Topping PA7 Plus Amplifier Review

[bleachwave]

PA7 or PA7 plus will be perfectly fine

Ok, thank you
What about the "sweetness&musicality"? I did a little research and these audiophile terms came up a lot when class D amplifier(especially cheap ones) was discussed stating that those amplifiers lack these characteristics, will it be better if they were pushed by class AB amplifiers like LA90 D?

 

[restorer-john]

Ok, thank you
What about the "sweetness&musicality"? I did a little research and these audiophile terms came up a lot when class D amplifier(especially cheap ones) was discussed stating that those amplifiers lack these characteristics, will it be better if they were pushed by class AB amplifiers like LA90 D?

Buy one of the low-medium cost amplifiers, try it and decide what you think. No harm in that.

If you think it's ultimately disappointing, they are cheap enough to throw out, or give away and buy something better. All this stuff is inexpensive disposable audio.

If you're happy, you've saved a ton of money.

 

[Vladetz]

Ok, thank you
What about the "sweetness&musicality"? I did a little research and these audiophile terms came up a lot when class D amplifier(especially cheap ones) was discussed stating that those amplifiers lack these characteristics, will it be better if they were pushed by class AB amplifiers like LA90 D?

I can only say that these amps are absolutely neutral and transparent to signal

 

[JeremyFife]

Ok, thank you
What about the "sweetness&musicality"? I did a little research and these audiophile terms came up a lot when class D amplifier(especially cheap ones) was discussed stating that those amplifiers lack these characteristics, will it be better if they were pushed by class AB amplifiers like LA90 D?

You can try a quick thought experiment: what could 'sweetness' or 'musicality' mean in terms of an amplifier?

A little boost to some higher frequencies perhaps, adding some distortion can sound pleasing to some people ... musicality is odd - sounds like autotune, or changing tempo somehow. These do not sound like things you want an amplifier - any amplifier, whatever class - to be doing.
Sound more like fanciful reviewers just talking a bit of nonsense (imho).

Well made amplifiers don't do these things.

 

[ErkyPerky]

Happy to report that after a week of use I am enjoying the PA7 and E70 combo. My only nitpick would have been a scratchy pot on the PA7 but that seems to have mostly resolved itself with use. Turntable/phono noise has been greatly reduced and digital inputs including a wiim, RPI4, and cd player are all playing nice and sound good. I noticed a little bass impact reduction but nothing that can't be fixed by turning up the sub volume (high level connection). View attachment 287598

Hi, how are you still getting on the the pa7? Do you still own it? I'm thinking of buying one also to pair with my e70. I'd appreciate the feedback.

 

[EJ3]

Ok, thank you
What about the "sweetness&musicality"? I did a little research and these audiophile terms came up a lot when class D amplifier(especially cheap ones) was discussed stating that those amplifiers lack these characteristics, will it be better if they were pushed by class AB amplifiers like LA90 D?

Perhaps a teaspoon of sugar while listening? Maybe you'll need DSP to pull it off of neutral?
Unlike most, I go to flat as possible, then adjust to my taste. That way, if something changes (perhaps I put in a new piece of gear) I can get it back to flat, install the gear, see what it then takes to get to flat again & adjust to my taste again.
Yep, it can be a pain but (IMHO) it's easier to get to what you want when you are beginning back at the starting point.

 

[restorer-john]

Unlike most, I go to flat as possible, then adjust to my taste.

This is the most sensible way.

 

[Usatencu]

Greetings.
I've got a question which is a bit odd, is PA7 plus or LA90 D able to drive KEF R3 META and make a great sound out of it? I'm into hi-fi stuff yet half-footed for the last 10 years.

Recently I purchased a pair of R3 meta on sale for 1400usd, it was an pulsive buy after watching bunch of reviews and praises of em, so it tightened up my overall budget. i got an E70 VELVET so the first amp came into my mind was PA7 PLUS since it got the power and stacks well with E70, and I'm also considering LA90 D, and do double mono in future setup.

