REVIEW: Topping NX5 - Portable Amplifier
Website: tpdz.net
Package
The NX5 arrives in a nice and more friendly package and includes the following accessories:
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm short cable
- USB cable
- 2 rubber bands
- 5 pairs of adhesive velcro pads
- Silicone
Everything needed
for a portable amp, but a carrying case or small bag could be useful.
Build & Design:
The build
quality on the NX5 is just excellent and the black version looks very nice. The
whole body is made of very thick aluminum, including the volume knob. It's a
bit heavy but still well suited for its portable use. The matte surface is very
smooth and gives it a more discreet look.
At the front there're
the two in and output connections, the L/H Gain and Bass switches and the
volume knob which also turns the amplifier on/off, and the LED indicator. The
volume knob is tight enough to prevent an unintentionally volume change. At the back, there's the micro-USB
and charging LED.
(Front view)
(Side view)
(Back view)
Power, Hiss, Battery:
Specifications on the
NX5 rates it to be suitable up to 300ohm, and it seems right from most of the
demanding ear/headphones I tried on the amplifier.
Hiss wasn’t noticed on low
gain even with most sensitive earphones and even on High gain it is very low.
Battery is very good. This
new NX5 now states 30+ hours of use, and it definitely delivers it. On a daily
1~2 hrs use for like more than a month (at low to moderate volumes), there was
no need to recharge the NX5. Topping is offering a great battery life against
many other competitors.
Sound Impressions
The new NX5 turns out to be a technically very strong
portable amplifier. It tends to offer a very balanced sound, neither too flat nor
colored, regardless the source used. While not a completely transparent little
amp, it would classify as being ‘neutral with a slight sense of warmth’, very
detailed but without giving a too analytical presentation like say something as
the Cayin C5 but noticeable stronger than a AMP-HP with the
Burson V5i opamp. Extension on both ends is very good which may give a more
lively presentation. Treble quality is surprisingly really good, smooth but not
laid back, helping a lot with sibilance issues.
The midrange takes a better position, but it won’t
became more dominate or thicker. Slightly fuller and better textured and
resolving. Vocals and instruments sound
more neutral pairing well with v-shaped sets. Warm or
mid-centered earphones might feel cooler in tonality, but they can achieve a
better overall balance without sounding unnatural. It’s the more clear and
effortless presentation that makes it sound more open, airy and resolving. Sound
also arrives smoother with excellent control to the unnecessary/unwanted extra
brightness that usually leads harshness or extra grain in the upper mids.
The low end remains neutral, meaning the amplifier
won’t provide more bass quantity than what the headphones should deliver.
However, the bass performance is quite impressive, having a faster response,
deeper and further extension, and mainly, much better quality and layering.
With Bass gain on, it has a better impact, and
sometimes even worth the 'Mega Bass' description with certain earphones. Yet, the NX5 Bass boost
is closer to that of a C5, as it helps the low end rather than changing the
overall tonality.
Soundstage is certainly improved above
average but the NX5 doesn’t intend to show a wider presentation than the
earphone or headphone in use is meant to have, though it certainly improves the
layering and dynamics, and has very good speed, with a more natural decay and
extension
All-in-all, I found that instead of adding a certain flavor to the overall sound, the real strength of the new NX5 lies in simply improving each aspect of the sound, both in a technical and musical manner. Balance from the NX5 alone is superb; which I personally like over the Cayin C5 or FA HDB, reminding of the Panda AMP-S in its super technical abilities (but that one is still the king of details and resolution even after a few years).
Gears used (to
mention some):
DN2002, VSD5S, Finder
X1, RX-1, VE Zen 2.0, Asura 2.0.
Senn HD600, ATH M50,
Fidelio X1
Fiio X1, Sandisk Clip
Sport, Lotoo PAW5000
Value:
The last Topping
addition to portable gear has everything needed for a good portable amplifier.
It may not be up there in pure quality with the upper models, but still wins in
many aspects like size factor, design, build quality, and most importantly it
does improves the sound and the battery is excellent as well. Upgrade or
not the NX5 is definitely worth the price and well deserves a 5 star rating!