PA3 Desktop HiFi Digital Amplifier Class D, TDA7498E 80W 2 Output 2 Way RCA Input, 2 Channel Power Amp (PA3)

I wanted an amp because the amp in my active speakers died, but I liked the speakers. Wanted a headphone too. Picked the TP32 because I liked it's features and looks. A little more expensive than I wanted to spend and probably a little more expensive than it should be (compared to other amps), but oh well..the nerd wants what he wants.Room*15'x15'.*Table on one side about 1/3 the way back facing the middle of the room, so the speakers point towards the back of the room and not towards the bulk of the room.*Sit about 1m from the speakers.*Swan M200MKii Speakers converted to passive mode because the amp broke.-System Type: 2-way 4th order active vented box system-Drivers Configuration: 5"mid-low driver,25mm dome tweeter-Frequency Range: 56Hz-20KHz-Harmonic Distortion: 80Hz-20kHz=1%(2.83V/1m)-Sensitivity: 87dB (2.83V/1m)-Nominal Impedance: 5 ohms-Power Range: 10-60W*Grado SR80i Headphones-Tranducer type: dynamic-Operating principle: open air-Frequency Response: 20-20-SPL 1mW: 98-Normal Impedance: 32ohms-Driver matched db: .1Inputs*DAC - USB on back (I switch between 2 laptops)-Lenovo W510 Win7 Enterprise 64bit-MacBook Pro Lion MacOSX*AUX Red/White RCA jacks on back-Sony Bravia KDL-40V4100 Line Out*Power connection on back. Separate power brick.Outputs*Speakers- 5 way binding posts on back .*Headphone - 1/4" headphone with 3.5mm adapter on front.Remote*On/Off Power button*Output Mode (amp, headphone, amp/headphone) on 3 different buttons.*USB or AUX on different buttons.Remote Only Controls (can't set with buttons on the amp).*LED has 3 brightness levels. Setting is saved through power off/on.*Mute - 2 lines where the digital is show mute.*Auto USB for turning on/off the amp with the computer.*Fade In when powered on.*Manual shows range of 5m and 60 degrees for the remote.Amp Controls*On/Off*Output Mode: Headphone, Amp, or Headphone/Amp. Use the same button as on/off.-When 'off,' press turns the amp on.-When 'on,' short presses go between the output smodes (amp, headphone, amp/headphone).-When 'on, a long press turns power 'off.'-As you switch between output modes, Volume memory for Amp and Headphone/Amp are the same. Headphone volume memory is set separately.*Volume up/down 0-99.-Pretty sensitive. Can barely hear at 1 while 0 has nothing. Each tick is just a little bit more.-Volume Button the amp can do fast volume up/down when you keep your finger on it. The remote doesn't.*Input: USB or AUX.Display*3 levels of brightness for the LED.*Volume - Shows volume digitally.*USB/AUX - Shows which input is being used.*Output --Little headphones designate headphones.-Blinking headphones means headphones and speakers.-Nothing means speakers.*Fade in/USB auto on/off: This is at the bottom right of the digital volume number. When you press either button on the remote, a long lit (about 2 sec) shows the feature is 'on.' A short flash designates it's 'off.' There's no constant to show 'on' or 'off.' I guess you can't with the same blinking LED being used for 2 features.Sound*The range is 0-99.*75 starts to get loud and could fill the room.*99 is loud, but there's distortion. Distortion starts around 80.*Better connected to my TV, so it might be about source.*I'm not an Audiophile, so take this with a grain of salt.-Vocals tend to be pretty good...Esperanza Spaulding, Corinne Bailey Rae.-Classical is pretty clear....Four Seasons, Beethoven..-Faster music (Van Halen, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani...) tends to get a bit muddy quickly at higher volumes...may be the recording.-Star Wars III (through the TV) sounded pretty clear and crisp.-Soundstage is good.*PROs*Volume increments are very smooth. With setting from 0-99 and digitally controlled, the volume can be changed very gradually.*Looks nice.*USB DAC.*USB auto on/off.*Fade in.*Output mode includes amp and headphone at the same time.*Headphone jack*Small (External power brick)*Light*LED on the display is a good brightness...and there are 3 levels.*5 way binding posts for speakers. Like the banana plugs.*Separate volume memory for amp and headphone.*Good, easy remote. It's laid out well and each button does only one thing.*The amp makes changes by pressing buttons multiple times. I know the opposite of what I said about the remote. But, it keeps the amp look very clean. And, it's not confusing. Overall, the remote and amp are both laid out well. Wish amp had all the controls (see CONs).*Fast volume increase/decrease when finger is left on button on the amp.*Remote has pretty good range. I can put it 1 1/2' in front of the amp with the amp on top of the speaker 13" and it works fine. And works from across the room.*CONs-Maybe more power for cleaner sound at higher volume.-More inputs. Although the USB helps with TV and PC connections. And the USB connection is flawless (including the auto on/off feature). Maybe a 3.5mm jack on the front for mp3 would be good.-Distortion on the high end (80+). But, again that might be source.-Static electricity turns it off (that's probably all my fault, but seems a bit sensitive).-Remote volume doesn't increment/decrement when keeping your finger on the button. You need to press-release-press-release....-Not all features are capable from the amp itself (a few are remote only...like mute, USB auto on/off, fade in, LED brightness).-Line out would have been nice, but I guess the headphone can serve as that if needed.-Mute shows 2 lines for volume. Would have been nice to have blinking volume level just so you know what you'll be at when you come off mute.-Fade in/USB or auto on/off signal: would be nice to have the light lit for 'on' and no light for 'off' vs the flashes. I guess it saves energy and LEDs since there is only one LED for both.-It's a bit expensive. But, I guess for the features, it may warrant that.Conclusion: This is a pretty good amp in terms of features. And the sound is good up to around 80 which is loud enough for me. The geek in me wants to go to 99 (since there is a 99). But, I never play that loud. 70-75 is usually the loudest.Would I buy it again? I would. I don't play 'loud' that often, so it works for me. Why the 4 stars? I still think it's a bit overpriced compared to other amps in the Topping line.UPDATE: Couple of weeks later...sounds pretty good. Music sounds much warmer, clear, and I'm hearing things I didn't hear before. I'm really liking the sound now.

