Topping TP20 tripath 2020 amplifier (versus NAD C320BEE)

[Kittu]

Nope, mines slightly different ..... lookwise, quite similar.

89 dB, 8 ohms, front ported, 100 W RMS, 228 h x 155 w x 139 d, 2.4 kg each
4" woofer, 12 mm titanium laminate tweeter, Fq response: 80 hz to 20 khz

You are right north american model. Found the right link . Please do post your impressions after few hours of listening.

JBL - CONTROL ONE - 2-Way, 4" bookshelf loudspeaker with wall bracket

 

[avidyarthy]

Crrrrryyystal clear music output.

After 4 hours of 'hear' there is a marked bass improvement. Already reached my level of bass requirement. Treble is sharp as reported in Tripath forums. This combo is fantastic for rock and instumentals. However, no complaints from me on the Western and Indian classicals too.

At the JBL store, was given the choice of a 3 way MDF BS .... 86 dB & 8 ohms. That sounded slightly better due to further drop in the low end frequency to 60 Hz (as against 80 Hz here), BUT, was not able to hit the highs on the volume ... could make out clipping.

This speaker being 89 dB, could go higher up on the loudness and my 'acceptance' music quality. Moreover, there is a room-filling capabilty with these little demons.

AND ... obviously the VFM factor, 7.5 k versus 12.5 k.

Choosing a speaker is cleared now with the Tripaths .... higher the sensitivity, the better the loudness possible without clipping issues. Speaker impedance has to be selected at 8 ohms. Balance left is the low end frequency aspect for the speakers ... lower would definitely bring out the subtle details which might get left out if higher is settled for. Well, that would mean emptying ones pockets more too.

 

[avidyarthy]

Now, how much did this set-up cost .....

Topping TP20: landed US$ 80, say Rs.3700
JBL Control 1 speakers: Rs. 7500
Philips DVD player: say, Rs. 2500 (had it lying around unsued)
RC cable: bought today @ Rs. 50
Speaker cable @ Rs. 5/metre (10 metres) = Rs. 50
Calling my electrician tomorrow for 'clean' fixing of the speaker cables. He should charge maximum Rs. 100.

Total = 3700 + 7500 + 2500 + 50 + 50 + 100 = Rs. 13,900 ........ for near audiophile grade sound :clapping:

 

[Kittu]

Now, how much did this set-up cost .....

Topping TP20: landed US$ 80, say Rs.3700
JBL Control 1 speakers: Rs. 7500
Philips DVD player: say, Rs. 2500 (had it lying around unsued)
RC cable: bought today @ Rs. 50
Speaker cable @ Rs. 5/metre (10 metres) = Rs. 50
Calling my electrician tomorrow for 'clean' fixing of the speaker cables. He should charge maximum Rs. 100.

Total = 3700 + 7500 + 2500 + 50 + 50 + 100 = Rs. 13,900 ........ for near audiophile grade sound :clapping:

A Picture can prove it may be :signthankspin:

 

[avidyarthy]

Ok .... hold on ... 30 mins.

Would have to plan for the 'furniture' for this set-up. Now, shall give a pic which shall give you an idea .....

 

[avidyarthy]

1. JBL speakers atop a cabinet
2. Philips DVD & Topping

 

[Kittu]

that cute lil thing is topping driving those jbls ........... nice :licklips:

 

[iaudio]

What gauge is this rs5/m wire? Avidyarthy please get 1.5 sq mm wire and connect those to your speakers. Finolex will do. You are paying your electrician 100rs anyway!

 

[avidyarthy]

I know it, iaudio.

The same cables are running the Norge /Sony combo too, without any issues. I did try out the heavier gauge wire on that, but did not find anything noticeable. The cable is 'god knows' what AWG, quite thin but of very good quality copper. Thats what the retailer had informed.

Went by this cable since:
- the polarity marking is present.
- pretty easy to hide due to the slimness.
- cable colour match with the wall colour
- and .... price ...

 

[madbullram]

Glad to know you are enjoying the setup, end of the day, u should like it which is what matters. But I suggest dropping this near audiophile word

 

[srikarkav]

Hi Chennai Guys,

Any one have any idea where we can get JBL speakers in Chennai?


