Topping L50 Review (Headphone Amp)

[jonwb]

You can adjust it either by pressing the volume button or using the remote control, no problem.
The remote also has two storable user presets, C1 and C2, so you can save two different settings and recall them instantly.

Excellent, thanks. I considered going back to the L30II because of its onboard preamp switch, but it sounds like the L70 can switch back and forth almost as easily. I see that it remembers the last saved volume settings for each too, so that's a plus.

 

[filippoaceto]

Hi everyone, I’d like to know if the Topping L50 has the same power output when using RCA or balanced input. Or do I need to use the balanced input to get the best performance? Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

Hi everyone, I’d like to know if the Topping L50 has the same power output when using RCA or balanced input. Or do I need to use the balanced input to get the best performance? Thanks!

Hi @filippoaceto!

Always a good idea to check the product page and user manual first, as they answer 99% of questions you may have:


Output power is the same, but so is gain which means the L50 does not compensate for the difference between RCA and XLR output voltage (2V vs 4V).

That means if you plug in an RCA DAC and an XLR DAC and set both to max volume, the L50's Balanced input will output 4x more power and sound 50% louder as a result.

What's more, the L50 requires 2.7V in to saturate the internal Amp in High gain Max volume, so most RCA DACs with 2.0V max output voltage will leave some headroom on the table.

 

[filippoaceto]

Hi @filippoaceto!

Always a good idea to check the product page and user manual first, as they answer 99% of questions you may have:
View attachment 462429

Output power is the same, but so is gain which means the L50 does not compensate for the difference between RCA and XLR output voltage (2V vs 4V).

That means if you plug in an RCA DAC and an XLR DAC and set both to max volume, the L50's Balanced input will output 4x more power and sound 50% louder as a result.

What's more, the L50 requires 2.7V in to saturate the internal Amp in High gain Max volume, so most RCA DACs with 2.0V max output voltage will leave some headroom on the table.

Thanks! Could you also recommend a good DAC to pair with the Topping L50, other than the Topping E50? Thanks again.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks! Could you also recommend a good DAC to pair with the Topping L50, other than the Topping E50? Thanks again.

What's wrong with the E50?

 

[filippoaceto]

What's wrong with the E50?

Nothing, but it costs 200 euros here, maybe I can find something cheaper

 

[staticV3]

Nothing, but it costs 200 euros here, maybe I can find something cheaper

The E50 is currently 175€ on Amazon and Audiophonics.

There are cheaper DACs with RCA output, like the SMSL SU-1 or PS200, but if you want a quality balanced DAC then 175€ is about what you'll have to pay.

 

[filippoaceto]

The E50 is currently 175€ on Amazon and Audiophonics.

There are cheaper DACs with RCA output, like the SMSL SU-1 or PS200, but if you want a quality balanced DAC then 175€ is about what you'll have to pay.

I found the L50 and E50 combo, barely used, with TRS cables and an XLR to Pentaconn adapter for €238 on Wallapop.

 

[pier25]

Potentiometer imbalance. All normal pots have this to a greater or lesser extent, but unfortunately, you were unlucky.

Is this issue common with the L50?

I'm thinking about getting the L50 over the L30 just for the balanced inputs. Many audio interfaces don't have RCA unbalanced outputs and I'd rather to not fiddle with adapters etc.

There's the L70 but it's like double the price of the L30 in my country.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Is this issue common with the L50?

I'm thinking about getting the L50 over the L30 just for the balanced inputs. Many audio interfaces don't have RCA unbalanced outputs and I'd rather to not fiddle with adapters etc.

There's the L70 but it's like double the price of the L30 in my country.

I don't believe it is 'common' only because I have not heard of other L50's exhibiting this issue. My L50 does not have this issue.

 

[usern]

Mine has imbalance, but at very, very low potentiometer position. If you do use very sensitive headphones and listen at very low volume, then it could be issue IF you cannot change volume in DAC or computer.

 

[pier25]

Thanks @Power Pop 23 and @usern .

Just hit the trigger on the L50. Will report back when it arrives!

 

[pier25]

Just received the L50 and no imbalance that I can perceive. Using it with the balanced inputs and low gain. Sounds great!

The AC adapter cable is quite short though...

