Clarity Simplified
Topping a50S
Specs & Gear
Topping a50s
SMSL Sanskrit 10th V2
Kbear BElieve
KBear lark
Blon 03
BQEYZ KC2
6.35mm Jack (Single Ended), 4.4mm Balanced, 0db & +6db gain switch.
Output Impedance: 6. 35mm Headphone jack: <0.1Ω 4.4mm BAL Headphone jack: <0.2Ω Output Power(THD+N<1%): 6. 35mm Headphone jack: 1.4Wx2@32Ω; 192mWx2@300Ω 4.4mm BAL Headphone jack: 3.5Wx2@32Ω; 760mWx2@300Ω Output Power(2Vrms In): 6. 35mm Headphone jack: 485mWx2@32Ω; 52mWx2@300Ω 4.4mm BAL Headphone jack: 1950Wx2@32Ω; 208mWx2@300Ω
Preamble
The Topping a50s is a small form factor headphone amplifier/preamplifier. Build quality is very solid if its weight and in hand feel is any indication. From left to right on the front faceplate we have the Power/Gain Selector switch, Gain indicator LEDs, 6.35mm single ended headphone jack, 4.4mm balanced headphone jack and volume knob. The volume knob feel very smooth in operation and the package as a whole feels very well put together. The rear panel is even simpler with only a pair of rca inputs, rca outputs and DC power in. The preamp outs are activated when there is no front panel jacks being used.
The Topping a50s is more than just a replacement for the a50. Not only has a balanced out been added but the a50s, it also uses the balanced amplifier modules which are derived directly from those seen in the flagship a90.
Setup & Use
Setup is as simple as it gets. There is no DAC in the a50s so signal from a separate DAC, or other component, would arrive via the input RCA’s in on the rear shroud. The power switch is dual function with a quick press/release switching between gain levels and a longer press and hold used to power the unit on or off.
There is no remote control capability so all adjustments have to be manually done. Operation is very easy and not prone to errors even when using the multifunction power switch.
Sound
If one word could be used to describe the overall sound of the a50s it would have to be “Clarity”. The a50s does not call attention to itself except in its clean tonal presentation. A good analogy would be drinking tap water all your life and one day drinking filtered water. What you though was clean and refreshing has now been shown to be stale and tainted. The a50s does not get in the way of the sound. There is no treble roll off, bass dip or emphasis here or even a hint of warm colouration.
This isn’t to say that the a50s leans towards a sterile presentation at all. With well recorded material and a capable audio chain from top to bottom, the a50s is a very clean, engaging and satisfying amplifier. IMHO, the job of most components, and amplifiers in particular, is to step aside while doing their jobs and NOT change or get in the way of the music, some Tube amplifiers notwithstanding. This requires an amplifier with ample and controlled power reserves delivery, as well as a neutral presentation. The a50s delivers with the ability to let the emotion and layers within the music be clearly grasped and understood. With over 3.5kmw available into 32ohms on the balanced output, there is power to spare.
The KBear BElieve is an earphone that can be very picky with source components, let alone tip & cable selection. Paired with the SMSL Sanskrit 10th V2.Topping a50s stack, the BElieve sang a very sweet song. Never was I aware that the a50s was limiting performance even during the most complex and demanding tracks.
If anything, the Balanced output delivered even better performance, albeit the difference was not as drastic as changing tips for example would afford. Very good dynamics coupled with a super low noise floor meant that the critically important spaces between the notes were incredibly impactful. I found that the presentation of dynamics was something that really benefited on the a50s by using the 4.4mm balanced output over the 6.35mm single ended one. Again, it will not be a night and day difference that everyone may notice, but I did.
Switching to High Gain (+6db) really adds to the versatility of the a50s particularly when powering those hard to drive headphones. This could add to the punch and impact for those headphones which can benefit from the added boost in gain. The BElieve benefited along the same lines as what the balanced output offered.
Strengths & Weaknesses
The a50s has many strengths and few if any weaknesses. If one is to look at it’s direct competition there are a few notables including the Monolith Spark, SMSL SP200 and a few others. That being said, I believe that if the feature set available on the Topping a50s is what you are after, than it gets a strong recommendation. The a50s never became overly warm to the touch or noisy in operation. One issue I did notice, and this may be particular to my particular item, is that when the volume is turned all the way down you can still hear the music, albeit at a whisper level.
Conclusion
The Topping a50s gets a strong recommendation as a solid product with true hi fidelity sound in an easy to deal with form factor. If you are considering a quality headphone amplifier in it’s price range, then the a50s should be high on your shopping list.
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