• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

The best thing to do is run the E50 in fixed output mode and feed a balanced 4V to the PA5.
It may overload the input on the PA5 in this way, as its input is 2.6V for maximum power and this can cause distortion.
 
It may overload the input on the PA5 in this way, as its input is 2.6V for maximum power and this can cause distortion.
Nah, it's intended to partner with the E50 which has a 4.2 volt balanced output:

 
Nah, it's intended to partner with the E50 which has a 4.2 volt balanced output:

True. Doesn't change the fact that the PA5 starts clipping at 2.01Vrms input under 4Ω load and at 2.16Vrms under 8Ω load.
 
But that's presumably with the volume set to maximum on the PA5, no?
Yes! That's according to Amir's THD+N vs Power graphs which are measured at max volume I believe.
Thank you for the correction.
 
Hi there,
I have a simple question. I ordered a PA5 and an E50. Not yet arrived, but once hooked up together should I run the E50 in preamp-mode and dial it down so the PA5 gets an input maximum of 2.5 volt (and not 4 volt) input? Does that matter?

I would personally use the digital volume control in the E50. The E50 and the PA5 are both exceptionally low noise and the PA5 is low gain. Digital volume control avoids channel mismatch at low volumes that you might get from the PA5 volume control. You also have a better indication of volume from across the room and remote control.

A good rule of thumb is if you don't hear any noise from your listening position when not playing anything you can safely use digital volume control as your ambient noise floor is higher than your system noise floor. With a PA5 + E50 you should be looking at ~55 uV residual noise at your speaker terminals which is extremely low.

Michael
 
I haven't seen any specs / measurements on what the input can handle, it is certainly possible that 4 V from a DAC will clip the input given they list an input sensitivity of 2.6 V.

Michael
It's a balanced input. Balanced inputs are normally rated at 4V minimum. The PA5 doesn't clip with a 4V input according to my oscilloscope trace.
 
It doesn't really matter. The PA5 has a volume control that limits the voltage going to it. If you just set your DAC to full output and adjust the volume with the PA5 it will be fine. If you use EqualizerAPO, like many do, you will probably lose a few DB in which case a DAC that outputs only 2.6v maximum at 0DB will not drive the PA5 to full power.
 
Ok, the question wasn't that simple then. Now I'll just have to wait my parcel.
Thanks to everybody for answering.
 
Question: To use it as a poweramp only what's the best volume setting I can leave it at without introducing distortion/clipping? Plan is to use it with E30 (Pure music) and my Marantz AVR for home cinema. Thanks...
 
Question: To use it as a poweramp only what's the best volume setting I can leave it at without introducing distortion/clipping? Plan is to use it with E30 (Pure music) and my Marantz AVR for home cinema. Thanks...
Inbound_Marketing_Goes_To_11.jpg

Joking aside, just turn it all the way up and control volume like you normally would.
 
So the PA5 is so good that people cannot hear any difference anymore, and are trying to justify their multi-thousand-dollar amps by throwing up electronic tests that have not been proven to matter sonically.



Cool~
Yeah
It so good that my friend prefers his cheapo class AB amp not no mention class A he also owns and regrets buying PA5
 
what are complaints about PA5? What preamp is he using?
No preamp, topping d90 dac, he said very little, the point is he do not like it and wants to borrow it to me for my judgment. He bought XLR-TRS cables so it was optimal connection.
 
No preamp, topping d90 dac, he said very little, the point is he do not like it and wants to borrow it to me for my judgment. He bought XLR-TRS cables so it was optimal connection.
Ok then we are waiting for your complaints.

Not sure if i like these Topping cables, they are silver-coated, whereas i prefer pure copper for interconnects.
 
Inbound_Marketing_Goes_To_11.jpg

Joking aside, just turn it all the way up and control volume like you normally would.
So as long as my input voltage stays around 2Vrms I need not worry about the clipping or distortion, correct?
 
Yeah
It so good that my friend prefers his cheapo class AB amp not no mention class A he also owns and regrets buying PA5

Noted.
It's entirely possible his 'cheapo class AB' amp is not as neutral as the PA5. Maybe his amp gives slight boosts to mids or low end, or he's playing it at a higher volume. From your description seems he's not measuring anything at all, so it's anybody's guess.

It's a very different problem than looking for specific tests to prove a more expensive amp is better than the PA5.
 
Ok then we are waiting for your complaints.

Not sure if i like these Topping cables, they are silver-coated, whereas i prefer pure copper for interconnects.
He bought custom made klotz copper cables, not topping... As fas as silvered copper chinese odin replicas are not bad ;-) Just tiny bit tremble emphasis but clean and spacious.
 
Back
Top Bottom