 

[tunwen]

Just received the L50 and no imbalance that I can perceive. Using it with the balanced inputs and low gain. Sounds great!

The AC adapter cable is quite short though...

I've been using the L50 for three years and only recently switched to the DX5 II. As for the short AC adapter cable, I solved that by placing the power adapter upside down and using a TOWE power extension cord to easily extend it. I'm not sure if they sell it in the US, but here is a link I found:

https://www.eboxtao.com/towe-is-a-two-plug-power-cord-and-two-hole-extension-for-fans-electric-cars-tvs-charging-cords.html

 

[pier25]

Correction...

I tested the amp with some 32ohms headphones and there's noticeable imbalance at below like 5% of the gain knob and L level (didn't test M or H).

Not really an issue for me as I will never really use the amp at such low gain... but I thought I should mention it.

 

[jdoe]

noticeable imbalance at below like 5% of the gain knob

Correct, lost of other people reported the same. Mine unit has imbalance on low volume too.

 

[Billias]

Hello all. I don't know if I should start a new thread or not, so I am posting here as my question is regarding the Topping L50. Actually I am new to everything regarding audio. My issue is that, firstly I bought a Scarlett 2i2 4th generation matched with Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm headphones to start youcisian for learning guitar. My headphones' sound was a bit low with the 2i2 for general listening so I decided to replace it with a 4i4 4th generation for the lesser Ohm impedance that it has. However, even if the volume through the headphones was a bit louder, I considered buying a Topping L50 from AliExpress through their Summer sale (to be clear not from the official AliExpress Topping Professional Audio store). And apart from a Warranty card with two misspellings that made me think that I might have got a fake (I am investigating this with Topping) the sound when goes close to max seems that has distortion or clipping if it's the correct term. My question is should I upgrade to L70 or it's an issue of the Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm?

 

[Roland68]

Hello all. I don't know if I should start a new thread or not, so I am posting here as my question is regarding the Topping L50. Actually I am new to everything regarding audio. My issue is that, firstly I bought a Scarlett 2i2 4th generation matched with Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm headphones to start youcisian for learning guitar. My headphones' sound was a bit low with the 2i2 for general listening so I decided to replace it with a 4i4 4th generation for the lesser Ohm impedance that it has. However, even if the volume through the headphones was a bit louder, I considered buying a Topping L50 from AliExpress through their Summer sale (to be clear not from the official AliExpress Topping Professional Audio store). And apart from a Warranty card with two misspellings that made me think that I might have got a fake (I am investigating this with Topping) the sound when goes close to max seems that has distortion or clipping if it's the correct term. My question is should I upgrade to L70 or it's an issue of the Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm?

At 250 ohms, the L50 has enough power to blow your hearing and brain out, unless it's defective or the source has far too low a voltage.
At high gain, you definitely can't run the L50 with the DT 770 Pro 250 ohms at maximum power without damaging your hearing.
So you have to check whether the problem is with your DT 770 Pro 250 ohms, the L50, or your source.
I would simply take the DT 770 Pro 250 ohms to a store and test it there.

The L70 is a great device in its price range with everything you could want. There are only a handful of headphones (in the four-digit price range) that require more power.
Alternatively, you could check the new DX5 II, which also has a DAC and 10-channel PEQ.

 

[Billias]

At 250 ohms, the L50 has enough power to blow your hearing and brain out, unless it's defective or the source has far too low a voltage.
At high gain, you definitely can't run the L50 with the DT 770 Pro 250 ohms at maximum power without damaging your hearing.
So you have to check whether the problem is with your DT 770 Pro 250 ohms, the L50, or your source.
I would simply take the DT 770 Pro 250 ohms to a store and test it there.

The L70 is a great device in its price range with everything you could want. There are only a handful of headphones (in the four-digit price range) that require more power.
Alternatively, you could check the new DX5 II, which also has a DAC and 10-channel PEQ.

I don't know if anyone has recently purchased an L50 but mine came with the Warranty card that says "Warranty Cark" instead, and it is just a piece of carton, and from the other side says "CEREIFICATION" instead of CERTIFICATION. I am also attaching photos of the box itself.

 

[usern]

Does the distortion or clipping happen at unbearably loud level?