Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

[Panelhead]

No. Distortion at 15 kHz is not audible - at any level - as the first distortion components are at 30 kHz.

Never considered distortion as only a multiple of the fundamental.

 

[Julf]

Never considered distortion as only a multiple of the fundamental.

Harmonic distortion (the "HD" in "THD") is just that - harmonics of the signal. Intermodulation distortion (IM) is a different story.

 

[JohnPM]

More technically correct would be for REW to just stop drawing the line at that point, but it looks like (at least at some point) @JohnPM decided to have it repeat the last valid measurement value until the end.

REW does stop drawing the graph when harmonics reach their bandwidth limit. That graph is from a stepped sine measurement, so the bandwidth limit depends on the sample rate used. The flat portions are very strange.

 

[Musictech77]

Hi. Iam interested in buying a nice amplifier for the Dali Oberon 5.I want it to offer natural and hi quality sound.I do not like harsh high mids and treble.
I also own the topping dx5ii and iam happy with it.

How is the p5ii compared in terms of sound with some nice amps of the past like denon 1080R or or yamaha dsp2070(I use it only as a power Amplifier.). Is it's sound on the same league? I haven't used a class d amp so I have some big questions about their sound
Is there any other amp in this price range that is as good as topping offering? What about the Topping mini 300?

The dx5ii dac can work also as a preamp, so a power amp suggestion is welcome.thanks.

 

[mike70]

A transistor amplifier with flat frequency response and inside their operational limits (no underpowered)... doesn't have "a sound" itself. And also doesn't matter the Class, flat frequency response is... flat frequency response (in class A, B, D,.. Z)

So, forget about any audiophile mantra here, the only truth is science, not marketing.

 

[antcollinet]

Hi. Iam interested in buying a nice amplifier for the Dali Oberon 5.I want it to offer natural and hi quality sound.I do not like harsh high mids and treble.
I also own the topping dx5ii and iam happy with it.

How is the p5ii compared in terms of sound with some nice amps of the past like denon 1080R or or yamaha dsp2070(I use it only as a power Amplifier.). Is it's sound on the same league? I haven't used a class d amp so I have some big questions about their sound
Is there any other amp in this price range that is as good as topping offering? What about the Topping mini 300?

The dx5ii dac can work also as a preamp, so a power amp suggestion is welcome.thanks.

Put more simply. The PA5II will sound fine as long as you operate it within it's power limits. It will sound just the same any other well performing amplifier operated within it's power limits.

 

[Musictech77]

Put more simply. The PA5II will sound fine as long as you operate it within it's power limits. It will sound just the same any other well performing amplifier operated within it's power limi

Put more simply. The PA5II will sound fine as long as you operate it within it's power limits. It will sound just the same any other well performing amplifier operated within it's power limits.

Ok.Which are it's power limits? Don't you think that class d amps do not sound the same as class A and class AB?

Has anyone any idea how it sounds compared to a Denon 1080R?

Sorry, but a frequency response is not only what defines the sound of an audio equipment. Many mics, speakers etc have similar response and the sound is much different not due to the freq response but due to other characteristics that define the character of them.

So, Iam just trying to figure out if the PA5ii can give me a nice, natural, musical and pleasing sound in the way some nice amps like the Denon, can offer. Of course I do not find that Denon is perfect. Do you think that topping amp could be better?

 

[mike70]

Ok.Which are it's power limits? Don't you think that class d amps do not sound the same as class A and class AB?

Has anyone any idea how it sounds compared to a Denon 1080R?

Sorry, but a frequency response is not only what defines the sound of an audio equipment. Many mics, speakers etc have similar response and the sound is much different not due to the freq response but due to other characteristics that define the character of them.

So, Iam just trying to figure out if the PA5ii can give me a nice, natural, musical and pleasing sound in the way some nice amps like the Denon, can offer. Of course I do not find that Denon is perfect. Do you think that topping amp could be better?

I think you have a lot to read ... because you don't understand / believe what science says.
Or, you can ask in subjective forums, surely they will answer you if the Denon is more "natural" or not.

Many things can be said, but, the short and concise answer was given already. It's in you now... take it as it is, investigate more or believe in subjectivity.

 

[Jiraya369]

Ok.Which are it's power limits? Don't you think that class d amps do not sound the same as class A and class AB?

Has anyone any idea how it sounds compared to a Denon 1080R?

Sorry, but a frequency response is not only what defines the sound of an audio equipment. Many mics, speakers etc have similar response and the sound is much different not due to the freq response but due to other characteristics that define the character of them.

So, Iam just trying to figure out if the PA5ii can give me a nice, natural, musical and pleasing sound in the way some nice amps like the Denon, can offer. Of course I do not find that Denon is perfect. Do you think that topping amp could be better?

yeah, frequency response by itself wont mean anything if there is a lack of power and/or distortion, but that's pretty much it. you can measure the other factors and come to a better conclusion. If you cant measure the sound quality metric at all then it most likely is just not real.

The pa5 ii is a transparent amp, it takes the sound from A to B. Whatever your speaker produces, within the power limits of the amp, the amp will power it. That means, as long as you dont play it too loud, the pa5 ii is just playing exactly what your speaker is made to produce. If you dont like the output, it could be 1 of 2 things :

1.) not enough power, meaning you want it to go louder
2.) you dont like the response of your speakers

either get a more powerful amp OR get a better pair of speakers. The PA5 II is kind of obsolete now cus the Mini300 is the same but cheaper, i'd suggest you to look into that.

