Topping L50 Review (Headphone Amp)

[Zim]

If the SINAD is the same, is there any practical reason to go for the L50 over the L30 other than the peace of mind of knowing your signal chain is balanced from beginning to end, i.e. is anyone really reaping the benefits of staying balanced at this stage with such short distances in home or studio environments?

Ground loops.

 

[thin bLue]

If the SINAD is the same, is there any practical reason to go for the L50 over the L30 other than the peace of mind of knowing your signal chain is balanced from beginning to end, i.e. is anyone really reaping the benefits of staying balanced at this stage with such short distances in home or studio environments?

Ground loop, some of wifi(RF)problems
but, IMHO, L50's gain is the best reason.
the IEM suitability!

-14dB gain is best matches fot high end DACs(Over 2Vrms output) with IEMs.

you can turn Volume noob more, then Channel unbalance disappears more, without blow your ears.

 

[chrisgundam]

hi i registered to ask, recently purchased a topping a50s paired with e30,driving akg k702 and dt880 250, would selling my a50s for the L50 make sense?? is this better than the a50s considerring im only using SE?

i do not plan on changing dac, and read that topping a50s was measured with 4vrms input how is the L50 measured? this is so confusing

 

[thin bLue]

hi i registered to ask, recently purchased a topping a50s paired with e30,driving akg k702 and dt880 250, would selling my a50s for the L50 make sense?? is this better than the a50s considerring im only using SE?

i do not plan on changing dac, and read that topping a50s was measured with 4vrms input how is the L50 measured? this is so confusing

You can't hear sound difference between them @ same volume.(objective)

But, you can feel better with new devices. xD
(subjective)

There is better numbers with new one(measurement, objective).

 

[Bel Canto]

How would this new L50 compare to the A50s given the A50s is a balanced amp with SE inputs.

A50s through Balaced 4.4mm out looks to have similar power and the price is the same.

@JohnYang1997 what are your thoughts here?

 

[TK750]

If the SINAD is the same, is there any practical reason to go for the L50 over the L30 other than the peace of mind of knowing your signal chain is balanced from beginning to end, i.e. is anyone really reaping the benefits of staying balanced at this stage with such short distances in home or studio environments?

I might be wrong here but I don't believe it is balanced from beginning to end. As shown in this image, it can accept a balanced input and output a balanced signal, however internally it is single ended.

I always refer to these tables to understand their differences, very nice.

View attachment 150674

 

[Matias]

I might be wrong here but I don't believe it is balanced from beginning to end. As shown in this image, it can accept a balanced input and output a balanced signal, however internally it is single ended.

Your assumption may be wrong, as there are some amps that convert single ended to run balanced internally. This is probably the case here, but @JohnYang1997 can confirm.

 

[JohnYang1997]

Your assumption may be wrong, as there are some amps that convert single ended to run balanced internally. This is probably the case here, but @JohnYang1997 can confirm.

Bal in SE out.

 

[kchap]

I've ordered a red one; to match my Ferrari... I came close to going for E50 so I could impress my friends with 2 small red boxes sitting on the side table but, I held off to allow the rush of blood to pass. I will probably buy another D10 balanced. It's a better match for my needs.

On another point. I know I'm showing my age but, when did unbalanced become single ended?

 

[beagleman]

@amirm thank you very much for this review.

@Topping, please enter the Audio & Video Receiver /Audio & Video Processor market!! or at least the multichannel DAC market!

I thought that also, but, would putting such a great performer with 2 channels, going up to 5.1 or 7.1 AND having all the circuitry of the AVR next to it, would it still be able to perform so well??

Or is simply being a 2 channel unit with nothing else and a remote located transformer the "reason" it does so well....???

First world issues...lol

 

[randomusername]

So what's a point in a50s now? Both are internally balanced, have equal power ouput, and the l50 have more inputs

 

[Bel Canto]

So what's a point in a50s now? Both are internally balanced, have equal power ouput, and the l50 have more inputs

From what I'm reading in the table comparison of Topping amps is that the L50 is not an internally balanced amp.

 

[milosz]

Hmmmm.... I wonder what the folks at Benchmark think of these Topping DACs and headphone amps... in terms of measured performance this $229 Topping headphone amplifier equals or beats Benchmark's $3,000 HPA4 headphone amp, and the $268 Topping E50 beats the $2,200 Benchmark DAC3 especially in SINAD and jitter.

The price differential between Topping and Benchmark ( and many other high-end makers ) is just silly.

Since spreading rumors was mentioned- how about this: TOPPING IS USING ALIEN TECHNOLOGY! AREA 51! THESE ARE THE HEADPHONE AMPS AND DACS THAT THE FLYING TIC-TACS USE!

 

[kchap]

From what I'm reading in the table comparison of Topping amps is that the L50 is not an internally balanced amp.

It's not affecting performance.

 

[JohnYang1997]

It's not affecting performance.

Yeah it means the two output have matching performance, in both noise and power.

 

[KeithPhantom]

Hmmmm.... I wonder what the folks at Benchmark think of these Topping DACs and headphone amps... in terms of measured performance this $229 Topping headphone amplifier equals or beats Benchmark's $3,000 HPA4 headphone amp, and the $268 Topping E50 beats the $2,200 Benchmark DAC3 especially in SINAD and jitter.

The price differential between Topping and Benchmark ( and many other high-end makers ) is just silly.

