Topping L50 Review (Headphone Amp)

[Audioboxer]

I have the Zen stack and also using L50 / D10b with Sundara, Senns 300ohm headphones. I find that the Zen stack gives more power and like you I use it at the 2nd setting on the Can but the L50/D10b looks aesthetically better.

Good to know, will find out shortly. I read some comments saying the Zen is current starved compared to the L50, but not entirely sure if they were accurate. Hands on testing like you have done will quite clearly allow for volume level testing.

Biggest thing I wanted changed was the Zen DAC V2, I want digital volume control back. I'll then play around with the Can and L50 and see what I find! I've got an XLR to 4.4mm cable which I can actually hook up to the D10b (with it's adapters) and test it with the Can. Haven't disturbed my Zen stack as of yet as I was waiting for the L50 to arrive first.

 

[Audioboxer]

Just to confirm, medium gain can be maxed out on the volume knob with Oratory1990 EQ preset which has a preamp gain of -7.5 without hurting my ears. Even with the PEACE preset turned off I can still listen with volume knob turned to maximum only with a little discomfort on some sources.

High gain can get to about 1~2 O'clock before getting uncomfortably loud/worrying the headphones will explode.

So, I have to say the Zen Can does seem to deliver a bit more power, but the D10b and L50 stack looks much nicer, and of course measures a good bit better than the Zen stack.

edit - I should add I have Spotify normalising audio at 'normal'. With that off or even on 'loud' even medium gain at full volume becomes a bit painful on the ears lol.

edit2 - After even more playing around I think the biggest change in perception, ignoring raw measurement figures, is the Zen Can having 4 gain settings. Smart move by ifi as it allows more granular control over gain from the medium -> high blow your eardrums out experience of many other AMPs with 3 settings. With high gain measuring a bit worse on this AMP in the OP, the preference is obviously to try and keep at medium gain. I'd say overall with Sundara's this is doable, but ymmv depending on your EQ settings and what volume normalisation you might have going on with music streaming services. Putting the AMP on high and attempting to turn up the dial does reach "ears are bleeding/headphone is about to explode" levels from around 12 o'clock onwards, so any of my musings above are hardly an attempt to say this AMP can't power Sundara's. It clearly can (no pun intended), switching over from the Zen Can just requires acknowledgement of how different the gain settings are.

And finally, for the big question, can I notice a difference between the Zen Stack? Well, the D10b/L50 feel ridiculously transparent leading to there is something different from the Zen Can, which I believe uses a Burr Brown chip. What was more important to me was ditching MQA and getting Windows digital audio volume control back. The L50 also having great single ended means if I pickup non-balanced headphones I don't need to suffer given many other balanced front output AMPs in this price range see single ended as an afterthought.

 

[Audioboxer]

After a month or so of use still really happy. No plans to change to the E50 at any point either because its MQA which always seems to disable the windows volume control. The D10b is perfect to pair with the L50 if your only need is USB audio from a PC. I know XLR is very popular but more companies shouldn't sleep on TRS, the space you gain is great for desktop use, same great power in a smaller package.

Might be frowned on by some but my AMP is just set on medium gain at 100% volume and I control volume from my keyboard knob. That being said I have read some people say windows digital audio control makes no difference to sound quality and I definitely can't notice anything. Spotify on normal volume level with a -7.5db pre-gain on Sundara's can hit 100% digital volume without discomfort on most songs (it is loud). Other sources like youtube or games can be too loud/uncomfortable at 100% in windows with the AMP volume knob maxed out.

So definitely enough power staying off high gain for Sundara's with a reasonably beefy -db pre-gain. Not sure what exactly Spotify volume normalisation at normal drops song volume db. EQ off at 100% AMP and 100% windows volume blows your eardrums lol, but Sundara's EQ soo well so I guess most people will EQ them at a PC.

 

[Jimster480]

After a month or so of use still really happy. No plans to change to the E50 at any point either because its MQA which always seems to disable the windows volume control. The D10b is perfect to pair with the L50 if your only need is USB audio from a PC. I know XLR is very popular but more companies shouldn't sleep on TRS, the space you gain is great for desktop use, same great power in a smaller package.

Might be frowned on by some but my AMP is just set on medium gain at 100% volume and I control volume from my keyboard knob. That being said I have read some people say windows digital audio control makes no difference to sound quality and I definitely can't notice anything. Spotify on normal volume level with a -7.5db pre-gain on Sundara's can hit 100% digital volume without discomfort on most songs (it is loud). Other sources like youtube or games can be too loud/uncomfortable at 100% in windows with the AMP volume knob maxed out.

So definitely enough power staying off high gain for Sundara's with a reasonably beefy -db pre-gain. Not sure what exactly Spotify volume normalisation at normal drops song volume db. EQ off at 100% AMP and 100% windows volume blows your eardrums lol, but Sundara's EQ soo well so I guess most people will EQ them at a PC.

Not sure about running your Amp at 100% all the time though; I think that it could allow too much current especially if Windows audio adjusts the volume randomly. Typically I set some volume that is loud but that I can handle with Windows audio at 100% and then I can turn it down from there if I need.

 

[Audioboxer]

Not sure about running your Amp at 100% all the time though; I think that it could allow too much current especially if Windows audio adjusts the volume randomly. Typically I set some volume that is loud but that I can handle with Windows audio at 100% and then I can turn it down from there if I need.

Fair comment, I might reconsider that then. Haven't had any issues or anything, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't listen to feedback!

 

[Moto]

I just got an L50 and was testing voltage out levels. On the Balanced input with no load , on the M setting( which is supposed to be 0db) I get -1.5db. Using the SE input I get -.5db. Is anyone else seeing this?

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I just got an L50 and was testing voltage out levels. On the Balanced input with no load , on the M setting( which is supposed to be 0db) I get -1.5db. Using the SE input I get -.5db. Is anyone else seeing this?

That seems to be reasonably close to me. Where did you get the impression that the medium gain setting gain should be exactly 0 dB?

 

[Moto]

Here at Topping’s site. Chart “What are the Differences”.

https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/697657.html

When it claims 0db and I get -1.6db actually which is 4.2v in and 3.48 volts out, I consider that significant.
Are other experiencing this?

 

[IAtaman]

Here at Topping’s site. Chart “What are the Differences”.

https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/697657.html

That is just a infograph, actual spec sheet says -0.1db and -0.3db gain respectively for SE and BAL for M setting. Just a bit down on the same page, not that it makes a big difference. Out of curiosity, how did you measure the gain exactly?

 

[Moto]

I measured the output voltage from the dac and compared it to the output voltage of the l50 when fed by the dac. I did some more reading just now and found the input impedance of the l50 is only 2k. I measured the dac unloaded and that is the problem. The low input impedance coupled with the, I believe 207 ohm balanced output impedance of the dac is causing it.

 

[Jimster480]

I measured the output voltage from the dac and compared it to the output voltage of the l50 when fed by the dac. I did some more reading just now and found the input impedance of the l50 is only 2k. I measured the dac unloaded and that is the problem. The low input impedance coupled with the, I believe 100 ohm balanced output impedance of the dac is causing it.

2k? That is pretty low for an amp.

 

[Moto]

That’s what John Yang says here on ASR.
Oddly though unless my calcs are wrong, the voltage shouldn’t drop from 4.25 to 3.48 solely based on dac output impedance of 207 ohms unless the input impedance of the l50 is more like 1k ohms.