Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

[geekosa]

To summarize B200 is similar to LA90D in bridged mode ?

 

[Burns]

Podsumowując, B200 jest podobny do LA90D w trybie pomostowym?

In my opinion NO
If the other SINAD measurements are fairly similar, the maximum power produced is significantly different.

I see a difference, one is 8 ohms and the other is 4 ohms, but we've already talked about not doubling the power, and even the manufacturer's spec for 4 ohms is not identical

LA90 (without discrete) doesn't fit the scheme either. It looks to me like B200 lands somewhere in the middle of the two above, and the changes are not just the internal bridge and the removal of the volume knob. There must be more internal differences even if they are based on the same design process.

The strangest thing is that according to the manufacturer's specifications, the B200 should produce more power than the bridged LA90D

 

[totti1965]

To summarize B200 is similar to LA90D in bridged mode ?

Similar, yes! But 1 1/2 years younger. Very close in the specs and……
1/3 cheaper!
So it may be a no brainer, if you need more than 100 Watts of power.

thorsten (happy Topping B100 user - at least until now)

 

[gambit]

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.

Fair, fair. Perhaps i should try 2V and see.

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.

As someone with a race car, I'd disagree with the metaphor.
Maybe: It's like having a 500hp racecar, but you can only use 250hp? yes, you can go as fast on the corners, but you are missing power on the striaghts? yeah - not a great metaphor.

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

Let me rephrase.
When buying an all new system - I agree - go all RCA or all XLR. problem solved.
The problem is when you have a system that is RCA and you want to update a weak link, and decide the power amp is that link.
On the B100, they have RCA/2V in - you can upgrade the power amp, enjoy better sound, and do the preamp later.
On the B200, it's basically begging to need pre-amp and power and the same time, so I feel that topping is missing an opportunity to sell to folks upgrading their RCA systems

Of course the counter is "run 2V", and the more i look at it, DRV134s SINAD is measured here at 115 (and aliexpress listings say 111), while the B100 w/ RCA+High Gain was 113, which is the same in my book.

 

[Lambda]

The problem is when you have a system that is RCA and you want to update a weak link, and decide the power amp is that link.

And as i said this is not a problem.
If you spend 1200$ on amp you can also spend 5-20$ on RCA to XLR cables

The amps Input can be balanced it dose not have to be balanced.

 

[gambit]

ever try the THAT Corp 1646 "OutSmarts" line driver? Excellently performing IC. SparkFun used to make a little breakout board using these. I was really sad to see them stop making them.

If I'm reading spec sheets right:
SSM 2142 1kHz THD+N 0.0008
THAT 1646/1606 1kHz THD+N 0.0007
DRV 134/135 1kHz THD+N 0.0005

 

[antcollinet]

Maybe: It's like having a 500hp racecar, but you can only use 250hp?

If you add "because you put the incorrect fuel into it" then maybe.

 

[totti1965]

Let me rephrase.
When buying an all new system - I agree - go all RCA or all XLR. problem solved.
The problem is when you have a system that is RCA and you want to update a weak link, and decide the power amp is that link.
On the B100, they have RCA/2V in - you can upgrade the power amp, enjoy better sound, and do the preamp later.
On the B200, it's basically begging to need pre-amp and power and the same time, so I feel that topping is missing an opportunity to sell to folks upgrading their RCA systems

Yes: go all RCA or all XLR when you use the B100 - This is important for the B100 to work properly. Please don´t use adaptor Cables!
The B200 has only XLR Inputs!
I would be a bit afraid that this amplifier would show the same behavior as its little brother in this respect:
Therefore, to be absolutely on the safe side and avoid RCA to cinch adapter cables, a preamplifier with balanced outputs would be the method of choice, if you are using e.g. a WiiM Pro Plus with its non-symmetrical (RCA) outputs.
Or simply search for a Streamer/DAC with symmetrical outputs!

Preamplifier - Topping audio

www.toppingaudio.com

 

[babadono]

The B200 has only XLR Inputs!

That can be fed from an unbalanced output with the proper cable.

 

[Burns]

That can be fed from an unbalanced output with the proper cable.

this is a theory, in practice, probably no owner on this forum has connected it like that. There is no information on how it plays and how the volume has dropped

 

[babadono]

47 pages and nobody has done it? Do you want me to do it and report back?

 

[antcollinet]

47 pages and nobody has done it? Do you want me to do it and report back?

It would certainly help silence a lot of discussion.

 

[Mort]

Do you want me to do it and report back?

One cable test will only prove that cable works, no others! /s

 

[antcollinet]

One cable test will only prove that cable works, no others! /s

It will prove the amp can recieve an unbalanced signal, and still provide full power output. IE that the amp is not balanced input to output, but the input uses a proper diff amp before going to the power stage.

 

[Burns]

When I asked on this forum why all Topping products that can act as a preamp in the specification have better performance in SE IN, the answer I got was that they are not fully balanced. There is a conversion from SE. Now I will remind you.

 

[gambit]

If you add "because you put the incorrect fuel into it" then maybe.

That is better than a cup holder - I grant you.

I've ordered a DRV134, but for shiggles:

Power (w)=Power(hp)
SINAD/transparency=say, lap times
preamp=fuel
power amp=car

You have your cheap race car, maybe a spec miata/MX5 and feed it 92 octane fuel, it makes 200hp, but you want to go faster.
You buy, say $75000 worth of fuel station which can dispense 98 octane. it gets faster lap times, but (for some reason) some HP.

Topping releases a Formula Ford for $75000 which, when given Sunoco 110 gives 200hp.
But your gas station only has 98 octane!
So your formula ford (think cheap F1 car) has 100hp, but (thanks to aero) is slightly faster around the track.
You just wish Topping tuned the engine so you could use all the 98 octane you /just/ bought so you'd be even faster - at least until you were ready to buy a Sunoco 110 gas station!

end shiggles.

 

[babadono]

When I asked on this forum why all Topping products that can act as a preamp in the specification have better performance in SE IN, the answer I got was that they are not fully balanced. There is a conversion from SE. Now I will remind you.

No rocket scientist here but isn't that just because the balanced output is 6dB hotter?

 

[Reminiscent Audio Guy]

Reserved for @AdamG to kindly post the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

View attachment 432910
Link to additional details and product information:

TOPPING B200 Discrete Speaker Amplifier

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.

shenzhenaudio.com

Hello, does anyone know what the microfarad capacitance is ? Is it relevant here with such great performance? Thank you.

 

[totti1965]

That can be fed from an unbalanced output with the proper cable.

Well, it all starts with @pma’s measurements of the Topping B100!
It’s at page 46 of @amirm‘s B100 Test - Posting #901
With adapter cables the maximal power of the Topping B100 has dropped to 3 or 4 Watts, before it switched itself off!
Long story short: avoid adapter Cables. Go RCA to RCA or XLR to XLR and everything is fine!

So I guess we have to collect money and we have to buy a B200 for @pma, so that he can run his tests!
Just kidding!

 

[BeeKay]

It’s at page 46 of @amirm‘s B100 Test - Posting #901

You could easily copy and post the link using this: