Topping B100 Amplifier Review

[antcollinet]

Most people are suggesting that there are major limitations due to the low power of these things. Every use case is different though so I'm interested to know if my use case would work with them.

I've got the floorstanding Robson Acoustics Burlington MKIII with Viawave Srt-7 ribbon tweeters and Purifi 6.5" woofers. I currently have them paired with two Fosi Audio V3 Mono amps. However, I also use the sub out on the WiiM Ultra to feed anything below 95hz to a Kef KC62 sub and only send above 95hz to the Fosi Audios. I typically listen at volumes between 65-70db and am only 2.2m from the front of the speakers in a small 4m x 3.5m office.

Thoughts on the B100s being able to comfortably handle my use case?

Who knows (it sort of depends on the music you might listen to)

But why change. You already have amps that measure very well, can stomp all over loads down to 2 ohms, and will be audibly as good as the B100's - without having to worry about reliability or shutdown.

Swapping to the B100's would be a very odd choice IMO. Personally I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole for any application. They are just too flakey.

 

[Chr1]

Indeed. Why?
(Inaudible SINAD fetishism IMHO.)

 

[C0mbat]

Who knows (it sort of depends on the music you might listen to)

But why change. You already have amps that measure very well, can stomp all over loads down to 2 ohms, and will be audibly as good as the B100's - without having to worry about reliability or shutdown.

Swapping to the B100's would be a very odd choice IMO. Personally I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole for any application. They are just too flakey.

Yeah, fair enough. I don't really have any objective justification for thinking about the change. I kind of feel like I'm in end game position with my current WiiM, Fosi Audio and Robson Acoustics equipment but there's always that sits on your shoulder asking the question.

Having previously owned the KEF LS50 Meta, Kef R7, Revel M126be, the Robson Acoustics provide a serious upgrade in perceptible soundstage and separation. So I was wondering if there was anywhere left to go. I know I can continue to tinker with the peq settings using REW so maybe that's my only focus from now on.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Yeah, fair enough. I don't really have any objective justification for thinking about the change. I kind of feel like I'm in end game position with my current WiiM, Fosi Audio and Robson Acoustics equipment but there's always that sits on your shoulder asking the question.

Having previously owned the KEF LS50 Meta, Kef R7, Revel M126be, the Robson Acoustics provide a serious upgrade in perceptible soundstage and separation. So I was wondering if there was anywhere left to go. I know I can continue to tinker with the peq settings using REW so maybe that's my only focus from now on.

If you haven't already, try some blind testing to establish a reference point for when these doubts arise.

I've done countless tests over the years, so I know my own thresholds and what to listen and look for. I still do them for fun occasionally, -they help eliminate doubt and keep your wallet happy.

 

[Chr1]

Subs? Room treatment too.

 

[pogo]

So I was wondering if there was anywhere left to go.

Of course, there will still be room for improvement. I would go for a device with Dirac Live and a 1ET6525SA amplifier.

 

[antcollinet]

Of course, there will still be room for improvement. I would go for a device with Dirac Live and a 1ET6525SA amplifier.

DIRAC or other room EQ - certainly. Room treatment - yes if possible.

But at this stage gains from electronics will be marginal at best - vastly more likely inaudible. Unless more power is needed, which is not the case here.

 

[deitrick]

Most people are suggesting that there are major limitations due to the low power of these things. Every use case is different though so I'm interested to know if my use case would work with them.

I've got the floorstanding Robson Acoustics Burlington MKIII with Viawave Srt-7 ribbon tweeters and Purifi 6.5" woofers. I currently have them paired with two Fosi Audio V3 Mono amps. However, I also use the sub out on the WiiM Ultra to feed anything below 95hz to a Kef KC62 sub and only send above 95hz to the Fosi Audios. I typically listen at volumes between 65-70db and am only 2.2m from the front of the speakers in a small 4m x 3.5m office.

Thoughts on the B100s being able to comfortably handle my use case?

I think there is more to it than just power output of the amps. Speaker sensitivity, room acoustics, and most importantly your personal taste/ears. Unfortunately, the only true answer is to purchase them, then audition them for as long as the 'return window' from where you purchased them allows. Some places charge a restocking fee, so when I opt this route, I tend to stick with Amazon and sellers with 'forgiving' return periods.

