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Topping L30 II Review (Headphone Amp)

Rate this headphone amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 11 2.8%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 11 2.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther

    Votes: 31 7.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 342 86.6%

  • Total voters
    395
Specifically the A90 Discrete, which I consider superior to the A90 has:
#1 Better current delivery to low impedance headphones.
#2 Better Voltage swing/slew rate
Both A90 and A90D have identical max output voltage of 49Vpp.
The A90D can deliver more current into low impedaces though
 

At first I took this as sarcasm, but it does actually look like a distortion spike at 60Hz from a noisy power implementation in the V2.

The original L30 doesn't have this spike and is cleaner with no spikes above -120:
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We don't see that in dashboard do we? It's also not present in our own multitone measurements. The power supply unit and internal circuit for the power supply are exactly the same as the L30.
 
Curious for a teardown, how are they bashing around the competition so badly for so little money? If it were easy, everybody would do it - what is going on in that little box?
It's all in the thoughtful design and careful engineering. While someone else indeed could and would direct copy that design.
 
@amirm & all: In the Distortion vs Power graphs, am I reading it right that medium gain has lower distortion?! If so, how does the 50mv test compare in medium gain (vs the reported in low)?

Superb product! @JohnYang1997 My only problem with Topping (in a good way) is they keep 1-upping their previous products so I keep waiting to buy so I don't miss out. ;) LOL
 
@amirm /anybody...

Why might there be a 60Hz distortion spike in the first unity gain THD+N/SINAD graph at about -138db, but appear at about -105db on the 32 tone test? Is the 32 tone test at a different gain setting?

(I know the 60Hz spike in both is mains power related, but wondering about the magnitude of difference for these two tests)
 
@amirm /anybody...

Why might there be a 60Hz distortion spike in the first unity gain THD+N/SINAD graph at about -138db, but appear at about -105db on the 32 tone test? Is the 32 tone test at a different gain setting?

(I know the 60Hz spike in both is mains power related, but wondering about the magnitude of difference for these two tests)
medium gain vs unity in the 2.
 
medium gain vs unity in the 2.
So, is this power spike borderline audible at medium gain? And is the SINAD at medium gain different to unity gain? I mean, isn't the SINAD anybody truly interested in going to be the one at the gain setting they will use the device at? (yes, I know we need to compare on a standardized footing, but I'm thinking it means little if nobody or few people are ever going to use the device at a setting used for comparison).

Not nitpicking - genuinely wanting to know.
 
So, is this power spike borderline audible at medium gain? And is the SINAD at medium gain different to unity gain? I mean, isn't the SINAD anybody truly interested in going to be the one at the gain setting they will use the device at? (yes, I know we need to compare on a standardized footing, but I'm thinking it means little if nobody or few people are ever going to use the device at a setting used for comparison).

Not nitpicking - genuinely wanting to know.
The noise spikes shouldn't be there. Might have to ask Amir for investigation.
 
This looks like extreme performance for the price, doesnt it go into the market of the L50 and A30pro?
 
Good review. You need to stop feeding the panthers McDonalds food.
 
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I can imagine the outrage right now in certain corners of the internet: "You don't expect me to believe that a $149 ChiFi amp the size of a MacMini outperforms my $5k+ fill-in-the-blank (but looking at you Chord) Summit Fi headphone amp, just because it betters it in every single measurable, do you?"
 
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