Topping L30 xploding and taking headphones out

Discussion in 'All Points Bulletin / Be on the Look Out' started by M3NTAL, Dec 17, 2020.

  1. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    I am personally not surprised at all. The failure ratio for the Topping and SMSL stuff was always higher than usual. They always came off to me as a cliché, low quality, scammy company from China (which they are!). Avoided them like the plague and went out of my way to purchase anything but Topping or SMSL (isn't that the same company or something?). I just value my time and money way too much to lose it.
     
  2. bboris77

    bboris77 Friend

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    I gave Topping a fair shot by buying (and selling) a few of their DACs. I have to admit I was curious about how higher-end AKM and ESS converters sounded. These DACs sounded ok and looked sturdy with some bizarre design decisions like OLED displays and exotic input options to justify ever-increasing cost. I never had confidence in their amplifiers due to the DX3 Pro fiasco and their inability to get the output impedance down in the early days.

    Funnily enough, like being in a relationship with a deceptive person, there were warning signs of upcoming trouble all along that become obvious in hindsight. Ridiculously cheesy website full of spelling errors, blind focus on specs and measurements, name-dropping of component brands (capacitors, DAC chips), drivers in a corrupted zip file, terribly designed setting menus, cookie-cutter designs, reports of early failures, suspiciously glowing reviews on ASR and so on.

    At this point in time, I have lost all interests in anything that this manufacturer comes up with as it all appears to be unoriginal and superficial stuff with questionable customer service and uncomfortable relationship with ASR. For North American audiences, there are at least two better mainstream choices - JDS Labs and Schiit.
     
  3. Michael Wong

    Michael Wong New

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    Well, I own both Topping D90 and A90 and they sound very good. It is very unfortunate for all L30 users that had there gear damaged. Topping's representative should have announced something or stop / recall L30 by now..
     
  4. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    First batch of A90 also had a flaw btw... the fuse wasn't strong enough, so with inrush current (ON switch is already toggled for example, and then plug it in power) the fuse could blow. Once some people contacted Topping about that they upped the fuse rating. Not quite as dangerous, but again something that was caught after the facts...
     
  5. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    At least it had a fuse
     
  6. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

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  7. Bobcat

    Bobcat Friend

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    Just got an email from Drop and the E30 is one of the things advertised...

    Rob
     
  8. Baten

    Baten Friend

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  9. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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  10. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Why not? You get fabulous SINAD numbers and the entertainment value of playing Russian roulette with headphones. The more expensive, the bigger the thrill. All for a mere $150. Seems like a bargain to me.
     
  11. Brause

    Brause Friend

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    I sent John Yang a neutrally flavoured message - what to do in certain cases - over at ASR, 2 day ago. No reply. Word will go around.

    I contacted the seller in China: very nice and constructive reply. He is cooperative and we are looking for a solution in my case. That word will go around, too.

    I will wait and collect more data - and then may summarize the issue in a blog article. Topping will get the exposure they deserve.

    Interesting to see how the issue will pan out.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  12. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    Reminds me of this episode:

    [​IMG]

    A quick photoshop to reflect the times:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  13. Roget

    Roget Acquaintance

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    Atombob or Purrin,

    Is there a way to determine if parts are fake?
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Small hot hatch?

    Topping.png

     
  15. bboris77

    bboris77 Friend

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  16. bboris77

    bboris77 Friend

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    News Flash! After a lot of pressure, Amir added this statement to the review:

    "EDIT: I have learned that one member has had his headphones damaged in use of the L30 headphone amplifier. Topping is aware of this and is trying to investigate. This could be an isolated experience and hopefully it is. If not, I wanted members to know about this potential issue."

    My personal opinion is that it is way too little and way too late. It looks like it was written by a politician because, while the statement may technically be correct, it is very misleading. There has definitely been more than one reported case of the L30 taking out headphones.
     
  17. Michael Wong

    Michael Wong New

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    Do u know what should be the rating for the fuse ? I will check mine tonight..
     
  18. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-amplifier-review.15226/page-130#post-632923

    Another unit blew

    https://forum.hifiguides.com/t/psa-topping-l30-damaging-headphones/20109

    Hifiguides has a thread also and looks like John Yang joined to respond there.

    Possible to blow your headphones and damage your hearing? Not our problem! Big yikes on Drop.
    Dayum, the suspense is killing me (and probably some more headphones). Topping has been really reactive and radio silent on this. Jeez
    Looks like he is now acknowledging there are more than a few units blowing up:
    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-amplifier-review.15226/page-136#post-633818

    Amir is probably the biggest factor for Topping's success in the West find it odd today is the first time he is hearing about this but who knows, we all get busy. Following their L30 thread, it does appear quite a few people are ESL. ASR and every forum has tremendous reach and influence. Just even taking a looking at this thread currently:
    Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 27 (Users: 2, Guests: 25)
     
  19. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    All of this big brand audio shit that is made in China: Focusrite, Harman, RME, UA, Presonus, etc are filled with counterfeit capacitors and electrical parts. It's all disposable future electronic waste. If its not in the board, it's in the shit power supply. All the Chinese -con capacitors are knockoffs of Japanese capacitors from industrial espionage but the PRC companies can't make them. The really random Chi-cons are knockoffs of knockoffs. Same as Behringer makes knockoffs of knockoffs of knockoffs.
    This crap is worse than old school Japanese lofi. These manufacturers all sold out and wanted cheap and they got chabuduo cheap. Behringer is even lower quality. The Chinese off brands are sub Behringer. SMSL and Topping are pretty much bottom of the barrel.

    1000 years of feudalism > 70 years of communism
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
  20. bboris77

    bboris77 Friend

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    Psalmanazar, is counterfeiting seriously that common in China-made products? It would be cool if someone could dissect one of these devices and prove this conclusively with pics comparing genuine to fake parts. Is it mostly capacitors or does it extend to DAC converter chips?
     

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