Topping L70 Headphone Amp Review

[staticV3]

Hey guys, forgive the nooby-esque question but, if the balanced XLR output gives 1.9 watts on low gain mode @ 32ohms, and the unbalanced 1/4” output gives 2 watts on high gain mode @ 32ohms, is either one of those going to "sound better" than the other?

Or to ask it another way... Does balanced sound better than unbalanced if all things are (basically) equal?

I've often heard that balanced sounds better. But is it just a simple matter of balanced typically having more wattage/power than unbalanced? And that's why it sounds better? Or is there something going on with balanced outside of wattage that gives it an advantage?
I'm trying to decide if it'd be worth buying a balanced XLR cable instead of using unbalanced 1/4".
Thanks!

If the single-ended headphone output gets loud enough for you, then buying a new cable and switching to balanced headphone out won't achieve anything.

More volume is the only advantage.

 

[3dcnc]

Hey guys, forgive the nooby-esque question but, if the balanced XLR output gives 1.9 watts on low gain mode @ 32ohms, and the unbalanced 1/4” output gives 2 watts on high gain mode @ 32ohms, is either one of those going to "sound better" than the other?

Or to ask it another way... Does balanced sound better than unbalanced if all things are (basically) equal?

I've often heard that balanced sounds better. But is it just a simple matter of balanced typically having more wattage/power than unbalanced? And that's why it sounds better? Or is there something going on with balanced outside of wattage that gives it an advantage?
I'm trying to decide if it'd be worth buying a balanced XLR cable instead of using unbalanced 1/4".
Thanks!

Well today the L70 preamp, headphone amp arrived.
Plugged into the Pa7 topping amp. Straignt away the amp became louder and more dynamic

 

[3dcnc]

firmware 1.14 update improves the sound for me. the sound to me before sounded compressed/restrained. it did not sound right

 

[Roland68]

firmware 1.14 update improves the sound for me. the sound to me before sounded compressed/restrained. it did not sound right

How is that supposed to be possible?
The software only controls the relays for switching and volume.

 

[3dcnc]

How is that supposed to be possible?
The software only controls the relays for switching and volume.

I don't know. maybe it was just the burn in. I only looked for firmware because the headphone/preamp did not sound right as a headphone amp and preamp with the Topping PA7 plus. If I had bought it on Amazon, I would have sent it back. It has a pretty sophisticated resistor volume control - i am not an electrical engineer. The Denafrips had a major firmware upgrade that was supposed to also improve sound quality. I could not detect a difference with the Denafrips. This was my first Topping headphone amp. I amso own the Xduoo TA-20plus which sounds pretty good. So good in fact I am ordering the .xa10 xduoo on sale at the moment.

 

[Roland68]

I don't know. maybe it was just the burn in. I only looked for firmware because the headphone/preamp did not sound right as a headphone amp and preamp with the Topping PA7 plus. If I had bought it on Amazon, I would have sent it back. It has a pretty sophisticated resistor volume control - i am not an electrical engineer. The Denafrips had a major firmware upgrade that was supposed to also improve sound quality. I could not detect a difference with the Denafrips. This was my first Topping headphone amp. I amso own the Xduoo TA-20plus which sounds pretty good. So good in fact I am ordering the .xa10 xduoo on sale at the moment.

It's not a DAC and the current name for it, r2r, is absolute nonsense.
This technology is over 40 years old and simply switches resistors into the signal path, simple but good.
Basically the same as potentiometers with resistors, just as good, but not remote controllable.
.

 

[3dcnc]

It's not a DAC and the current name for it, r2r, is absolute nonsense.
This technology is over 40 years old and simply switches resistors into the signal path, simple but good.
Basically the same as potentiometers with resistors, just as good, but not remote controllable.
.

I know its not a DAC, just confirming I don't always hear a difference after firmware update. maybe it was just burn in. I have a Tisbury Audio passive preamp which also uses old tech, but also sounds good for what it is. It helped me realise the importance of a good quality volume control. Another reason I bought the L70

 

[Rover]

Topping L70 in preamp mode plays perfectly with the amplifier Fosi Audio ZA3 in power mode!
Connection via a balanced input.
Inexpensive price and excellent sound quality.

