Topping Mini 300 Amplifier Review

[Bleib]

No, I’m not talking about gain limiting.

I’m also not talking about anything related to amplifier class; a Hypex NCx500-based class-D amp would easily out-power my B200 monoblocs, so I would absolutely rank them as audibly transparent and not something I could pick out blindly from the B200s at any sane listening level with my speakers because both amps have sufficient power/drive for my speakers even at the highest levels I personally listen at, including large, highly dynamic orchestral pieces in my room and seating position over two meters away.

Power and gain are two separate issues, but you need the power reserves when you raise the volume. Class-D, in fact, provides said power more efficiently, if anything. The TPA3251 in the Mini 300 simply isn’t designed for that level of power and current demand, and that’s the very basic issue.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to recommend the Mini 300 for driving passive speakers near field. Different horses for different courses.

Near field I would avoid mini300 because of channel imbalances. I'd rather use Topping's own mx3s although the internal DAC is not super-exciting

 

[SlowJim]

No channel imbalance was measured in the review.

 

[Bleib]

No channel imbalance was measured in the review.

At lower volumes I've never had one unit that doesn't have problems, and I don't expect to ever own one either

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

At lower volumes I've never had one unit that doesn't have problems, and I don't expect to ever own one either

Would you consider digital volume control upstream instead?

 

[Bleib]

Would you consider digital volume control upstream instead?

You mean like use the DAC to set the volume? I've done that, but sometimes concerned about DAC playing at full volume as has been reported here by some ASR forum users.

Another option is R2R like TP RA3, which I hoped Topping would copy to mini300, but obviously the price would be higher ..

Obviously it differs how sensitive we are to channel imbalance, but I would want it to be something for the history books so to speak

 

[SlowJim]

I've experienced the low volume imbalance with Fosi and Aiyima amps but never with this one. Fwiw

 

[Roland68]

You mean like use the DAC to set the volume? I've done that, but sometimes concerned about DAC playing at full volume as has been reported here by some ASR forum users.

Another option is R2R like TP RA3, which I hoped Topping would copy to mini300, but obviously the price would be higher ..

Obviously it differs how sensitive we are to channel imbalance, but I would want it to be something for the history books so to speak

I've experienced the low volume imbalance with Fosi and Aiyima amps but never with this one. Fwiw

The problem of channel imbalance, especially at the beginning when low volume is desired, is present in all devices with conventional potentiometers.
This can vary in severity, from clearly audible to inaudible.
Testing a single device reveals nothing about another device in the same series; this is simply due to manufacturing variations in the potentiometers. This applies regardless of whether it's a top-of-the-line model or something else.
My PA5 II also exhibits this problem very noticeably, so one channel is always audible first.

Many ICs control the volume analogously via resistor networks and are digitally controlled, but unfortunately, this can affect the measured values.
Relay-based volume controls are more expensive, more complex, and require more space.
There are potentiometers based on SMD resistors, but only in a standard-sized package and with 21 steps. It would certainly be possible to have something like that manufactured in a suitable size and with approximately 30 steps, but of course, it would be significantly more complex for the manufacturer than installing a standard potentiometer.

@Bleib
A very simple trick: you set the amplifier to the maximum volume you can hear and then adjust the desired volume with the DAC. Then nothing can go wrong.

 

[Bleib]

@Bleib
A very simple trick: you set the amplifier to the maximum volume you can hear and then adjust the desired volume with the DAC. Then nothing can go wrong.

Sure, I'm familiar with this trick, I've owned both the first and second version of PA5, but I'd still rather avoid the problem completely

 

[fwwwk]

No, I’m not talking about gain limiting.

Power and gain are two separate issues, but you need the power reserves when you raise the volume. Class-D, in fact, provides said power more efficiently, if anything. The TPA3251 in the Mini 300 simply isn’t designed for that level of power and current demand, and that’s the very basic issue.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to recommend the Mini 300 for driving passive speakers near field. Different horses for different courses.

Then what phenomenon of this amp causes that? If gain wasn't maxed. Im not trying to be salty maybe some electronic engineers here can elaborate please.

 

[antcollinet]

Then what phenomenon of this amp causes that? If gain wasn't maxed. Im not trying to be salty maybe some electronic engineers here can elaborate please.

I'm not entirely sure what he means either - I think he is talking about power. But he may be under the misapprehension that this amp being small cannot deliver it's rated power as well as a bigger amp.

If that is what he means, then it is nonsense. This amp is capable of around 100W into 4ohm and half that into 8 ohm. If that is not enough power for your application, then fine - you need a bigger amp.

