Topping TP20 tripath 2020 amplifier (versus NAD C320BEE)

so from the reviews it looks like you need something like the nuforce icon udac apart from the topping tp20 to get it working? also you need a soundcard to complete the setup? so it is all going to cost like minimum rs 12k?

any comparisons between this setup and the nuforce icon integrated amp selling for $200 on amazon?
 
so what's the opening post on this thread talking about getting this for 4k here?

also does this need a pre-amp? or can it be directly hooked on to the computer/speakers?

Everyone here bought it from someone or the other Chinese/Hong Kong sellers on ebay. When you buy from them the total price + shipping + customs is estimated to 4k INR. It doesn't require a pre-amp. It has a volume control on it.

how many of you have ordered from this hongkong seller on ebay and received it here safely in desh? how much custom duty did you pay?

appreciate the feedback.

No idea about the seller. Just to give you an idea I posted some random ebay link. Others who bought it from China/ HK ebay can comment on it.

so from the reviews it looks like you need something like the nuforce icon udac apart from the topping tp20 to get it working? also you need a soundcard to complete the setup? so it is all going to cost like minimum rs 12k?

any comparisons between this setup and the nuforce icon integrated amp selling for $200 on amazon?
You would need a DAC to get it working in both cases. Haven't tried it but nuforce icon amp may be of better quality.
 
I know that Ravi. I am talking about the Usher's impedance behaviour as measured by Stereophile during its review. Please look it up.

So if the speakers have good impedance beheviour they'll work well with the TP20, if they don't they won't. End of story.

@psychotropic
There is now way you can gauge the impedance characteristics of a speaker looking at the nominal impedance in the speaker specs. In fact if impedance of a speaker is not dipping below 4 ohms then it is considered to have good impedance characteristics.
Some speakers with 4 ohm nominal impedance in spec fare better and are easy on the amp than 8 ohm nominal impedance speakers.
 
I know that Ravi. I am talking about the Usher's impedance behaviour as measured by Stereophile during its review. Please look it up.

So if the speakers have good impedance beheviour they'll work well with the TP20, if they don't they won't. End of story.

Yes, I agree with you. You can't trust the speaker specs always.
I meant to say my 89 dB Sensitivity 4-8 ohms Impedance speakers worked much better than my 90 dB Sensitivity 8 Ohm Impedance speakers.
After all the speaker which worked better is few times costlier than other.
 
hello i had to wade through 50 pages of this thread to find out that it is topping tp30 that i should be buying if i want to play music from my laptop to speakers.

anyway are these both the same :

Topping TP30 USB DAC Class T Headphone Amplifier TA2024 | eBay

Topping TP30 Class T Digital Amplifier & USB DAC New | eBay


i am a bit concerned because the first says it is a headphone amp. if both products are the same, is it supposed to mean that it can also act as a headphone amp?

appreciate the feedback.
 
hello i had to wade through 50 pages of this thread to find out that it is topping tp30 that i should be buying if i want to play music from my laptop to speakers.

anyway are these both the same :

Topping TP30 USB DAC Class T Headphone Amplifier TA2024 | eBay

Topping TP30 Class T Digital Amplifier & USB DAC New | eBay


i am a bit concerned because the first says it is a headphone amp. if both products are the same, is it supposed to mean that it can also act as a headphone amp?

appreciate the feedback.

TA2024 is supposed to be a bit lower quality in terms of sound than the TA2020. So Topping 30, while having a headphone out (because of which it is mentioned as a headphone amp) was not advised over the Topping TP 20, last time I asked.

Regarding output from laptop : Just FYI, I have the TP20/JBL control one combo. I am currently sourcing music (mp3, flac) from my desktop, which has an Asus MA785 motherboard for AMD. No additional sound card. I am pretty happy with the sound (but then I am not a true "audiophile" ;) )

Of course, TP20 does not have a headphone out, if that is a must for you.

Also, both the ebay links you mention look like the same product, just different names. the 35$ one from indeed-hifi will probably go to around 90$ once you add shipping ?
 
hello i had to wade through 50 pages of this thread to find out that it is topping tp30 that i should be buying if i want to play music from my laptop to speakers.

anyway are these both the same :

Topping TP30 USB DAC Class T Headphone Amplifier TA2024 | eBay

Topping TP30 Class T Digital Amplifier & USB DAC New | eBay


i am a bit concerned because the first says it is a headphone amp. if both products are the same, is it supposed to mean that it can also act as a headphone amp?

appreciate the feedback.

@nandac
Stay away from TA2024 based amps. I tried one and not happy with it. Its no where close to be called a Hi-fi quality.

My advise is buy Topping TP20 and a DAC separately.
 
@nandac
Stay away from TA2024 based amps. I tried one and not happy with it. Its no where close to be called a Hi-fi quality.

My advise is buy Topping TP20 and a DAC separately.

hmmm 'madbullram' seems to think otherwise ...

so no 2020 with an integrated dac on the market? nothing by topping?

can you suggest a dac for the tp20?
 
hmmm 'madbullram' seems to think otherwise ...

so no 2020 with an integrated dac on the market? nothing by topping?

can you suggest a dac for the tp20?