@avidyarthi. Congrats mate! Happy you are enjoying the music from the setup.I am also searching for a pair of speakers which won't burn my pockets for the Tripath.Since this is only my second system and am using it to hear music from my PC, i want to go for small VFM speakers.Give us some more of experience with the performance of the speakers.Thanks.

cheers,
sri

 

[srikarkav]

Hi Guys,

Here is a review of the JBL Control ones by a user on the audioholics forum.


JBL Control One Speakers... - Audioholics Home Theater Forums

cheers,
sri

 

[avidyarthy]

On a 2 channel mode,

-the Topping /JBL combo has LICKED my Pioneer AVR / Moviestar 70+ ......
-has nearly equalled the Norge 1000 / Sony combo.

AND the audioholics write-up is spot on ....

 

[psychotropic]

hehehe MBR, so what would you say is the threshold for using that word?

But I suggest dropping this near audiophile word

 

[avidyarthy]

MBR would say ...... Mark Levinson.

 

[avidyarthy]

The Topping / JBL has completed 20 hours of one-CD-after-another run in.

It has equalled my Norge / Sony combo, maybe, exceed it now. Fantastic tight bass and accurate treble. This thing really requires a proper burn-in.

Am I satisfied with all this pre-buy study and legwork? Pondering over the numerous issues on this in office and at home? ..... hyeah:

 

[madbullram]

LOL....Its such an abused word and people use it in every possible way...my way defining that is not using some brand name...an audiophile system is one that will reproduce the music the same way (at least 95%) if I was sitting live in front of the singer and musician.

Avid: You dont need a Mark Levinson to make an audiophile system. I just heard a crappy setup with ML amp and B&W 603 speakers and the bass was so boomy and irritating we switched off in 10 mins. Same time heard a setup with sonic impact original battery powered t-amp, AR pre amp and B&W Matrix 805 and it was a hair raising experience to hear Rahman on it. For me its all about synergy not brand!

The latest way you defined your system is perfect, thats practical and to the point and will help even novice understand the impact, In fact you t amp is way better than Norge!!! See if you talk to some second hand dealers and get a Kef Coda speakers (around 4-6k). That setup will give even more graatifyinf experience.

Also, try keeping u r speakers at ear level instead of keeping them above the cabinet. Just experiment your speaker placement and see if you can cover the glass cabinet with thick blankets...trust me this will give you 10-20% better musical experience and hey they cost nothing talk about upgrading without spending a paise

Just bought a Topping T30 from Peter, will post a comparison btw TP20 vs TP30 and TP30 vs DacMagic

 

[ajinkya]

LOL....Its such an abused word and people use it in every possible way...my way defining that is not using some brand name...an audiophile system is one that will reproduce the music the same way (at least 95%) if I was sitting live in front of the singer and musician.

Madbullram,

A well-designed system should reproduce whatever is input into it, faithfully. When a two-channel recording is incapable of capturing the actual event completely (due to the physics of human hearing, not because of my personal likes/dislikes), why will any audio system make us feel that we are sitting in the hall? Nothing can recreate the live experience. So, shouldn't the definition actually be: "an audiophile system is one that will reproduce the music the same way that the recording on the disc/tape/LP has it encoded" ?

I don't see why we still believe that "live experience" is a true test of a system, when everything actually depends on how well the recording of the event was done, how many channels were used, what equalisation was performed, what the recording engineer's impression of the event was, what the musician(s) wanted captured from the event, onto the recording medium, what the acoustic properties of the venue were and if they were compensated for.

In the face of all these parameters, why do we still insist that the system reproduce the "live event", when the actual goal should be "hi-fidelity", meaning faithful reproduction of whatever was fed into the audio system, without any colouration? The poor system can only recreate what was given to it; how will it ever know what the actual event sounded like? :sad:

 

[madbullram]

AJ: You are correct....missed that angle totally, I was more talking about good recordings not the craapy ones...garbage in is garbage out. Last two days have hearing some fab recordings of Beatles and MJ, i looked at the system when defining than the recording.

 

[avidyarthy]

Thanks MBR.

Yes, the speakers need to be at ear level, but, no ground space available. Again, they can be wall mounted, but again, no 'clear' wall present. So, the cabinet was the only way out. To counter this handicap, have given a wholesome tilt to both the 'demons' by placing hard rubber blocks behind each. The tilt is making sure that the sound waves travel direct to the seating area to create the 'sweet' spot.

KEF .... this is Delhi man. Delhi is way behind Mumbai, Bangalore & Chennai to have many second hand units floating around with the very few informed music dealers present. So, have to rely on new most of the times.