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Topping L30 Headphone Amplifier Review

gino1961

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Sadly no. I have looked into it as well, had to throw mine into the recycling. :mad:


Unknown, unknown and probably no.


24 month legal warranty in Europe if the device has a flaw that is there from production. One of the many perks of the EU. :D

Sadly, i bought mine used. :facepalm:
hi i will check with amazon but I don't have much hopes Yes it was new
thanks a lot gino
 

gino1961

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hi what about starting a separate thread on "before 2012 serial no. L30 rescue project" ? i feel very bad about disposing it
Maybe the dc leaking issue could be solved with a dc blocking cap at the output ?
i have no clue about how to solve instead the ESD issue
Or just using one part of the components on board bypassing the possibly faulty parts
The new one should arrive at the end of the week.
 

solderdude

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The ESD issue is easy to solve and has been described in this thread.
The failing DC protection in specific circumstances is another matter. The PCB is different and detection levels have been changed.

Yes, one could use (2200uF) output capacitors which would have to be bipolar.
Thus in reality 2x 4700uF/25V polar caps per channel. (4 rather large caps and sacrificing aspects designed into the L30)
This also means cutting traces and finding a good spot for the capacitors.
When one is an avid engineer this is possible (for own use) but the potential problem is it getting onto the market.
These people won't need a tutorial, those that do not know what to do exactly should not faff around in the device.

Pre-2012 serial numbers could have been replaced for free.
 

gino1961

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Hi thank you very much indeed for your very helpful advice. Then it is done I will use it as a line stage only (my very and only obsession) with a much smaller cap at the output like 10uF and put the board in a new bigger enclosure I also think to use a stepped attenuator in place of the original pot that i understand has some unbalance issues at high attenuation ? but first i will test the quality as a preamp of the new unit that i have ordered
Also to check which gain setting will be more appropriate
And of course i will search for the ESD issue solution. I surfed the thread but it is now immense ... it is like a treasure hunt. Anyway i will do it with interest. Thanks a lot again. Kind regards, gino
 

solderdude

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ESD measure is simply connecting the audio ground to the chassis.
With a stepper the issue the issue is not there anyway and a new enclosure you will probably connect to audio ground anyway.
 

gino1961

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ESD measure is simply connecting the audio ground to the chassis.
With a stepper the issue the issue is not there anyway and a new enclosure you will probably connect to audio ground anyway.
Thanks a lot again I will search for the relevant post in the thread for sure For now it is just an idea because i feel bad about disposing this marvel of a unit. Kind regards, gino
 

odyo

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The ESD issue is easy to solve and has been described in this thread.
The failing DC protection in specific circumstances is another matter. The PCB is different and detection levels have been changed.

Yes, one could use (2200uF) output capacitors which would have to be bipolar.
Thus in reality 2x 4700uF/25V polar caps per channel. (4 rather large caps and sacrificing aspects designed into the L30)
This also means cutting traces and finding a good spot for the capacitors.
When one is an avid engineer this is possible (for own use) but the potential problem is it getting onto the market.
These people won't need a tutorial, those that do not know what to do exactly should not faff around in the device.

Pre-2012 serial numbers could have been replaced for free.
4700uF is the capacitor size right ? I see Schiit is very obsessive about it. Do you think it can affect the sound ? One of the argument in the subjectivist world is that the PSU and the capacitor capacity/power in reserve (uF value) have an impact on sound.
Asgard 3 have 20000uF, Jotunheim 65000uF, Magni's 8000uF. I don't have knowledge about electrical stuff but i'm interested in why they think like that. It's related to current delivery i guess? not voltage ? What is objectively appropriate value for this ?
 

solderdude

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4700uF is the capacitor size right ? I see Schiit is very obsessive about it. Do you think it can affect the sound ?