But if it is, then It will be able to deliver that power as effectively as any other similarly rated amp.

 

[Bleib]

I'm not entirely sure what he means either - I think he is talking about power. But he may be under the misapprehension that this amp being small cannot deliver it's rated power as well as a bigger amp.

If that is what he means, then it is nonsense. This amp is capable of around 100W into 4ohm and half that into 8 ohm. If that is not enough power for your application, then fine - you need a bigger amp.

But if it is, then It will be able to deliver that power as effectively as any other similarly rated amp.

Well not quite. In the fosi V3 mono asr review we can read this

Short term power ratings.

Obviously there are amps which can push these types of ratings for much longer periods of time.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Well not quite. In the fosi V3 mono asr review we can read this
View attachment 510469
Short term power ratings.

Obviously there are amps which can push these types of ratings for much longer periods of time.

Thank you; I am not particularly articulate about this.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Late for a testimony, but I bought one Mini300. It works, it was totally inexpensive and I did not hear any noise when switched or on off because I switched it on when received and never switched off.

No remarks about the sound, I have high efficiency speakers (98dB) and of course the Mini300 is largely enough. Previous amp was around 7W of power.

In comparison with 20 years ago or 40 years ago, this thing is a kind of dream. Separate power brick, balanced input, science fiction performances and the cost here in China is ridiculously low.

 

[antcollinet]

Well not quite. In the fosi V3 mono asr review we can read this
View attachment 510469
Short term power ratings.

Obviously there are amps which can push these types of ratings for much longer periods of time.

Sure -

You will note I specifically quoted the 8 ohm and 4ohm measurements, and used the phrase "similarly rated amp". Just as an amp that can double that to 200W into two ohms will be able to do so just as well as a bigger amp with the same 2ohm ratings.

In other words - the performance is defined by it's measured ability to deliver power (into whatever impedance you might be interested in) and has absolutely nothing to do with other characteristics such as its size or weight or megafarads inside, which was a possible interpretation of the post I was referencing.

 

[Pfca]

I bought a Topping Mini 300 amp based on this ASR review to listen to my music while my amp was in the shop. This Topping 300 amp is really amazing. I'm using balanced connectors from a Topping D50iii DAC. Further upstream is a WiiM Pro Plus being fed from a Logitech Music Server and Chromecast. The amp is pushing Tannoy Glenair 15 speakers (95db @ 1 meter). The Topping 300, Topping D50iii, the LMS, and the WiiM make me seriously question the money I've spent on much "higher end" gear in the past.

 

[Roland68]

Well not quite. In the fosi V3 mono asr review we can read this
View attachment 510469
Short term power ratings.

Obviously there are amps which can push these types of ratings for much longer periods of time.

The V3 Mono is a TPA3255 in a mono PBTL configuration with a 480-watt power supply, while the Mini 300 is a TPA3251 in a stereo BTL configuration with a 152-watt power supply (76 watts per channel).

This is a world of difference in terms of power output and not even remotely comparable.
Furthermore, these two ICs are in completely different power classes.

 

[Bleib]

The V3 Mono is a TPA3255 in a mono PBTL configuration with a 480-watt power supply, while the Mini 300 is a TPA3251 in a stereo BTL configuration with a 152-watt power supply (76 watts per channel).

This is a world of difference in terms of power output and not even remotely comparable.
Furthermore, these two ICs are in completely different power classes.

That's not the point. Neither of them are continues power monsters
For that there are better options, but obvious cost increases

 

[fwwwk]

Yes, but the observation was made BELOW minimum gain/input sensitivity so the power was there to use.

 

[renaudrenaud]

I bought a Topping Mini 300 amp based on this ASR review to listen to my music while my amp was in the shop. This Topping 300 amp is really amazing. I'm using balanced connectors from a Topping D50iii DAC. Further upstream is a WiiM Pro Plus being fed from a Logitech Music Server and Chromecast. The amp is pushing Tannoy Glenair 15 speakers (95db @ 1 meter). The Topping 300, Topping D50iii, the LMS, and the WiiM make me seriously question the money I've spent on much "higher end" gear in the past.

I use LMS since near 20 years. And I build my own players (Orange Pi Zero 2) for around 15€. I build some boxes with lego bricks or sometime I print.

 

[Rmjesty]

Just picked one up to drive my KEF Q Concerto Meta (85dB sensitivity @ 4Ω). It hits peaks of at least 102dB SPL easily—it's absolutely deafening. Aesthetically, it fits right in, and I’d wager it could drive the R3 Meta without breaking a sweat. I was impressed enough that I ordered a batch more, so now I can run identical amplification for my surrounds and height channels.