Topping Mini 300 Amplifier Review

[DavidMcRoy]

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Not an issue now nor will it be later.

I can’t find one online in North America.

 

[Steve Dallas]

I just ordered one of these for my office to replace an unbalanced Peachtree. The current setup is a MOTU M4 -> Peachtree Nova 300 -> KEF R3, and I have the dreaded GPU whine when anything animated is happening on the screen. The idea is to go fully balanced to see if that resolves it. (I have already tried USB ground loop devices to no avail.) In any case, I will report my thoughts once I have used it for a while. I don't think I have ever owned an amp with SINAD > 85. I do not expect to hear a difference other than [hopefully] GPU noise.

 

[Luvchampagne]

I just ordered one of these for my office to replace an unbalanced Peachtree. The current setup is a MOTU M4 -> Peachtree Nova 300 -> KEF R3, and I have the dreaded GPU whine when anything animated is happening on the screen. The idea is to go fully balanced to see if that resolves it. (I have already tried USB ground loop devices to no avail.) In any case, I will report my thoughts once I have used it for a while. I don't think I have ever owned an amp with SINAD > 85. I do not expect to hear a difference other than [hopefully] GPU noise.

I like mine. Perfect for office use. I'm thinking of using it in an active setup for the tweeters..BTW, on sale at Amazon for $123 and just saw a used one for $99.

 

[magreen]

I just ordered one of these for my office to replace an unbalanced Peachtree. The current setup is a MOTU M4 -> Peachtree Nova 300 -> KEF R3, and I have the dreaded GPU whine when anything animated is happening on the screen. The idea is to go fully balanced to see if that resolves it. (I have already tried USB ground loop devices to no avail.) In any case, I will report my thoughts once I have used it for a while. I don't think I have ever owned an amp with SINAD > 85. I do not expect to hear a difference other than [hopefully] GPU noise.

I hope the balanced connections solve your GPU noise issue. But I have my doubts that the RCA cables are what's picking up the GPU noise. More likely a poor USB implementation on the Motu. I have an unbalanced DAC that made terrible noise when connected directly to USB on my desktop computer. I solved it completely by buying an inexpensive DDC, and connecting DDC to DAC over optical, which provided galvanic isolation.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I just ordered one of these for my office to replace an unbalanced Peachtree. The current setup is a MOTU M4 -> Peachtree Nova 300 -> KEF R3, and I have the dreaded GPU whine when anything animated is happening on the screen. The idea is to go fully balanced to see if that resolves it. (I have already tried USB ground loop devices to no avail.) In any case, I will report my thoughts once I have used it for a while. I don't think I have ever owned an amp with SINAD > 85. I do not expect to hear a difference other than [hopefully] GPU noise.

I wish an audio manufacturer looking to tap into a 'retro' vibe would go beyond adding VU meters and offer the option of a 'processor loop' that can be bypassed via remote control - like that found on the Peachtree Audio Nova 150/300 series of integrated amplifiers.

 

[Steve Dallas]

I hope the balanced connections solve your GPU noise issue. But I have my doubts that the RCA cables are what's picking up the GPU noise. More likely a poor USB implementation on the Motu. I have an unbalanced DAC that made terrible noise when connected directly to USB on my desktop computer. I solved it completely by buying an inexpensive DDC, and connecting DDC to DAC over optical, which provided galvanic isolation.

I also have my doubts. An IFI Defender+ made no difference in this case. However, I also have a Schitt Modius, and while the whine is still there, it is much quieter which points toward the USB implementation.

If it doesn't work, I can use it elsewhere, and it was only $99 on a Prime Day sale.

 

[Plcamp]

The mini300 looks like it should be suitable to drive a Rosso65cdnt compression driver on a 600 hz horn…but how can I know that its noise and distortion levels are good at levels from tens of mV up to maybe 1watt?

Seems nobody makes low noise audio amps specifically designed for ultra high efficiency drivers needing 1 watt or less in a home HiFi environment.

 

[Power Pop 23]

The mini300 looks like it should be suitable to drive a Rosso65cdnt compression driver on a 600 hz horn…but how can I know that its noise and distortion levels are good at levels from tens of mV up to maybe 1watt?

Seems nobody makes low noise audio amps specifically designed for ultra high efficiency drivers needing 1 watt or less in a home HiFi environment.

I am unfamiliar with the size of the market for your use case.

Consider trying out a Topping Audio Mini 300 using a 30-day return policy like that offered by products fulfilled by Amazon Canada.