 

[Musictech77]

I think you have a lot to read ... because you don't understand / believe what science says.
Or, you can ask in subjective forums, surely they will answer you if the Denon is more "natural" or not.

Many things can be said, but, the short and concise answer was given already. It's in you now... take it as it is, investigate more or believe in subjectivity.

So,what science says if we compare the specs of Denon and Topping?
I did a simple question and you do not give a specific answer. You like to tell me that "I have a lot to read cause I do not understand... '' though..
Ok, you know more than me. Ok now?(iam wondering if you can hear more details and things than me though..) So I d like a more specific answer please instead of giving me advices like "... It's in you now... take it as it is, investigate more or believe in subjectivity.".
Is it here a place for such advices and generic theories without specific answers?

 

[KL....]

Ok.Which are it's power limits? Don't you think that class d amps do not sound the same as class A and class AB?

Has anyone any idea how it sounds compared to a Denon 1080R?

Sorry, but a frequency response is not only what defines the sound of an audio equipment. Many mics, speakers etc have similar response and the sound is much different not due to the freq response but due to other characteristics that define the character of them.

So, Iam just trying to figure out if the PA5ii can give me a nice, natural, musical and pleasing sound in the way some nice amps like the Denon, can offer. Of course I do not find that Denon is perfect. Do you think that topping amp could be better?

Thank you, @Musictech77, what Speakers are you useing with the Denon 1080R and are you intending the use these Speakers with the Topping PA5ii?

 

[Musictech77]

Thank you, @Musictech77, what Speakers are you useing with the Denon 1080R and are you intending the use these Speakers with the Topping PA5ii?

I have the Dali Oberon 5. My dac is the topping dx5ii.
I also use and (finally after some more auditions..) prefer the Yamaha dsp A2070 used as a power amp. It has that function. I bought Denon pma1080r few days ago but I find the combination of dx5ii as a preamp+dsp A2070 better than Denon.
So.. I was wondering if an amp like PA5II or mini 300 can give me better results than those amps I own. I also tried marantz Pm68 which I didn't like.
Thanks!

 

[mike70]

So,what science says if we compare the specs of Denon and Topping?
I did a simple question and you do not give a specific answer. You like to tell me that "I have a lot to read cause I do not understand... '' though..
Ok, you know more than me. Ok now?(iam wondering if you can hear more details and things than me though..) So I d like a more specific answer please instead of giving me advices like "... It's in you now... take it as it is, investigate more or believe in subjectivity.".
Is it here a place for such advices and generic theories without specific answers?

When you stop with this thread, and you get the answer you want... please, read again what I wrote. (if you care, obviously)

 

[Julf]

So,what science says if we compare the specs of Denon and Topping?

Let me try to spell it out again. Modern amps, if designed to be transparent and accurate, sound exactly the same when operated within their design envelope. Of course there are lots of gear out there that is designed to have coloration and/or distortion to give them a specific sound that some people might find pleasing. Amplifier operating class doesn't matter. Frequency response is not the only thing that is measured.

 

[Jazigo]

Do you think that topping amp could be better?

PA5 II (class D) vs B100 (class B) - the best amp measured on this forum. There are no significant differences. In other words, the PA5 II will be super good.

Went from 1,5mm² to 8mm² speaker cables (green line):

In other words: a 10$ cable made more of a difference than two monoblocks of the best amplifier (800$).

 

[Musictech77]

When you stop with this thread, and you get the answer you want... please, read again what I wrote. (if you care, obviously)

Why do you speak in this way, like a wise old man, without actually saying anything helpful, with a tendency to belittle your interlocutor?

 

[Musictech77]

Let me try to spell it out again. Modern amps, if designed to be transparent and accurate, sound exactly the same when operated within their design envelope. Of course there are lots of gear out there that is designed to have coloration and/or distortion to give them a specific sound that some people might find pleasing. Amplifier operating class doesn't matter. Frequency response is not the only thing that is measured.

I know that this amp measures really well but I do not know in practice which is the design envelope of this amp. It seems (from the specs) that it ll perform better than denon, but finally it is important the matching between amp and the speaker...
I do not like "coloured" sound, so I guess that the PA5II ll be a nice choice..
Do you find that mini300 is on the same league? Can it deliver the same sound and power in the bass as PA5II?

 

[Julf]

I know that this amp measures really well but I do not know in practice which is the design envelope of this amp. It seems (from the specs) that it ll perform better than denon, but finally it is important the matching between amp and the speaker...

Most modern solid state amps can drive most speakers without any problem. There are a few speakers with very low impedance at some frequencies - they are a special case. "Matching" is a mostly meaningless audiophile term.

Do you find that mini300 is on the same league? Can it deliver the same sound and power in the bass as PA5II?

I don't have any experience with the mini300. Compare output power and impedance - that is where there are differences.

 

[Mnyb]

Harmonic distortion (the "HD" in "THD") is just that - harmonics of the signal. Intermodulation distortion (IM) is a different story.

Thats why there is an IM test done the 19k and 20k graph and the multitone

 

[Julf]

Thats why there is an IM test done the 19k and 20k graph and the multitone

Indeed.