TP RA3 Rackmount Amplifier Review

[JeremyFife]

Question: what does "safe volume setting" mean?

Very interested to know how it's built (tear-down) and hear the opinions on that design.

I expect to need an inexpensive power amp if/when my PA5 finally expires. Not sure this is it; form factor and lowish power are off for me.

 

[TonyJZX]

yeah i dont know why people are comparing them to amps that barely get into the top 200 let alone top 20!

 

[staticV3]

yeah i dont know why people are comparing them to amps that barely get into the top 200 let alone top 20!

Because SINAD at those levels does not significantly affect UX. Output power does.

 

[CrustyToad]

I like the overall concept although I don't need the rack mount plates
More power would be great, something like 250W
If that can stay below 350 euro it would be a winner

 

[TonyJZX]

Because SINAD at those levels does not significantly affect UX. Output power does.

with that attitude then why even read reviews or come here?

if you think you need massive power and can get away with sub 80 sinad then buy a PA amp?

 

[PeteL]

yeah i dont know why people are comparing them to amps that barely get into the top 200 let alone top 20!

This is definitely not in the top 20 for output power, Is Sinad the only metricthat matter? There are other things that can be compared, watts for dollars is one, Pure power is one.

 

[Koeitje]

My favoured speakers are tough loads. Lots of speakers are. I don't want the amp to be the limiting factor in my choice of speakers, that's tail wagging the dog.

Protection is a good thing, yes.

Then you need to buy a different amp.


I like this amplifier, hope there is also going to be a 100W/8ohm version. For me that's enough power to drive most popular consumer loudspeakers.

 

[staticV3]

with that attitude then why even read reviews or come here?

If you think that the RA3 cannot be compared to some other amps simply because it has higher SINAD, then you're sorely mistaken.

High SINAD is great to see and usually shows that the DUT is competently designed, but it does not put it in a league of it's own, incomparable to gear with higher noise and distortion.

For Power Amps, noise and distortion are certainly factors to consider, but so are bandwidth, power, stability, thermals, reliability, etc.

 

[BDE]

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I can`t see any labels regarding certification like CE, UKCA, EAC (or in US you have UL or something?) nor do I see a WEEE symbol etc. So, I assume in Europe it should not be allowed to sell.
Did you measure a prototype or demo device?

 

[Tovarich007]

If you think that the RA3 cannot be compared to some other amps simply because it has higher SINAD, then you're sorely mistaken.

High SINAD is great to see and usually shows that the DUT is competently designed, but it does not put it in a league of it's own, incomparable to gear with higher noise and distortion.

For Power Amps, noise and distortion are certainly factors to consider, but so are bandwidth, power, stability, thermals, reliability, etc.

I fully agree.
Of course, this amp is competently designed and its performances are good. But there nothing new not extraordinary in it, nor for its absolute performances, including its max power - a criteria that matters much for an amplifier, not for its VFM. Other very competent amplifiers cans be found cheaper on the market.

And it's not fully load independent in the highest treble, so not perfect in absolute terms neither, Ncore modules do better in that respect.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all a super power amp fan kind of guy, I don't need a 300 W or more power PA amplifier, but don't think you will get that much better sound with a 110 Sinad 60 W amp compared to a 90 SINAD measured PA 300 w amp.

The first liitle very good amp (the TP amp) will be just a little more refined (of course that matters) but at the expense of dynamics and ease of drive in the bass (and that matters too).

So I think the compromise made by Topping for performances vs. available power is not a good one.

At 150W / 8Ohms for 300€ with at least the same THD, IMD and SNR performances, it would have been great and highly competitive, because you would have at the same time had highly refined sound and great absolute dynamics, I would have bought it, but not at 60 W and 230€.

Better go for a Yamaha RN 803D in you have a tight budget.

 

[TonyJZX]

this is the old yamaha 701/801 meme again

Yamaha R-N803 Smart Receiver Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha R-N803 Receiver, amplifier, and streamer. It was purchased by a member (b-stock?) and drop shipped to me. The R-N803 costs US $750 from amazon including Prime shipping. The R-N803 has AV-style features such as Room EQ but with only two...

www.audiosciencereview.com

just putting it out there that $229 is very far away from $750

where i am yamaha is rarely discounted unless its an AVR really do i want this kitchen sink approach where i get phono dac and streaming???

 

[Power Pop 23]

The enclosure for the TP RA3 has me wondering whether Topping Audio will repurpose it to offer consumer products with a 17-inch (432mm) wide form factor.

 

[juliangst]

I really wish they would make amps with more power instead of more SINAD

 

[morpheusX]

Very interesting proposition for very high sensitive speakers, or powering a high sensitive tweeter in active designs.
(this assuming that its reliable and there are no problems as the ones on PA5)

 

[FTB]

I have active speakers but I could go for passive speakers only for having a Topping amplifier driving these...

 

[TonyJZX]

its quite obvious people here are bamboozled by the 19" rack format and they're recommending pro amps as if topping were even interested

i think this is a marketing gimmick... they are amortising the case over several products, hell they may have taken the case from some networking company!

this is sort of like the PA5/7 whatever the hell.. you have to be ok with the limited power and all the usual issues that digital amps have

i mean complaining about power and the limitations of these sorts of designs while the figures are right there in front of you AND the charts is sort of like complaining how a $20,000 Corolla hatchback doesnt have enough power... if you wanted V8 power you should buy a V8?

this isnt a V8

 

[617]

Anyone considering two to four of these for an active speaker setup, I would advise against it and get the hypex fusion plate amp or something else.

Having four speaker wires running to each speaker is incredibly annoying, and having a single eight conductor speak on cable wired to eight separate banana plugs is even worse.

I'm not really sure what this product is for, I guess it's a nice installed amp but I would expect more power for that application. Still, kind of nice, and very promising.

 

[Bleib]

I really wish they would make amps with more power instead of more SINAD

PA7(+)?

 

[PeteL]

this is the old yamaha 701/801 meme again

Yamaha R-N803 Smart Receiver Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha R-N803 Receiver, amplifier, and streamer. It was purchased by a member (b-stock?) and drop shipped to me. The R-N803 costs US $750 from amazon including Prime shipping. The R-N803 has AV-style features such as Room EQ but with only two...

www.audiosciencereview.com

just putting it out there that $229 is very far away from $750

where i am yamaha is rarely discounted unless its an AVR really do i want this kitchen sink approach where i get phono dac and streaming???

Yes this is a totally different beast, but look at what you get for 199 USD from Yamaha... This TP don't look like such a bargain. Sure distortion I know distortion number is high. but still. I mean if you are really really on a budget, maybe

 

[Bleib]

Yes this is a totally different beast, but look at what you get for 199 USD from Yamaha... This TP don't look like such a bargain. Sure distortion I know distortion number is high. but still. I mean if you are really really on a budget, maybe

View attachment 296280

I'm not sure how this measures, but obviously loudspeakers don't measure as great as either