Since spreading rumors was mentioned- how about this: TOPPING IS USING ALIEN TECHNOLOGY! AREA 51! THESE ARE THE HEADPHONE AMPS AND DACS THAT THE FLYING TIC-TACS USE!

I am asking myself that same question now, but at least the AHB2 is still the best you can buy in terms of speaker amps.

 

[PeteL]

Hmmmm.... I wonder what the folks at Benchmark think of these Topping DACs and headphone amps... in terms of measured performance this $229 Topping headphone amplifier equals or beats Benchmark's $3,000 HPA4 headphone amp, and the $268 Topping E50 beats the $2,200 Benchmark DAC3 especially in SINAD and jitter.

The price differential between Topping and Benchmark ( and many other high-end makers ) is just silly.

Since spreading rumors was mentioned- how about this: TOPPING IS USING ALIEN TECHNOLOGY! AREA 51! THESE ARE THE HEADPHONE AMPS AND DACS THAT THE FLYING TIC-TACS USE!

What makes you say that HPA4:
THX-888™HEADPHONE OUTPUT:

• THD < -125 dB (0.00006%)
• SNR > 131 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 135 dB, A-weighted
• Frequency Response - 0.003 dB at 10 Hz, -0.001 dB at 20 kHz
• - 3 dB Bandwidth exceeds 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz
• Output Impedance, near 0 Ohms
• Output Noise < 2.45 uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Output Power, 6 Watts into 16 Ohms
• Maximum Output Current, 1.5 A
• Maximum Output Voltage, 11.5 Vrms into 300 Ohms
• Crosstalk < -133 dB @ 1 kHz, -115 dB @ 10 kHz (XLR4)

BALANCED LINE OUTPUTS:

• THD < -125 dB (0.00006%)
• SNR > 135 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 137 dB, A-weighted
• Frequency Response - 0.003 dB at 10 Hz, -0.001 dB at 20 kHz
• - 3 dB Bandwidth exceeds 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz
• Output Impedance 60 Ohms
• Output Noise < 1.9 uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Input and Output Voltage, 20 Vrms (+28 dBu)
• Crosstalk < -133 dB @ 1 kHz, -116 dB @ 10 kHz

At which metrics the L50 "beats" the HPA4?
Plus HPA4 is a full fledge preamp, these two products can't be compared. A more comparable package from Topping would Be the Pre90 with extension combined with the A90 which would be 1350$. Still a much better price than the HPA4.

 

[L-Train]

Just thought of a few more questions. Do the TRS jacks have enough spacing to allow for TRS -> XLR adapters like the Neutrik NA3FP or NA3MP? Also, are the TRS inputs DC coupled and RCA inputs AC coupled like the A30 Pro?

 

[JohnYang1997]

What makes you say that HPA4:
THX-888™HEADPHONE OUTPUT:

• THD < -125 dB (0.00006%)
• SNR > 131 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 135 dB, A-weighted
• Frequency Response - 0.003 dB at 10 Hz, -0.001 dB at 20 kHz
• - 3 dB Bandwidth exceeds 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz
• Output Impedance, near 0 Ohms
• Output Noise < 2.45 uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Output Power, 6 Watts into 16 Ohms
• Maximum Output Current, 1.5 A
• Maximum Output Voltage, 11.5 Vrms into 300 Ohms
• Crosstalk < -133 dB @ 1 kHz, -115 dB @ 10 kHz (XLR4)

BALANCED LINE OUTPUTS:

• THD < -125 dB (0.00006%)
• SNR > 135 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 137 dB, A-weighted
• Frequency Response - 0.003 dB at 10 Hz, -0.001 dB at 20 kHz
• - 3 dB Bandwidth exceeds 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz
• Output Impedance 60 Ohms
• Output Noise < 1.9 uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Input and Output Voltage, 20 Vrms (+28 dBu)
• Crosstalk < -133 dB @ 1 kHz, -116 dB @ 10 kHz

At which metrics the L50 "beats" the HPA4?
Plus HPA4 is a full fledge preamp, these two products can't be compared. A more comparable package from Topping would Be the Pre90 with extension combined with the A90 which would be 1350$. Still a much better price than the HPA4.
View attachment 151084

For L50 it would be

• THD < -135 dB (0.00002%) 16ohm to 600ohm
• SNR > 152 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 155 dB, A-weighted
• Output Impedance, 0.06 Ohms 20-20khz
• Output Noise < 0.3uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Output Power, 3.5 Watts into 16 Ohms, 550mW into 300 Ohms
• Maximum Output Current, 1.5 A
• Maximum Output Voltage, 13.3Vrms into 300 Ohms
• Crosstalk < -112 dB @ 1 kHz, -108dB @ 10 kHz

 

[GeekyBastard]

For L50 it would be

• THD < -135 dB (0.00002%) 16ohm to 600ohm
• SNR > 152 dB, unweighted, 20-20 kHz
• SNR > 155 dB, A-weighted
• Output Impedance, 0.06 Ohms 20-20khz
• Output Noise < 0.3uV at Unity Gain, 20-20 kHz
• Maximum Output Power, 3.5 Watts into 16 Ohms, 550mW into 300 Ohms
• Maximum Output Current, 1.5 A
• Maximum Output Voltage, 13.3Vrms into 300 Ohms
• Crosstalk < -112 dB @ 1 kHz, -108dB @ 10 kHz

Damn, that's impressive!