Hi amigos,
Now that the Topping PA5 has been revealed to the public and its chip is known. I was wondering if we could start to study the amp and modify it, like the Sabaj A20A and other amp we went through)
The amplifier has been reviewed and measured here :
Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Measurements of Topping PA5 PowerAMP - L7Audiolab
The chip is probably a TPA325X amp with some Wurth or CoilCraft inductors (flat wires) and with a PFFB circuit. The buffers caps seem to be Nichicon FW serie.
We still do not know about the Op amps but any input is welcome ) The PSU is a 38V brick @4A.
Given its measures which does not blush vs the Purifi, I wondered how we could do even better, if possible of course)
Now that the Topping PA5 has been revealed to the public and its chip is known. I was wondering if we could start to study the amp and modify it, like the Sabaj A20A and other amp we went through)
The amplifier has been reviewed and measured here :
Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Measurements of Topping PA5 PowerAMP - L7Audiolab
The chip is probably a TPA325X amp with some Wurth or CoilCraft inductors (flat wires) and with a PFFB circuit. The buffers caps seem to be Nichicon FW serie.
We still do not know about the Op amps but any input is welcome ) The PSU is a 38V brick @4A.
Given its measures which does not blush vs the Purifi, I wondered how we could do even better, if possible of course)
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what do you mean by ‘overshadowing the Purifi’? ASR measurements showed that distortion rises fast with frequency. Unfortunately they stopped measuring the CCIF spectrum (eg 18+19kHz 1:1). In this test, 1ET400 has side bands suppressed down at the -120dB level which is better than for AHB2. The ASR SINAD is simply THD+N at 1kHz, 5W - that measures only noise for good amps.
Funny if it is the 3255 - the main architect of this device Søren is on our team.
Cheers, Lars @PURIFI
Funny if it is the 3255 - the main architect of this device Søren is on our team.
Cheers, Lars @PURIFI
![[img]](https://www.audiophonics.fr/img/cms/Images/Produits/15K/15847/pa5-en-21.jpg/[img])
Agree )
The TPA325X has enormous potential! moreover the next Allo TPA3255 announces these measures: (I have already shared them)
THD+N 5W , 1Khz 0.00014
THD+N 100W 20-20Khz 0.0097
THD+N 10W 20-20Khz 0.0091
Haven't they been working on this amp for almost 2 years now?
The pictures have been shared by a member of ASR
I will share mine as soon as I can. )
I spoke to Audiophonics and I ve been told that Topping sanded all the inscriptions on their main components to to protect their design. In the end I find it a bit of a shame ... because the most expert users are able to guess with the pictures...
The inductors are probably the :
CoilCraft SER2915H-103KL
or
Wurth 7443630700
The same used by XRK Audio and 360 Customs
This could be helpful :
I will share mine as soon as I can. )
I spoke to Audiophonics and I ve been told that Topping sanded all the inscriptions on their main components to to protect their design. In the end I find it a bit of a shame ... because the most expert users are able to guess with the pictures...
The inductors are probably the :
CoilCraft SER2915H-103KL
or
Wurth 7443630700
The same used by XRK Audio and 360 Customs
This could be helpful :
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They ve been working on it for many months now )
It takes time to get the best product... R&D is not an easy thing !
I know Allo has had a lot of concerns regarding their new ultra low noise PSU...
At the last news the problem has been corrected and the first samples are already in Toulouse)
With this Topping's response, I imagine Allo has already paved the way
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Why bother modifying it?
Get yourself a Eigentakt, nCore or UcD. I’ve been enjoying Bruno’s designs for a decade now.
No frequency related distortion. High power. Light weight. Affordable.
Yes load dependant frequency response aberrations and high frequency distortion were all problems before Bruno solved it. So yeah, the high hz distortion was common before Bruno came along.
Even to this day all others have the same limitations. It’s perhaps acceptable to some, which is highly debatable, but certainly not “normal”
With ASR you really need to read between the lines (and the graphs)
Get yourself a Eigentakt, nCore or UcD. I’ve been enjoying Bruno’s designs for a decade now.
No frequency related distortion. High power. Light weight. Affordable.
Yes load dependant frequency response aberrations and high frequency distortion were all problems before Bruno solved it. So yeah, the high hz distortion was common before Bruno came along.
Even to this day all others have the same limitations. It’s perhaps acceptable to some, which is highly debatable, but certainly not “normal”
With ASR you really need to read between the lines (and the graphs)
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I own almost all Class D amps, Purifi, Dual Merus, Tripath, high end TPA325X, Mini Gan etc
You just have to understand that few people can put 1400 euros in an good amp..I am the first to be convinced by Bruno's products
BUT best price for Purifi in Europe = Audiophonics = 1400€
The Topping is neck and neck VS the Purifi and costs only $349 (I think at this price we can excuse some minor flaws)
it's 4.5 times cheaper....
You just have to understand that few people can put 1400 euros in an good amp..I am the first to be convinced by Bruno's products
BUT best price for Purifi in Europe = Audiophonics = 1400€
The Topping is neck and neck VS the Purifi and costs only $349 (I think at this price we can excuse some minor flaws)
it's 4.5 times cheaper....
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Topping PA5 -> audiophile tweaks
Maybe
Rubycon 50V 2200uf -> Mundorf MLGO 63V 2200 / 3300 uF
and after, maybe:
Binding posts -> ETI Research Binding Post BP-20C, Neutrik speakON or direct connect (wire).
Maybe
Rubycon 50V 2200uf -> Mundorf MLGO 63V 2200 / 3300 uF
and after, maybe:
Binding posts -> ETI Research Binding Post BP-20C, Neutrik speakON or direct connect (wire).
Attachments
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This is the graph that lends credence to the idea that it's actually a composite amp wrapped around the TPA3255. If you look at the Neurochrome charts, their composite amps also degrade at higher frequencies (although not quite to this degree) as you run out of loop gain. IF (and it's still to be verified from what I can tell) they have in fact made such a composite amp, I think it's a pretty interesting achievement.
Kept in context, I'd still say the performance is a notable achievement. Sure, this isn't something I'd choose over a Purifi, or even a Neurochrome, but in terms of off-the-shelf turnkey amps at anything close to the pricepoint, it's clearly a great performer.
Amir is personal friends with the Topping engineer. So it’s common for him to use flowery language when reviewing a Topping product.