Topping TP20 tripath 2020 amplifier (versus NAD C320BEE)

Rega Turntables
Guys,

Received my Topping TP20-MK2 TA2020 2 days back. I was pleasantly surprised at the music it puts out, though with very few songs I felt it was struggling to drive my Dali Ikon 2s but then for the size and price its definitely a 5 star winner :D

B Rgds,
Raj.
 
^^ The combination's regular use over the last 12-14 months have brought out certain things, which I had put down in this Forum earlier too. As follows:

Do not, repeat, do not wall mount the JBL speakers. Use them in the book shelf mode. Better still, locate the JBL speakers on top of a wooden cabinet / almirah / shelf. Provide a slight tilt (pointing downwards @ 5 to 10 degrees) on the speakers by placing rubber pads to the speaker rears.

The soundstage increases drastically .... separation of instrumentals is at its phenomenal best ... clarity is 'super' .... bass is 'tight' and brisk ... though, still slightly less for some listeners (... not me). Absolutely super for hearing vocals, Western / Indian Classical Instrumentals, Pop, Country, Bollywood ... however, this is not meant for Hard Rock and Metal!

The mid range is fabulous ... so is the treble ... to an extent that I (and a few of my non-Forum friends) have found this combination slaughter many a high-end equipment.

Please wait for the 'complete' T-amp burn-in ... usually would take @ 50 hours and try have the source to be a good CDp or a higher end DVDp/BDP.

There were 'some' feedbacks on the Topping not giving sufficient loudness with some speakers. With this combination, believe me, your neighbours would start reacting the moment you exceed the 12'0clock position on the volume knob. NEVER exceed the 3'0clock on the knob under any circumstances ... have noticed clipping taking place. Best 'high' position is 2'0clock .... for very loud, distortion-free sound. On very close listening, you might find the sound 'pristineness' to start deteriorating after 12'0clock on the knob.

....... Enjoy real VFM SQ ....
 
What is the issue in wall mounting? My cabinet height is only 2 feet, if I place the speaker on it it may not be at the ear level.
 
Have explained the 'best' ways for this combo, which was arrived at after numerous hits and trials ..... now, its your choice as to whether to follow it or not ....
 
Have been using a TP-20 Mk2 for almost 2 weeks myself. Surprise it is for sure, and in a good way. I saw immediate improvement on Polk Audio TSi300 earlier and now I am driving Dali Ikon 6 with it! Can't complain about it running out of steam at adequate listening levels. But yes, bass control & punch is not its strong point. I know what Dali's are capable of in tight & fast mid bass which is not coming out from TP-20.

I have ordered the T-AMP 90 (a much more powerful brother of TP-20) to see if it improves things there! Still waiting to receive it though after 3 weeks! the response from Hlly Audio is not good. After 3 mails they replied - "we have shipped via USPS mail" and after 3 more mails, i am still waiting for shipment date and number.
 
found this comment on the web about the tp20 :

One key area of improvement with T-amps is in the area of power supplies. A better power supply can take T-amps to another level of performance, especially in the area of bass extension, tonal richness and soundstage size. Some people really like SLA batteries for taking their T-amps off the power grid. Others like me prefer to use higher wattage AC-to-DC switching power supplies. Some people have even added high capacitance automotive audio stiffening capacitors to their power supplies to boost the reserve power for power bass extension.

http://www.monstercable.com/mpc/productPageMPC.asp?pin=2837&section=four

For an assembled power supply upgrade, some people have used these:

http://www.welbornelabs.com/sonic.htm

It comes with a nice umbilical cable for connecting the power supply to the amp.
 
Last edited:
given the cheap power chord provided by topping, can we get a upgrade locally in india? any ideas on this?

the specs in the power chord for the topping states :

input : 90 - 265 vac 50-60 hz 1.8A
output : dc 12v --- 5000 mA max
 
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a member had commented previously on this thread :

I finally replaced my TataSky adapter with a Meanwell 12V 5A power supply.


any idea where to get this product from?

appreciate the feedback.
 
Proud new owner + new member to the forum

Hi, i came across this forum when i was researching the topping amp. truly awesome amount of info in the thread...

i have now purchased the Topping TP30, from dinodirect for US$ 73.69 using a coupon code, prices have gone up since :sad: ...luckily for me the parcel didnt get stuck in customs, as requested by me, dinodirect had not pasted any stickers on the boxing, and marked it as a gift, well this amp is really a gift ;)

The TP30 is the model with the USB DAC based on the TA2024C chip.I have coupled the amp with Telome Audio MS 301 bookshelf speakers. I am really happy with this combo.. the telome's are new as well, and have started to open up just now.. the first day i heard the combo i was disappointed, but since its been a few days and with a few breaking in exercises for the speakers, new placement and positionoing they are sounding pretty awsome now!!!

also looking at purchasing the TP60 to power towers for the future...

Looking forward to being a part of this awesome community!!!

Cheers!!!!
 
nandac said:
given the cheap power chord provided by topping, can we get a upgrade locally in india? any ideas on this?
Click to expand...
If you want to replace only the power cable, then you can get a standard (IEC 60320) computer power cable of excellent quality for about Rs 100. Take your AC-DC adapter along with you and ensure a good tight fit before you buy the cable.

