Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

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.

Are you using high gain?

 

[PieterHenk]

Are you using high gain?

Apologies, forgot to mention that. This is on low gain on all devices that supported a gain setting.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Apologies, forgot to mention that. This is on low gain on all devices that supported a gain setting.

There you have it.
If you find perceived loudness as not being sufficient just switch to high gain.

You should always use lowest gain (lowest noise, not that high gain is noisy or something but you always want the noise to be the lowest) and only if you find 'volume' to be too quiet then use high gain.

ps. you mentioned that you still have like 16db left, so I'm sure you are fine, it's just your head play tricks on you

 

[jdan1457]

I can see in Topping's marketing materials it outputs 4.7w at 64 ohms. What is the power at 50 ohms? Has anyone measured that yet?

@amirm measured the A90d at 3.7w, and the A30pro at 3.4w. would like to compare the L70 at 50 ohms since I'm running the He6se.

 

[staticV3]

I can see in Topping's marketing materials it outputs 4.7w at 64 ohms. What is the power at 50 ohms? Has anyone measured that yet?

See here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...g-l70-headphone-amp-review.39767/post-1401983

 

[jdan1457]

See here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...g-l70-headphone-amp-review.39767/post-1401983

Awesome, thanks! It looks like the L70 has the most power at 50 ohm, at just under 6w. Has anyone tried the L70 with the He6se?

I guess the other question would be, how much of a difference will that extra 1.5w-2w make comparing the A30pro to the L70 at 50 ohm?

 

[staticV3]

would like to compare the L70 at 50 ohms since I'm running the He6se

50Ω is HiFiMan's official spec. In reality, the HE6se is 64Ω:

I guess the other question would be, how much of a difference will that extra 1.5w-2w make comparing the A30pro to the L70 at 50 ohm?

At 64Ω, the L70 gets 1.36dB louder than the A30Pro before clipping.
That translates to 10% higher perceived loudness.

 

[BenF]

Does anyone know what code r3 means? Couldn't find error codes in the manual.

I've seen no Topping amp without a fault so far... they should establish at least any kind of QA

 

[bearcatsandor]

Ok, so I've been playing with My L70 and E70 for an hour trying to get sound out. I have the USB hooked up and my computer (linux) sees it. The pre-amp display tells me its getting a signal. The XLR cables are hooked up. The E70 is set for XLR output and the L70 is set for XLR input. However, the display does not change when I plug my 6.35mm headphones in and I get no sound.

Does it auto-recognise the headphone jack having headphones in them? What step have I not done?

Edit: The step i hadn't done was turning the volume *way* up. I had it at -90. I had to turn it up to -30 to get decent volume for my Sony MDR-7506 headphones

 

[staticV3]

Edit: The step i hadn't done was turning the volume *way* up. I had it at -90. I had to turn it up to -30 to get decent volume for my Sony MDR-7506 headphones

Just to put that into perspective:
-90dB is 0.2% of the full volume.
-30dB is 12.5% of the full volume.

 

[bearcatsandor]

Just to put that into perspective:
-90dB is 0.2% of the full volume.
-30dB is 12.5% of the full volume.

Thank you, as I'm mathmatically challenged, would you mind giving the equation for that?
Also, is there an advantage to running the E70 as a dac and attinuating via the L70 (as I'm doing), vs running the E70 as a pre-amp and running the L70 in full?

 

[staticV3]

Thank you, as I'm mathmatically challenged, would you mind giving the equation for that?

Here's a handy online calculator with all the equations: http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-levelchange.htm

Also, is there an advantage to running the E70 as a dac and attinuating via the L70 (as I'm doing), vs running the E70 as a pre-amp and running the L70 in full?

Running the DAC at full output and the Amp at minimum gain will give you the cleanest signal.

 

[ThatGuyYouKnow]

Love this amp. It is such a suspiciously good value that I almost expect something really bad to happen with it.

By the way, I once got that "r3" error. Topping support claimed that the 12v trigger must have glitched on that one occasion. I have not had any problems since.

 

[bearcatsandor]

Is there any harm in leaving them on all the time? I feed by computer and play music throughout the day. I don't suppose the displays will burnout (on low). A 12v trigger? Why would they ever be shut off? :")

 

[bkdc]

Doe the L70 generate heat on standby?

 

[rarewolf]

May I ask why the Velvet?

[…]

For those interested in the Velvet, after having both the E70 & E70V, Andrew Ballew has posted his auditioning and measurements as comparative reviews at his weblog…

"Choose from User-Sponsored Audio Equipment Reviews: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Needs"

"Our professional audio and audiophile review site is dedicated to providing unbiased and in-depth analysis of the latest audio and audiophile products on the market. We believe that our readers deserve honest and transparent reviews"

www.euphonicreview.com

 

[bkdc]

Blinded audition please.

 

[renaudrenaud]

For those interested in the Velvet, after having both the E70 & E70V, Andrew Ballew has posted his auditioning and measurements as comparative reviews at his weblog…

"Choose from User-Sponsored Audio Equipment Reviews: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Needs"

"Our professional audio and audiophile review site is dedicated to providing unbiased and in-depth analysis of the latest audio and audiophile products on the market. We believe that our readers deserve honest and transparent reviews"

www.euphonicreview.com

Sorry but it sounds like usual bs in the world of the Golden ear. The more expansive the better bla bla bla.

 

[ThatGuyYouKnow]

Sorry but it sounds like usual bs in the world of the Golden ear. The more expansive the better bla bla bla.

He quickly lost me when he described the E70 as "soft and smooth," whereas the E70V "gives you what is on the recording." smh

Doe the L70 generate heat on standby?

No.

 

[bearcatsandor]

Doe the L70 generate heat on standby?

Technically yes, but it only gets slightly warm on top. I have my E70 stacked on my L70 and when I feel the bottom of the E70 it's not warm.