March 04, 2021Audio Product Reviews

TOPPING A50s Reviews Compendium

Compendium updated: April 19th, 2021.
 
The TOPPING A50s is often overshadowed by its more expensive siblings, but audiophiles looking for a game-changing amp in the sub-$300 bracket shouldn't neglect it. With massive power and balanced output, the A50s has been called a mini A90.

We’ve compiled reviews from across the web for your reference. What you’ll find here are the TLDR versions of the full reviews (which you can access with the provided links). We’ll continue updating this compendium as reviews come in. 

From Audio Science Reviews' review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on September 28th, 2020:

“What can I say? We have another instrument-grade audio product in the form of A50s. You may be getting tired of seeing such exceptional results but I won't. It puts a smile on my face every time an audio product pegs my analyzer to its limits. Whether it is objective testing or subjective, the A50s nails the target of producing state of the art performance.

“Needless to say, it is my pleasure to highly recommend the Topping A50s.”

 

From Joshua Valour's review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on November 25th, 2020: 

From Z Reviews' review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on December 17th, 2020:

From DMS' review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on December 6th, 2020: 

From SoundNews' review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on December 29th, 2020:

From iiWireviews' review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on January 19th, 2021:

“9.5/10

“Topping A50s on paper looks like an L30 with the addition of balanced output. But even without using that one, it manages to sound slightly better. If you’re only able to use a single-ended connection it would represent a very good and powerful solution, capable of driving almost anything you throw at it. For those able to utilize balanced out, A50s is a no-brainer really.

“The unit I had for a review was a kind loan from an audiophile fellow and a countryman. If that was an option, I would gladly exchange my own L30 and sixty bucks (which is the price difference between the two) for his A50s.”

 

From Everyday Listening's review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on December 21st, 2020:

“Pros –Solid build quality, Small footprint but feels planted on desk, Ultra-linear sound, Coherent presentation, Great soundstage width

“Cons –Small volume knob, No negative gain setting for IEMs, Could do with greater dynamics and soundstage depth

“Verdict –The A50s remains an easy recommendation for its well-rounded design, ultra clean and linear sound and very reasonable price.”

 

From SoundStageSolo's review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on December 20th, 2020:

“Sound: 8/10

“Value: 7/10

“The A50s is a nice little amp for those who want to drive demanding headphones in a desktop setup where space is at a premium—I imagine it would work well in desktop audio production setups, cubicles, dorm rooms, and anywhere else space is tight. With a few limitations I’ve noted, it can drive almost any headphones. And as my measurements show, it’s obvious that a lot of care went into its engineering.”

 


From Audiophileon's review of the TOPPING A50s, first published on April 9th, 2021:

“To me, this is a no-brainer product. The A50s is outstanding value for money and certainly the best amplifier I can think of in this price range. My only sole criticism is the lack of a balanced input that would make this perfect. However, when the price is considered along with the great build and incredible sound, I think it is something you should certainly consider for many people.”

 

Editor’s note: Emphases ours.