Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[Eldus]

My PA5 had some noise in one channel. The metal cover between the jack and the wire on one of the TRS cables was loose. I screwed it back in all the way and the noise left.

 

[JimFarrell29]

I just buy some filtering products here's another pictureView attachment 366168

The fact the noise goes away when you turn the volume up suggests to me a mechanical issue with the volume pot. If you are comfortable opening the case ( unplugged of course) then spraying contact cleaner ( ideally Deoxit) into the workings of the volume pot, then turning the pot back and forwards 40-50 times might sort it out.
It's worked for me on many occasions, though more often with older pieces of equipment.
If I am talking nonsense I have no doubt other folks will be along to tell me, but it's a simple thing to try unless the PA5 is tricky to get into. I doubt AC contamination is your problem. It rarely is and there is no reason for it to effect one channel. As for EM interference, so long as your interconnects are shielded you should be OK.
Best of luck
Jim

 

[Gartowl]

Thank you all for your replies, all is good for me, i don't want to touch it anymore now it's working well. I only work with my ears i'm a professional musician, not an engineer hehe.

 

[Jeromewu0903]

Just to want share my experience to you guys if you face the same issue.
I purchased this set outside of China with local warranty is only 1 year.

And it happened after 1.5 years which noise came out frequently on the left hand side of the channel.
I wrote to topping and provided the justification to them.

They replied quickly with instruction " to damage my current PA5 and return with photos"
They will issue a new set of PA5 II plus to me, free of charge. because they cover 2 years warranty for this.

I was not really sure in the beginning (is it a scam?) but nothing to lose, just went ahead with their instruction.
after 1 week, I recieved my new replacement set: PA5 II plus!!!!!

I guess they could have recieved a thousand of the complains and be willing to help users to solve this problem within their coverage(2 years warranty, this is important)

I will give a thumbs up to this company. Well, although there could be issue of QA/QC/production for PA5. But Topping take the responsibility.
I am happy with their services. now I am enjoiying my PA2 II Plus (I feel the sound is better than PA5!)

 

[anphex]

Just want share my experience to you guys if you face the same issue.
I purchased this set outside of China with local warranty is only 1 year.

And it happened after 1.5 years which noise came out frequently on the left hand side of the channel.
I wrote to topping and provided the justification to them.

They replied quickly with instruction " to damage my current PA5 and return with photos"
They will issue a new set of PA5 II plus to me, free of charge. because they cover 2 years warranty for this.

I was not really sure in the beginning (is it a scam?) but nothing to lose, just went ahead with their instruction.
after 1 week, I recieved my new replacment set: PAII plus!!!!!

I guess they could have recieved a thousand of the complains and be willing to help users to solve this problem within their coverage(2 years warranty, this is important)

I will give a thumbs up to this ccompany. Well, although there could be issue of QA/QC/production for PA5. But Topping take the responsibility.
I am happy with their services. now I am enjoiying my PA2 II Plus (I feel the sound is better than PA5!)

Wild.

 

[Birdy]

Just want share my experience to you guys if you face the same issue.
I purchased this set outside of China with local warranty is only 1 year.

And it happened after 1.5 years which noise came out frequently on the left hand side of the channel.
I wrote to topping and provided the justification to them.

They replied quickly with instruction " to damage my current PA5 and return with photos"
They will issue a new set of PA5 II plus to me, free of charge. because they cover 2 years warranty for this.

I was not really sure in the beginning (is it a scam?) but nothing to lose, just went ahead with their instruction.
after 1 week, I recieved my new replacment set: PAII plus!!!!!

I guess they could have recieved a thousand of the complains and be willing to help users to solve this problem within their coverage(2 years warranty, this is important)

I will give a thumbs up to this ccompany. Well, although there could be issue of QA/QC/production for PA5. But Topping take the responsibility.
I am happy with their services. now I am enjoiying my PA2 II Plus (I feel the sound is better than PA5!)

Great response and clever company!

 

[JSmith]

It's to stop people from claiming a replacement and then selling the "broken" one.


JSmith

 

[Adis]

Hm, don't you have to send back the broken one?

 

[Koeitje]

Wild.

Hm, don't you have to send back the broken one?

Nothing wild about this. Logitech also does this for example. The reason is simple: repairing the product is too expensive or too much of a hassle, so shipping is pointless if you already know you are just going to fully replace the product anyway. Destroying it stops people from creating fake warranty claims.

