Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[tvrgeek]

This explanation seems reasonable to me for an amp with balanced input:

"Yes, there is a bit of "cheating" going on in the form of low gain of 19 dB. Benchmark AHB2 which landed on top used the same. In practice, this is not a problem at all since max power was achieved at 2.5 volt which is well within the 4 volt range of balanced DACs."

To complicate things Hafler set their gain for rated power @ 1.57 volts.

 

[mocenigo]

I noticed the remote to the D30pro to be week and have to be direct line of sight. Could not bounce off ceiling. Choice for battery life I assume.

No, crappy receiver in the DAC, same as for the D90.

 

[majere_audio]

for those of you who own the PA5 - are you using Input 1 or 2? I have to connect using XLR to TRS from the DAC, but did not see anything in their manual about Input 1 vs. 2 - they both the same?

 

[JeffGB]

I just received my PA5 this morning. I'm just listening to it now. Very nice. The gain is just right for my desktop (windows 10 PC > Audient ID14 MkII > Topping PA5 > JBL a130). I was using the Aiyma a07 but the gain was too high making it necessary to cut my DAC's level a great deal. With the Topping, I'm able to set my DAC to full output and use the analog volume control.

I believe it made the trip across Canada in a truck, during a major cold snap. In other words, it has been near cryogenically treated for even better sound! I'm a bit worried that it may be too cool-sounding now. Oh well, next summer will bring another heatwave to fix it .

Seriously though, it really sounds clean and everything works as it should. This is my first purchase from Topping and I can say that I am impressed. It seems a perfect fit for desktop use where more power, size, and heat are a huge downside. The gain is perfect for use with a good balanced DAC. There is one question a user must ask oneself before purchase is whether or not you will have sufficient gain if you use a speaker that requires a lot of EQ. If you require a large gain reduction for correcting a dip in response, you need to subtract that from what you expect for maximum volume. I have lots of gain when using -3db with equalizerAPO.

 

[JeffGB]

for those of you who own the PA5 - are you using Input 1 or 2? I have to connect using XLR to TRS from the DAC, but did not see anything in their manual about Input 1 vs. 2 - they both the same?

I'm using input 1 but they are both the same. I'll be connecting a second DAC to input 2 for comparisons.

 

[majere_audio]

I'm using input 1 but they are both the same. I'll be connecting a second DAC to input 2 for comparisons.

thank you!

 

[D700]

Fixed it

 

[Redheart]

No

Think of it this way. You try two cars. Both have 200HP engines (same power right?)

But the mechanics of the accelerator pedal are different. On one you get full power when you half press the accelerator - beyond that you get no extra power, on the other you have to press the pedal to the floor to get full power.

Is one underpowered compared to the other?

Think of your input volts into the amp as being like the accelerator position.

Bear in mind one amp has RCA inputs which are only designed to accept a maximum of two volts. The other has balanced connectors designed to accept 4 volts.

I would correct the métaphore : one car engine get full power when you half press the accelerator, the other one you have to stop the car, open the hood, apply digital gain without clipping. Close the hood, and then you can enjoy the ride. Frankly, if you can drive your speaker to ear splitting levels with PA5, you are either delusional or driving 100db sensitive speakers! Sorry guys, I am so fed up by dude saying it is not possible this amp is underpowered and or under gaine. Peace out!

 

[Klint]

I would correct the métaphore : one car engine get full power when you half press the accelerator, the other one you have to stop the car, open the hood, apply digital gain without clipping. Close the hood, and then you can enjoy the ride. Frankly, if you can drive your speaker to ear splitting levels with PA5, you are either delusional or driving 100db sensitive speakers! Sorry guys, I am so fed up by dude saying it is not possible this amp is underpowered and or under gaine. Peace out!

A couple of months ago I had Magnepan MG3.7i, 86db and a power amplifier measuring 1680w at 1ohm. PA5 would be useless. Now i have a 98dB speaker. PA5 is a monster. After a long day of listening and as a grand finale with metal and punk, PA5 is niiice.

 

[MarkWinston]

I would correct the métaphore : one car engine get full power when you half press the accelerator, the other one you have to stop the car, open the hood, apply digital gain without clipping. Close the hood, and then you can enjoy the ride. Frankly, if you can drive your speaker to ear splitting levels with PA5, you are either delusional or driving 100db sensitive speakers! Sorry guys, I am so fed up by dude saying it is not possible this amp is underpowered and or under gaine. Peace out!

and you can keep getting fed up. It is NOT POSSIBLE that the PA5 is under powered compared to the A07 as mentioned. That is the topic being discussed here, nothing more nothing less

 

[Rottmannash]

A couple of months ago I had Magnepan MG3.7i, 86db and a power amplifier measuring 1680w at 1ohm. PA5 would be useless. Now i have a 98dB speaker. PA5 is a monster. After a long day of listening and as a grand finale with metal and punk, PA5 is niiice.

Are those 2 center channel speakers side by side under the tv?

 

[Kitarist]

I'm more curious how does Topping PA5 perform against SMSL AO200 and similar amps in terms of soundstage as Class D amps are known to have much smaller soundstage.

 

[antcollinet]

I would correct the métaphore : one car engine get full power when you half press the accelerator, the other one you have to stop the car, open the hood, apply digital gain without clipping. Close the hood, and then you can enjoy the ride. Frankly, if you can drive your speaker to ear splitting levels with PA5, you are either delusional or driving 100db sensitive speakers! Sorry guys, I am so fed up by dude saying it is not possible this amp is underpowered and or under gaine. Peace out!

Compared with the A07 - which is what the discussion was about - it is the same power.

If it hasn't enough power for your application then fine - unless you are underdriving the inputs by only sending 2V from an unbalanced connection to a balanced input that expects 4V. Then you are misapplying the amp.

 

[antcollinet]

I'm more curious how does Topping PA5 perform against SMSL AO200 and similar amps in terms of soundstage as Class D amps are known to have much smaller soundstage.

Really? What characteristic of Class D do you think impacts the soundstage? Why do you think that?

 

[0bs3rv3r]

Class D amps are known to have much smaller soundstage.

Where is THAT known???

 

[Klint]

Are those 2 center channel speakers side by side under the tv?

They are.

 

[MarkWinston]

I'm more curious how does Topping PA5 perform against SMSL AO200 and similar amps in terms of soundstage as Class D amps are known to have much smaller soundstage.

Ive written about a direct comparison to the DA9 a couple of pages back

 

[Redheart]

and you can keep getting fed up. It is NOT POSSIBLE that the PA5 is under powered compared to the A07 as mentioned. That is the topic being discussed here, nothing more nothing less

Not about the A07 at all in my complain. PA05 in itself is OK as a desktop amp. But not for living room.

 

[Redheart]

Dony care about the

Compared with the A07 - which is what the discussion was about - it is the same power.

If it hasn't enough power for your application then fine - unless you are underdriving the inputs by only sending 2V from an unbalanced connection to a balanced input that expects 4V. Then you are misapplying the amp.

Compared with the A07 - which is what the discussion was about - it is the same power.

If it hasn't enough power for your application then fine - unless you are underdriving the inputs by only sending 2V from an unbalanced connection to a balanced input that expects 4V. Then you are misapplying the amp.

Hey did i mentioned A07?

 

[antcollinet]

Dony care about the




Hey did i mentioned A07?

No you didn't mention it. But my post that you replied to (and contradicted) was specifically a reply to a conversation talking about two amps with aprox the same power, the PA5 and the A07.