Topping B100 Mono HiFi Desktop Stereo Amplifier – Monoblock Clockwork Maestro
Topping B100 is a Speaker Amplifier, and it is sold per piece, with a price of $299 USD per piece, although you will need two for your standard stereo setup, so you might as well consider the full price to be $598 USD per pair. Today we will review the Topping B100 and compare the monoblock pair with competition based on popular demand, including Fosi V3 Mono (338 USD), Burson Funk (550 USD), and Cyrus One Cast (2000 USD).
Introduction
Topping is heating up the entry-level market and for a pair of monoblock amplifiers, B100 could be considered entry-level, and although cheaper options like Fosi Audio V3 mono exist, as we will explore the B100 today, it is a more sound choice for someone who’s just putting up their first audio system and needs proper amplification. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to Topping for providing us with the sample for this review.
PROs – Gentle, clean sound that’s safe and an excellent choice for anyone just putting up their first system. Excellent resolution and clarity with exceptional detail and a very natural midrange for the price point. Class B and it does not get warm during usage, consumes little power and delivers an exceptional listening experience. Affordable and has zero background noise.
Cons – The front part will get smudges as it has a touch based control for turning it on and off.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4hiiTdr
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_De6WfEl
Build Quality/Aesthetics
As I consider the B100 to be the most affordable entry-level option to starter an audio system, I’m talking about a good system, not just starting up a system, because Topping made the B100 incredibly capable from a technical point of view, and we have a THD of <0.00007%, a SNR or Signal To Noise Ratio of 151 dB, and a DNR or Dynamic Range of 151 dB. The Actual Noise level is <0.3uVrms, and we have a 3-step gain setting. The output power is 100W per AMP or per channel at 4 OHMs.
As Topping is one of the proficient OEMS in the audio world, they have designed a whole new AMP module, promptly named the T’ang-ku-la Module. This AMP module uses a three-stage feedback circuit technology, reducing circuit noise and lowering the high-frequency distortion, increasing the dynamic range to the numbers we just spoke about above. This technology also significantly lowers the heat produced by the circuits, and further boosts the reliability of the AMPs, extending the service life and diminishing thermal noise. To be honest, I have noticed this right away, as compared to every single AMP that has no pre integrated, B100 is the coolest running in the whole world.
The distortion level is so low that at 0.00007% for 4 OHM 5W, and 0.00007% for 8OHM 5W, the performance is similar to the flagship DAC ES9039SPRO, but even at normal usage levels, between 1W and 50W for 8 OHMs, or between 1W and 100W for 4 OHMs, the distortion is incredibly low, around 0.0001%. Topping made the B100 AMPs to match perfectly with their E70 and E70 Velvet DACs, as they feature a PRE function, and B100 accepts both XLR inputs and RCA inputs. As I do not have E70 in house to test the pair, I have combined the B100 with a SMSL DO200 PRO from Aoshida most of the time, as I both like the synergy and the combo looks great together.
It is important to remember that you need to purchase two B100 to make a full system. To this end, they also come with a 12V Trigger, which allows a long chain of linked devices to boot up and shut down at the same time. The control of B100 is touch based, and the touch sensor is not on the little visible button at the front, so you have to kinda feel for it until the unit turns on or off. Sadly, this means that the units will almost always be full of smudges.
Subjective Usage
The thing that put a smile on my face while using B100 was that there is no audible background noise with either of the inputs. With RCA, there may be if your DAC is noisy, but B100 surely isn’t sensitive to background noise and if powering them via the XLR inputs, they are quiet as a mouse.
It has been pointed out that the Class of Topping B100 is Class B and not Class D, so you can expect a higher performance compared to other AMPs that are class D, but as we will see down below, this Class B has a totally unique sound.
The touch control to turn them on and off is not very convenient, but they stay really cool even if you leave them turned on, so a pair of B100, even if stacked, can be left alone. There is no official data about how much power they consume while B100 is not actively powering the signal. From the manual, the consumption seems to be <1.2W, which would mean it is ideal to leave the units on at all times.
With a weight of 835 grams, B100 is almost as heavy as its huge power brick that uses its own unique power connector, the 2 Pin aviation connector, and those power bricks have a power delivery of 34 V / 4.0A. The power brick stays as cool as the unit, and overall the whole setup is incredibly cool and convenient to run.
Sound Quality
Pairings – To test the pair of B100 AMPs, I have paired them with a multiple of DACs and Speakers, and the speaker list includes Audience ClairAudient 1+1 V5, Pylon Audio Diamond 30 mkii, and NHT C3, while the DAC source list includes SMSL DO200 PRO, but also DACs that have no volume control like HIFIMAN EF400 and HIFIMAN EF500 with a PRE in between, this time my choice being Feliks Audio Echo MK2.
Overall Signature – For a speaker amplifier in the entry-level price range, Topping B100 is brilliant in detail, clarity and overall precision, although it has a gentle sound that’s rounded, full and satisfying, being a really safe choice for basically any pair of speakers. Regardless of your taste in music or the speakers at the other end, you will always have an enjoyable sound that’s easy on the ears, enjoyable and fun to get into. The bass is full and deep, midrange colorful and detailed, while the treble is very clean and relaxed, smooth and laid back.