It sucks that not everything can be repaired, but at least it saves on the carbon footprint of shipping.

 

[firestart3r]

Just want share my experience to you guys if you face the same issue.
I purchased this set outside of China with local warranty is only 1 year.

And it happened after 1.5 years which noise came out frequently on the left hand side of the channel.
I wrote to topping and provided the justification to them.

They replied quickly with instruction " to damage my current PA5 and return with photos"
They will issue a new set of PA5 II plus to me, free of charge. because they cover 2 years warranty for this.

I was not really sure in the beginning (is it a scam?) but nothing to lose, just went ahead with their instruction.
after 1 week, I recieved my new replacment set: PAII plus!!!!!

I guess they could have recieved a thousand of the complains and be willing to help users to solve this problem within their coverage(2 years warranty, this is important)

I will give a thumbs up to this ccompany. Well, although there could be issue of QA/QC/production for PA5. But Topping take the responsibility.
I am happy with their services. now I am enjoiying my PA2 II Plus (I feel the sound is better than PA5!)

By "PA2 II Plus" you mean "PA5 II Plus"... right?

 

[Eldus]

Just want share my experience to you guys if you face the same issue.
I purchased this set outside of China with local warranty is only 1 year.

And it happened after 1.5 years which noise came out frequently on the left hand side of the channel.
I wrote to topping and provided the justification to them.

They replied quickly with instruction " to damage my current PA5 and return with photos"
They will issue a new set of PA5 II plus to me, free of charge. because they cover 2 years warranty for this.

I was not really sure in the beginning (is it a scam?) but nothing to lose, just went ahead with their instruction.
after 1 week, I recieved my new replacment set: PAII plus!!!!!

I guess they could have recieved a thousand of the complains and be willing to help users to solve this problem within their coverage(2 years warranty, this is important)

I will give a thumbs up to this ccompany. Well, although there could be issue of QA/QC/production for PA5. But Topping take the responsibility.
I am happy with their services. now I am enjoiying my PA2 II Plus (I feel the sound is better than PA5!)

I had the same experience a few weeks ago.

 

[DWPress]

Unfortunately mine is over 2 years old.

 

[Jeromewu0903]

Unfortunately mine is over 2 years old.

I am really lucky, missed local warranty, but they still cover two years international warranty for my case.

 

[Jeromewu0903]

By "PA2 II Plus" you mean "PA5 II Plus"... right?

My Typo.

 

[MAB]

Unfortunately mine is over 2 years old.

I would reach out to them anyway.
The amp has a systematic issue, the potted module as discussed extensively.
Perhaps Topping has learned from early customer service missteps on this amp.
I hope they help you out.

 

[Eggs Ackley]

Similar situation here. Mine died within two years but that was months ago. Still have it in my junk pile. Got it from Aoshida through Amazon. Should I contact Topping directly?

 

[anphex]

Mine is out of warranty for about 6 months and now the left channel started to get this high baseline noise and small pops that are varying in loudness. Is this the error everyone is talking about? Is there a fix or can I calmly throw this China garbage out of the window and get a Hypex again?

 

[MAB]

Mine is out of warranty for about 6 months and now the left channel started to get this high baseline noise and small pops that are varying in loudness. Is this the error everyone is talking about? Is there a fix or can I calmly throw this China garbage out of the window and get a Hypex again?

This is one of the most typical failure modes observed (see this thread).
Topping did extend the warranty to 2 years.
Gamerpaddy has developed a fix:

Topping PA5 fix - D01 Module Replacement for everyone

Ive been working on the PA5 for a while now after mine died suddently, like many others https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/poll-for-topping-pa5-owners-only-please.33293/ Most of the PA5 units develop a crackling, hissing or just go a little silent or completely dead on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[anphex]

This is one of the most typical failure modes observed (see this thread).
Topping did extend the warranty to 2 years.
Gamerpaddy has developed a fix:

Topping PA5 fix - D01 Module Replacement for everyone

Ive been working on the PA5 for a while now after mine died suddently, like many others https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/poll-for-topping-pa5-owners-only-please.33293/ Most of the PA5 units develop a crackling, hissing or just go a little silent or completely dead on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It's from December 2021
Gonna pm Gamerpaddy for a module, thank you!

 

[xaon60]

My PA5 is still working fine; I was listening to it again this morning at a somewhat unreasonable volume… Nevertheless, I am keeping my fingers crossed…