Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

[GiantLeprechaun]

Thanks @amirm.

DAC solved
Amplifier solved
Cables solved

Now only left with speakers, arguably.

What cables ?

 

[misterdog]

What cables ?

XLR not RCA ?

 

[deitrick]

Thanks @amirm.

DAC solved
Amplifier solved
Cables solved

Now only left with speakers, arguably.

You cannot go wrong with Revel speakers. The F226Be are astounding for their price point. Pair that with an SVS 17-Ultra R and you'll never look back...

 

[mikela]

I recently added a D90 III Discrete DAC to my setup. I am unable to get enough volume when using room EQ adjustments and low gain modes.

Current configuration is as follows:

Roon > Bacc4mac (USB out) > D90IIID (5V, XLR out) > A90D (low gain, XLR out) > B200s (high gain)

Question: Should I reverse the gain settings for the A90D/B200s? I am registering 81 for volume on the A90D in the current configuration and 83 when I switch them around. Actual measured volume peak levels are at 85db in both cases.

 

[mikela]

After taking a closer look at testing done in the reviews, it seems in my case that the A90D should be used in high gain and the B200 in low gain.

 

[BeeKay]

After taking a closer look at testing done in the reviews, it seems in my case that the A90D should be used in high gain and the B200 in low gain.

Same here (A70pro) as nearly maxing out the pre volume to get decent amplification just seems wrong.

 

[Impossible]

I just got 2 of these and I really really like them.
Planning on getting 13-15 in total for home theater.
Some of the speakers are 2 way active crossover so the b200 will only be used for the mids and high frequency.
Some speakers will be passive. I'm going to try 1 of the passive speakers with the amps first to see if they have enough power to run them. I expect so as the speakers are designed to be used with a sub with 100hz low frequency range.

 

[Roland68]

I just got 2 of these and I really really like them.
Planning on getting 13-15 in total for home theater.
Some of the speakers are 2 way active crossover so the b200 will only be used for the mids and high frequency.
Some speakers will be passive. I'm going to try 1 of the passive speakers with the amps first to see if they have enough power to run them. I expect so as the speakers are designed to be used with a sub with 100hz low frequency range.

Not only would the B100s be sufficient for the high-frequency range, they're also massively oversized.
The B200 is simply completely wrongly dimensioned. While headroom isn't bad, using a 200-watt amplifier in a location where it can never deliver more than 15 watts is a waste of money and nonsense.

The B100s should also be more than adequate for the midrange.

 

[Impossible]

Sorry what do you mean by "The B200 is simply completely wrongly dimensioned."?

Waste of money vs good value is subjective and based on individual circumstances and enjoyment.

 

[Dina]

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.

I BELIEVE YOU NEEEED ACTIEVE COOLING, FOR THIS AMP, I WOULD PREFER PASSIVE COOLING, THE POWER UNIT MAKES ME NOT EXISTED NEITHER.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

…THE POWER UNIT MAKES ME NOT EXISTED NEITHER.

Well…that escalated quickly.

 

[BeeKay]

I BELIEVE YOU NEEEED ACTIEVE COOLING, FOR THIS AMP, I WOULD PREFER PASSIVE COOLING, THE POWER UNIT MAKES ME NOT EXISTED NEITHER.

Your keyboard has an issue. YOU NEEED A NEW ONE.

 

[deitrick]

I recently added a D90 III Discrete DAC to my setup. I am unable to get enough volume when using room EQ adjustments and low gain modes.

Current configuration is as follows:

Roon > Bacc4mac (USB out) > D90IIID (5V, XLR out) > A90D (low gain, XLR out) > B200s (high gain)

Question: Should I reverse the gain settings for the A90D/B200s? I am registering 81 for volume on the A90D in the current configuration and 83 when I switch them around. Actual measured volume peak levels are at 85db in both cases.

What volume curve do you have set on the A90D? That affects total output Vpp and is described in the manual. A setting of 1 is full output, so I put mine to 2 since the Pre-Out Vpp is 49 and the B200's don't want that much (at 1, it introduced audible distortion). My calculations say the B200s want about 35 Vpp at max.

My setup: WiiM Ultra -> USB -> D90 III Discrete -> XLR -> A90D -> XLR -> B200 -> Coat Hanger -> Revel F206

WiiM Ultra is set to be bit perfect.
D90 III Discrete (v0.51 firmware)- DAC mode, has PEQ enabled (custom configuration via REW recommendations), and is set to 4V out.
A90D (v2.8 firmware) - is set to Pre only, low gain, with volume curve of 2.
B200 - Low gain.
SVS SB3000 - Fed from A90D RCA out, volume at -10dB (seems to be a good level match for the mains in this configuration).