If you want to upgrade the entire power supply, then finding a good quality 12V 5A unit is a pain in India. Several users have reported using the 12V adapters supplied with Satellite Boxes (BigTV, DishTV etc) with good results. These are usually between 1.5A to 2A. I tested my TP20 with our BigTV adapter and it worked fine - even at full volume. So I guess 1.5A is just about enough for the TP20 ==> 1.5A @ 12V = 18W, which is more than the Max 14W rating of the TP20. I'd recommend 2A minimum to be on the safe side - 5A maybe be over-kill for the tiny TP20.

Other options:
1. 12V AC-DC adapters used for LED strips. You can find these on eBay or your local electronic store 12 Volt 2 A Power Supply SMPS LED Strip Driver Adaptor | eBay

2. If you are DIY kind of guy, then the best option would be to get a 300 or 400W PC PSU and rig the 12V rail for your purpose. This will provide the most stable power supply - just make sure the fan noise is not intrusive.

nandac said:
I finally replaced my TataSky adapter with a Meanwell 12V 5A power supply.
Click to expand...
The Meanwell adapter is quite expensive. You can have a high quality transformer based power supply unit custom built for you for about Rs 1000 if you know where to go.

Cheers.
 
All, this here is a perfect post for me! I am trying to build a cheap hifi rig for the time being. Now, I understand this amp pairs well with super sensitive speakers. So, can I pair it with Polk RTi A1/A3 or the Wharfy 10.1/10.2 or the MA M2 or BX2?

The polks have nominal impedance of 8 ohms and sensitivity of 89db.
The WF 10.1 & 10.2 have a nominal impedance of 6 ohms and sensitivity of 86db.
The MA M2 has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms and sensitivity of 88db.
The MA BX2 has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and sensitivity of 90db.
Are there other speakers & speaker parameters I should look at for this amp?

Thanks for your inputs. Cheers.
 
I am burning this amp with a pair of MA BR2s. I am a novice alright but appreciate good sound. this match presents good detail, thanks to the aluminum tweeters on the BR2s, the mids are in place and what shocks me most is the tight and controlled bass the tiny of this amp generates. I am a happy campaigner. Listening to def -pour some sugar on me, as we speak, and can't help but smile in bewilderment...

Trying bi-wiring the speakers next... Others may advise what to expect

Tapatalk ka jalwa !!!
 
Are there any local options (bangalore/online India shopping sites) for power supplies ?

The power supply for my Topping went bad (atleast I'm hoping it is the power supply), so want to try with a new one.

Don't want to spend too much (i.e. 4k etc). Something more VFM would be better :)
 
abhinav said:
Are there any local options (bangalore/online India shopping sites) for power supplies ? The power supply for my Topping went bad (atleast I'm hoping it is the power supply), so want to try with a new one.

Don't want to spend too much (i.e. 4k etc). Something more VFM would be better :)
Click to expand...
Try the 12V 2A AC-DC Adapter that comes with the satellite boxes (like TataSky, DiskTV etc). You can get it from their dealers for about Rs 300 to 400. Several HFV members have reported using these with good result.

You should take your TP20 along and make sure that the plug fits and the unit powers on.

Or check this on eBay - 12 Volt 2 A Power Supply SMPS LED Strip Driver Adaptor | eBay. I got it for another purpose (my WiFi router), but tested it with the TP20 and it works great.

Other VFM options:
- If you know a music instrument store, ask them for Casio/Yamaha key board adapter that is 12v & 2A. These are usually transformer-based and could be of better quality compared to SMPS ones. They run about Rs 500 - Rs 700.
- Any decent Computer parts store should carry 12v 2A adapters for WiFi Routers & some printers. They will do fine with the TP-20.
- A good electronic store should have a suitable AC-DC adapter for your TP-20.

Cheers.
 
Most people use SMPS for applications like this, purely because of the obvious advantages (Size/cost/etc).

The real difference supposedly comes when we start talking about unregulated vs regulated. The regulated supplies are far better in terms of measurable numbers, which is what most audio 'hobby-ists' look for i suppose :rolleyes:. Now that will cost more!!

That said, the power supply i use is a regulated DC supply, unfortunately heavier/ bigger/ probably more expensive than the amp itself :lol:!!!!

And, the dynamics?? Very, very nice indeed. A fantastic secondary setup for sure IMHO.

Oh, the things we do......:indifferent14:

Cheers!
 
Teja said:
Try the 12V 2A AC-DC Adapter that comes with the satellite boxes (like TataSky, DiskTV etc). You can get it from their dealers for about Rs 300 to 400. Several HFV members have reported using these with good result.

You should take your TP20 along and make sure that the plug fits and the unit powers on.

Or check this on eBay - 12 Volt 2 A Power Supply SMPS LED Strip Driver Adaptor | eBay. I got it for another purpose (my WiFi router), but tested it with the TP20 and it works great.

Other VFM options:
- If you know a music instrument store, ask them for Casio/Yamaha key board adapter that is 12v & 2A. These are usually transformer-based and could be of better quality compared to SMPS ones. They run about Rs 500 - Rs 700.
- Any decent Computer parts store should carry 12v 2A adapters for WiFi Routers & some printers. They will do fine with the TP-20.
- A good electronic store should have a suitable AC-DC adapter for your TP-20.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I ordered the 12V 2A adapter from the ebay link above. Cost : 290/-, got it in two days, and works fine.

Thanks !
 
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