DAC options depends on your budget. If you're on a tight budget a DIY DAC can be an option. See the below link it has every thing except enclosure all for $90 including shipping.
That DAC chip is found in above 40k INR CD Players.
24bit/192KHz DAC DIY KIT ,FULL ASSEMBLED KIT- Lampucera | eBay UK
Or this can be an option.
NEW VERSION ZERO 24/192KHZ DAC& HEAD AMP & USB & OPA627 | eBay UK
And a review for it http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/269458/review-zero-24-bit-192khz-dac-headphone-amp-pre-amp
Options I showed you have to be ordered from China/Hong Kong. If you don't want to put any risk then got for the NuForce entry level DAC. Anything higher doesn't make sense to use with Topping.
 
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there is a saying in tamil called 'kalla kanda naaya kaanum' ie if you find the stone you can't find the dog (to throw the stone at). this tripath + udac business seems to be like this. 2020 seems to be the best chip but you can't find it in a system integraded with a udac. there are such integrated systems but with a 2024 - but that is considered inferior to the 2020. and there are amps which don't use tripath at all like nuforce icon but that seems to have 'noise' issues. or those like virtue audio which seem too expensive for a desktop amp. after two days of searching i am already tired ... :-(
 
there is a saying in tamil called 'kalla kanda naaya kaanum' ie if you find the stone you can't find the dog (to throw the stone at). this tripath + udac business seems to be like this. 2020 seems to be the best chip but you can't find it in a system integraded with a udac. there are such integrated systems but with a 2024 - but that is considered inferior to the 2020. and there are amps which don't use tripath at all like nuforce icon but that seems to have 'noise' issues. or those like virtue audio which seem too expensive for a desktop amp. after two days of searching i am already tired ... :-(

How about using the TP2020 without a DAC for a while ? As I mentioned, I had same concerns and thought that a DAC would be a must. So far I do not require it, and I am on stock Mobo Soundcard, cheap wires, cheap RCA cable + 3-way RCA switch etc.

Thanks to the information overload and plethora of choices, our decision making has become much more complex (faced this myself before just getting irritated, and just ordered with faith in few members' opinions on this thread regarding the Amp as well as speaker).
 
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hey this came through on ebay searching for "2020 dac" :

ORDO TA2020 T-AMP Amplifier & USB DAC TA2020 PCM2704 S | eBay


how do the components look on this : Burr-Brown PCM2704, TA 2020, Burr-Brown OPA-2134, KOA resistor, ELNA Caps,Nichicon, gold coat PCB ...


wonder where they get names like topping, hlly, ordo ...

Topping and Hilly are good brands. I guess Hilly is better than Topping. Looks like you found what you looking for. You can give it a try.
 
With due regard to all those who have posted here,
I opine that the thread title is a tad misleading
Comparing a tripath to a NAD, or vice versa is like comparing chalk to cheese, or vice versa (and we shall never know which is which). Both are great amps in their own different ways but then a good hatchback is a good hatchback and a good sedan is a good sedan. To compare the two against each other amounts to meting injustice to both.
 
With due regard to all those who have posted here,
I opine that the thread title is a tad misleading
Comparing a tripath to a NAD, or vice versa is like comparing chalk to cheese, or vice versa (and we shall never know which is which). Both are great amps in their own different ways but then a good hatchback is a good hatchback and a good sedan is a good sedan. To compare the two against each other amounts to meting injustice to both.

@trittya
Well said. It is a bit misleading.

There were comments saying Topping with cheap basic speakers is better than any stereo hi-fi combination till 80k INR.
Reading that I bought my self a Topping. I got bored in 2 days and back using my NAD amp. Though the Topping experience was good I wouldn't think it would beat a decent latest 50W/ch integrated amplifier.

Topping is a good entry level amp. It is good for those having a budget of about 15k INR for both amp and speakers or for those the requirement is just having an entry level basic hi-fi. For that price its great you get a taste of Hi-fi rather than DVD Home Theatre systems.
 
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Well, it is something like this ....... when one is getting 90-95% of the SQ (some people claim it is 100-110%) at 10% of the cost, then what is the need to invest so much for an 'outdated' technology which has been in use for donkeys years?

It definitely does not mean shooting down the AB amplification route. But, people ARE averse to change ... happens everywhere. Moreover, when someone has already procured an expensive route, psychologically, he finds it very difficult to accept that his investment has gone down the drain. So, that individual keeps on contemplating that his procurement is superior to the other equipment ........ thats a normal human attitude. Nothing wrong with that.

The same thing happens at the stock markets too. Quite a few of us do 'blind' buy deals. Blind buy means, without doing a company survey, just by momentary intuition, one buys. Once 'bought' the buyer keeps on thinking the share value HAS to go up even when the stock moves south.

No offence to anyone in here ........ to each his own.
 
i sent a query about a 2020 with dac to peter at indeed-hifi :

hello, do you have a similar dac amp with a tripath 2020 chip?

to which he replied :

Hello,
We have no similar DAC amp with a Tripath 2020 chip now, the TA2020 sounds a bit hard than TA2024, so it does not fit to DAC compare to TA2024.
That is the reason why most of DAC/2024 amp in market but no find a DAC/2020.
 
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