Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[anphex]

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…

I believe it's more a "hours powered on" problem instead of power spikes. Mine probably had 5000 hours turned on due to my 12v-trigger-plug-setup. But it was never used with high intensity. Heck, it was a amp for my surrounds. You can guess yourself how much watt this thing needed to produce.

The crackling and noise in the right channel also came up while it was completely unused but powered on, it got louder and louder. I bet if I hadn't disconnected it the right channel would be a noise generator by now.

 

[capslock]

Is the old PA5 back in production? The PA5 was sold out everywhere for quite some time. But look at this:

TOPPING PA5 Fully Balanced Class D Power Amplifier

HiFiGo would love to know your impression about the latest PA5 plus released by TOPPING. If you share your impression on Social Medias or forums like Headfi or ASR with pictures after your listening, welcome to add the SKW OCC cable to your cart also, you will get a free 25cm RCA cable. Send...

hifigo.com

 

[Roland68]

Is the old PA5 back in production? The PA5 was sold out everywhere for quite some time. But look at this:

TOPPING PA5 Fully Balanced Class D Power Amplifier

HiFiGo would love to know your impression about the latest PA5 plus released by TOPPING. If you share your impression on Social Medias or forums like Headfi or ASR with pictures after your listening, welcome to add the SKW OCC cable to your cart also, you will get a free 25cm RCA cable. Send...

hifigo.com

I suspect it is an old stock, devices produced from leftover parts or refurbished devices.

 

[Bleib]

Well, I wouldn't buy it.. (get II or TP RA3)

 

[gamerpaddy]

its 100$ more expensive than the PA5 II and will fail at some point, it makes no sense.

 

[JeffGB]

I believe the HIFIGo link you posted says it is the "PA5 plus", so likely an updated model. BTW, I still have my original PA5 working fine. I don't know if it is because it generates less heat because I changed the power supply to a 32v from the included 38v after reading the technical details of the TPA3251 shortly after purchase.

 

[capslock]

I think the PA5 was the plus version with the higher current rating on the power supply from the getgo. It was only the PA5 II that was sold with the smaller power supply, wasn't it?

 

[xaxxon]

Just got my "free" $20 replacement pa5-2 from topping. It took about a month to get here and I haven't checked to see if it works yet (dunno where I put those TRS cables), but they did actually follow through.

Generally that's good but I had email correspondence with topping proper from within the warranty period but since they never reached out to offer the 'upgrade' for the defective design of the pa5 I didn't know to ask soon enough so they made me pay $20 for shipping. I specifically said that the email chain had started during the warranty period but they said I still had to paypal them $20 (plus international service fee).

So mostly good for them for replacing units. But still a little bit lame.

edit: someone pinged me asking how I did it, I just emailed [email protected] and asked if I could get a replacement and they said yes. Just had to send picture of my serial and of the destroyed pa5. (I enjoyed the hell out of that part - it probably didn't need to be quite as destroyed as I made it but whatever)

 

[xaxxon]

I think the PA5 was the plus version with the higher current rating on the power supply from the getgo. It was only the PA5 II that was sold with the smaller power supply, wasn't it?

pa5 came with 38v 4a (looking at mine now). pa5 ii standard is a 3a power supply, plus is a 4a power supply according to apos

TOPPING PA5 II/ PA5 II Plus Compact Desktop Amplifier

Experience superior sound quality with the Topping PA5 II Compact Desktop Amplifier. Designed with a fully balanced structure, low distortion levels, high power output, and comprehensive circuit protection, it offers a pure, noise-free audio experience. The Topping PA5 II ensures every beat...

apos.audio

So it should really be called the pa5 ii minus and the pa5 ii

 

[xaxxon]

I suspect it is an old stock, devices produced from leftover parts or refurbished devices.

that price is insane -- it's a broken design and it's more expensive than the replacement pa5ii+ by a lot

 

[makalister]

Hi
I've received my JBL HDI 1600 speakers. Would this topping fit well with these speakers. Listening room is about 24m2.

 

[staticV3]

Hi
I've received my JBL HDI 1600 speakers. Would this topping fit well with these speakers. Listening room is about 24m2.

The original PA5 had a design flaw that led to many premature failures and has since been discontinued.

Are you talking about the PA5, or its revision the PA5 II?

Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA5 II stereo balanced amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219 (sale). There is a plus version with higher current power supply for $289.50. The fonts are hard to see but there is not much to read anyway. A power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[makalister]

The original PA5 had a design flaw that led to many premature failures and has since been discontinued.

Are you talking about the PA5, or its revision the PA5 II?

Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA5 II stereo balanced amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219 (sale). There is a plus version with higher current power supply for $289.50. The fonts are hard to see but there is not much to read anyway. A power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

PAII

 

[staticV3]

PAII

No issues then, other than perhaps the lack of remote volume control.

You can use this web tool to calculate Peak SPL with the PA5II+HDI-1600: http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html

The HDI-1600 has 81.4dB SPL (1W/1m), and the PA5II can output 120W.

 

[audiojack]

Did anyone try this amp with 2 ohm speakers? Or will it damage the amp? I have 2x 2ohm subwoofers that I would like to drive with an amp.

 

[Doodski]

Did anyone try this amp with 2 ohm speakers? Or will it damage the amp? I have 2x 2ohm subwoofers that I would like to drive with an amp.

This amp is hardly subwoofer material...

 

[staticV3]

Did anyone try this amp with 2 ohm speakers? Or will it damage the amp? I have 2x 2ohm subwoofers that I would like to drive with an amp.

The PA5 had a critical design flaw and was discontinued.

Are you inquiring about the PA5 II? If so, please use the PA5 II thread:

Topping PA5 II Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA5 II stereo balanced amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219 (sale). There is a plus version with higher current power supply for $289.50. The fonts are hard to see but there is not much to read anyway. A power...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[xaxxon]

Did anyone try this amp with 2 ohm speakers? Or will it damage the amp? I have 2x 2ohm subwoofers that I would like to drive with an amp.

maybe run them in series to make them 4 ohm?

but really, go get an nx3000 for $229.00 to run subs. do the noctua fan swap in 10 minutes and it's completely silent.

 

[audiojack]

maybe run them in series to make them 4 ohm?

but really, go get an nx3000 for $229.00 to run subs. do the noctua fan swap in 10 minutes and it's completely silent.

My subs are just 70 Watt so don't need that much power. Just wondering if the Topping PA5 would work with 2ohm speakers/subwoofers.

 

[gamerpaddy]

the chip used is capable of driving 2 ohm loads but the output filters are not made for that, but with PFFB it should correct for that.
its most likely gonna work no problem.

just never connect the negative terminals together like some subwoofer high-level input boards do.