Topping B200 Monoblock Amplifier Review

[Russ_L]

They didn't remodel anything. Even the box has cutouts in the styrofoam for the LA90 volume knob. The LA90D is already an expensive device and could have been sold in small quantities. The B200 is a patching of the hole by reorganization. They didn't think about one thing. There is no way to connect four of these devices in bi-amp mode. There are no RCA inputs, if there were RCA it would have a different volume than XLR. Topping does not offer a preamplifier capable of controlling four devices connected via XLR

But other manufacturers have that capability. My Emotiva XSP-1 has four XLR outputs;

They didn't remodel anything. Even the box has cutouts in the styrofoam for the LA90 volume knob. The LA90D is already an expensive device and could have been sold in small quantities. The B200 is a patching of the hole by reorganization. They didn't think about one thing. There is no way to connect four of these devices in bi-amp mode. There are no RCA inputs, if there were RCA it would have a different volume than XLR. Topping does not offer a preamplifier capable of controlling four devices connected via XLR

Other manufacturers do have preamps with four (main) XLR outputs. My Emotiva XSP-1 does provide that functionality; L&R High pass, L&R Low pass. I’m considering four of these babies to biamp my NHT 2.9 speakers.

Russ

 

[Russ_L]

They're bridged mono blocks, no one is gonna biamp with them. One unit per speaker or set of speaker sockets.

I’m going to biamp with them. Two sets of banana plug sockets on my NHTs. One B200 on the top set, one B200 on the bottom set.

Russ

 

[jmdesignz2]

Topping B300 Please, drive 650 watts into 2 ohms ? $599 each? Drop the B200 to $499

 

[Angaria]

TLDR: if your b200's seem dead, try double tapping the power button.

A weird tip to perhaps help b200 owners who have apparently dead amps. My b200's appeared to be dead for no apparent reason - sounded fine at last use and turned of normally. Used mine lightly for less than a year. Tried plugging into different outlets in case to troubleshoot and they remained dead. Tried many long and short power button presses. I don't think it was a surge, as I have substantial protection and the DAC also plugged into the same outlet was fine. Observed that lights in the external power transformers for the monoblocks were on. After a lot of plugging and unplugging, none of which brought the amps back online, I randomly tried pushing the power button 2x in close succession on one amp and it came alive. I was forced to wonder, did I always do that and just forgot? Had the other monoblock to test that theory - single power push didn't do it, but 2x and it turned on. I then turned both amps off and to turn them on again, only a single push was needed. So seems I'm not going crazy, but perhaps this is some undocumented reset? All topping officially says about resetting is to power cycle.

- all this being said, the amps might still be dying - only played them for a short period after figuring this out, so I don't know the long-term outlook.

 

[Descartes]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping B200 "monoblock" (single channel) audio amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $599.
View attachment 432842
I don't think it is possible to make the unit more solid and high-quality feeling in this form factor. The amp is heavy for its size (although you can still easily pick it up). The single push button power the unit on/off and selects one of three combo balanced XLR/TRS inputs:
View attachment 432843

I like the spaced out speaker terminals and high contrast labeling. Topping has made trigger automation standard on their products which is much appreciated.

Two gain settings are provided unlike the three on B100.

If you are not familiar with my amplifier measurements, please watch this tutorial:

[And subscribe to the channel ]

Topping B200 Amplifier Measurements
Let's start with low gain testing into 4 ohm load:
View attachment 432844
I must say, as much as Topping always produces state of the art products, I am always pleasantly surprised the moment on turn on the analyzer and see such superlative results! Distortion is vanishingly small at -140 dB so our SINAD is dominated by noise. It lands the B200 at top of the graph, edging out the B100 by a faction of dB:
View attachment 432845
View attachment 432846

There is still of course some penalty in using the higher gain, but still excellent results:
View attachment 432847

As much as noise sets SINAD, it is still state of the art, especially in low gain:
View attachment 432848
View attachment 432849

Being a conventional design, frequency response has no load dependency and shows wide bandwidth:
View attachment 432850

Multitone and 19+20 kHz intermodulation distortion tests show very little rise in distortion with frequency:
View attachment 432851
View attachment 432852

Topping amplifiers until now have had average levels of power. That is changed with B200 landing in "high power" category now while still maintaining its superb noise and distortion:
View attachment 432853
View attachment 432854

By now, the amp was fairly warm and it seemed that it was pulling back a bit in available power:
View attachment 432855
The above test pushes the amplifier into clipping repeatedly to find the 1% point and it seemed to rob the amplifier of some power. Later reactive tests with the amplifier being cooler showed the full power rating coming back.

Here is our new 40 Hz power rating while the unit was warm:
View attachment 432856

And "FTC like" full bandwidth power which lasted about a minute while again repeatedly pushing the amplifier beyond clipping to achieve 1% THD:
View attachment 432857

The "transfer function" is extremely clean, showing just a slight degradation with frequency as noted earlier:
View attachment 432858

No class D is able to achieve this level of performance at this time (although they can be a lot more powerful).

I had dinner and then ran the reactive load tests:
View attachment 432859
View attachment 432860
I was pleased to see it produce power even at 2 ohm although past 0 degrees, the protection circuit was interfering with the measurements so I show that as zero. Max power is available at 4 ohm. But healthy power is available at 8 ohm as well.

Speaking of protection circuit, it was the kind I like where it a) allows the amplifier to go into clipping and b) self recover without shutting down. This made it possible to run the above tests with ease.

