Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

[staticV3]

This amplifier has got enough power, even for a Susvara or other headphones which Need Lots of Power?

This amplifier has enough power to drive the Susvara to almost 117dB SPL Peak. That's very loud.
I usually listen at 80dB SPL peak, or less than 10% of that loudness.

 

[Nordling]

The First Topping headphone amplifier with a remote. I actually use the Smsl Sh-9 but i think the l70 is worth an upgrade. Some questions:

This amplifier has got enough power, even for a Susvara or other headphones which Need Lots of Power?

- Is the Connection between Remote and amplifier better than the Old Smsl remotes (sh-9)?

So in comparison to the sh-9 there are These advantages:

+ better built quality
+ better screen
+ better Remote (?)
+ fully balanced
+ more power
+ speaker amp / pre amp
+ 4,4 mm output
+ relayed volume Control

Is This correct? Do you Know more? So changing the sh-9 against the l70 is a Good idea?

Well, the Topping A90 Discrete also has a remote.

 

[NexusOne]

Oh yes, you are right. But I think it is better to buy the L70 because it is cheaper and about the same level. I am sure the l70 is an upgrade in comparison to the Smsl SH-9.

 

[Leva]

Hi Guys. Could anybody please clarify for me if I can use L70 as pure preamp with volume control? I don't use headphones but I need to connect two sources E70 dac + analog output from phono preamp to my hypex nc252mp power amp. I see two inputs on l70 RCA + xlr. Could I connect e70 to xlr and analog from phono to rca and switch inputs on l70 plus control volume from remote? Output will go to power amp via xlr. Will it degrade sound quality and i should buy some preamp twice expensive like topping pre90 or schiit frea s? Thanks

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

Then safely use it as a stereo preamplifier I'm also inserting it between my dac and my hypex nc502mp power amp I will probably buy it soon even by setting the gain to a minimum we would only exploit the initial part of the gain!

 

[qbbsdpir]

I am thinking a30pro or L70(or something else), I have no balance output need currently.

I have dt880 250ohm, some Audio-Technica (low impedance), ath-ew9, ath-a2000x, and hd600(in the future)

the spec said that 32ohm->5500mW and 32ohm->2300mW, it means the maximum? If I use maybe ew9 (29 ohms, Maximum Input Power: 100 mW) or something low impedance, is it possible to use both of them? Thanks!

 

[Ahmonge]

I am thinking a30pro or L70(or something else), I have no balance output need currently.

I have dt880 250ohm, some Audio-Technica (low impedance), ath-ew9, ath-a2000x, and hd600(in the future)

the spec said that 32ohm->5500mW and 32ohm->2300mW, it means the maximum? If I use maybe ew9 (29 ohms, Maximum Input Power: 100 mW) or something low impedance, is it possible to use both of them? Thanks!

If I understand correctly, you want to use two headphones at the same time, taking advantage of the three headphone sockets on the A30 Pro. It is possible since all three are connected, but there are two factors to consider. First, if the headphones are not the same, the volume of each one will be different, and there is no way to individually adjust the volume of each headphone. Second, the impedance that the amplifier "sees" is the impedance resulting from connecting two loads in parallel, which is smaller than the smaller of the impedances and is calculated as follows:

Total impedance = 1 / (1/ impedance headphone 1 + 1/Impedance headphone 2).

The minimum impedance of the A30 Pro must be 12 Ohms. Make sure that the result does not fall below this value.

 

[qbbsdpir]

If I understand correctly, you want to use two headphones at the same time, taking advantage of the three headphone sockets on the A30 Pro. It is possible since all three are connected, but there are two factors to consider. First, if the headphones are not the same, the volume of each one will be different, and there is no way to individually adjust the volume of each headphone. Second, the impedance that the amplifier "sees" is the impedance resulting from connecting two loads in parallel, which is smaller than the smaller of the impedances and is calculated as follows:

Total impedance = 1 / (1/ impedance headphone 1 + 1/Impedance headphone 2).

The minimum impedance of the A30 Pro must be 12 Ohms. Make sure that the result does not fall below this value.

Thank for replying. the both of them I mean A30pro and L70.

I was using the Teac ud-501 many years. Now I have the thought to upgrade it.

I try to search but I can't clear understand the related calculate. (something like the impedance matching between dac and hp amp, the amp output power and hp impedance, ........)