The 2x polar 4700μF are in anti-series so form a 2350μF bipolar capacitor.
One does not want the amps frequency response and output R to change too much.
R load must be above >8Ω Knowing the Verum 1 and DCA headphones exist we may want to drive these too.
Z out = < 0.1Ω. We don't want that to rise much at lower frequencies but are going to have to allow this.
20Hz = -0.05dB. We will going to have to poor some wine into the glass here.
Also the phase will shift in the lower bass but will be gradual and not severe.

What happens at 20Hz when an 8Ω load is used at 20Hz when a 2350μF is used:
Output Z increases to 3.3Ω (at 100Hz= 0.67Ω) which still isn't something to really worry about but when connecting the Verum we get -3.3dB at 20Hz and -0.8dB at 100Hz.
So there are audible consequences with such loads.

Assuming most headphones are above 20Ω we lose just -1.3dB at 20Hz which is not unacceptable.
With this capacitance a 32Ω headphone will be -0.5dB at 20Hz which is acceptable and inaudible.
This only gets better for higher impedances.

So 2350μF is a good enough value to not have audible impact with the vast majority of headphones IF one has to use output capacitors.
When one has to use output capacitors and uses the Verum 1 or DCA Noir (or similar model) and does not want 20Hz attenuated more than 0.5dB you will have to use much larger capacitors but in such case I would simply buy a post 2021 L30 (which is the correct thing to do anyway)

For speaker amps, having to drive lower impedances and depending on the design a single 4700μF or 10000μF can already be enough.

The reservoir caps value is another thing though. This can be smaller than the output capacitor depending on what feeds the those caps (regulated or unregulated DC, switched mode or 50Hz mains single phase rectified), what the internal output Z of the supply is and what ripple is allowed under maximal load as well as the amount of feedback in the amp, the output current limit.
So the needed buffer capacitor value near the output devices is totally design dependent and there is an optimal value for each design.
Bigger ≠ always 'better'.

One of the argument in the subjectivist world is that the PSU and the capacitor capacity/power in reserve (uF value) have an impact on sound.

They also claim all cables affect the sound and some even claim amps sound better with a sticker placed on strategic locations on the amp.
Of course, as seen above, output capacitance and very low impedances affect sub-bass extension when too small in value.
The value of the reservoir cap depends.
One has to realize that cap is not directly in series with the audio signal as there is active components in series too that determine the output signal.
 
Last edited:

odyo

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The 2x polar 4700μF are in anti-series so form a 2350μF bipolar capacitor.
One does not want the amps frequency response and output R to change too much.
R load must be above >8Ω Knowing the Verum 1 and DCA headphones exist we may want to drive these too.
Z out = < 0.1Ω. We don't want that to rise much at lower frequencies but are going to have to allow this.
20Hz = -0.05dB. We will going to have to poor some wine into the glass here.
Also the phase will shift in the lower bass but will be gradual and not severe.

What happens at 20Hz when an 8Ω load is used at 20Hz when a 2350μF is used:
Output Z increases to 3.3Ω (at 100Hz= 0.67Ω) which still isn't something to really worry about but when connecting the Verum we get -3.3dB at 20Hz and -0.8dB at 100Hz.
So there are audible consequences with such loads.

Assuming most headphones are above 20Ω we lose just -1.3dB at 20Hz which is not unacceptable.
With this capacitance a 32Ω headphone will be -0.5dB at 20Hz which is acceptable and inaudible.
This only gets better for higher impedances.

So 2350μF is a good enough value to not have audible impact with the vast majority of headphones IF one has to use output capacitors.
When one has to use output capacitors and uses the Verum 1 or DCA Noir (or similar model) and does not want 20Hz attenuated more than 0.5dB you will have to use much larger capacitors but in such case I would simply buy a post 2021 L30 (which is the correct thing to do anyway)

For speaker amps, having to drive lower impedances and depending on the design a single 4700μF or 10000μF can already be enough.