The amplifier is exceptionally quiet coming out of, and going into standby mode:
View attachment 432861

And the unit is stable on power up:
View attachment 432862

Conclusions
One or more designers at Topping have figured out how to nail noise and distortion in any products they design. No matter how difficult it is to "port" that to other product categories such as this higher power amplifier, they deliver on that. As such, Topping owns the category when it comes to medium to medium high power amplification when it comes to performance. Try as I might, I cannot find any faults here. The product itself is also attractive, feels high quality and has proper features, sans a VU meter.

It is my pleasure to recommend the Topping B200 amplifier.

Edit: video review also posted:

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

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How does it compare to Buckeye amplifiers

 

[Angaria]

How does it compare to Buckeye amplifiers

I don't know if you're looking for an opinion on that, as all the measurements are out there, but I have the b200, 9040 and 7040 buckeye amps and (obviously level-matched) I cannot tell a difference between them, even if I know which one is playing. I therefore suggest that the power reqs of your speakers and price would direct which one you choose.

 

[Descartes]

I don't know if you're looking for an opinion on that, as all the measurements are out there, but I have the b200, 9040 and 7040 buckeye amps and (obviously level-matched) I cannot tell a difference between them, even if I know which one is playing. I therefore suggest that the power reqs of your speakers and price would direct which one you choose.

KEF Blade 2 Meta! Suggestions

 

[J84]

Perfect!

I will search for a better cable tomorrow, it's kind of limited to Audioquest or Amazon here.

Hi which cable did you end up getting?

 

[J84]

Hi so does that mean you can't used the wiim ultra streamer for the B200?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Hi so does that mean you can't used the wiim ultra streamer for the B200?

You can with these:

Buckeye Amps Cables

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

 

[BeeKay]

Or from Topping (SE - TRS)

TCRT1-25/75/125，25/75/125cm RCA to TRS cable - - Topping audio

 

[J84]

Hi do I have to use the high gain into 8ohms on the B200 to drive the Wharfedale Linton?

The Wharfedale Linton has 6ohms I think. Can I use the low grain into 4ohms on the B200?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Hi do I have to use the high gain into 8ohms on the B200 to drive the Wharfedale Linton?

The Wharfedale Linton has 6ohms I think. Can I use the low grain into 4ohms on the B200?

With 90dB sensitivity rating on those speakers, assuming you're not using any form of EQ or room correction with high boosts (necessitating a good degree of negative digital pregain to prevent digital clipping) and have a DAC/source with decent output voltage (4V balanced differential or higher), low gain should be fine for those speakers in a reasonably sized room/listening distance.

 

[pat355]

question to the experts -
I am looking at using two B200 monoblocks with AsciLab C6Bs, which are nominally 4 Ω but specified with a minimum impedance of 2.6 ohm at 200 Hz.
In Amir’s review he mentioned that while the B200 can deliver power into 2 ohm, protection circuitry starts to interfere with reactive loads.
Given a real-world speaker load with a short 2.6 ohm dip, would you expect the B200 to behave transparently at typical listening levels, and only limit/protect when approaching higher SPLs? or is this the kind of load where protection might engage audibly even before very high output?

Alternatively I’m considering the more expensive but also excellent Boxem A 4216/E2 (stereo). Thanks for your help!

 

[BeeKay]

Hi do I have to use the high gain into 8ohms on the B200 to drive the Wharfedale Linton?

The Wharfedale Linton has 6ohms I think. Can I use the low grain into 4ohms on the B200?

I am driving these speakers (88 dB, 4 Ohm) in low gain mode. And they can play louder than I would want them, in a fairly large living room.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

question to the experts -
I am looking at using two B200 monoblocks with AsciLab C6Bs, which are nominally 4 Ω but specified with a minimum impedance of 2.6 ohm at 200 Hz.
In Amir’s review he mentioned that while the B200 can deliver power into 2 ohm, protection circuitry starts to interfere with reactive loads.
Given a real-world speaker load with a short 2.6 ohm dip, would you expect the B200 to behave transparently at typical listening levels, and only limit/protect when approaching higher SPLs? or is this the kind of load where protection might engage audibly even before very high output?

Alternatively I’m considering the more expensive but also excellent Boxem A 4216/E2 (stereo). Thanks for your help!

I have C6Bs and power them from a single LA90D and have no problems getting more than enough clean output from them. In fact I think AsciLab have said somewhere on ASR that a single LA90D will drive them sufficiently, in which case 2xB200s will easily drive them. But why not ask Topping directly, if you're still concerned? They usually reply to questions pretty quickly.

Remember, C6Bs aren't designed to play too loud, so if you like to listen loud, perhaps these aren't the right speakers for you.

 

[pat355]

I have C6Bs and power them from a single LA90D and have no problems getting more than enough clean output from them. In fact I think AsciLab have said somewhere on ASR that a single LA90D will drive them sufficiently, in which case 2xB200s will easily drive them. But why not ask Topping directly, if you're still concerned? They usually reply to questions pretty quickly.

Remember, C6Bs aren't designed to play too loud, so if you like to listen loud, perhaps these aren't the right speakers for you.

thanks a lot, I appreciate that. I didn't know I could ask them directly, but of course I'll do just that

I will use the C6Bs as surrounds, I have the C8C+BX8C on order

 

[WeekendWarrior]

thanks a lot, I appreciate that. I didn't know I could ask them directly, but of course I'll do just that

I will use the C6Bs as surrounds, I have the C8C+BX8C on order

If you do, please tell us what they say!

 

[pat355]

If you do, please tell us what they say!

sent them a DM, will report back here!

 

[J84]

With 90dB sensitivity rating on those speakers, assuming you're not using any form of EQ or room correction with high boosts (necessitating a good degree of negative digital pregain to prevent digital clipping) and have a DAC/source with decent output voltage (4V balanced differential or higher), low gain should be fine for those speakers in a reasonably sized room/listening distance.

Thanks