This amp looks and feels extremely well made and classy. the power brick is hilariously large however, almost the same size as the unit itself. Sound quality is great, providing a very full, pleasant sound however there is some hiss when turned all the way up with nothing playing. It is hardly noticeable however and does not affect music at all. The unit has two inputs as well for flexibility and the source button doubles as a power switch. The rear speaker terminals are kind of cheap looking but work just fine.All in all, im impressed and extremely happy with this unit.

Nice feel and good build for the price. Wattage is good for most speakers. I've used it with Klipsch Heresy, Polk T50, PSB Stratus mini. 2 inputs are useful but if you have a pre-amp the volume control might be redundant. Also it picks up noise from the AC power. So I suggest a good surge protector with power noise filtration.

Upfront, I have to say that I'm using just the aux input and headphone output of this amp and haven't tested the other features. The reason I bought this was that my new TV has no headphone output and I'd been connecting the old TV headphone output to a pair of Mackie MR5 powered studio speakers. So now I need a way to convert TOSLINK to analog stereo and provide volume control with IR remote. There wasn't much space, which ruled out a device like the Emotiva XDA-2 (overkill anyhow). So I now have a FiiO D3 to convert to analog and this TP32 for remote volume control. If you plan to use it as part of a system with a single remote control, you'll need a universal remote with learning capability (I used URC-R50).This amp is well built, even down to the foam-lined shipping box. The sound quality is good. Excellent value.

As with most of these little Topping amps, which are better headphone amps that they are actual integrated amps (for use with speakers, unless they're just desktop monitors), this is a very nice little unit. The head amp sounds nice, the DAC is very nice and it's really quite attractive.The quirk is that it won't hold it's input position; you're constantly having to reset it to headphone mode, which is the only mode I wanted it for. Also, the remote is useless. It would be better off with a knob, but you can manually press for volume up/down so no biggie.Would be a better value at around $90.00, but it's fairly nice as is.

The amp in this unit works well and I really like the remote. Very nice package also. I am using it to drive my STAX rig. The DAC is not the best, though. My Schiit Bifrost is what I am using and my Asgard 2 is functioning as a pre-amp to this amp. Noticeable improvement when it is hooked up this way versus just the DAC in the TP32.

The sound from this AMP is good. The DAC is there but not really worth it... It had trouble getting the bass though my book shelve speakers but for 15WPC not bad... for the price did really well for the year that I used it as my AMP. I've seance moved to a HK3390

All functions worked as expected. Quality of construction and design excellent. Unique ability to select setup without reconnecting cables saves time and connectors. I hate it when other amplifiers don't allow use of headphones and speakers simultaneously.