With my setup, the volume is never lacking. In fact, it can be too loud to the point of hearing damage. I haven't measured output since I added the A90D last week, but if memory serves me right, I was around 100 dB (at 2 meters) and that is TOO LOUD to safely listen to for long periods of time.

And please keep in mind your speaker's sensitivity can make things louder or quieter. Which speakers are you using?

 

[JSmith]

Coat Hanger

Nice one.


JSmith

 

[mikela]

What volume curve do you have set on the A90D? That affects total output Vpp and is described in the manual. A setting of 1 is full output, so I put mine to 2 since the Pre-Out Vpp is 49 and the B200's don't want that much (at 1, it introduced audible distortion). My calculations say the B200s want about 35 Vpp at max.

My setup: WiiM Ultra -> USB -> D90 III Discrete -> XLR -> A90D -> XLR -> B200 -> Coat Hanger -> Revel F206

WiiM Ultra is set to be bit perfect.
D90 III Discrete (v0.51 firmware)- DAC mode, has PEQ enabled (custom configuration via REW recommendations), and is set to 4V out.
A90D (v2.8 firmware) - is set to Pre only, low gain, with volume curve of 2.
B200 - Low gain.
SVS SB3000 - Fed from A90D RCA out, volume at -10dB (seems to be a good level match for the mains in this configuration).

With my setup, the volume is never lacking. In fact, it can be too loud to the point of hearing damage. I haven't measured output since I added the A90D last week, but if memory serves me right, I was around 100 dB (at 2 meters) and that is TOO LOUD to safely listen to for long periods of time.

And please keep in mind your speaker's sensitivity can make things louder or quieter. Which speakers are you using?

I now have my system configured this way: Roon > Bacc4mac (USB out) > D90IIID (5V, XLR out) > A90D (high gain, XLR out) > B200s (low gain). I am getting 85db peaks at the listening position with the A90D registering 84. Gain is on curve 1. Very happy with this configuration.

Currently I am running a pair of diy sealed Statements (Jim Holtz). However, I have a pair of NX-Tremes and Triple Threat subs that are currently being painted at an automotive shop. The plan is to run a couple of Rythmik plate amps for the subs using the Bacch4mac crossover function through the XLR outs of an RME Babyface Pro.

 

[fatoldgit]

Haven't read the thread from end to end so is the conclusion that these are reliable?

Logically, with an external power supply, the actual amp should run cooler and if the power supply fails the replacement is easy.

But the case is small with no venting so the amp may run hot?

Thanks,

Peter

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Haven't read the thread from end to end so is the conclusion that these are reliable?

Logically, with an external power supply, the actual amp should run cooler and if the power supply fails the replacement is easy.

But the case is small with no venting so the amp may run hot?

Thanks,

Peter

Have listened so far to mine for a few hundred hours and have yet to suffer a single blip.

 

[BeeKay]

But the case is small with no venting so the amp may run hot?

Was discussed at length in this thread. In a nutshell - not an issue. They run hardly very warm under real world conditions.

 

[deitrick]

Haven't read the thread from end to end so is the conclusion that these are reliable?

Logically, with an external power supply, the actual amp should run cooler and if the power supply fails the replacement is easy.

But the case is small with no venting so the amp may run hot?

Thanks,

Peter

Run very well and reliable thus far. I've had no issues with a 100+ hours on them.

 

[NBO]

So, I just received a pair of these. I have the Topping Pre90 with extension in another rig and like it. The Topping gear generally measures well so at this price, it just made sense to grab a pair, of B200s especially if I could beat tariffs etc. In a medium-sized listening room, I'd previously run a Fosi Zd3 DAC/preamp signaling a pair of Fosi Za3 amps in mono mode. These were driving Elac Unifi Reference mains and a Hsu subwoofer. Really liked this rig, but was itching to swap out the Za3 for the superior B200s. The input impedance of the B200s is a bit on the lower side. I wondered if the Fosi Zd3 would have sufficient current to properly power the B200s with this speaker combo. The short answer was no, at least not in the low-gain setting of the B200s. So I switched to high gain with considerable improvement -- though I still think the original pair of Fosi Za3 sounded a bit more full and balanced. My Elacs have nice detail with the B200s but just seem a tad thin overall. I realize such descriptive adjectives might be vague, certainly very subjective, but I was a little surprised. This might also be an A/B amp vs D amp issue. Not sure. I think the B200s are still a great value. I post this just to emphasize what many others say, that the preamp you mate with the 200s matters. The Fosi Zd3 seems to be "able", but it's not effortless. Even at 50% of the Zd3 "preamp" volume band, I'm probably only at 65-70 dB of sound intensity. 100% of the volume band is probably at about 95-100 dB?? Lounder than I would ever normally listen .....but not by a huge margin. So the Fosi Zd3 "can" feed the B200s but not with much headroom a lot of head room.