 

[TSky]

Good afternoon. I bought Ananda Nano and choose a good amplifier for them (In the future I may buy HE1000) I choose between L50, A30PRO L70 and the new SMSL H300. What do you say? I don't even know what to take and what to lean towards. The SMSL looks good, but you can buy the same A30PRO For $100 lower.
The L70 and H300 cost the same practically.

 

[Ahmonge]

@TSky Unless you hear at deafening levels, L50 is more than enough

 

[Roland68]

Good afternoon. I bought Ananda Nano and choose a good amplifier for them (In the future I may buy HE1000) I choose between L50, A30PRO L70 and the new SMSL H300. What do you say? I don't even know what to take and what to lean towards. The SMSL looks good, but you can buy the same A30PRO For $100 lower.
The L70 and H300 cost the same practically.

If you don't need a balanced input, just use the L30 II.

 

[TSky]

@TSky Unless you hear at deafening levels, L50 is more than enough

If you don't need a balanced input, just use the L30 II.

Thank you. Is there enough current for the Nano? Will fake-balance give any advantage if you take stock E50 and L50 and connect via TRS

 

[Ahmonge]

Is there enough current for the Nano?

Any amplifier capable of providing a given power at a given impedance will supply the current (and voltage) required to do so. That is why it is essential to know the power of a headphone amplifier at the impedance of the headphones we are going to use.

 

[Rover]

Good afternoon. I bought Ananda Nano and choose a good amplifier for them (In the future I may buy HE1000) I choose between L50, A30PRO L70 and the new SMSL H300. What do you say? I don't even know what to take and what to lean towards. The SMSL looks good, but you can buy the same A30PRO For $100 lower.
The L70 and H300 cost the same practically.

If you need a better balanced input or you will use headphones with a balanced connection, then only the L70 is required.Plus a convenient remote control.Which is not available in cheap models.

 

[Roland68]

Thank you. Is there enough current for the Nano? Will fake-balance give any advantage if you take stock E50 and L50 and connect via TRS

The Topping L30 II has a slightly higher power than the L50 at 33 ohms, 3.4 to 3.2 watts, based on Amirm's measurements.
Only the transmission between E50 and L50 is balanced, the L50 itself is a single ended output device. On such short cable runs there should be no audible differences between SE and balanced transmission and I have never noticed one.

And yes, the power for Ananda Nano is more than sufficient, this headphone is very sensitive. You probably only need low or middle gain.

 

[Rover]

L30,L 50,A 50 these amplifiers do not have remote control and display support.
The L70 has a remote control and an excellent display.

 

[TSky]

The Topping L30 II has a slightly higher power than the L50 at 33 ohms, 3.4 to 3.2 watts, based on Amirm's measurements.
Only the transmission between E50 and L50 is balanced, the L50 itself is a single ended output device. On such short cable runs there should be no audible differences between SE and balanced transmission and I have never noticed one.

And yes, the power for Ananda Nano is more than sufficient, this headphone is very sensitive. You probably only need low or middle gain.

Thank you. It seems the L30 II is a good option

 

[Roland68]

Thank you. It seems the L30 II is a good option

Lately I've been forgetting to recommend the Sabaj A20h more and more often.
For around €120, it's an absolute bargain in my opinion and the best price/performance ratio on the market. Includes relay-based volume control, remote control, display, balanced input and real balanced output with a maximum of 4.7 watts at 32 ohms.
And now Amirm has tested it and confirmed its good performance.
Sabaj A20h Balanced Headphone Amp Review

 

[TSky]

Lately I've been forgetting to recommend the Sabaj A20h more and more often.
For around €120, it's an absolute bargain in my opinion and the best price/performance ratio on the market. Includes relay-based volume control, remote control, display, balanced input and real balanced output with a maximum of 4.7 watts at 32 ohms.
And now Amirm has tested it and confirmed its good performance.
Sabaj A20h Balanced Headphone Amp Review

Is there a fundamental difference in sound between the same A20H, A30PRO and L30 II? Why do you even need an amplifier 2-3 times more expensive if the L30 II copes with its task? Is the sound much more pleasant and melodious there? Or is it all the same? But if you put two amplifiers side by side, A30PRO and L30 II on Nano, will they have a different sound?

 

[Ahmonge]

Is there a fundamental difference in sound between the same A20H, A30PRO and L30 II?

In my case I would almost certainly find no difference, but you can only be sure if you try it.