Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

[Burns]

The same way you say, "calm down" to a woman.

that is, it won't work. It hasn't even been checked whether this device plays music. I suggest you plug it in, make some coffee or open a beer and listen

 

[antcollinet]

that is, it won't work. It hasn't even been checked whether this device plays music.

Are you sure about that? It doesn't look like a statement that has much value at ASR.

 

[Burns]

Are you sure about that? It doesn't look like a statement that has much value at ASR.

but are you asking me about non-alcoholic beer, is it still beer, or about green coffee?

yes, I'm half serious, the device has a specific function, if it doesn't do it, it's broken electronic waste and should be returned.

I love ASR for posts like yours.

 

[antcollinet]

but are you asking me about non-alcoholic beer, is it still beer, or about green coffee?

yes, I'm half serious, the device has a specific function, if it doesn't do it, it's broken electronic waste and should be returned.

I love ASR for posts like yours.

So you're saying it won't work, it can't play music? Really?

I'm just bemused by posts like yours.

 

[Burns]

So you're saying it won't work, it can't play music? Really?

I'm just bemused by posts like yours.

It won't work to tell a woman to calm down, she probably won't calm down, she'll probably get even angrier. B200 if it gives a signal to the analyzer and signal not broken, then you know it's working.

Without bragging about it, B200 was measured here first, I discovered a power supply marked as 60V. Something about the volume gain level didn't suit me either. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/making-further-progress-topping’s-new-flagship-amplifier-will-be-launched-in-late-may.53675/post-2225528 Thanks to the numbers on soundstage, I found that M6si has a gain of 42dB. So if I understand correctly, the preamplifier (in my case L70 I have to use high gain of 19.8dB) and the same in B200 high by 22dB. I would like to know how the whole system measures, what distortion it has. However, I don't have such equipment and knowledge, so I have to experiment with known parameters myself. We know that everyone has different equipment, but a starting point could be the manufacturer's kit with Pre90

Think, if it was measured that B200 in Low and High mode for a 5dB drop and for such a value the manufacturer wants to make a physical switch? These are things that should have manual tests supported by results from a measuring device. I am not talking about measuring something with ears, but a measuring machine should combine it with practical tests. B200 by itself will do nothing except amplify.

I really wonder if the B200 with 41.8dB gain will still have such a high SINAD and what will happen to the generated power and heat...

I wonder if Topping provided two devices for review. One B200 is highly useless in what it was created for. Two should be measured to see if they do not have significant differences in measurements that will be revealed in hearing. So many questions, so few answers. Since you are the guardian of ASR, do you think that the measurement methodology on this forum is complete?

 

[Jim Taylor]

B200 by itself will do nothing except amplify.

That is the only function that an amplifier has. You have given the B200 a very high compliment ... although, I suspect, unintentionally.

 

[Burns]

That is the only function that an amplifier has. You have given the B200 a very high compliment ... although, I suspect, unintentionally.

yes, you are right
but:
since others can deny the lack of vertical radiators
I can emphasize:
LA90/D is a standalone unit,
B200 is not a standalone unit,
that is why I would like to see B200 measurements in the Topping ecosystem, as in the article that was linked to me. As you can see, it is not without significance.

The Signal Chain: How do noise and distortion propagate through my system?

This article is to explore how noise and distortion change through our system, and how different components can influence the final output. A common question is “If I have DAC A, preamp B, and amp C, where should I set the volume and gain controls for the best performance?” Usually this...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Only that these are mathematical calculations, and it would probably look slightly different from the AP Analyzer
At the same time, I understand that @amirm has limited time and processing power. I understand that. I appreciate what he did! If there are no more extensive measurements - it's a bit of a shame. For this reason I wrote that I'm going to listen to the device I have with a proverbial coffee... and I will continue to enjoy it as it is...
I don't know what's strange about it, headphones are also already being listened to on the ASR forum.

This is my point of view for now, you don't have to agree with it.

 

[BeeKay]

LA90/D is a standalone unit,
B200 is not a standalone unit,

Nope. They are simply different animals. One is an integrated amp (pre+power) and the other is just a power amp. Pretty common. What is the problem?

 

[Burns]

Nope. They are simply different animals. One is an integrated amp (pre+power) and the other is just a power amp. Pretty common. What is the problem?

The problem is that we don't have a preamplifier and in my opinion this has an impact on what and with what current, gain we connect - am I wrong?

Maybe I don't know all the manufacturers, but it seems to me that the vast majority of those who decide to introduce mono power amplifiers to their offer create a dedicated preamplifier for them and so it should be considered as a whole.Topping is no exception to this rule (Pre90). It seems to me that the design phase includes these separated devices as a whole. People of course mix and change them later, but I think most lose measurable control over it and are only guided by what they hear, and they don't really know whether there is any overdrive or clipping.

 

[theREALdotnet]

Furthermore, the scale is logarithmic, 150W is approximately 1/3 of the distance between 100W and 200W

No, a third of the way is about 125W. 150W is past half-way between 100W and 200W, at about 58.7%.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

I believe @Burns is suggesting that using low gain is a shortcut to achieve low noise and distortion.
This is not wrong.

