Leaderboard

I bought the Topping and got it this week, with hopes it could be a second or extra Stat amp. I was even planning on doing a "bargain stat amp" feature at my new journalistic home "Positive Feedback", where you can find my review of the Audeze CRBNs, for example. Anway, I'm not going to publish, I don't like to publish reviews of bad gear 😞 What a disappointment this amp turned out to be. My disappointment came in stages. The first stage was an optimistic listen: "Hey, not too bad". At that time I was listening to some simple classical and folk arrangements: with solo voices and guitar, the weaknesses of the Topping circuit are not immediately obvious. But as soon as I played more complex music, full orchestra, rock band, you name it. Where it starts to get real harsh, bloated, lose dimension is with complex music, full orchestra, rock band, you name it. The more I listened, the more I started to hate this amp. I WILL BET THAT THERE ARE MEASUREMENTS THAT WILL REVEAL THIS AMP'S WEAKNESSES. You just have to know how to find out where the bodies are buried. I did find some that clearly show its weaknesses. Attached below. Frequency response (with a 100 pf load), Output level just before clipping, THD at various frequencies at normal levels and just before clipping (spectrum and %), IMD (19-20 kHz) (spectrum and %). The one thing I should have measured is a special multitone signal I use, I bet that would show where the bodies are buried, and tell us why the amp falls totally flat the more complex the music you put into it. But I'm so disenheartened and disappointed by the sound of it that I don't have the energy to bring it back to the test bench. I like to display an amplifier's measurements in equivalent SPL, based on Stax 007 and CRBN nominal sensitivity of 100 volts RMS = nominally 100 dB SPL. It helps bring a real-world perspective to amplifier measurements. Topping Factory spec for max is 700 volts RMS (I suppose the factory took this a cat's hair below clipping and only at 1 kHz). I measured maximum output at 1 dB below clipping at 630 volts RMS at 1 kHz, equivalent to 116 dB SPL. But When performing the 20 Hz THD test, the amp's DC protection circuit kicked in and the most I could get out of it at 20 Hz with a continuous sine wave was the equivalent of 105 dB SPL, 177 volts RMS before the amp shut down. So the lower the frequency, the worst the amp's headroom for transients. Plus, the THD at low frequencies is pretty bad, the transformer saturates very strongly. To see where the skeletons are buried in this amp, take a look at my measurements. The measurements to really study is a comparison of the Mjolnir KGSS HV Carbon and the Topping at nominally 90 dB equivalent SPL of IMD 19-20 kHz 1:1 ratio. I think that lurking in that measurement is at least one of the reasons why the Topping sounds so harsh and the Mjolnir sounds so pure. The primary difference tone at 1 kHz in the spectrum does not tell the story. Notice the high frequency side bands near the 19-20 kHz that begin to reveal to us the Topping's nonlinearities. There's more in the attachments. I'm sorry that I didn't do the multitone, I will some day, when I get around to it, and I'm sure it will reveal the skeleton underneath the "golden glow" of this amp. The date in the Fluke scope pictures is wrong... it's actually yesterday, 7/28/23. I have to fix the date in my Fluke Scope. Every time the battery dies, it loses the date 😞

That's impressive... shame they sound like shit. Something new for me, I came across my first ever arc'ed over SR-007 driver yesterday. Utter carnage in there, a hole in the diaphragm roughly 30mm across and burn marks on both stators. Other driver was just fine but yeah, there is a reason we fit protection circuits.

My favorite recording of the great Trane (and Rudy)... I have it on my wall of fame

I'm not sure if this will work but here's to whatever kind of birthday you would like to have today, Antonio! Cheers!

Chips 'n' dip (spicy guacamole) and a very meaty sausage roll from https://www.burtonzbakery.com/ At https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/healdsburg-veterans-memorial-beach

Need to start matching these but liking the results from the basic tester so far

Fried chicken hash from Hummingbird. The thing is, I only ordered one. When I arrived to pick it up, they charged me for one. Then handed me a big, folded paper bag. I didn't realize it was two orders until I arrived home. So I guess I have breakfast for tomorrow as well.

SR-X9000 just passed 1,000 units manufactured. Took just under 2 years

Thank you very much for the great and so many good wishes. It was a wonderful day with celebration and more than enough enolic intake That playlist is really something, I wasn't expecting the personalization. I'm leaving for work now, so I'll listen to its completion later

You had me at meaty…. HS

Haha... my birthday was back in mid-May and most of you had already wished me a Happy Birthday then, but thanks again!

Que pases un buen día Antonio!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Antonio!

Happy belated birthday, Chris. Just saw this now, but wanted to wish you well

Happy (very) belated birthday, Rob

I'll stick to my 007's. They are quite happy with the Carbon making them sing. HS

A belated very best wishes Antonio - happy birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Kids Colabs Today!

Damn, I miss your cooking. And I don't think I've ever had your cooking, but your pictures make me feel like I have.

THIS! SO MUCH THIS! Happy birthday, dear Antonio!

🍽️🥥🐔🍛🍌 Part Deux

Happy Birthday, Antonio. Hope your day is wonderful.

Happy Birthday!

Cheers Antonio -- Happy Birthday --

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday!, Antonio. 🎉🎂🚀

Focal Aria 936s.

Very Happy Birthday Antonio!!

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Antonio!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Antonio!!!

Happy Birthday Antonio! Enjoy

Following up with Rudy recordings

Happy Birthday, Antonio!

Did it come with a crane?

You pick the musical personality that defined the punk/rock attitude for you. Taking on the church or Frank Sinatra it’s always been her for me. Like a lot of soon to be parents I started thinking of the music I wanted to introduce to our child. Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and O’Conner’s I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got were one and two. Celebrate the beautiful. Tear down the opposite.

With a coat of Penofin. Marc, I think the hubbub is when you're taking it and you're not in excruciating pain.

I'm dusting off my collection of Rudy Van Gelder recordings/remasters: Herbie Hancock – Empyrean Isles.

Probably not.

Did a ‘thing’ yesterday

Grrrrr... was going to tell you and everyone else who got a Specialized SL-equipped bike that there is a great deal (25% off) on accessories, including the range extender (which was REALLY hard to find previously), and 25% off of the Y-adapter (that I used today before I ride with @cetoole and Xavier) https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/equipment/gear/turbo-extras/c/turboaccessories Then I am reminded of @Voltron's snarkiness, and then I thought about my favorite Google search: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=breakfast+biscuits&find_loc=Bellevue%2C+WA Have a good ride! /me muahahahahahahahahahas

Belated Happy Birthday, Chris! Glad you had a day off.