Topping Mini 300 Compact Desktop Power Amplifier - Fully-Balanced Class-D Amp, TRS/RCA Input, 12V Trigger, Ultra-Low Distortion, Zero-Noise Safe and Reliable (White) : Amazon.ca: Electronics

Topping Mini 300 Compact Desktop Power Amplifier - Fully-Balanced Class-D Amp, TRS/RCA Input, 12V Trigger, Ultra-Low Distortion, Zero-Noise Safe and Reliable (White) : Amazon.ca: Electronics

www.amazon.ca

 

[Plcamp]

I am unfamiliar with the size of the market for your use case.

Consider trying out a Topping Audio Mini 300 using a 30-day return policy like that offered by products fulfilled by Amazon Canada.

Topping Mini 300 Compact Desktop Power Amplifier - Fully-Balanced Class-D Amp, TRS/RCA Input, 12V Trigger, Ultra-Low Distortion, Zero-Noise Safe and Reliable (White) : Amazon.ca: Electronics

Topping Mini 300 Compact Desktop Power Amplifier - Fully-Balanced Class-D Amp, TRS/RCA Input, 12V Trigger, Ultra-Low Distortion, Zero-Noise Safe and Reliable (White) : Amazon.ca: Electronics

www.amazon.ca

I am considering exactly that.

I would have guessed that the use case of a high frequency horn is quite common…but I suppose of those who might use it, most just employ a passive post amp crossover.

Maybe that’s what I should do.

 

[Tell]

The mini300 looks like it should be suitable to drive a Rosso65cdnt compression driver on a 600 hz horn…but how can I know that its noise and distortion levels are good at levels from tens of mV up to maybe 1watt?

Seems nobody makes low noise audio amps specifically designed for ultra high efficiency drivers needing 1 watt or less in a home HiFi environment.

Sure my bookshelfs (~88dB) ain't as efficient as a CD, but I find the Topping extremely quiet. With my MiniDSP2x4HD I do hear some slight noise 1dm from my tweeters, and I remember my PCM5102 DAC being even quieter. So yeah, I'm planning on using the Mini300 with a CD in the future and I don't see why it shouldn't work

 

[Luvchampagne]

Sure my bookshelfs (~88dB) ain't as efficient as a CD, but I find the Topping extremely quiet. With my MiniDSP2x4HD I do hear some slight noise 1dm from my tweeters, and I remember my PCM5102 DAC being even quieter. So yeah, I'm planning on using the Mini300 with a CD in the future and I don't see why it shouldn't work

Imho your weak link is the Minidsp 2x4hd by lots, not a little. In all likelihood the noise is from the Minidsp not the mini 300. Have you swapped out the Minidsp to verify that?

 

[staticV3]

how can I know that its noise and distortion levels are good at levels from tens of mV up to maybe 1watt?

By reading the review

 

[Tell]

Imho your weak link is the Minidsp 2x4hd by lots, not a little. In all likelihood the noise is from the Minidsp not the mini 300. Have you swapped out the Minidsp to verify that?

Yeah exactly, that was my point. I have a PCM5102 into a Raspberry Pico running DPSi as well (still not finished building it though so have only tried it a couple of times) and that is quieter. But the MiniDSP ain't too bad, it's not really a problem, so that mean the Topping is even less of a problem

 

[Roland68]

The mini300 looks like it should be suitable to drive a Rosso65cdnt compression driver on a 600 hz horn…but how can I know that its noise and distortion levels are good at levels from tens of mV up to maybe 1watt?

Seems nobody makes low noise audio amps specifically designed for ultra high efficiency drivers needing 1 watt or less in a home HiFi environment.

This is not a new topic, and I have raised it several times before—including here—but there doesn't seem to be much interest or demand for it. Besides, it is a very small niche market.

 

[Bleib]

Isn't b100 even more suitable for that?

 

[Roland68]

Isn't b100 even more suitable for that?

In fact, the readings in that range are better; however, it is also more than four times as expensive as the Mini 300, and the issues with impedance and failures do not appear to have been permanently resolved yet.

 

[Luvchampagne]

Amazon selling used for 99. Incredible value

 

[terminus12]

Hi. Does anyone have a link to that B100 for 99 on Amazon? I can't find it. Was it about a used Mini 300?

 

[Bleib]

Hi. Does anyone have a link to that B100 for 99 on Amazon? I can't find it. Was it about a used Mini 300?

Not b100, mini300

 

[terminus12]

Hahaha, sorry. I misunderstood and was frantically looking for a B100 at that price