Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

[babadono]

Yes, the question is for you.

What do you amplify with your B200s?

Music mostly...sometimes test tones
Anyway sorry for any misinterpretation of humor(?) ...I really was not sure if you were asking me or tomchris.
I use the B200s for the bass bins of my 3 way horn loaded active 2.1 basement mancave music system.
The B200 is a really good very low noise at no signal 1 watt amplifier with over 20dB of headroom.

 

[pogo]

@Hear Here
You could test these power amplifiers on your AA speakers in practice. According to the measurements taken, they should perform very well.

 

[tomchris]

What do you mean by this? It is a bridged output...meaning both + and - speaker connections are driven...do not ground either output.

Sorry, if my question seemed cryptic, but I stumbled upon @misterdog's post #810 who stated that he uses his B200s with QUAD ESL-989
I seem to recall that QUAD ESL-989s have their black input terminals connected to ground, and ground must never be connected to the terminals of a balanced/bridged/differential amplifier.

 

[gambit]

I'm a very happy owner of B100s (after reading amirms review) for my desktop setup
(I run on the lowest gain settings to 89db Sensitivity/6 ohm speakers at about 70-75db volume)

But what i didn't see on the thread (yes, yes, external power supply, and the fins go the 'wrong' way, but cool just fine - oh no!), is while they re-used the LA90 case, and have 3 inputs, none are RCA!
Why topping?
wwwwwhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy?!
Needing 4V balanced to get full power is a PITA, as i just bought a 2v unbalanced pre-amp - while the B100s are 'end game' for me, i just wish the B200s had similar balanced/unbalanced with low/medium/high gains for my living room.

Having said that, splunking the forum, i see reviews for RCA to XLR converters:
Henry Engineering SINAD 96 happy panther
ROLLS promatch SINAD 100-ish postman panther
and
DRV134 aliexpress special with 115 SINAD (although TI specs say 0.0005/106db)
Is the DRV134 still the go to for unbalanced to balanced?

Riki

 

[antcollinet]

Is the DRV134 still the go to for unbalanced to balanced?

It is for me.

 

[KL....]

Listening to an analog source through a class D even with audiophonics remains tiring and the highs lack dynamics, seem recessed, or on the opposite side are strident and therefore distorted (case of the STA-9 nuprime).

However, I thought that the D-class would be the future, so I didn't have any negative preconceptions.

I may have tested for a long time on different speakers, always the same personal conclusion. It is therefore not their cleanliness that would be the cause.

@Melba59
Yes, have you found this to be the case in the audio range of about 900Hz-4/5/6kHz. I have noticed this with classD, perhaps it is a feedback issue and how it is applied, that is changing audio in this range, perhaps phase related.... what are your thoughts? Would phase related (feedback) issues show up as noise? Our ears are very sensitive to phase shift/anomalys.... aren't they?

However, with the A30a (using SPDIF connection) I am not finding this to be the case and, in the audio range of 900Hz-4/5/6kHz, finding it sounds like good (even very good) classAB (not tiring at all and very enjoyable), which is the opposite of what you have experienced and I have previously experienced with classD. The A30a bass is better than classAB amps that I have listened too and the midrange is equally as good as classAB amps that I have listened too. The A30a uses PFFB in conjunction with the Axign AX5689 chip which does not show the (feedback) characteristics that you and I have experienced.... isn't that good? :=)

Further the B200 is classAB and would not be experiencing these (feedback) characteristics, in the audio range of 900Hz-4/5/6kHz, that we have noticed with classD (edit: that is the classD that we have been able to listen too, without PFFB or similar).... would it?

 

[mike70]

Yes, have you found this to be the case in the audio range of about 900Hz-4/5/6kHz. I have noticed this with classD, perhaps it is a feedback issue and how it is applied, that is changing audio in this range, perhaps phase related.... what are your thoughts? Would phase related (feedback) issues show up as noise? Our ears are very sensitive to phase shift/anomalys.... aren't they?

However, with the A30a (using SPDIF connection) I am not finding this to be the case and, in the audio range of 900Hz-4/5/6kHz, finding it sounds like good (even very good) classAB (not tiring at all and very enjoyable), which is the opposite of what you have experienced and I have previously experienced with classD. The A30a bass is better than classAB amps that I have listened too and the midrange is equally as good as classAB amps that I have listened too. The A30a uses PFFB in conjunction with the Axign AX5689 chip which does not show the (feedback) characteristics that you and I have experienced.... isn't that good? :=)

Further the B200 is classAB and would not be experiencing these (feedback) characteristics, in the audio range of 900Hz-4/5/6kHz, that we have noticed with classD.... would it?

