Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[BoredErica]

I only follow this thread occasionally, with what then 20W? The effect Amir has measured so, .que?

I do not understand this long thread about PA5. It is obviously a really good amplifier for its effect it can produce. Really affordable, that related to performance.Just thinking about features and lack of remote control is something that prevents a purchase. Otherwise, it's just buy and be happy.

If it has enough effect, you can check here:
(I know you researched it, see it more as a general tip)

How much power does an amplifier need with this type of range of dynamic music

Feel free to use this calculator. Add sensitivity to the speaker and then tell which effect you have chosen and why. Weigh in that you want some headroom. http://www.mh-audio.nl/Calculators/REAP.html You can select music from this list. Or something else, but in that case tell us how you...

audiosciencereview.com

What is the point of going around saying it's a 20w amp if you're not going to explain why?

This sentence is saying someone else is claiming this, not that I am. If you scroll up slightly you can see the original person who said pa5 is 20w amp. That person is tvrgeek. To figure out why Tvrgeek believes it's a 20w amp you have to ask him because I don't know.

 

[DanielT]

Ok, Single ended input, so it is still a really sweet 20W amp.

20W? Amir has measured the power here:

 

[Maciekw]

20W? Amir has measured the power here:

Amir probably measured power for a balanced signal. However, 20W may be the power for an unbalanced signal. Unless a bridge amplifier like the TPA 32XX is preceded by a differential amplifier, transformer, or other circuit feeding signal to both halves of the amplifier.

 

[AudioArchitech]

Can't wait to try, I ordered a PA5 and Orchard Audio Pecan Pi Streamer/Dac, should both arrive in a few days. Already built two Digiflex/Neutrik 1 foot XLR to TRS cables. Should be a great combo.

 

[DanielT]

Amir probably measured power for a balanced signal. However, 20W may be the power for an unbalanced signal. Unless a bridge amplifier like the TPA 32XX is preceded by a differential amplifier, transformer, or other circuit feeding signal to both halves of the amplifier.

Balanced or not,. Then Amir must describe how he did. I had actually started thinking about it. Not because I need it right away, but still. PA5 which takes care of everything over 80Hz could have worked for me but with 20W not a chance in hell that I would connect an amplifier with so little power in my main system. That is not enough.

Edit:
Also, PA5: US $ 349/20 = 17.45

Compare with:

Hypex NC400 DIY Amp, 225 W
"So putting aside labor, it's about USD $ 1,100. From outside, the unit looks very professional, without branding:"

USD $ 1,100 / 225 = 4.88

Review and Measurements of Hypex NC400 DIY Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of a DIY power amplifier based on Hypex NC400 amplifier modules. It was built and is on kind loan from a member. I asked him to list the parts and this is what he supplied: $980 Amp modules, SMPS, internal cables (AC, DC, and shielded input) with...

audiosciencereview.com

Okay not quite fair because the Hypex is a DIY, but still.

When I'm still into this with fixing .If you do not need so much power. NAD3020 and now I'm talking about the classic model. Full service and recap (if needed) on one. If now PA5 only has 20W then I would choose a NAD 3020 every day of the week. It also has more functions, more inputs, possibility with pre out.

Edit:
By the way, if you are young and can hear the really high frequencies then the choice between PA5 vs NAD3020 is also easy to make.
But think about this!The transformer in the NAD3020 can hum. I got annoyed at mine and tried to put rubber plasters between the chassis and the transformer, extra screws as well. It did not help. I got tired of the hum and then sold it (the buyer was aware of it before buying).
Apart from the highest frequencies regarding SINAD PA5 vs NAD3020, then NAD3020 does not have a chance against PA5, I think. However, when will it be audible (THD + noise)? Okay it was OT, some other time, in some other thread it can be addressed.

Edit 2. OT:
Buying old vintage, without being able to fix, service, recap and so on or have a friend who helps can be expensive, quite expensive, if you hand in the stuff to a professional repairman who charges per hour.

 

[AudioArchitech]

Where is all this 20W talk coming from? Please refer to Page 1 of this thread.

 

[DanielT]

Where is all this 20W talk coming from? Please refer to Page 1 of this thread.

Do not ask me, it's exactly the same thing I'm wondering.

Now I end up in the same situation as BoredErica (sorry for that BoredErica) when she thought I meant she had said this about 20W. I'm not saying that. I say the same thing as BoredErica:
"That person is tvrgeek. To figure out why Tvrgeek believes it's a 20w amp you have to ask him because I don't know."

 

[AudioArchitech]

You have an "Interesting" way of asking the same thing

 

[caught gesture]

Do not ask me, it's exactly the same thing I'm wondering.

Now I end up in the same situation as BoredErica when she thought I meant she had said this about 20W. I'm not saying that. I say the same thing as BoredErica:
"That person is tvrgeek. To figure out why Tvrgeek believes it's a 20w amp you have to ask him because I don't know."

