. Отправлять обратно в китай очень дорого, к тому же прошло больше месяца и я сделал вскрытие, что аннулирует гарантию. Если бы можно было восстановить неисправный модуль своими силами было бы очень здорово, так как усилители достойны внимания, но видимо к ним надо тщательнее и внимательнее подбирать нагрузку, чтобы они работали в своем штатном режиме.

Very sorry to hear you have suffered the same failure as myself. Even more unfortunate to hear that you may not have any form of recourse through the seller. Perhaps try Topping directly and hope for the best?

I was at least lucky enough to be dealing with Apos whose customer service is absolutely top-notch.

-Ed

 

[pogo]

these are random incidents and they cannot be generalized to all B100 amplifiers. Such a warning would damage the good reputation of Topping manufacturer.

 

[pma]

My view is that it is that this amplifier is an irresponsible design. Just to occupy top of the 5W SINAD chart.

 

[oleg2481]

Very sorry to hear you have suffered the same failure as myself. Even more unfortunate to hear that you may not have any form of recourse through the seller. Perhaps try Topping directly and hope for the best?

I was at least lucky enough to be dealing with Apos whose customer service is absolutely top-notch.

-Ed

Покупать товары напрямую из Китая — всегда риск ради чуть более выгодной цены. Я не тороплюсь, и если решение не будет найдено здесь, на форуме, мне, возможно, придётся обратиться в Topping. Или в местную мастерскую по ремонту электроники в моём городе, возможно, они смогут устранить проблему. Кстати, при подключении неисправного модуля к компьютеру через USB C компьютер видит флешку. Мне пришла в голову мысль попробовать обновить прошивку, но на сайте Topping B100 нет файла прошивки.

 

[Chr1]

I am now beginning to question the testing and quality control of these amplifiers by Topping. They really shouldn't be failing at this rate. Even with unsuitable speakers. The amplifier has just been released ffs!
Very disappointing when you consider the quality of Toppings DACs.

 

[oleg2481]

My view is that it is that this amplifier is an irresponsible design. Just to occupy top of the 5W SINAD chart.

I am in no way blaming Topping, I really like their E70 DAC which sounds great and works well. But I wanted to share a similar problem that was described above. And it is very likely that I did not understand what kind of speakers are recommended to connect to them and used modified speakers with parameters that were already unknown to me. Ignorance of the law does not exempt from liability (

 

[pjug]

My view is that it is that this amplifier is an irresponsible design. Just to occupy top of the 5W SINAD chart.

Also protection did not protect.

 

[EddNog]

Also protection did not protect.

“The rubber tears more easily than expected.”

 

[Chr1]

Indeed. Much unwanted audio pregnancies prevail.

(Controversial consequences state dependent if you are in the US.)

Oops, sorry.

 

[pogo]

Also protection did not protect.

Without knowing the (protection) circuit/algorithm, adequate SOA protection will probably not be guaranteed.
With low speaker EPDR values, however, the load on the output transistors can exceed the permissible SOA limits even with moderate (real) average power. The amplifier may die before it even gets really warm.

 

[pjug]

Without knowing the (protection) circuit/algorithm, adequate SOA protection will probably not be guaranteed.
With low speaker EPDR values, however, the load on the output transistors can exceed the permissible SOA limits even with moderate (real) average power. The amplifier may die before it even gets really warm.

It seems just not a robust design, disadvantaged in this way by being bridged Class AB or B.

 

[Chr1]

Ro... Bust.

(where Ro = Volume)


Or De Funkd.
Bum deal, either way.
My 2c.