P.S. I use them in close distance listening off my pc, aprx 1.5 meters from my ear level
Thanks in advance!

I buyed a month ago kef r3 meta and i paired them with topping pa7 non plus version. It's driving them easy, without problem, but... first time i didn't like sound, i think kef r3 meta need a lot of hours for burn in. Day by day i see how they open and sound better. Sound It's very transparent with topping, with a lot of details. It s big upgrade over my dali oberon 3 in terms of refinement, details, transparency, sound quality overall. I m thinking to try a traditional class ab amplifier like rotel a14 mkii or topping b200 monoblocks to see how it's sound, but i m so undecided don't know wich one to buy

 

[mike70]

I buyed a month ago kef r3 meta and i paired them with topping pa7 non plus version. It's driving them easy, without problem, but... first time i didn't like sound, i think kef r3 meta need a lot of hours for burn in. Day by day i see how they open and sound better. Sound It's very transparent with topping, with a lot of details. It s big upgrade over my dali oberon 3 in terms of refinement, details, transparency, sound quality overall. I m thinking to try a traditional class ab amplifier like rotel a14 mkii or topping b200 monoblocks to see how it's sound, but i m so undecided don't know wich one to buy

if the amplifiers works in the "comfortable zone" (power / speaker impedance curve / room size / etc) and is transparent enough (as the topping) ... you don't have any chance to recognize a difference in a ABX test.

If one amplifier adds "color" (some EQ) or distortion to the sound (an extreme example, a tube amplifier) ... is possible to have a difference ... and you can like / dislike, but you're goin' away from hifi sound.

Blue or red pill?

I prefer transparent components and alter the frequency response via EQ to "fix" the room behaviour (stay closer as possible to a harman curve, as an example).
But, not trying to do that buying expensive components and praying to some "sinergy god" that some dealer and jewelry brands knows how to do it.
In my opinion, that's the road to hell for your wallet with the same REAL result (ABX test).

Short answer? if your amp works well in your context (class A / AB / D / Z / X / etc), change your amp if you want more warranty, more beauty, more reliability, etc ... but "more sound"? Forget it.

 

[Te0s]

Hi there. I have a question. Could you please help me:

Topping has XLR and RCA inputs.

I have LP and Wiim Pro Plus. I want to plug one to RCA input of Topping, and the other - to XLR one.

But as both my LP and Wiim has only RCA outputs, I will use RCA-to-XLR cable.

Which one is better to plug like this? LP - RCA-to-XLR - Topping, or Wiim - RCA-to-XLR - Topping? Or it doesn't matter at all?

(I know I can plug LP to Wiim and then to Amp, but I want to separate them from each other to leave LP only as analogue signal)

 

[mike70]

to leave LP only as analogue signal

It doesn't matter, if you digitalize your LP signal or not, any decent ADC will be totally transparent.

I use it in that way with my Minidsp Flex and it's indistinguishable between "pure analog" and digitalized. Forget about any "audiophile myth" you listened / read previously, it's all nonsense.

 

[Te0s]

It doesn't matter, if you digitalize your LP signal or not, any decent ADC will be totally transparent.

I use it in that way with my Minidsp Flex and it's indistinguishable between "pure analog" and digitalized. Forget about any "audiophile myth" you listened / read previously, it's all nonsense.

Thank you. I think I'd do like that, yes ) But still if someone could explain to me how rca-to-xlr cable may influence the sound and is there any difference in using rca-to-rca plugs in comparison with rca-to-xlr in sounding at all?

 

[mike70]

Thank you. I think I'd do like that, yes ) But still if someone could explain to me how rca-to-xlr cable may influence the sound and is there any difference in using rca-to-rca plugs in comparison with rca-to-xlr in sounding at all?

Maybe I wasn't totally clear ... I use RCA to balanced cables and compared to RCA to RCA and I don't find any difference, as you should find also.

 

[Te0s]

Maybe I wasn't totally clear ... I use RCA to balanced cables and compared to RCA to RCA and I don't find any difference, as you should find also.