Bass – Starting with a really full and rounded bass, Topping B100 creates a very clean and rounded bass presentation. As long as you’re not pushing it to produce over 50W, the distortion in the bass is one of the lowest imaginable, especially thanks to both the ultra-low THD. You will hear a perfectly clean and deep sound, with a rounded, warm bass that envelops every song and provides a solid bassline for your music. There is no DSP at work, and the sound can be only very slightly warm, while the power is enough to move the drivers of Pylon Diamond 30 MKII.
Midrange – With a clean and musical midrange, B100 emphasizes both male and female voices equally, with just a slight hint of warmth and color added to the mids, but otherwise the sound being controlled and distortion-free. I am able to push quite a bit of volume without a high distortion, while both male and female voices are smooth, rounded and gentle. Sonic character is between wet – splashy and waxy, impact is on the softer side, but most sounds are just only very slightly splashy. The whole presentation is a great general one, versatile and sounds excellent with rock, metal, pop, basically everything from every style.
Treble – To top an entry-level AMP, Topping includes a very soft, smooth and gentle treble that would rather steer away from you than be too bright and too harsh. It is very unlikely that any song will ever sound harsh or fatiguing, and instead you will have a refined, smooth and clean treble, maybe at times the sound being too relaxed and too lean rather than too harsh or too bright.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Changing the gain level will affect the sound character a bit, and at low gain, the sound is quite filtered, smooth and relaxed, while at high gain, it can sound more aggressive, brighter, but also punchier and more dynamic. As is the case with most AMPs, it is a good idea to leave gain at max whenever possible for the best sonics. High gan and louder volumes will compress the dynamic range and present a flatter, but wider image, with less depth but more width. Overall, B100 sounds good at all volumes, being best at medium volumes, and distorting quite heavily near max volume, but it is very unlikely you will ever use it near max as it can make my desk and windows move near max.
Dynamics Handling – Crowded and busy songs are rendered with good detail and separation between instruments, especially at medium volumes, with more combination and less separation at very low and very high volumes. There’s a dynamic and punchy sound, with b100 being engaging and colorful most of the time.
PRaT / Textures – Topping B 100 plays it safe with textures, and the presentation is generally rounded and clean, with a musical take, relaxed and gentle textures, with very little harshness or fatigue, even for guitars and edgy synths. You will hear good detail and information, but the focus is not on revealing texture as edgy as possible, but keeping things smooth and natural. In fact, the more you listen to B100, the more natural it sounds.
Soundstage – The staging is generally wide and holographic, with more focus on the holographic element than depth, and with the bass being more focused on warmth and a rounded, natural presentation, you will hear a natural depth, but a fairly wide and holographic sound.
Comparisons
Topping B100 vs Cyrus One Cast (598 USD vs 2000 USD) – There is much more function in Cyrus One Cast, and it all comes at a higher price, but the Speaker Amplifier is just Class D, and it gets much hotter during usage, consuming more powering and being more noisy in the background. In contrast, a pair of Topping b100 will have no background noise, will have a cleaner sound, and be much cleaner regardless of the volume, with a higher dynamic range and more instrument separation thanks to the Class B AMP circuit. The sound of B100 is more natural and has less digital glare, with a much better resolution and clarity, and much better
Topping B100 vs Fosi v3 Mono (598 USD vs 338 USD) – Fosi V3 mono is also a pair of Monoblock Amplifiers, but it runs in Class D instead of Class B like B100. There is no background noise audible with Fosi V3 Mono, which is pleasing to hear or rather to not hear, and the same is true with Topping B100. This being said, you will not leave any smudges on Fosi V3 Mono, as it does not have touch based controls. On the other hand, Fosi V3 Mono runs really hot, and some users reported their unit burning down, while b100 is cool, consumes less power despite a better AMP architecture. Sonically, V3 Mono has that Class D sound, which is compressed and smears separation a bit when it comes to complex songs, while B100 has better separation and a wider soundstage with better clarity. This being said, B100 has a much more natural sound, while V3 Mono can have that Chifi V-Shaped Class D signature that everyone knows, and which some people really like. Both AMPs are great choices, but for your first system, I would consider B100 more for its better technical performance.
Topping B100 vs Burson Funk (598 USD vs 550 USD) – Funk is more solid in build, but runs much hotter, thanks to its fully discrete Class AB Speaker AMP. The idea of an integrated AMP is great, and Funk has a headphone output too, but the sound it produces is quite a bit more aggressive and not a safe choice for a beginner, being more vivid, more forward, revealing more detail, but also much more harshness and edginess in music. In contrast, B100 sounds more natural, more rounded, smoother and more refined. The maximum driving power of B100 is higher, and it can achieve lower distortion at the same power level compared to Funk, although Funk has the convenience of the volume control, while B100 is simply technically a bit better for driving speakers.
Value and Conclusion
For a meager price of 598 USD, you can have a solid monoblock pair to power up passive speakers, and to provide you a clean, distortion-free sound. If you want to feel really good about your purchase, you can rest assured that B100 measures incredibly well in synthetic tests, doesn’t get hot during usage, and seems to be really cool if it is forgotten turned on.
With a softer, and more gentle, refined sound, Topping B100 is a great starter amplifier for anyone who’s just building their first audio system and who wants a hassle-free setup, excellent sonics and a beautiful AMP with a stealthy but sonically detailed sound.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4hiiTdr
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_De6WfEl
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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