Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[Holmz]

So I'm looking for a good 100 WPC amp to power some nearfield studio monitors, and I was looking for something like this that performed well, but ideally was more reliable.

I don't have the patience to read this entire thread, but is the jist of it that this amp's reliability is just crap?

RCAs or XLRs?
If you have RCAs then the AIYAMA A-07 is good at $70, and more power (like 300W) using a higher voltage power supply.

 

[Doodski]

AIYAMA A-07

Yeah it has some gumption if one buys the bigger power supply.

 

[Holmz]

Yeah it has some gumption if one buys the bigger power supply.
View attachment 231394

Exactly right @Doodski

Going to be using one for a centre channel, which is an 8 ohm speaker and says use 100-200W.
Wiring it up this weekend as the higher voltage SMPS arrived.

 

[Doodski]

Exactly right @Doodski

Going to be using one for a centre channel, which is an 8 ohm speaker and says use 100-200W.
Wiring it up this weekend as the higher voltage SMPS arrived.

From what I am aware of the AIYAMA A-07 has been chugging away doing it's duty while the Topping breaking down stuff has made nothing short of enemies. Topping with it's breaking down models is causing issues with my usual model choices when asked for recommendations. It's a pain in the butt.

 

[Ricardus]

RCAs or XLRs?
If you have RCAs then the AIYAMA A-07 is good at $70, and more power (like 300W) using a higher voltage power supply.

I can use either, but balanced would be first choice.

 

[Ricardus]

VTV works out to be ~$539 shipping unknown.
Ima check Buckeye Amps and see if he offers anything.
Offering the:

Hypex NC252MP for $579.00 shipping included I think it is.​

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

View attachment 231372

Oooh, I'm liking the Buckeye. Thanks!

 

[Doodski]

Oooh, I'm liking the Buckeye. Thanks!

Check out this part especially.>

Custom Input Board w/:

• Neutrik XLR connectors
• Gold plated 5-way speaker binding posts
• Clipping Indication
• Error Indication
• Soft-start
• Auto On/Off
• 12v trigger

 

[Doodski]

@Ricardus the pics and everything checks out very well. The layout, construction and stuff like that is exemplary. The amps have been tested here at ASR and engineering was done to improve stuff. They are simple plain jane but engineered properly and are functioning out in the field doing well.

 

[Ricardus]

@Ricardus the pics and everything checks out very well. The layout, construction and stuff like that is exemplary. The amps have been tested here at ASR and engineering was done to improve stuff. They are simple plain jane but engineered properly and are functioning out in the field doing well.

That's all I needed to hear!

 

[Doodski]

That's all I needed to hear!

For sure! The really cool, part is this. (All channels driven.)

NC252MP Specs (all channels driven):

• 180w per channel @ 2ohms
• 250w per channel @ 4ohms
• 150w per channel @ 8ohms

Case Dimensions: 7” wide x 13” deep x 3.5” high

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

 

[Holmz]

Exactly right @Doodski - I have some of the Hypex 500W jobs bridgeable. But at 8 ohms, we divide by 2, so it all goes away.
Kind of the opposite of an 8ohm amp that smokes with a 4 ohm load… but does 300W into 8 ohms.

 

[Doodski]

Exactly right @Doodski - I have some of the Hypex 500W jobs bridgeable. But at 8 ohms, we divide by 2, so it all goes away.
Kind of the opposite of an 8ohm amp that smokes with a 4 ohm load… but does 300W into 8 ohms.

I want to see a 1kHz sine thermal stability test of some decent class D amps. heat signatures, temp vs current metering and protection/shutdown all metered out for our viewing pleasure.

 

[Holmz]

I want to see a 1kHz sine thermal stability test of some decent class D amps. heat signatures, temp vs current metering and protection/shutdown all metered out for our viewing pleasure.

I am not employed byTopping, so I am disinclined to help them improve their product to the point it works without failing.
Sort of like I am disinclined to use a self check out,

And the market does not give me an employee discount, nor would Topping.

They can do their own work.
Plus everyone says labour costs in the US are too high… (as they go to Walmart or UPS to work). So it is cheaper for Topping to do it in China.

 

[Doodski]

I am not employed byTopping, so I am disinclined to help them improve their product to the point it works without failing.
Sort of like I am disinclined to use a self check out,

And the market does not give me an employee discount, nor would Topping.

They can do their own work.
Plus everyone says labour costs in the US are too high… (as they go to Walmart or UPS to work). So it is cheaper for Topping to do it in China.

I still want to see that....lol

 

[Holmz]

I still want to see that....lol

If FLIR cameras are made in China, then they’ll save $ on shipping.

 

[JeremyFife]

..... because ... ??

... because there seems to be a design flaw with the PA5. When they work - and many do - they are great. Some fail (loss of one channel) and it's a PITA to get them fixed. Ratio of failing units is unclear but many users here are concerned.

Key issue is Topping's silence on the root cause and whether new units are still affected or not. Until we know that the problem is solved it's a risk.
It's a nice amp, it's your choice
@TOPPING-Service

 

[antcollinet]

assuming the XLR version is actually balanced (vs just a built-in "adapter") why would you ever get the RCA version? You can just get an adapter for rca=>xlr but you can't go the other way without losing the benefit of XLR.

Of course if they're both the same price it's probably just a 'for show' XLR as a fully balanced system should cost more.

You don't get the benefit of XLR with an RCA to XLR adapter either. You only get the benefit of a balanced connection if it is balanced right the way through.

 

[iLoveCats]

So I'm looking for a good 100 WPC amp to power some nearfield studio monitors, and I was looking for something like this that performed well, but ideally was more reliable.

I don't have the patience to read this entire thread, but is the jist of it that this amp's reliability is just crap?

I'm probably buying another PA5 as I look upon my failed NAD M10, thats out of warranty. Faced with a $3000 replacement cost, I'm going to roll the dice on another Topping PA5 for $350 and a Chinese DAC.

 

[somebodyelse]

Yeah it has some gumption if one buys the bigger power supply.
View attachment 231394

Take those with a pinch of salt. That 300W figure is at 10% distortion, and the heatsinking isn't sufficient to maintain anywhere near that level. @pma found it hit thermal protection within a few minutes at 50W output.

 

[restorer-john]

I'm probably buying another PA5 as I look upon my failed NAD M10, thats out of warranty. Faced with a $3000 replacement cost, I'm going to roll the dice on another Topping PA5 for $350 and a Chinese DAC.

Why? Just stop p#ssing around and buy some proper HiFi. Get a decent Yamaha integrated with an onboard D/A and spare yourself a few decades of replacements.