Quick Look: TOPPING EHA5 Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier

[VSG]

TOPPING aims to lower the entry barrier to electrostatic headphones with its affordable EHA5 e-stat amplifier. It uses a solid-state design to deliver clean sound and has plenty of power for even demanding sets while offering both balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs, as well as a pass-through mode, further enhancing its versatility and value.

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[SOAREVERSOR]

Looks like a steal at that price.

 

[Miiksuli]

Wow. I have been sleeping What a steal! It's even so cheap that it would be nice to also do some modifications if needed. And not be bankrupt if something goes horribly wrong.

There is Topping's answer if someone read somewhere else there is no protection:

TOPPING EHA5

Ah, then yeah hopefully there end up being more options. Estats are really not difficult or expensive to make relative to other driver types, when we are talking higher performance tiers. Those Chinesettawong clones of Orpheus and Omega from way long ago come to mind. I just wish Topping had...

audiosciencereview.com

"Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting TOPPING support. We are happy to assist.

There are multiple levels of protections applied in the EHA5 to protect the headphones.

A bit more insights. The caps are rated at least 1000V. The suggested output protection is not necessary. For two reasons, the transformer has certain output impedance to limit current. When for some reason the diaphragm is hitting the plate, the other side of it is the resistance in the bias circuit, 3.3M ohm will definitely limit current. And various tests with headphones are performed, including full sine wave with max volume at high gain into different headphones this shows no issues to the amp and the headphones. And when diaphragm hits the plate continuously, there's still not damage seen.
There are bias voltage detection and protection, amplifier DC protection, power supply voltage detection, over current protection in EHA5 to ensure the safety of the headphones.

Best Regards"

 

[VSG]

Wow. I have been sleeping What a steal! It's even so cheap that it would be nice to also do some modifications if needed. And not be bankrupt if something goes horribly wrong.

There is Topping's answer if someone read somewhere else there is no protection:

TOPPING EHA5

Ah, then yeah hopefully there end up being more options. Estats are really not difficult or expensive to make relative to other driver types, when we are talking higher performance tiers. Those Chinesettawong clones of Orpheus and Omega from way long ago come to mind. I just wish Topping had...

audiosciencereview.com

"Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting TOPPING support. We are happy to assist.

There are multiple levels of protections applied in the EHA5 to protect the headphones.

A bit more insights. The caps are rated at least 1000V. The suggested output protection is not necessary. For two reasons, the transformer has certain output impedance to limit current. When for some reason the diaphragm is hitting the plate, the other side of it is the resistance in the bias circuit, 3.3M ohm will definitely limit current. And various tests with headphones are performed, including full sine wave with max volume at high gain into different headphones this shows no issues to the amp and the headphones. And when diaphragm hits the plate continuously, there's still not damage seen.
There are bias voltage detection and protection, amplifier DC protection, power supply voltage detection, over current protection in EHA5 to ensure the safety of the headphones.

Best Regards"

Yes, that answer was provided to me also and is in the article.

 

[Miiksuli]

Oh my bad. I was too hurry to comment

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

FWIW you can get the HiveX headphones + this amp for 999 which is shockingly low for an estat system and probably a good way to start.

 

[VSG]

FWIW you can get the HiveX headphones + this amp for 999 which is shockingly low for an estat system and probably a good way to start.

Totally, although there can be some occasional frustration with the HiveX diaphragm sticking to the stators as I found out and mentioned in the article.

 

[Miiksuli]

FWIW you can get the HiveX headphones + this amp for 999 which is shockingly low for an estat system and probably a good way to start.

One of the cheapest estats out there that u can actually buy. Taobao also sells some too for a very cheap price but not to outsiders directly.

Totally, although there can be some occasional frustration with the HiveX diaphragm sticking to the stators as I found out and mentioned in the article.

I think it's humidity think. It occasional happen on my HiveX too.

 

[VSG]

One of the cheapest estats out there that u can actually buy. Taobao also sells some too for a very cheap price but not to outsiders directly.


I think it's humidity think. It occasional happen on my HiveX too.

Not much humidity at my place, but yes that can affect it as you pointed out.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Totally, although there can be some occasional frustration with the HiveX diaphragm sticking to the stators as I found out and mentioned in the article.

You make sacrifices as you go down the price stack. However 1k is firmly within "splurge" range for audio stuff and when you compare that to 4-5 figures for most estat headphones and 5 figures for a lot of amps it comes into picture.

 

[MauroHiFi]

Hi VSG
Your articles are wonderful. I found them out recently and I am reading them one after the other.
i have just happened to find a great occasion on a STAX SR-L700 and I am trying to understand how estat amplifiers work.
i could buy this topping in new condition but also used SRM-313 and srd-x professional. Could you please help me understanding what are pros and cons of this topping model against these others two models?

 

[MauroHiFi]

Hi VSG
Your articles are wonderful. I found them out recently and I am reading them one after the other.
i have just happened to find a great occasion on a STAX SR-L700 and I am trying to understand how estat amplifiers work.
i could buy this topping in new condition but also used SRM-313 and srd-x professional. Could you please help me understanding what are pros and cons of this topping model against these others two models?

@VSG

 

[VSG]

@VSG

I have not heard either of those STAX amplifiers, so I can't say anything useful.

 

[MauroHiFi]

I have not heard either of those STAX amplifiers, so I can't say anything useful.

Thanks anyway. I will have to trust my gut feeling waiting for your next review..

 

[VSG]

Thanks anyway. I will have to trust my gut feeling waiting for your next review..

Unfortunately, I have never heard back from STAX about review samples so please don't wait for me to cover the brand's products anytime soon.