Topping LA90 Discrete Amplifier Review

[PuX]

when will Topping make a product that uses connectors that make sense (XLR, RCA) and can make up its mind as to what it is (power amp without a remote or an integrated amp with a remote)? half rhetorical question.

 

[audiotron]

Thanks for the review. No I can go ahead and order one.

 

[ivanj]

Mebbe I missed something in all the swooning... but what is an 'NFCA Amplifier circuit'?

What's this now?

Witness the Linearity On April. 26th-TOPPING

 

[amirm]

Mebbe I missed something in all the swooning... but what is an 'NFCA Amplifier circuit'?

It is a marketing name for a sub-circuit that is encapsulated in a module. This provide some measure of protection for their trade secrets.

 

[gerG]

Cooling is a function of the impedance of the heatsink and its surface area. Here, they are going for the former with a very thick and heavy heatsink which then couples to the entire case.

I suppose that in this case it really is a heat sink, vs a heat exchanger. It seems an odd design choice to heat up the chassis and compromise the cooling of internal components when they could have just rejected the heat to ambient with some better H/E fins. Even stranger considering that they were already machining grooves in aluminum.
I do not mean to imply that the cooling is inadequate on this device for normal operation. I am implying that it could have been better at no additional cost. Better cooling means better life.
So, how about an empirical test? Tape a T/C (backside insulated) to the chassis, crank up some tunes, and log temperature data. I am betting no problem until somebody puts it in bridged mode and pushes it very hard.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

Topping's warranty service policy -- when my DAC went belly-up, they expected me to ship it back to China at my own expense for "repair" -- would be a deal breaker here for an amplifier at this price point, regardless of performance. Losing $125 or so on a deceased DAC is one thing, but that sort of policy just doesn't fly with an $800 product IMO.

 

[TheWalkman]

2 of these or hypex ncx500?
nearly same price.

Or one Audiophonics HPA-S400ET.

​

 

[martin900]

3rd (uneven) harmonic is dominant, that's a no go from me.

 

[Bleib]

3rd (uneven) harmonic is dominant, that's a no go from me.

Eh. You can hear it?

 

[Ra1zel]

3rd (uneven) harmonic is dominant, that's a no go from me.

I'm sure that at -130dB it's gonna bother you a lot

 

[staticV3]

3rd (uneven) harmonic is dominant, that's a no go from me.

Man how sad must the folks at Benchmark be knowing that their stuff, too, has dominating uneven harmonics. A tragedy really.


Oh well, back to the drawing board I guess..

 

[PeteL]

when will Topping make a product that uses connectors that make sense (XLR, RCA) and can make up its mind as to what it is (power amp without a remote or an integrated amp with a remote)? half rhetorical question.

Those are XLR TRS combo from the look of it. in use it's the same as XLR. What's wrong with having the flexibility?

 

[staticV3]

when will Topping make a product that uses connectors that make sense (XLR, RCA) and can make up its mind as to what it is (power amp without a remote or an integrated amp with a remote)? half rhetorical question.

Those are XLR TRS combo from the look of it. in use it's the same as XLR. What's wrong with having the flexibility?

Deja Vu

 

[gerG]

XLR are fantastic, and probably the most stable electrical connection of signal over time. However, if you need something that will suffer repeated plugging/unplugging, then TRS rocks. It is self aligning, and you can plug them in blind. As for RCA, they are ok for connecting once (usually) then leaving alone. They might still develop problems and require a cleaning every few years or so, but best left alone as the sockets tend to break. Also it is easy to get/build decent quality TRS or XLR cables, but decent RCA are a real hit or miss proposition these days. And yes I am aware that 2 of these are balanced and one is not. I mix and match cables all the time. Discussion of cable designs is probably a topic for another thread.

 

[restorer-john]

Man how sad must the folks at Benchmark be knowing that their stuff, too, has dominating uneven harmonics. A tragedy really.

Dominating?

 

[Ra1zel]

I guess the only real criticism just like the previous one is low output power, at my listening distance and speaker placement it's just not enough for realistic playback level.

Also
Hypex Nilai Mono - 0.55W per dollar
This - 0.08W per dollar

Same level of transparency, worse efficiency on LA90.

 

[restorer-john]

As for RCA, they are ok for connecting once (usually) then leaving alone. They might still develop problems and require a cleaning every few years or so, but best left alone as the sockets tend to break.

Since when did audiophiles and HiFi aficionados become so incredibly ham-fisted as to be breaking RCA sockets? More likely, it is the crap PCB mount RCA sockets favoured by our cost cutting friends.

Quality RCA sockets and plugs fitted to most Japanese and US made gear happily lasts 50 years or more.

 

[pseudoid]

Would it be wrong to call this amp a "nothing-burger"?

 

[MAB]

3rd (uneven) harmonic is dominant, that's a no go from me.

Perhaps like this?

 

[gerG]

Since when did audiophiles and HiFi aficionados become so incredibly ham-fisted as to be breaking RCA sockets? More likely, it is the crap PCB mount RCA sockets favoured by our cost cutting friends.

Quality RCA sockets and plugs fitted to most Japanese and US made gear happily lasts 50 years or more.

Yep, circuit mounted sockets seem to get frail over time. On top of that some of these grabby shield cable connectors are difficult to dissengage. Even crazier, some makers (like Outlaw) make stiff cables that clamp on to the shield/ground. CLICK! Oh dear, more solder repair to do.
I really do appreciate it when I see a component with chassis mounted RCA connectors. I trust those.
Back OT: I like the combo XLR/TRS connectors. I have used similar a LOT. The worst mishap is some clod tripping over a cable, and then I just plug it back in and check mic gain. Well, that is for a TRS, for an XLR I may have to pick a component up off the floor. Not an issue for the Topping topic of discussion.