The reservoir caps value is another thing though. This can be smaller than the output capacitor depending on what feeds the those caps (regulated or unregulated DC, switched mode or 50Hz mains single phase rectified), what the internal output Z of the supply is and what ripple is allowed under maximal load as well as the amount of feedback in the amp, the output current limit.
So the needed buffer capacitor value near the output devices is totally design dependent and there is an optimal value for each design.
Bigger ≠ always 'better'.



They also claim all cables affect the sound and some even claim amps sound better with a sticker placed on strategic locations on the amp.
Of course, as seen above, output capacitance and very low impedances affect sub-bass extension when too small in value.
The value of the reservoir cap depends.
One has to realize that cap is not directly in series with the audio signal as there is active components in series too that determine the output signal.
Perfect. Thank you!
 
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Have you already written to Topping?
What was Topping's response?
I've contacted Topping via the email on their website and a support specialist has reached out to assist me in the replacement procedure.
Turns out they have very little L30s left lying around. I guess cause those're discontinued, and perhaps that was the reason they've instructed the dealers to reject replacement requests.
Only the blue color was left. Well, it's interesting to try out something new.
I've provided a photo of a drilled 2011xxxx unit and today I've received a new blue one.
 

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MetaLchesH

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Hello friends. I have been using SMSL SP200 amp with Topping DX7s DAC for 2.5 years. I really like its performance for power-hungry headphones. But not sure about sensitive iems. Would you recommend that I get the L30 in addition to the SP200? Best regards.
 

Jimbob54

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Hello friends. I have been using SMSL SP200 amp with Topping DX7s DAC for 2.5 years. I really like its performance for power-hungry headphones. But not sure about sensitive iems. Would you recommend that I get the L30 in addition to the SP200? Best regards.
If you hear hiss or don't have enough useable volume control, perhaps. But I might be tempted to use an inline attenuator like the ifi ie match before buying a new amp.
 

MetaLchesH

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If you hear hiss or don't have enough useable volume control, perhaps. But I might be tempted to use an inline attenuator like the ifi ie match before buying a new amp.
Thank you very much for your reply. I hear hiss when adjust volume knobb to 10-11 o'clock when i use iems. There is no way I can turn the volume above 9 o'clock. Because 8 o'clock volume provides more than enough power for iems. Also i can adjust volume via DAC's volume knobb.

Maybe you are right about in-line attenuators. But in my country those attenuators cost almost same price with L30.
 

Harrycol501

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This may be a silly question, but I'm looking at a few amps for my he400se and this is a good price. Thing is, I have the SMSL Sanskrit 10th II which has the exact same remote control. With this in mind, would the two remotes pair only to it's dedicated device or would it change the volume on both devices at the same time? They would be sitting next to each other.
 

Jimbob54

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This may be a silly question, but I'm looking at a few amps for my he400se and this is a good price. Thing is, I have the SMSL Sanskrit 10th II which has the exact same remote control. With this in mind, would the two remotes pair only to it's dedicated device or would it change the volume on both devices at the same time? They would be sitting next to each other.
SMSL remotes have an a, b, c device switching set of buttons. So hopefully the devices would use different letters and you only operate one.
 

frogmeat69

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This may be a silly question, but I'm looking at a few amps for my he400se and this is a good price. Thing is, I have the SMSL Sanskrit 10th II which has the exact same remote control. With this in mind, would the two remotes pair only to it's dedicated device or would it change the volume on both devices at the same time? They would be sitting next to each other.
The L30 has a remote?? Mine doesn't.
 

carlcamper

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Sabaj A10h and SMSL Sanskrit 10th II
I second the Sabaj A10h. If you need a cheaper DAC without remote, theres the Topping D10s as well.
 
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Im a total noob and a little bit confused, according to the specs the L30 should be a bit more powerful compared to the dx3 pro+, yet at 32ohms the dx3 pro+ outputs 1.5w compared to the 1w of the L30, right? Am I missing something?
 
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