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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: 50 12.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 319 81.8%

  • Total voters
    390
No , all humour will be punished , it's just some heretics have adapted and now take pleasure in said punishment.

What can you do , there's clearly some right proper wronguns about .
This ‘humorous review’ looks like someone impersonating part of subjectivist crowd. (I know you are!). There not enough denial of basic facts and excess use of flowery language.
Now if you had written something like “lacking sonic humidity and degrees of additional warmth”. Then it would have been more believable. ;)

Well, the truth is that Topping is now getting rave reviews even in places like Stereophile, so somethings are changing.
 
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Snug as bugs in a rug. Power bricks fit nicely on rack shelves behind amps. Don't know if I have pics of the bricks.
 
Great performance!

I'm just concerned about the long-term reliability. It seems like Topping uses 35V capacitors with 30V DC on them (60V from power supply / 2).
What is the effect on MTBF? As a design engineer, I understand the choice. But if my company designs something to serve for at least 10 years, my reliability engineer would not allow me to use the electrolytic cap spec'ed for anything below 50V.

1741105231157.png
 
Great performance!

I'm just concerned about the long-term reliability. It seems like Topping uses 35V capacitors with 30V DC on them (60V from power supply / 2).
What is the effect on MTBF? As a design engineer, I understand the choice. But if my company designs something to serve for at least 10 years, my reliability engineer would not allow me to use the electrolytic cap spec'ed for anything below 50V.

View attachment 433276
Looks like you answered your own question, didn't you? ;)
 
It's actually a thing in thermal design:
View attachment 433253

For natural convection, the difference can be large.

So yeah, if the heat sinks are part of the thermal design, they should be vertical unless force-air cooled.

It may be that this amp's heat sinks are cosmetic and they play little or no role in thermals. Electronics with critical cooling needs tend to orient the heat sinks properly (or fail early). I have at least one amp that would not be happy with high power operation without the heat sink oriented properly.
The MF M6si also has horizontal radiators that have no openings to the interior. The M6si really produces heat. Even if they are vertical, they must have an outlet from the top. I think that many companies are inspired by the bathroom ladder radiator
 
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This is really getting a bit awkward, right? We are emphasising perfect heat sink geometry and oversized caps in a system that tends to run fairly cool.
 
Finally, I have a replacement for my still functioning Topping PA-5.

Even same XLR/TRS inputs...

Many thanks, great review.

"ASRC" >>>>
"AudioScienceReviewCertified" or no deal.
 
I got creative :p

Topping B200: A Measurable Marvel, But Where’s the Soul?

Introduction
Topping has gained a strong following in the world of high-fidelity audio, particularly among those who prioritize measurements and technical performance over subjective musicality. With the B200 monoblock amplifier, the brand continues its pursuit of textbook-perfect audio reproduction. But does it truly engage the listener, or does it simply check all the right boxes in a lab test? We set out to discover whether the B200 delivers more than just numbers.

Design and Build
As expected from Topping, the B200’s design is functional, if uninspiring. The matte black chassis is solidly constructed, but lacks the tactile charm of classic audiophile designs. There's a stark absence of visual flair—no VU meters, no distinctive accents, just a minimalist front panel with a single input select button and three small LEDs.

At just 8.2 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, the B200 is compact enough to fit in a desktop or tight shelving, but this form factor also raises questions: Can an amplifier this small truly deliver the deep, organic presence of a high-end power amp?

Features and Connectivity
Topping continues its trend of emphasizing specification-driven design, opting for a Class D topology—a choice that maximizes efficiency and measurable performance but often divides audiophiles on sound character.

The rear panel is straightforward, featuring:
- Balanced XLR
- RCA
- Trigger input for automated power control

Speaker connections are handled via gold-plated binding posts, which feel adequately sturdy, though they lack the substantial heft of those found on premium amplifiers from brands like Pass Labs or Luxman.

Performance
On paper, the B200’s numbers are nothing short of stellar. Topping claims 250W into 4 ohms and 135W into 8 ohms, with distortion levels as low as 0.00008% (THD+N, 5W @ 4Ω, 1kHz). These figures rival some of the best measurement-based amplifiers on the market. But as we know, music is more than just numbers.

Sound Quality
This is where opinions will diverge.

