Topping D50 III & A50 III Review

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On this page, we’re checking out the Topping A50 III Desktop Amplifier.

Topping A50 III Balanced Headphone Amplifier

Topping A50 III’s dedicated web page can be accessed through this link.

The A50 is the natural companion to the D50 with both of them sharing the same compact footprint makes them easily stackable. The I/O ports align exactly, too, if you are as OCD as I am about these things. The A50 III is priced at $199, making it an excellent companion to the D50 III DAC. The A50 III continues Topping’s amplifier tradition of offering exceptional performance at a very reasonable price point. My wife enjoys her L30II very much to this day. Similarly to the D50 III, the A50 III features balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA inputs. On the front panel, we have 6.35mm SE and 4.4mm BAL headphone outputs and 3-step Gain. It will have no issue driving anything you throw at it.

Here are the highlights:

  • NFCA Amplifier Module
  • UHGF Technology (uses DC15V instead of USB-C, Ext. PSU)
  • BAL/SE Selector Switch
  • SE RCA / BAL TRS inputs
  • THD+N<0.00006% | DNR>144dB
  • Aluminum Chassis with Anodized Finish (stackable w/ D50 III)
  • L/M/H 3-STEP Gain with 0.3uVrms noise floor
  • BAL 2700mW of power into 32Ω load
  • SE 1400mW of power into 32Ω load
  • 0.1Ω Output Impedance
  • 12V Trigger (3.5mm)
  • Firmware Upgradeable through USB-C
  • The latest AMP firmware will be found here.

Packaging & Accessories

Topping has maintained the same high-quality packaging for the A50 III as it did with the D50 III, keeping the design consistent across their product line. The A50 III comes in a simple and elegant black-and-white box, as with the D50 III; the outer white sleeve features a sleek photo of the product without unnecessary text. I appreciate this clean approach and Topping’s stepping away from the norm.

After removing the sleeve, you’ll find the black Topping box with a glossy finish and an embossed logo. Upon opening the box, the amplifier is well-protected in a foam compartment. Inside the package, you’ll find a DC15V power adapter for the A50 III, which delivers clean power to the amplifier. I’d also like to see USB-C here, but it is tricky to get it done engineering-wise. As mentioned before, power is a crucial part of audio implementations. It’d probably bump up the price and increase the size of the PCB, so Topping opted for an external PSU, which is understandable in this price bracket.

As for the rest of the accessories, you don’t get a lot. I’d also like to see a TRS-to-TRS interconnect here; it’d be pretty cool if Topping had included it. You only get a 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter and a product card with a QR code.

Design & Build Quality

The A50 III shares the same compact form factor as the D50 III, with a clean, minimalist design that takes up minimal space on your desk. The CNC-machined aluminum chassis gives it a solid, premium feel, and at nearly half a kilo, it has a reassuring weight for its small footprint. It looks like Topping packed a solid punch in there. The device is available in both black and silver anodized finishes, perfectly matching the D50 III for a seamless stack setup.

The front panel features a functional yet streamlined layout, including a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, a 6.35mm unbalanced output, and a power button that doubles as the gain selector for low, medium, and high gain modes. The volume knob is smooth but satisfyingly heavy, allowing for precise adjustments. Its weight ensures you won’t accidentally bump it, preventing any abrupt volume changes that could potentially damage your ears.

As with the D50 III, the port openings on the A50 III are well-machined, and the finish matches the DAC perfectly, creating a cohesive and polished look when stacked. The I/O ports seem durable, and the headphone outputs are gold-plated. Everything seems solid and well-assembled. The A50 III is a well-made amplifier, up to Topping’s standards.

AMP Performance & Power

The Topping A50 III delivers an impressive power output across both balanced and unbalanced headphone outputs, making it a versatile amplifier capable of driving everything from sensitive IEMs to demanding full-sized headphones. In single-ended mode, the A50 III provides 2150mW of power into a 16Ω load and 1400mW into 32Ω. In balanced mode, it ramps up to 3500mW into 16Ω and 2700mW into 32Ω. Even at a higher impedance, the A50 III holds its ground, offering 395mW into 600Ω, which is Gnarls Barkley’s level of crazy for an amplifier of this size and price point. Take a look at the power table here.

Even if you don’t have or don’t want to buy TRS cables, the A50 II lets you use the 4.4mm headphone output for convenience. On paper, the performance might drop slightly (you’ll essentially be doing RCA to 4.4), but in practice, I found it just as transparent as the balanced setup using my Sennheiser IE600 IEMs. Despite the theoretical penalties, the amp maintained a clean, neutral signature without my ears noticing. I may be getting old; who knows?

The A50 III has a gain switch with low, medium, and high gain modes, which makes it capable of handling a wide variety of IEMS and headphones. In low gain mode, it works flawlessly for sensitive IEMs, offering smooth and precise volume control. For more demanding headphones, like my Hifiman Ananda Nano, the medium gain mode was more than sufficient, delivering plenty of power at around 40% volume.

I’m no stranger to Topping’s NFCA (Nested Feedback Composite Amplifier) module, having reviewed several amplifiers featuring this technology. The NFCA module in the A50 III offers ultra-low noise and distortion-free sound, even in high-gain mode. It’s especially useful for planar magnetic headphones or demanding dynamic drivers, ensuring that the amplifier supplies clean power without introducing unwanted noise or clipping. Topping has been refining this technology for years, and it shows in the A50 III’s transparent and detailed sound output. It is one of the most powerful headphone amplifiers for the price, and to think that it is almost as small as the palm of my hand is just crazy.

Pairing it with high-end DACs like Hugo2 and D90 III Discrete (using Preset Volume Mode 3V) didn’t feel like a bottleneck at all. The A50 III maintained a neutral, clean presentation. It allowed the DAC’s qualities to shine through, ensuring that the sound signature remained true to the source. Unfortunately, I didn’t have XLR to TRS cables at the time of writing this review, so my options were limited when it came to BAL performance.

Even when using more sensitive IEMs, such as the Symphonium Crimson in low gain mode, I heard no hiss. From a technical perspective, the A50 III does an excellent job of conveying the source’s characteristics, serving as a clean and transparent conduit between DAC and headphones. At $199, the Topping A50 III downright impresses as a compact, powerful, and versatile amplifier. It can supply a crazy amount of power, and thanks to its gain modes and low output impedance, it can handle everything from 8-ohm IEMs to power-hungry full-sized planar headphones. Overall, the A50 III offers incredible value for the price.

 

The review continues on Page Three, the click HERE or by using the jump below.

Page 1: Topping D50 III Desktop DAC, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality, PEQ, Features, DAC Performance

Page 2: Topping A50 III Desktop Amp, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality, AMP Performance & Power

Page 3: Topping D50 III & A50 III DAC & AMP Stack Performance, Comparison, Last Words

4.5/5 - (284 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

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