Sure, consider the other stuff as well but SINAD is a really, really useful metric. It will depend on your hearing and maybe the music content as well but generally speaking the limit of audibility is I bellieve about 80 to 85dB. The thing is though that, for amps and DACS, even inexpensive equipment can hit 100+ SINAD so, personally, I don't see why I should accept less than 90dB+ even though an 85dB unit would likely still sound just as good.At least searching Amazon.com the Mini 300 is less expensive than a pair of V3 Mono ($139 vs $179.98). But this is only if you go with Fosi's basic offer, which comes with a 32 V PSU. With this PSU the V3 Mono will provide less output power than the Mini 300.
If you want the bigger PSU with the V3 Mono to take advantage of the slightly higher power output the price is $139 vs $219.98.
Sorry, Amazon fooled me into clicking the wrong link. Looks like the V3 Mono is currently not available from Amazon.com. But it's till more expensive than the Mini 300, no matter what.
Reading @gwing's post very carefully, the main message to me is: Don't buy a power amplifier just based on single numerical value like SINAD.
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Topping Mini 300 Amplifier Review
- Thread starter amirm
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Chr1
Major Contributor
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Just to add that personally I'm betting on the reliability being good on the Mini 300. I think after the PA5 potting compound reliability issue, Topping will have been pretty careful that the thermals/reliability is good on this one.
Obviously if you chose to run it full power, into a difficult load... Or enclosed... or with stuff stacked on top, all bets are off. My 2c.
Obviously if you chose to run it full power, into a difficult load... Or enclosed... or with stuff stacked on top, all bets are off. My 2c.
harkpabst
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Ok, sorry, I didn't get you right then.
Personally I wouldn't recommend or damn a product based on SINAD alone. Also I cannot judge if there is one absolute threshold of audibility valid for everyone. Better values cannot hurt, unless optimising for this one metric negatively influences others.
rolfrander
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Fosi V3 Mono has approx twice the power compared to the Topping 300 mini (240 W vs 120 W)
staticV3
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As long as using balanced input. The fosi performances significantly worse using RCA input.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
Because the Mini 300 isn't a mono amp. Compare it to the stereo version of the V3:
Fosi Audio V3 Amplifier Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Fosi Audio V3 stereo amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $89.99 with stock 32 volt supply. Price goes up to $109.99 with the 48 volt supply. There is a $10 discount coupon right now. Despite its budget price, the V3...
www.audiosciencereview.com
And even then, it's the TP3251 in the 300 vs the TP3255 in the V3.
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I did consider the Fosi P4 bundle with two V3monos, but:
1. I'm not interested in that power because I chose to actively amplify my passive subwoofer, and the “few” watts that the mini produces are so relative.
2. The measurements put the mini at the top.
3. Apparently, the V3mono needs to be cooled, which was not recommended to me in view of its durability.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I can only try it this way.
Thanks again for this further support from the forum!
1. I'm not interested in that power because I chose to actively amplify my passive subwoofer, and the “few” watts that the mini produces are so relative.
2. The measurements put the mini at the top.
3. Apparently, the V3mono needs to be cooled, which was not recommended to me in view of its durability.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I can only try it this way.
Thanks again for this further support from the forum!
Not trying to change your choice here, but to avoid misinformation spreading your point #3 above is incorrect.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
Finally set up my Mini 300 this afternoon.
@Jarrett my only review of it is that it works, and sounds great (as I expected). Compared to the 3e A7, it isn't as loud at the same volume level (for obvious reasons, and it was the same between the PA5 II, and the 3e A7). Only minor things of note is that when I turn the amp on, there's a very slight tick from my speakers after a few seconds, and a more audible pop when I turn the amp off that is mostly masked by the clicking of the toggle switch. The pop while turning it off is the same as the 3e A7, but with that amp, if I changed the output to HPA on my DX5 II, it went from a pop to a slight tick when turning the amp off. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the Mini 300, the pop is equally as audible when powered off regardless of the input on the DX5 II.