- Bass: Impressively tight and controlled, but lacking the warmth and physicality of a well-designed Class A or AB amplifier. The B200 delivers bass with precision but not with emotion.
- Midrange: Neutral to a fault. While vocals and acoustic instruments come through with clarity, there’s an analytical quality to the sound that keeps it from feeling truly immersive. The emotional weight of a singer’s voice or the resonance of a grand piano feels slightly detached.
- Treble: Exceptionally clean and extended, but bordering on clinical. The amplifier does not add any noticeable coloration, but it also does not enhance the listening experience in a way that some might expect from a high-end component.

Pairing and System Matching
Given its ultra-low distortion and high power output, the B200 is a natural match for those who prefer a highly resolving system. However, listeners who appreciate warmth, texture, and harmonic richness may find it lacking. Pairing it with inherently warm speakers, such as Harbeth or Sonus Faber models, helps offset its sterility, but even then, it never fully escapes its analytical nature.

The Verdict
The Topping B200 is, without question, a triumph of engineering. It delivers pristine, distortion-free sound with extraordinary precision, making it an ideal choice for measurement purists and detail-obsessed listeners. However, those who seek musicality, organic textures, and emotional engagement may find it lacking. The amplifier’s flawless technical execution comes at the cost of soul and character, making it a device that some will adore and others will find uninvolving.

Pros:
✔ Incredibly low distortion and noise
✔ Compact and efficient design
✔ Excellent power output for size
✔ Transparent, highly resolving sound

Cons:
✖ Somewhat sterile and analytical
✖ Lacks the warmth and texture of classic audiophile amplifiers
✖ No VU meters or aesthetic appeal

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
For those who prioritize technical perfection over subjective musicality, the B200 is an undeniable achievement. But for those who believe music is about emotion as much as precision, this amplifier may leave something to be desired.

As always, the best judge is your own ears.
That cannot happen.
As far as a composer uses them for monitoring, it goes without saying that he is to reflect emotion across the composition.
If emotion is not found, do not go blaming the
amplifiers, but the composer.
As for the loudspeakers...we better talk later on...
 
@amirm

Did you check if it works with a single ended to balanced cable? Or has the B100 bug?

V
 
Great performance!

I'm just concerned about the long-term reliability. It seems like Topping uses 35V capacitors with 30V DC on them (60V from power supply / 2).
What is the effect on MTBF? As a design engineer, I understand the choice. But if my company designs something to serve for at least 10 years, my reliability engineer would not allow me to use the electrolytic cap spec'ed for anything below 50V.

View attachment 433276
Best engineering practice acknowledged and notwithstanding, FWIW my elderly Aiyima A07s -- with their 50WVDC Nichicon shunt capacitors and notoriously poor thermal management -- have been running nearly 24/7/365 for over four years on 46-47VDC -- with no issues whatsoever.
 
People hi :D

I often have the opportunity to give my personal point of view concerning certain amplifiers or DACs that may be either poorly designed, or that could be improved because there are indeed some... :confused:

However, I must admit that concerning the latest 'high-end' models of amplifiers and DACs offered by TOPPING there is absolutely NOTHING to complain about and especially NOTHING to modify (at the risk of making it less 'good' or breaking it :().

If there had been 'something else' to do, don't worry: they would have done it already !

The engineers of TOPPING have reached 'peaks' never before climbed by others and they are SURELY the ones who are followed or copied nowadays ;)

The only criticism could be visual or functional in relation to the expectations of some, but don't we say that perfection does not exist or at least that it is never achieved ?

It is this search for perfection that causes evolution thanks to certain and of which the engineers of TOPPING are part :cool:
 
I wonder how this thing would perform with a beefier PSU -- e.g. a 60V 10A industrial SMPS. Generics are basically as cheap as dirt -- and I'm sure trusted manufacturers like Meanwell offer equivalents that would make more sense for reliably powering a $600 amp. Surely an enterprising user could turn up the appropriate plug, right?

DC60V 6-10A Single Output Switching Power Supply AC to SMPS For CNC Led Strip XN
 
Ha ha, but they (Topping B200) measure massively differently than e. g. a Fosi V3. And that makes the listener a good feeling, the feeling to have purchased the very best... .;)
The listener will then listen more attentively to the details of the music - which he did not do before - and the "overall enjoyment" increases. Even without blind tests (he would certainly fail).
The main problem with mono v3 is that you use a single power supply to drive two amplifiers. There is something wrong with the high-power supply of topping. If you use a separate power supply to drive a single amplifier, it will work very stably and there will be no abnormal heat. Of course, you should put them in a ventilated and dark place in summer.
 
Absolutely superb in all aspects, one more example of what NFCA designs from Topping (still considered a class AB design?) can achieve.
This is definitely the amplifier I would get today.
 
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