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Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

Rate this amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 9 2.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 12 3.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 49 12.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 316 81.9%

  • Total voters
    386

amirm

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This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping B200 "monoblock" (single channel) audio amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $599.
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier review.jpg

I don't think it is possible to make the unit more solid and high-quality feeling in this form factor. The amp is heavy for its size (although you can still easily pick it up). The single push button power the unit on/off and selects one of three combo balanced XLR/TRS inputs:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier back panel power supply review.jpg


I like the spaced out speaker terminals and high contrast labeling. Topping has made trigger automation standard on their products which is much appreciated.

Two gain settings are provided unlike the three on B100.

If you are not familiar with my amplifier measurements, please watch this tutorial:


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Topping B200 Amplifier Measurements
Let's start with low gain testing into 4 ohm load:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier low gain measurement.png

I must say, as much as Topping always produces state of the art products, I am always pleasantly surprised the moment on turn on the analyzer and see such superlative results! Distortion is vanishingly small at -140 dB so our SINAD is dominated by noise. It lands the B200 at top of the graph, edging out the B100 by a faction of dB:
best high-end amplifier reviewed 2025.png

best high-end amplifier reviewed zoom 2025.png


There is still of course some penalty in using the higher gain, but still excellent results:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier High gain measurement.png


As much as noise sets SINAD, it is still state of the art, especially in low gain:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier low gain SNR measurement.png

Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier high gain SNR measurement.png


Being a conventional design, frequency response has no load dependency and shows wide bandwidth:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier low gain frequency response measurement.png


Multitone and 19+20 kHz intermodulation distortion tests show very little rise in distortion with frequency:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier low gain Multitone measurement.png

Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier low gain 19 20 kHz intermodulation dis...png


Topping amplifiers until now have had average levels of power. That is changed with B200 landing in "high power" category now while still maintaining its superb noise and distortion:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power 4 ohm measurement.png

Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power 8 ohm measurement.png


By now, the amp was fairly warm and it seemed that it was pulling back a bit in available power:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier max and peak Power 4 ohm measurement.png

The above test pushes the amplifier into clipping repeatedly to find the 1% point and it seemed to rob the amplifier of some power. Later reactive tests with the amplifier being cooler showed the full power rating coming back.

Here is our new 40 Hz power rating while the unit was warm:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power 4 ohm 40 Hz measurement.png


And "FTC like" full bandwidth power which lasted about a minute while again repeatedly pushing the amplifier beyond clipping to achieve 1% THD:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier FTC like Power 4 ohm measurement.png


The "transfer function" is extremely clean, showing just a slight degradation with frequency as noted earlier:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power 4 ohm vs frequency measurement.png


No class D is able to achieve this level of performance at this time (although they can be a lot more powerful).

I had dinner and then ran the reactive load tests:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Reactive Load Voltage measurement.png

Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Reactive Load Power measurement.png

I was pleased to see it produce power even at 2 ohm although past 0 degrees, the protection circuit was interfering with the measurements so I show that as zero. Max power is available at 4 ohm. But healthy power is available at 8 ohm as well.

Speaking of protection circuit, it was the kind I like where it a) allows the amplifier to go into clipping and b) self recover without shutting down. This made it possible to run the above tests with ease.

The amplifier is exceptionally quiet coming out of, and going into standby mode:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power on off measurement.png


And the unit is stable on power up:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier warm up measurement.png


Conclusions
One or more designers at Topping have figured out how to nail noise and distortion in any products they design. No matter how difficult it is to "port" that to other product categories such as this higher power amplifier, they deliver on that. As such, Topping owns the category when it comes to medium to medium high power amplification when it comes to performance. Try as I might, I cannot find any faults here. The product itself is also attractive, feels high quality and has proper features, sans a VU meter.

It is my pleasure to recommend the Topping B200 amplifier.

Edit: video review also posted:

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
 
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Reserved for @AdamG to kindly post the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

IMG_0998.jpeg

Link to additional details and product information:
 
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Oh wow, that's phenomenal performance, and it's class B (edit: this is misinformation; it is AB, unlike the B100). I'd still take a Purifi amp over this simply because of efficiency ;)
 
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Wow, superlative performance. Have you ever charted the SNR results of power amps, similar to the SINAD chart, particularly the 5 watt measurement? Thanks for another intriguing review, Amir!
 
Have you ever charted the SNR results of power amps, similar to the SINAD chart, particularly the 5 watt measurement?
I have been wishing to have captured these but have not. Maybe we get an intern during the summer to create such a table.
 
It looks great--inside, out, and in the measurements. I imagine most people would be better served by something cheaper. If their speakers are sensitive enough to take advantage of the low noise, the extra 3dB or so this provides over the B100 would probably not be missed. Still, I voted "Great."

These B-series have been out for a while. How has the reliability been, anecdotally?
 
Nice to see that topping uses a quiet solid metal box for this. But keeping their reputation on mind, i wonder how durable it is. But on measurements, there are no remarks at all. This is how it should be for a clean amp, close to spec and absolute low distortion beyond what is hearable for us.

But i would still trust local NCore or Purifi builds more than this, and they are not necesairly more expensive (because this ain't cheap). But it looks definitly a step in the right direction on the remarks i still have with this brand and i hope my suspicion is unnecesairy for this one.
 
Thanks for testing. I pulled the trigger without waiting for this review. Glad to see these results. Seems over time I am drifting more and more towards Topping.
Cannot complain about durability or any problems as of now.
But even if - I could easily write off 2 or 3 B200 until a Benchmark would make economically sense. While still having better measurements - if that is needed at all.

@amirm - in case the PS (60V) is still around - could you check if it is delivering 64V as we were measuring on another thread?
 
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@amirm - in case the PS (60V) is still around - could you check if it is delivering 64V as we were measuring on another thread?
Yes. Open circuit voltage is 63 and change.
 
@amirm..

I did a search for "hot","heat","thermal" and nothing came up (in case I missed it during the read).

Did you check how hot this puppy became?

I know you mentioned warm under test but in general use was it cool running


Thanks,

Peter
 
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Topping amplifiers until now have had average levels of power. That is changed with B200 landing in "high power" category now while still maintaining its superb noise and distortion:
Topping B200 Ultra high performance monoblock amplifier Power 4 ohm measurement.png
Is that really a Class B amplifier?
It seems almost immune of crossover or any distortion at low level.
At high gain, what does it give at very low power, though ? 50mW and less.
That's only 20dB below 5W.
Any concern at very low level ?
 
It's a pretty good performance overall, though it seems to have the classical thermal issues that many Topping amps have. Though this time, it's less bad than it used to be. It isn't very stable with low impedance loads, though. I guess that is the penalty for only 2 output devices per channel. So, for most speakers and with most program material, this amp will do an absolutely great job.
 
I run the B200 in low gain on maybe less demanding speakers (Buchardt S400 SE). The Toppings get hardly warm to the touch. Lukewarm would be the right term.
 
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