Oh, now I see ) Thanks! )

 

[Te0s]

As an LP listener I'd like to consult on one more thing, if anyone could suggest pls:

I have Lehmann Black Cube Statement phono. And it has the DC jumpers with it, which can bridge the output capacitors. They say, it may significantly improve the sound, but there is a WARNING in the manual saying:

WARNING: When the output capacitors are bridged there can be DC offset voltage pre-
sent at the Black Cube Statement‘s output connectors. Please make sure that the following
input stage is AC-coupled before activating the DC jumpers. If you do not know the coupling
status of the next following input stage have your setup checked by a dealer or avoid to use
this jumper. DC at the output stage of a power amplifier can destroy loudspeaker chassis!

So my question is: Does Topping have this suitable coupling status for such a manipulation? Is it protected or it is dangerous to do so with it?

 

[Ahmonge]

As an LP listener I'd like to consult on one more thing, if anyone could suggest pls:

I have Lehmann Black Cube Statement phono. And it has the DC jumpers with it, which can bridge the output capacitors. They say, it may significantly improve the sound, but there is a WARNING in the manual saying:

WARNING: When the output capacitors are bridged there can be DC offset voltage pre-
sent at the Black Cube Statement‘s output connectors. Please make sure that the following
input stage is AC-coupled before activating the DC jumpers. If you do not know the coupling
status of the next following input stage have your setup checked by a dealer or avoid to use
this jumper. DC at the output stage of a power amplifier can destroy loudspeaker chassis!

So my question is: Does Topping has this suitable coupling status for such a manipulation? Is it protected or it is dangerous to do so with it?

For safety of your amplifiers, I would not enable DC output on the phono preamp.

 

[JeremyFife]

As an LP listener I'd like to consult on one more thing, if anyone could suggest pls:

I have Lehmann Black Cube Statement phono. And it has the DC jumpers with it, which can bridge the output capacitors. They say, it may significantly improve the sound, but there is a WARNING in the manual saying:

WARNING: When the output capacitors are bridged there can be DC offset voltage pre-
sent at the Black Cube Statement‘s output connectors. Please make sure that the following
input stage is AC-coupled before activating the DC jumpers. If you do not know the coupling
status of the next following input stage have your setup checked by a dealer or avoid to use
this jumper. DC at the output stage of a power amplifier can destroy loudspeaker chassis!

So my question is: Does Topping have this suitable coupling status for such a manipulation? Is it protected or it is dangerous to do so with it?

I think I'd want to know more about how DC jumpers "may significantly improve the sound" before trying something like that ... might be good engineering, might be sales talk / snake oil!

 

[Te0s]

I think I'd want to know more about how DC jumpers "may significantly improve the sound" before trying something like that ... might be good engineering, might be sales talk / snake oil!

I saw a video on youtube of a guy who is in this topic... and he tested this phono and said that with this option the sound becomes much better and detailed. But he also warned that it is to be double-checked if the Amp is protected. So I just wanted to ask if Topping is. To try myself and understand if it really makes any sense )

 

[JeremyFife]

I saw a video on youtube of a guy who is in this topic... and he tested this phono and said that with this option the sound becomes much better and detailed. But he also warned that it is to be double-checked if the Amp is protected. So I just wanted to ask if Topping is. To try myself and understand if it really makes any sense )

Understand the fundamental electronics first - that's beyond me but I wouldn't mess with DC output without a proper understanding. I do agree that getting an answer about the topping would be good too.

A subjective opinion on YT isn't enough. I don't know if it's correct or not, and there is no way of knowing either. Treat with caution.

 

[Te0s]

Understand the fundamental electronics first - that's beyond me but I wouldn't mess with DC output without a proper understanding. I do agree that getting an answer about the topping would be good too.

A subjective opinion on YT isn't enough. I don't know if it's correct or not, and there is no way of knowing either. Treat with caution.

Yeah, I understand that it is dangerous. That's why, being complete newbie, I prefer asking to experimenting myself ))