I have a Purifi class D amp and I don't find anything of that subjectively .... and objectively that amps shows one of the best linear frequency response.

Did you test your findings with a gain levelled blind listening? If the answer is "no", I respect your opinion, but I don't believe you.

 

[JSmith]

what are your thoughts?

Honestly, my thoughts are stick around ASR, leave the other fora and start reading.

If you have other specific questions, use the search function and post in the threads that relate to your question, as a review thread is not the best place for such discussion.


JSmith

 

[KL....]

I have a Purifi class D amp and I don't find anything of that subjectively .... and objectively that amps shows one of the best linear frequency response.

Did you test your findings with a gain levelled blind listening? If the answer is "no", I respect your opinion, but I don't believe you.

My response was actually directed to Melba59, as quoted, but I should have been more specific with classD, shouldn't have I? At this time, I have not listened to a Purifi classD amp (so I cannot comment for those and my thoughts were more to earlyer classD configurations (edit: without PFFB or similar)). Apologys for any confusion but to reiterate my reply was to Melba59, as quoted.... hope that is acceptable :=)

 

[KL....]

Honestly, my thoughts are stick around ASR, leave the other fora and start reading.

If you have other specific questions, use the search function and post in the threads that relate to your question, as a review thread is not the best place for such discussion.

JSmith

My response was actually directed to Melba59, as quoted, but I should have been more specific with @Melba59, shouldn't have I? Melba59 mentioned this and I replyed. Apologys for any confusion but to reiterate my reply was to Melba59, as quoted.... hope that is acceptable :=)

 

[JSmith]

My response was actually directed to Melba59

Well aware, yet here we are... a forum.

@Melba59

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New Rules for Review Threads Reviews of audio products are the crown jewels of our forum. In cooperation with kind members and companies that send in gear, and collective wisdom of the contributing members, we have created an incredible asset for audiophiles. As we cover nearly one new audio...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[misterdog]

I seem to recall that QUAD ESL-989s have their black input terminals connected to ground, and ground must never be connected to the terminals of a balanced/bridged/differential amplifier.

Works mighty fine for me.
Of course I also took the trouble to check with Topping support first, rather than relying on 'something someone said on the internet'.

I have also used Neurochrome Mod 86 in bridged mode, and Hypex NC 400.

The first amplifier I used was a Yamaha AS 2000 which sounded very 'smooth' 'safe' dull and boring .
But it weighed 22Kg. was huge, had vertical heat sink fins and power into 2 Ohm with an internal PSU.

So it ticked all the boxes of how some think an amplifier should be.

A-S2000 - Specs - Yamaha - United States

Yamaha Introduces a New, Superior Approach to Analog Amplifier Design. This high performance amplifier with balanced inputs brings out the best of other components in the system.

usa.yamaha.com

Maybe it was the vertical heat sink fins that made it sound so mediocre ?

Give me the exiting detail and accuracy of near zero distortion any day.

 

[Lambda]

Needing 4V balanced to get full power is a PITA, as i just bought a 2v unbalanced pre-amp

Too bad you bought a preamp with a low output level.
But it's not true that you need 4V to get "full power"—more like 2V in high gain.

just wish the B200s had similar balanced/unbalanced with low/medium/high gains for my living room.

That’s like complaining about a missing cup holder in a race car.
If you care about the last bit of performance, get a balanced system (and ditch the preamp).
If you're using unbalanced 2V max with a preamp in between… well, your total system performance isn’t exactly SOTA
And that’s fine because you won’t hear a difference.


But don’t complain that this amp isn’t for you—there are plenty of others that fit the bill, with RCA and other compromises.

And for your cases you can totally just uses a passive RCA to XLR cable and be done with it

 

[Sokel]

Works mighty fine for me.
Of course I also took the trouble to check with Topping support first, rather than relying on 'something someone said on the internet'.

I have also used Neurochrome Mod 86 in bridged mode, and Hypex NC 400.

The first amplifier I used was a Yamaha AS 2000 which sounded very 'smooth' 'safe' dull and boring .
But it weighed 22Kg. was huge, had vertical heat sink fins and power into 2 Ohm with an internal PSU.

So it ticked all the boxes of how some think an amplifier should be.

A-S2000 - Specs - Yamaha - United States

Yamaha Introduces a New, Superior Approach to Analog Amplifier Design. This high performance amplifier with balanced inputs brings out the best of other components in the system.

usa.yamaha.com

Maybe it was the vertical heat sink fins that made it sound so mediocre ?

Give me the exiting detail and accuracy of near zero distortion any day.