@Burns is now wondering what the noise and distortion levels would be with "normal" gain or within a system.
This is a reasonable curiosity, I think.

 

[BeeKay]

Well, every power amp needs a pre. On the B200 input, I can confirm that it works perfectly (i.e. it puts out decent power) when driven by my A70 Pro (54Vpp or 19.1Vrms). Even at low gain for my speaker set. Larger rooms (here ~45m² and 5.5m max ceiling height) with less sensitive speakers may require the use of high gain.

 

[Lukerator]

looks great. how it performs in terms of heat generation. need a fan？

 

[JSmith]

how it performs in terms of heat generation.

Another report from the living room rather than from the ivory towers. Fairly loud listening over 2hrs 27w measured by the smart socket (per B200). The amps are cool to the touch. Even the A70 Pro and D70 Pro Sabre got a bit warmer in comparison.

JSmith

 

[Burns]

I know I probably need more data, but the 5W gain at which the measurements are taken corresponds to what volume level, average, 36dB or 11,5dB?

on the other hand, if I read these graphs correctly, even at 145W there is still no tragedy and no significant difference? (5W vs 145W)

 

[Sokel]

I know I probably need more data, but the 5W gain at which the measurements are taken corresponds to what volume level, average, 36dB or 11,5dB?
View attachment 434986
on the other hand, if I read these graphs correctly, even at 145W there is still no tragedy and no significant difference? (5W vs 145W)

View attachment 434988

You may want to see it the other way around, with a (combined on spectrum) line-level nicely recorded music signal right before the amp.
That should be at 100-300mV range, tops.

Add some? Double that. Even go to Volt if you like. That's the voltage the amp will see at its inputs for normal listening levels when having a decent gain, now you can do the math.

 

[Lambda]

Well, every power amp needs a pre.

Why?

There are professional audio interfaces with Analog volume control and enough output voltage to drive this amp into clipping if you want.

 

[BeeKay]

Why?

There are professional audio interfaces with Analog volume control and enough output voltage to drive this amp into clipping if you want.

Okay. Almost every home audio power amp needs a pre.

Feel free to tighten the definition to your liking.

 

[Tovarich007]

The problem is that we don't have a preamplifier and in my opinion this has an impact on what and with what current, gain we connect - am I wrong?

Maybe I don't know all the manufacturers, but it seems to me that the vast majority of those who decide to introduce mono power amplifiers to their offer create a dedicated preamplifier for them and so it should be considered as a whole.Topping is no exception to this rule (Pre90). It seems to me that the design phase includes these separated devices as a whole. People of course mix and change them later, but I think most lose measurable control over it and are only guided by what they hear, and they don't really know whether there is any overdrive or clipping.

But what are you looking for ? What you write is true for any power amp. Amir measures a product on its own, for this amp like for any other device he has tested. Measure a full system is quite a different story. What do you mean by a whole system ? Should he measure as a whole the preamp, and also the Dac before the preamp, and why not the speakers after the power amp ? Your claim has has no ending and sounds a non sense. People rarely buy a whole system in one time.
By the way, topping manufactures good preamps and DAC/heasphone/line/preamps. You just have to go to their reviews on ASR.

And, as for the measurement of only one monoblock and not of two, it won't change anything. From now on, Topping has made products with tight specs from an exemplary to another, You don't have to fear significant dispersion specs between two or more units.

Ok, this amp isn't perfect on low impedance at high power, and maybe there rare some reliability concerns, time will tell.
But for all the rest, it's a super good amp, the best ever measured in its class of price and power, if not used at high volume with very demanding speakers.
I only would have hoped more beefy power and caps in order to make it versatile even for low impedance speakers.

And I regret the cheap plastic separate power unit, but this is for conveniency and esthetics, it's not a real technical issue.

 

[Burns]

But what are you looking for ? What you write is true for any power amp. Amir measures a product on its own, for this amp like for any other device he has tested. Measure a full system is quite a different story. What do you mean by a whole system ? Should he measure as a whole the preamp, and also the Dac before the preamp, and why not the speakers after the power amp ? Your claim has has no ending and sounds a non sense. People rarely buy a whole system in one time.
By the way, topping manufactures good preamps and DAC/heasphone/line/preamps. You just have to go to their reviews on ASR.

thank you,
Yes, you are very right, but the entire chain described here using the manufacturer's products, which in many higher models of the series have almost identical parameters (DAC + PreAMP + B200):

The Signal Chain: How do noise and distortion propagate through my system?

This article is to explore how noise and distortion change through our system, and how different components can influence the final output. A common question is “If I have DAC A, preamp B, and amp C, where should I set the volume and gain controls for the best performance?” Usually this...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Would probably give me a picture like in this integrated measured here:

SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier-DAC

www.soundstagenetwork.com

I was counting on the B200's appearance as an opportunity for such a measurement. I'm curious whether passing the signal through the entire chain will still give such a "rosy" result compared to integrated amplifiers.Because that's probably why each of us tries to decide to buy two separate mono power amplifiers.
That's all I had in mind, but I won't bother anyone else's thoughts any further.
Maybe someone will want to measure it differently as a set of devices someday.
Best regards