Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

[Fabsen]

Sorry for the late reply.
So I did some measurements to check stuff and turns out it is my right Speaker, not the AMP.
Got fooled by my ears (+ maybe bias) and this proves again how important it is to measure.

Played both speakers and both position (so both channels tested and as you can see there is something wrong with the right speaker - if it is not sharp enough: you can see spikes with the speaker of 9/12 % for some areas)

 

[Falconer]

My cooling solution

 

[DVinylfan]

I love the sound of my Topping PA5 II.
It betters the 'legendary' Bryston 4B/NRB amplifier it replaces in every significant regard except perhaps ultimate bass slam, whatever that is.
I listen to my music in an apartment with 96 db floor standing speakers.
Should I ever require greater volume I'll possibly upgrade to the Topping PA7

 

[Panelhead]

I really like the bass control of the PA5 II. When first hooked up the sub level was too high. Had to lower the low pass and roll off the level.
Tried the La Scala’s II’s next without a sub, first time they almost had enough bottom end. Sounded and felt like it was reaching at least 10 Hz lower.
Above mid bass did not really notice much difference between it and a Micromega integrated.
True value product.

 

[immoso]

Hold your horses folks

 

[Guddu]

Hold your horses folksView attachment 471398

Cool….
But we all know 3e A7 A5 is available for less (whatever it’s price will be).

*meant to say A5

 

[Jazigo]

A switch to bypass the volume control is the only thing I can think of as an enhancement for the updated version. (Given that it stays on the same texas instrument ic)

 

[Bleib]

A switch to bypass the volume control is the only thing I can think of as an enhancement for the updated version. (Given that it stays on the same texas instrument ic)

No, this is easy. Copy ideas from TP RA3: R2R volume control (zero channel imbalance), display, remote and add a few more inputs. It's powerful enough for most, not just to be used on the desktop. Add direct buttons to AUX 1, 2 and 3 inputs for instance. Design wise a bit more thought on cooling for max longevity.

There's tons of potential around the chip.

 

[Julf]

R2R volume control (zero channel imbalance)

Wouldn't digital volume control be better?

 

[Bleib]

Wouldn't digital volume control be better?

Don't know but they already developed the R2R for TP3. Might as well use it. (although as some has said R2R volume adjustment is not cheap)

 

[Roland68]

Wouldn't digital volume control be better?

The relay-based volume control can be controlled digitally, although that's absolutely irrelevant.
But a true digital volume control would require an ADC and DAC, even if integrated into a single chip. In that case, a digital input would make more sense than an analog one, and you could even skip the DAC altogether.
Assuming, of course, that the TPA3251 remains.

 

[Fabsen]

A switch to bypass the volume control is the only thing I can think of as an enhancement for the updated version. (Given that it stays on the same texas instrument ic)

Unrealistic but some ideas:
- vol bypass
- clipping indicator
- Auto Sense (keeping trigger)
- 2 Ohm speaker load support
- XLR in addition to TRS
- gan psu or even box included power supply
- cooler temps

 

[mike70]

Wouldn't digital volume control be better?

i have a digital volume control in my digital preamp and a firmware upgrade in the preamp left it at full volume.
One of my tweeters blows out.

So, i'm thinking in add an analog volume control between the digital preamp and the amp ... that's maybe a response to your answer, it's not better if you need to repair your tweeter

 

[Ropeburn]

i have a digital volume control in my digital preamp and a firmware upgrade in the preamp left it at full volume.
One of my tweeters blows out.

So, i'm thinking in add an analog volume control between the digital preamp and the amp ... that's maybe a response to your answer, it's not better if you need to repair your tweeter

Cheapest option is passive monitor controllers. Convenient things like input and mono switching too.

 

[Solveit]

I just orderad one amp for $169.15 USD.
If it just for EU I don't know.
The orange man?

TOPPING PA5 II Speaker Amplifier

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.

shenzhenaudio.com

 

[mike70]

Cheapest option is passive monitor controllers. Convenient things like input and mono switching too.

Yes, I saw some Nobsound / Douk Audio ... a pitty there's no ASR review on them

 

[Jazigo]

Archimago tested the 3e Audio A5 with volume bypass, and it showed a lower THD+N.

I thought maybe this could benefit the PA5 as well.

 

[Julf]

Archimago tested the 3e Audio A5 with volume bypass, and it showed a lower THD+N.
View attachment 471663

I thought maybe this could benefit the PA5 as well.

To quote Archimago: "As you can see, the 32-bit digital volume attenuation at the same amplifier output levels resulted in lower distortion than controlling with the front volume knob. The differences are small though, indicating that 3e Audio has done a very good job with implementing the feature while minimizing fidelity impact. With -20dB attenuation, the 3.4dB difference is really quite a minimal change considering the amp is still achieving around -90dB/0.003% THD+N."

The difference is very small and unlikely to be audible, but confirms what many of us know but some people refuse to believe - that digital volume control, properly implemented, is superior to analog volume control.

A good discussion, from same source: Why We Should Use Software Volume Control / Management

 

[Jazigo]

To quote Archimago: "As you can see, the 32-bit digital volume attenuation at the same amplifier output levels resulted in lower distortion than controlling with the front volume knob. The differences are small though, indicating that 3e Audio has done a very good job with implementing the feature while minimizing fidelity impact. With -20dB attenuation, the 3.4dB difference is really quite a minimal change considering the amp is still achieving around -90dB/0.003% THD+N."

The difference is very small and unlikely to be audible, but confirms what many of us know but some people refuse to believe - that digital volume control, properly implemented, is superior to analog volume control.

A good discussion, from same source: Why We Should Use Software Volume Control / Management

I don't know if superior is the right word, but it certainly on par with analog. It also seems to be case-by-case dependent. This post here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...eview-balanced-dac.26219/page-61#post-1287051 shows that analog is better. Hard to tell without actual measurements it seems like.

 

[DVinylfan]

Revisiting this thread just to restate how great the PA5 II is working in my system, after replacing a broken 44 lb, $8K new version, 'Classic' 'Bass slam' etc... A/B amp..
Two inputs which is ideal for my vinyl/CD system, zero noise, I live in an apartment so distortion at higher levels isn't an issue with my 86dB efficiency speakers.
For the likes of me that's been in the hobby since the 1970's, the significance of the revolution in great sounding Class D amplifiers is hard to overstate.