I fully recognize that that could be a product of my environment, but would like to know if anyone else hears anything like that (I also know that it's more or less normal, but if there's a way to lessen it, I am all ears). Not that it's causing any real concern (i.e. I'm not worried that it is going to do any damage), but it would be nice to eliminate it as much as possible.
@Jarrett my only review of it is that it works, and sounds great (as I expected). Compared to the 3e A7, it isn't as loud at the same volume level (for obvious reasons, and it was the same between the PA5 II, and the 3e A7). Only minor things of note is that when I turn the amp on, there's a very slight tick from my speakers after a few seconds, and a more audible pop when I turn the amp off that is mostly masked by the clicking of the toggle switch. The pop while turning it off is the same as the 3e A7, but with that amp, if I changed the output to HPA on my DX5 II, it went from a pop to a slight tick when turning the amp off. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the Mini 300, the pop is equally as audible when powered off regardless of the input on the DX5 II.
I fully recognize that that could be a product of my environment, but would like to know if anyone else hears anything like that (I also know that it's more or less normal, but if there's a way to lessen it, I am all ears). Not that it's causing any real concern (i.e. I'm not worried that it is going to do any damage), but it would be nice to eliminate it as much as possible.
G|force
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Or just remove and transplant the cord off the dead supply.
renaudrenaud
Major Contributor
Ordered one this week and received this morning.
Got it for around 80€, can't believe it is so inexpensive.
Got it for around 80€, can't believe it is so inexpensive.
harkpabst
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Cool, how and where? That's incredibly cheap, indeed.
I’m really surprised by what you mentioned regarding the 'pop' sounds when turning the Mini 300 on and off. In my case, there is no sound at all—I can’t hear a thing even with my ear right against the speakers.
I’m not sure if it makes a difference that I’m using the 12V trigger (from my WiiM Pro) to power the Mini 300 on and off, or if it might be the relatively low sensitivity of my DALI Oberon 3 speakers (only 87dB).
Do you have other speakers you could test? Or perhaps try using the 12V trigger to power it? Ultimately, you might have a defective unit, because as far as I remember, Amir mentioned in his review that the Mini 300 was specifically one of those amplifiers that didn't produce a pop when turning on.
ziggurcat
Major Contributor
It's the same when 12v trigger is used (the shutdown pop is more evident because it's not being masked so much by the clicking of the toggle switch). I'm not entirely sure what that cause is, but my best guess is it's either coming from the DAC (a Topping DX5 II) or something isn't grounded properly.
Same - no speaker sound at all. No use of trigger, Philharmonic Ceramic Mini speakers (4 ohm, 84 db sens).
What I did notice is when you switch it off, there is the most tiny tap from the unit itself when you move the switch down even a little.
What I did notice is when you switch it off, there is the most tiny tap from the unit itself when you move the switch down even a little.
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ziggurcat
Major Contributor
When I had an E50/L50 stack, which then morphed into a D50 II/L50 stack with a PA5 II amplifier, there was no popping at all (same MA Silver 50 speakers throughout the entire time). It would have been TRS to TRS in those previous configurations, but it's XLR to TRS with the DX5 II to Mini 300 from DAC to amp (and XLR to XLR with the DX5 II to 3e A7 configuration). However, it still happens using a SE connection between the DAC/amp.
My next test (when I have the time) is to disconnect the amp from the DAC, and if there's no change, move the amp to a different room, and connect some other speakers to see if it happens on a different circuit.
Edit:
Disconnected the Mini 300 from my DAC -- turning it on/off produces identical results, so it's not coming from my DAC.
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renaudrenaud
Major Contributor
I just ordered with JDCool, how and where? That's incredibly cheap, indeed.
Normal price is 799RMB and there is a rebate at 703. It's possible to have a better price with Taobao but delivery time is usually a not longer, and I don't care anyway.
I just listened it few minutes yesterday, I usually run a little 7W tube amp, so in my system I don't need a huge amount of power and the mini300 seems massively more powerful than the tube amp.
I searched Toping Mini 300 on joybuy.de, the German subsidiary of JD. They carry a crude mix of food, clothing and some surprisingly high end electronics. But all my search got me was a bunch of colorful cake toppings.
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