But you are also saying it, “Also, PA5: US $ 349/20 = 17.45” from #3,105.

 

[DanielT]

But you are also saying it, “Also, PA5: US $ 349/20 = 17.45” from #3,105.

That was just a quick division. Just to make some kind of comparison.

In addition, it can be like this:

I will not buy PA5 (have amplifiers I am happy with), I was most curious but IF I were to buy it I would have really researched what applies regarding power and PA5 before buying.

 

[jmillar]

I guess that this would make many DACs the bottleneck in a system. Incredible performance for the price.

Also, it seems like 99% who are listening to music via stereo speakers could get this + a decent dac and then only wonder about which speakers to use.

Maybe we should inquire Amir to focus more on Speakers/Headphones from now on?

The race for competitively priced low noise high power audiophile class D amps is on! Remember the DAC flood. Expect similar creativity in audio amplifier offerings.

 

[caught gesture]

That was just a quick division. Just to make some kind of comparison.

In addition, it can be like this:

View attachment 178719

I will not buy PA5 (have amplifiers I am happy with), I was most curious but IF I were to buy it I would have really researched what applies regarding power and PA5 before buying.

I was pointing out that you divided by 20. Where does that number come from?

 

[DanielT]

I was pointing out that you divided by 20. Where does that number come from?

Because, see post # 3101 and onwards in the thread.

I'm not saying this with 20W.

Shooting the messenger - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Edit:
It's just one person's statement, Tvrgeek. It is :

Much Ado About Nothing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

(yes, I realize the irony of writing about it myself)

 

[KSTR]

The amp is 50W/8R, regardless whether driven signal-balanced or not as long as the input voltage is the same (again: that's the whole idea of a balanced input).

Only if the design were totally screwed (no internal re-balancing) it would be limited to 12.5W/8R when driven single-ended. I would not dare to assume that but it would be trivial to measure (only one of the output posts would be driven then, the other would remain at 0Vac).

 

[SaltyCDogg]

I do not understand this long thread about PA5

No idea! Perhaps like our Boris you can launch an investigation to uncover who is responsible

 

[DanielT]

No idea! Perhaps like our Boris you can launch an investigation to uncover who is responsible

I immediately start a thread about it. It will surely be 156 pages long ... A joke of course.
You understand what I mean. Like I said, it seems to be a good amplifier, for its power. At present I do not know what else more there is to say.

Twice as much power (with equally fine measurement data) and remote control, that Topping amplifier I look forward to.

 

[KSTR]

Twice as much power (with equally fine measurement data) and remote control, that Topping amplifier I look forward to

Twice the power gives only 1.4x technical loudness, and in actual perception it's just 1.25x (25%)
Doubled perceived loudness needs ~10x the amp power.

 

[DanielT]

Twice the power gives only 1.4x technical loudness, and in actual perception it's just 1.25x (25%)
Doubled perceived loudness needs ~10x the amp power.

Did not think about it. You can turn it around and have speakers with high sensitivity. In the picture, in each speaker, 25 pcs elements
The speaker element:
Peerless TC9FD18-08
Sensitivity, (2.83V / 1m): 84.6 dB

After that, you do not have to worry about how many W the amplifier needs to have.

Wesayso's speakers, which he himself writes about in this thread,#1358

Wilson Audio TuneTot Review (high-end bookshelf speaker)

That's a great Freudian slip. It provided a little comic relief in what is otherwise an overly comical thread. It is not a Freudian slip, just a language slip. I edited it. English is not my native language.

audiosciencereview.com

Peerless TC9FD18-08 | HiFiCompass

The THD measurements at voltage level 2.83 Volt were carried out with High Pass Filter "on" (2nd order Butterworth type, 80 Hz cutoff, HPF2-80) The THD measurements at voltage level 4 - 11.2 Volt were carried out with High Pass Filter "on" (2nd order Butterworth type, 150 Hz cutoff, HPF2-150)...

hificompass.com

 

[WonkyDonkey]

View attachment 176229

View attachment 176231

Michael

Thank you for these two charts. It's helped a decerabrate like me work out that I can split the balanced output of my NAD C658 into two PA5s and still have plenty of gain for my 96dB/W speakers.

Nice stuff and in the context if some of this thread, very high on the signal to noise ratio.

Cheers,

Russ

 

[antcollinet]

Amir probably measured power for a balanced signal. However, 20W may be the power for an unbalanced signal. Unless a bridge amplifier like the TPA 32XX is preceded by a differential amplifier, transformer, or other circuit feeding signal to both halves of the amplifier.

It isn't:

See my previous replies - eg:

Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

Sabaj A5 has 2 x RCA Inputs That looks very interesting, I'll await a review hopefully from Amir.

audiosciencereview.com