I wouldn't call ~107dB SINAD which at your stated -20dB of the pre90 and theoretical perfect conditions* is the lower limit, zero.
Zero, that theoretically is lower than 140dB (physics take over here) .
Zero or near zero is a strong word.

But it's more than good enough as it would be in the 80's and 90's and maybe lower, inaudible.
I don't know Yamaha's condition but given the consistent performance we have seen here it should be indistinguishable unless it was taxed to drive low impedances which would have an advantage over the B200 under conditions.



*never, ever.

 

[antcollinet]

Would phase related (feedback) issues show up as noise?

No, it wouldn't. First, there are no feedback issues. Second, If there were it would show up as distortion. Yet the better class D amps are typically the best performing types on the market for distortion.

As you can see on the frequency/phase chart posted above, there is just a very slow (and inaudible) phase rolloff at the highest frequencies.

 

[KL....]

I'm a very happy owner of B100s (after reading amirms review) for my desktop setup
(I run on the lowest gain settings to 89db Sensitivity/6 ohm speakers at about 70-75db volume)

But what i didn't see on the thread (yes, yes, external power supply, and the fins go the 'wrong' way, but cool just fine - oh no!), is while they re-used the LA90 case, and have 3 inputs, none are RCA!
Why topping?
wwwwwhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy?!
Needing 4V balanced to get full power is a PITA, as i just bought a 2v unbalanced pre-amp - while the B100s are 'end game' for me, i just wish the B200s had similar balanced/unbalanced with low/medium/high gains for my living room.

Having said that, splunking the forum, i see reviews for RCA to XLR converters:
Henry Engineering SINAD 96 happy panther
ROLLS promatch SINAD 100-ish postman panther
and
DRV134 aliexpress special with 115 SINAD (although TI specs say 0.0005/106db)
Is the DRV134 still the go to for unbalanced to balanced?

Riki

Yes, it would be nice if the B200 allowed for RCA and XLR inputs (like the B100) but with 200 watts (B100 is 100 watts). It was mentioned that 2v and high gain will get the B200 within 1db of clipping which is sufficient, isn't it? Also, as mentioned, the DRV134 is a good choice for RCA to XLR conversion (although another connection and device), as are the other 2 devices, aren't they? Good to have choices (edit: and Wish list), make your choice be wise :=)

edit: Btw, nice B200 Wish list, especially as it has already been done with the B100 (with fabulous results, as tested/measured), so the technology is available and been implemented in the B100 :=)

 

[mike70]

My response was actually directed to Melba59, as quoted, but I should have been more specific with classD, shouldn't have I? At this time, I have not listened to a Purifi classD amp (so I cannot comment for those and my thoughts were more to earlyer classD configurations (edit: without PFFB or similar)). Apologys for any confusion but to reiterate my reply was to Melba59, as quoted.... hope that is acceptable :=)

if you want to talk uniquely to @Melba59 , you can use private message, in other way, the opinions are open to the community, and it's where the real value of the forum resides. I'm not precisely an "illuminated bean", but surely i'm here to learn (and learned too much) from many people ... and i learned a lot about class D amplifiers and then i bought the Purifi implementation.

The best buy i made, talking about amplifiers.

 

[misterdog]

it should be indistinguishable

Though when the friend who bought my Yamaha amp later heard my Benchmark AHB2 he immediatly bought one, as the difference to him was obvious.
As a photographer, he works at pixel levels of accuracy.

 

[Lambda]

We've had this discussion countless times in this forum. You don’t need a special activ converter. With the proper cable/adapter, you can use the pseudo-balanced connection—or an impedance-balanced connection if you add a resistor.


No reason to complain—just get the right cable and use High Gain mode.


The amp has a floating ground due to its double-insulated PSU, so all the leakage is high impedance at low frequencies. And if you're worried about HF leakage, just add some ferrite clamps and use a quality cable with a low-impedance shield.


Just get a cable like this and be done with it:
(or if you spend this kind of money amps alone... also get a proper balanced DAC with it)

Correct way to connect an nCore XLR amp to an RCA source

Hello, I am wondering if there is a safe way to do this, since most solutions I have found on the internet are about the connection of the xlr terminals to the internals of the amp, or something. I want to connect the nc400 to an old unbalanced tube pre amp. Will something like this be ok...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Though when the friend who bought my Yamaha amp later heard my Benchmark AHB2 he immediatly bought one, as the difference to him was obvious.
As a photographer, he works at pixel levels of accuracy.

What exactly do you think we can learn from a story of a photographer hearing differences between two amplifiers at a friend's house during a sighted listening test?