My thought was if I use the low impedance hp connect to the amp. Because the low impedance, and the amp output power should be huge. I am not sure the headphone/in-ear will be destroy? I think the power output should be linear, control by the volume. But I am not sure it has the safe point before it reach the headphone maximum power. Or the loud volume I can't endure before it reach the maximum?

 

[Ahmonge]

Thank for replying. the both of them I mean A30pro and L70.

I was using the Teac ud-501 many years. Now I have the thought to upgrade it.

I try to search but I can't clear understand the related calculate. (something like the impedance matching between dac and hp amp, the amp output power and hp impedance, ........)

My thought was if I use the low impedance hp connect to the amp. Because the low impedance, and the amp output power should be huge. I am not sure the headphone/in-ear will be destroy? I think the power output should be linear, control by the volume. But I am not sure it has the safe point before it reach the headphone maximum power. Or the loud volume I can't endure before it reach the maximum?

Sorry, my fault.

You can use the ATH-EW9 with both amps, nothing wrong will happen as long as you keep the perceived volume not too high. These amps have more power than needed to drive your headphones fully, but as long as this extra power is not used, no damage will be done to them.

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

Hi Guys. Could anybody please clarify for me if I can use L70 as pure preamp with volume control? I don't use headphones but I need to connect two sources E70 dac + analog output from phono preamp to my hypex nc252mp power amp. I see two inputs on l70 RCA + xlr. Could I connect e70 to xlr and analog from phono to rca and switch inputs on l70 plus control volume from remote? Output will go to power amp via xlr. Will it degrade sound quality and i should buy some preamp twice expensive like topping pre90 or schiit frea s? Thanks

I tested the topping-l70 between my sabaj a20d dac and hypex power amp.... Unfortunately in my configuration the highs are acidic and annoying unfortunately the compatibility with class D is not advisable I will fall back on the Gustard H16

 

[Leva]

I tested the topping-l70 between my sabaj a20d dac and hypex power amp.... Unfortunately in my configuration the highs are acidic and annoying unfortunately the compatibility with class D is not advisable I will fall back on the Gustard H16

Thanks for your feedback. I already get one more negative feedback for L70 as preamp so I ordered Schiit Freya S - they have a couple in B-stock with discount currently.

 

[sambol]

When I hit the mute button, the left channel has a very, very quiet sound, while the right channel is dead silent. Nothing to worry about, but is this normal?
PS E30 II is connected to the input via RCA cables.

 

[bearcatsandor]

I just ordered my E70 and L70 from headphones.com!

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

I just wanted to give some advice I am currently doing tests with L70 testing silver-free cables like the ones I had and it improves considerably I have been lent balanced transparent ultra mm2 I also replaced the power cables with pure copper now the high range is more correct and less acidic and is no longer X-ray! I await a few days of running in to evaluate further improvements.

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

I fully agree the expense must be right the cables were lent to me by friends who spare no expense I have limited budgets in fact I would like to wire the mogami quads with silver tin and gold neutrik connectors otherwise the van den hul quad hybrids.

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

My cable

 

[Veri]

I just wanted to give some advice I am currently doing tests with L70 testing silver-free cables like the ones I had and it improves considerably I have been lent balanced transparent ultra mm2 I also replaced the power cables with pure copper now the high range is more correct and less acidic and is no longer X-ray! I await a few days of running in to evaluate further improvements.

I thought this was a great satiric post. Less acidic, no longer X-ray! Haha. Awesome stuff very funny~!

My cable

BUT YOU WERE SERIOUS

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

I thought this was a great satiric post. Less acidic, no longer X-ray! Haha. Awesome stuff very funny~!


BUT YOU WERE SERIOUS

But google translate doesn't work very well.....

 

[Ugo Ruffini]

X-ray=radiographic cold sound

 

[PieterHenk]

I just purchased a L70/E70 Velvet combo and am kind of surprised at the volume levels needed for relatively low-impedance headphones. Currently i'm using a headphone that apparently has an impedance of 28 ohms, having the DAC turned to -0 dB the amp still needs to go to roughly around -16 dB to get a good (semi loud) volume, leaving 16 dB to play with. These are not the exact numbers but from what I can remember it's pretty close.

Does that sound normal? Although I can't test it right now, I have the feeling my schiit heresy / epos gsx 300 (don't judge me ) get the same levels or can go louder.