Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

[rarewolf]

Actually these are Stealths
But I'm sure Aeon2 noire will be just as good.
What headphones are you using now?

Ahhh, yes I see that they’re open-backs — I was looking at the folding yoke thinking the Noires were the only DCs that folded like that.

My IEMs are the S12s and IE600s, and my cans are the semi-open Fostex T60RP (Mod House) Argons

 

[nonnyno]

Ahhh, yes I see that they’re open-backs — I was looking at the folding yoke thinking the Noires were the only DCs that folded like that.

My IEMs are the S12s and IE600s, and my cans are the semi-open Fostex T60RP (Mod House) Argons

Stealths are closed backs. The expanse is an open back

 

[Blashyrkh]

Received today. It's freakin amazing.
So clean so crystal clear I'm very sensitive to high frequencies being harsh/distorted (my ears are still capable of hearing up to 18khz depending on the day)
But this thing is just so well behaved in high frequencies that I'm just amazed. No matter how loud you listen it's just pure joy.
One more time, amazing.
View attachment 286611

I am also one too sensitive to harsh highs, in fact was totally unable to use DT880, K701 or ATH-ADX5000 back in the days.

After buying the HD800 I settled with the last one that was the less harsh of the 3 (last 2 blind tested).
Anyway liked it so much, but at the end I sold the Benchmark DAC2 and Violectric because too harsh with them for me, and stayed few years with Mojo + Yaquin 300b.

I just bought L70 out of curiosity, since the Yaquin broke.

I was blown out by how well it sounded, never heard such puncy bass from the HD800 and a totally absence of harshness, but also neutral to the source....it was like hearing Mojo on steroids.
Soon after I bought the SMSL DO300 to have a better DAC, and currently is the best HD800 I ever heard, no bass issues (actually it seems even too much on some bad recorded tracks) and no piercing highs.


It scaled so well that now the HE500 that I kept for more funny listenings are now "thrash" in comparison, and probably sell them with the mojo

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

totally absence of harshness

Exactly that.
Believe me I listened to a lot of those high end stuff in the 1k to 20k price range. I also owned and still own some expensive "high-end" stuff.
Nothing never fully satisfied me. There was always something bad with top end, being just not clear/harsh/distorted it drove me crazy.
With Topping it's a different story. And it's for ~340 bucks. I'm floored.

I just don't get why people are talking that a lot of feedback is "destroying" music and other nonsense.
I've found it quite the opposite. I remember watching some interview with Bruno Putzeys, and he said something that "every time I improve feedback and lowered the distortion it sounded better" and I definitely agree.

 

[Blashyrkh]

I just don't get why people are talking that a lot of feedback is "destroying" music and other nonsense.
I've found it quite the opposite. I remember watching some interview with Bruno Putzeys, and he said something that "every time I improve feedback and lowered the distortion it sounded better" and I definitely agree.

Yeah...usually related to loss of dynamics, actually this was a old debate.
Most probably related to the fact that some kind of distortion can be perceived like a more livelier/dynamic sound, that is not.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Yeah...usually related to loss of dynamics, actually this was a old debate.
Most probably related to the fact that some kind of distortion can be perceived like a more livelier/dynamic sound, that is not.

Yes indeed, distortion many of the times adds feeling of dynamic sound.
That's also why so called reviewers from YouTube called DCA stealth undynamic... When in fact it's just lack of distortion and bloat in bass.
There is plenty of real dynamics with both good measuring gear and good measuring headphones.

 

[Kumabear]

@amirm

If you still have this unit around, do you think that it would be possible to do some measurements on the Preamp like you have done on the Topping A70 Pro?

From what I can tell the L70 is possibly the best value preamp ever with the functions it has in that role, due to the semantics of the system I am putting together I will need a preamp with two IR recallable presets, and I have been thinking L70 is the best option.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Sorry guys if it is explained elsewhere, but this morning I switched on the the L70 and got "R3" message. Switched off and on and now it is ok. Is there a firmware update I should do?

Thanks in advance.

Ha ok :

Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

The hardest part of buying something from Topping is deciding which excellent performer you prefer. This unit for example looks very close to the A90D in its performance envelope, but the latter is almost twice as expensive. Still, I'm probably going to replace my THX AAA 789 next year, and I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

So rebooted and it's ok.

 

[Chagall]

Sorry guys if it is explained elsewhere, but this morning I switched on the the L70 and got "R3" message. Switched off and on and now it is ok. Is there a firmware update I should do?

Thanks in advance.

Ha ok :

Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

The hardest part of buying something from Topping is deciding which excellent performer you prefer. This unit for example looks very close to the A90D in its performance envelope, but the latter is almost twice as expensive. Still, I'm probably going to replace my THX AAA 789 next year, and I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

So rebooted and it's ok.

I got it once on old firmware and once on new. Contacted topping and local reseller, both said it's fine to continue using after powering down.

 

[BigSweeny]

I got it once on old firmware and once on new. Contacted topping and local reseller, both said it's fine to continue using after powering down.

Where was the "new" firmware? I don't see it on topping's site.

 

[Chagall]

Where was the "new" firmware? I don't see it on topping's site.

Sorry, firmware was 1.04 for E70 dac, not L70. Reseller suggested to update the dac, but even updated I got r3 on L70 once in 4 months of use. Both Topping and reseller didn't explain what the code exactly means, but assured it is fine to use.

 

[Mattx]

New FW v1.13 for the L70. Comprehensively detailed as: Fix some known issues.

L70 version V1.13 firmware update-TOPPING

 

[ThatGuyYouKnow]

New FW v1.13 for the L70. Comprehensive detailed as: Fix some known issues.

L70 version V1.13 firmware update-TOPPING

Why is it so difficult for them to specify these "known issues?" For those of us who do not notice any issues, it is important to know if there is anything to be concerned about.

 

[rarewolf]

New FW v1.13 for the L70. Comprehensive detailed as: Fix some known issues.

Anyone have the faintest idea what “known issues” this fixes?

Else, why would anyone take the chance when their L70 works perfectly?

 

[Mattx]

PS: I have just tried to update and used an USB C to A cable. However after copying the file, the drive did not automatically reject and reopen (and update) as it should as per the readme. My current FW is stated as 1.11.

Maybe others willing to take the plunge have more luck....

 

[sambol]

I have done the upgrade, everything works as before.
It didn't do automatic eject for me either, I disconnected the cable and reconnected it.

 

[Mattx]

^
Thanks, that worked.

When I opened "VER113.TXT" afterwards it says:

"English:
Copy the new firmware to the root directory, disconnect the USB and connect it again. Input RCA color block will be displayed during the upgrade, and 8-8 will be displayed after the upgrade."

Would be handy if they had included that in the FW readme file / Instructions on the topping site as well

 

[ThatGuyYouKnow]

So, have you guys noticed anything different with this update?

 

[sambol]

After one day, absolutely nothing.

 

[Mattx]

Nope. Also, my custom settings were retained after the update.

However I have the amp for 4 months and have encountered a ~2-3 bugs/weird hiccups allthough I don't recall exactly what they were. Nothing serious though. Just turning on and off solved it I think.

But that's why I updated the FW.