Practical Question Regarding Newer Topping Amps

I would buy almost anything over a Schiit product. Have bought 3 of their products and ALL 3 had issues that required returning for refund within days of purchase after dealing (arguing) over several online messages over multiple days with the worst customer service and that I have personally experienced with an audio product company. They don’t even list a contact number.  When it comes to audio you get what you pay for 99% of the time!  Those were their 3 strikes, and they are permanently out of my business. 

To your question, I am not too familiar with Topping but Take a look at S.M.S.L.  I have a couple of their products in a guest room and the garage.  Great little units with good sound, customer service and no issues at all for the $!

@ellajeanelle I own an SMSL DO100 DAC; it was what I used prior to upgrading to a Denafrips Ares II. I am not too familiar with which models in their lineup would make a good balanced (XLR) preamplifier for a speaker chain. I don’t actually care at all for the headphone capabilities.

-Ed

Can you stretch to a used Rogue RP1? That should be better than schiit and will come in around $1,000 used. 

Interesting, I currently have eight pieces of Schiit gear (used in three different systems) and have owned three or four other pieces of theirs which I've sold. I've never had a problem with any of them and love the way they sound for the money. And, the two or three times I've emailed Schiit with questions I've heard back within a day or two.  Sorry you've had problems with the stuff you've bought.

@mlsstl  In comparing the Kara’s active mode versus the Freya+’s SS buffered mode, would you say that the Kara performs better? I’m trying to figure out whether or not I’d be giving something up in SS mode if I chose a Freya+ over Kara to experiment with tube mode.

-Ed

I don't have either a Kara (Schiit's newest preamp) nor a Freya+, but if I were buying one or the other I'd go with the Kara. 

 

mlsstl

1,346 posts

02-15-2024 at 08:44pm

Interesting, I currently have eight pieces of Schiit

ever heard of miralax?

Ha!

The first Schiit product I bought was a DAC that didn’t DA properly. After determining it wasn’t me I had to argue for them to replace it. Then it worked for about 2 years before total failure. Their response was no fix just buy another.

Never again.

I do most of my music enjoyment on a Topping DAC balanced into a Topping amp, This system saves ~200 watts off my electrical draw over the A system which I feel no compulsion for. It takes any abuse I give it, total silence between program.

I already got my money’s worth

I ended up scoring an open-box SMSL SP400 for just $350. Can't wait for it to come in!

-Ed