Topping PA5 II or PA5 Plus?

[Esprit]

A friend of mine wants to try the Topping amplifier, he has a pair of Tannoy Ardens:
is the PA5 II or the PA5 II Plus better?
Alternatives recommended by ASR?
Thank you.

 

[staticV3]

The Plus can play ~10% louder at 4Ω.

No difference with 8Ω speakers or in any other way.

 

[Esprit]

Thanks,
can he use it as a power amplifier with a preamp upstream?

 

[staticV3]

Thanks,
can he use it as a power amplifier with a preamp upstream?

Yes.

 

[Esprit]

Good evening,
What advantage, if there is an advantage, in using RCA -> TRS adapters in order to use the balanced Topping input with a preamp with only RCA outputs?
Thank you

 

[staticV3]

What advantage, if there is an advantage, in using RCA -> TRS adapters in order to use the balanced Topping input with a preamp with only RCA outputs?

With the right cable construction, doing RCA->TRS can get rid of mains hum and other ground loop related noises.

If you don't have any issues with RCA->RCA, then there'd be no advantage.

 

[Esprit]

I can't make a cable.
I found this:

https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-Keple-connettore-adattatore-convertitore/dp/B07J5B5Y64/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0_title?pd_rd_w=NFilC&content-id=amzn1.sym.57a351cf-ba07-47e8-b302-aa2aa1a3f209%3Aamzn1.symc.ca948091-a64d-450e-86d7-c161ca33337b&pf_rd_p=57a351cf-ba07-47e8-b302-aa2aa1a3f209&pf_rd_r=2GM5YJ0PNX10V5NNZ35P&pd_rd_wg=3zqGE&pd_rd_r=1f665f8f-aa90-41ea-aac3-ba52e9fa5fe1&pd_rd_i=B07J5B5Y64

 

[staticV3]

I can't make a cable.
I found this:

https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-Keple-connettore-adattatore-convertitore/dp/B07J5B5Y64/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0_title?pd_rd_w=NFilC&content-id=amzn1.sym.57a351cf-ba07-47e8-b302-aa2aa1a3f209%3Aamzn1.symc.ca948091-a64d-450e-86d7-c161ca33337b&pf_rd_p=57a351cf-ba07-47e8-b302-aa2aa1a3f209&pf_rd_r=2GM5YJ0PNX10V5NNZ35P&pd_rd_wg=3zqGE&pd_rd_r=1f665f8f-aa90-41ea-aac3-ba52e9fa5fe1&pd_rd_i=B07J5B5Y64

Using this adapter you'll get sound, but none of the advantages of balanced input.

 

[Esprit]

Not even the higher input impedance?
I don't think I will find an RCA - TRS cable that respects the instructions you posted, much less I am not able to make it nor would I know who to ask to make it for me...