Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[Acerun]

Amir said at the conclusions : "Personally, I think 67 watts is not enough for home listening. Today's speakers have become smaller in size and shrunk in efficiency, needing fair bit of power to get them to produce proper dynamics."

Does above statement also apply to PA5 (8 Ohm speakers) ?

I could blow out my eardrums with 1 Watt into my Klipsch Hereseys...

 

[Acerun]

There are plenty of RCA to TRS cables. Try amazon. Many are under $20 usd.
You will not have a balanced line but no worries at all.

I see a lot of RCA to TS cables but not RCA to TRS cables. Do you mean RCA to TS is fine and don't need TRS for RCA output DAC to TRS of PA5?

 

[antcollinet]

THD+N vs input levelView attachment 185939

That's nice to see.

Basically input stage can accept any reasonable voltage. Clipping only occours (I assume - you don't state what the 3 volume positions are.) when the amp reaches maximum power output.

THD+N is best (as I'd expect) when the PA5 is set to maximum volume.

 

[qec]

I had no problem using RCA to TS however it is all comes down to voltage output levels from the DACs RCA connection.

 

[anotherhobby]

I see a lot of RCA to TS cables but not RCA to TRS cables. Do you mean RCA to TS is fine and don't need TRS for RCA output DAC to TRS of PA5?

I used these RCA to TS adapters on my PA5 for a few weeks until my balanced miniDSP Flex showed up, and they worked great.

 

[nagster]

I see a lot of RCA to TS cables but not RCA to TRS cables. Do you mean RCA to TS is fine and don't need TRS for RCA output DAC to TRS of PA5?

R1=Output Impedance. If you compromise, you may omit R1.
Sometimes P1 and P2 are connected if the situation is not ideal.

 

[nagster]

That's nice to see.

Basically input stage can accept any reasonable voltage. Clipping only occours (I assume - you don't state what the 3 volume positions are.) when the amp reaches maximum power output.

THD+N is best (as I'd expect) when the PA5 is set to maximum volume.

I couldn't enlarge the text on APx500. Enlarge the image.

 

[antcollinet]

I couldn't enlarge the text on APx500. Enlarge the image.

View attachment 185987

Thanks - I'll put my reading glasses on next time

 

[maudio]

Unless you have a massive room and listen at ear-splitting levels, the PA5 should have plenty of power.

thnx, naw, the room is bigger, but i listen on normal to more silent levels. more silent than at live chamber or jazz concert, which is not so good, because human ear perceives certain frequencies in non linear way so the music does not sound as intended by the producing engineer, but my ears like it "in a silent way".

 

[UAN]

THD+N vs input levelView attachment 185939

Badly...
That is, it is better not to use the PA5 volume control?

 

[jjmanda]

but my ears like it "in a silent way".

Nothing wrong with that as long as it doesn't make you feel "Kind Of Blue".

 

[nagster]

Badly...

There is no abnormality in the measurement result.

That is, it is better not to use the PA5 volume control?

There is no harm to signal quality.
Regarding noise, if the rated level signal output from the sound source is attenuated to the desired volume by PA5, the system noise will be minimized.
The same is true for other amplifiers.

 

[simplywyn]

Hi guys,

my KEF LS50 wireless speakers broke 1 month after the warranty expired.. I'm never buying active speakers again!
Just ordered their Q950 towers to get some more bass for home cinema.

Would this amplifier be powerful enough to get a good bass sound out of a tower?
Their specified sensitivity is 91dB (2.83V/1m).

I'm in love with my D90/A90 stack for headphone use, and this looks to be another gem from Topping.
Would be incredible to not have to repair the pot on my old 30kg 1993 Yamaha DSP A-1000, that monster doesn't even fit in my media console.

I have Buckeye's 500W amp for my Q950 and it's good, I just ordered the Topping PA5 and will try that today and let you know

 

[simplywyn]

Plugged the pa5 into my q950s, not bad at all.

can drive them no problems and beats the demon 600ne hands down, easily. I had the Denon and hated them. Way too underpowered.

However the 500w buckeye still beats it, feels very effortless in comparison but the pa5 can still stand on its own, especially in the bass regions

edit: after more listening, I’m conflicted, I’m liking the pa5 as it is crisper and more neutral

back to the buckeye, yeas it’s too clinical for me

 

[AudioArchitech]

How do toms and snares sound on PA5 vs NC500? Which sounds more natural?

 

[simplywyn]

PA5, very clinical, very crisp, good bass, NC500, sounds natural, veeeery powerful, effortless bass…

I’ll do more listening tomorrow, literally only had it for 20 minutes so far

listened some more, the problem is pa5 power limits.

there is honestly really no difference between the two amps. Pa5 feels a bit more clear.

what is really clear is the limited power from pa5.

 

[simplywyn]

To be clear though I bought these to power my future kev r3 desktop speakers …

my q950 are several ft away from me and are in my living room. The pa5 is thunderous but not as room filling as the buckeye

 

[MC_RME]

I couldn't enlarge the text on APx500.

Simply reduce the window size. The text will then proportionally become bigger.

 

[Nonick]

Has anyone tried connecting turntable to PA5 TRS input2?

I've got an AudioTechnica AT-LPW50PB turntable with switchable phono / line output:
Pre-amp "PHONO": 4.0 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec
Pre-amp "LINE": 200 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec

Possible to connect Turntable Line out RCA > TS adapter > PA5 input?

Or should i seek for Phonopreamp with Balanced output?

 

[antcollinet]

Has anyone tried connecting turntable to PA5 TRS input2?

I've got an AudioTechnica AT-LPW50PB turntable with switchable phono / line output:
Pre-amp "PHONO": 4.0 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec
Pre-amp "LINE": 200 mV nominal at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec

Possible to connect Turntable Line out RCA > TS adapter > PA5 input?

Or should i seek for Phonopreamp with Balanced output?

Yes, you can connected it, but with only 200mV out you are not going to be able to drive the PA5 to much power.

PA5 requires 2.6V for full power. 200mV is about 20db down, so less than 1% of the power. (actually 0.6%)