 

[Chr1]

If you do this, I'd definitely make sure you play very dynamic, bass heavy music, at what might seem slightly louder than your usual max SPL.
If they crap out, send them back. My 2c.

 

[deitrick]

If you do this, I'd definitely make sure you play very dynamic music, at what might seem slightly louder than your usual max SPL.
If they crap out, send them back. My 2c.

Yes! There are several tracks many agree are mandatory ones like Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. That does a very nice job of testing the range...and is an enjoyable song too.

Critical (Best) Music Tracks for Speaker and Room EQ Testing

I post the list of tracks Harman uses after literally decades of research to detect fidelity of speakers and room Auto Equalizers in another thread but thought it deserves its own thread. I have had the fortunate luck of sitting through a couple of their blind tests and can attest to the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[pogo]

If you do this, I'd definitely make sure you play very dynamic music, at what might seem slightly louder than your usual max SPL.

Very quiet hearing is also a quality feature and is too often underestimated. I only really realized this after buying my Purifi amp.

 

[Chr1]

Just edited my previous post, adding "bass heavy" (dynamic music).
As this will push the amps...

 

[SashaR]

Thank you all in advance for your answer!

Is it correct that I will not encounter any problems after replacing LA90 with two B100 because using LA90 and D90SE now I have no problems with my speakers? Thanks for the answer!

 

[antcollinet]

Thank you all in advance for your answer!

Is it correct that I will not encounter any problems after replacing LA90 with two B100 because using LA90 and D90SE now I have no problems with my speakers? Thanks for the answer!

It depends on your speakers, on the music you listen to, and how loud.

Why on earth are you thinking of changing? Please dont do it if you are expecting better sound quality : you won't get it.

 

[bezromval]

I’ve got the full line.

 

[Sokel]

I’ve got the full line.
View attachment 429120

I looks nice but I wouldn't stack any other kind of gear on top of amps.

 

[SashaR]

It depends on your speakers, on the music you listen to, and how loud.

Why on earth are you thinking of changing?

Thanks for the heads up. The problem is that after enabling the Parametric Equalizer with Amir's parameters for the AKG K712 headphones on the LG G7 ThinQ phone, I realized that my room set (TOPPING D90SE, LA90 and ELAC Vela FS 407 speakers) should start sounding better than my mobile kit.
A few years ago I downloaded REW, but did not buy the microphone required to use it. Will REW be able to tell me the equalizer parameters - and if it can do this, where is it described how to ask it to do this?

Which microphone is required to get the equalizer settings using REW? Where is the best place to buy it (if you need it in order to improve the sound quality without replacing the amplifier)?
(I listen to Tidal via UAPP, mostly classics).

Thank you again for your answer to my question!!!

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Thanks for the heads up. The problem is that after enabling the Parametric Equalizer with Amir's parameters for the AKG K712 headphones on the LG G7 ThinQ phone, I realized that my room set (TOPPING D90SE, LA90 and ELAC Vela FS 407 speakers) should start sounding better than my mobile kit.
A few years ago I downloaded REW, but did not buy the microphone required to use it. Will REW be able to tell me the equalizer parameters - and if it can do this, where is it described how to ask it to do this?

Which microphone is required to get the equalizer settings using REW? Where is the best place to buy it (if you need it in order to improve the sound quality without replacing the amplifier)?
(I listen to Tidal via UAPP, mostly classics).

Thank you again for your answer to my question!!!

REW can create EQ for various devices. It can also be manually set up to match your existing EQ, allowing you to adjust it according to REW's recommendations.

I use a UMIK-1, which has been with me for a long time -it’s what I primarily used on my REW journey, so it should work well for you too.

Now that the UMIK-2 is available, you might be able to find the UMIK-1 at a lower price.

Just search for miniDSP UMIK-1 and choose a retailer that fits your trust and budget preferences.

 

[pogo]

Which microphone is required to get the equalizer settings using REW?

Bluesound Room Calibration Kit

 

[gamerpaddy]

im really curious to see whats hiding below that heat sink.
either they came up with a discrete power amp
or its some off the shelf chip like the LM3886 but smaller
or just a bunch of good opamps in parallel to drive low impedances