Topping TP41 Desktop Amp Mini-Review

I found the TP41 Desktop Amp when I was looking for something small to drive the custom Triad speakers that reside on my desk. At the time, it was only about $80-100 online so I picked one up and have been using it ever since. I’ve previously owned an older TP20 and am currently using the TP41 which I’ve had for about three years now. This quick review will cover over my likes and dislikes of the unit to give you an idea of what to expect if you decide to purchase one.

Overall the sound is good, but not great, as long as you keep the volume dial under 12 o’clock. Anything over that and you will get some distortion and noise, which has become more noticeable over time. For the first year the noise was barely audible, below the level where I would have complained about it. At present though, it can be heard in the speakers even at zero volume.

I’ve used this amp to power bookshelves from Monitor Audio, B&W, and Triad, all of which sound quite good with this little amp for what you pay. On top of that, the headphone amp died about a year into use. I wasn’t really using it since I love my Schiit Magni; and when I say die, I mean it makes a loud static noise during use. I didn’t bother to RMA it since that feature wasn’t important to me. If you want a good headphone amp, I suggest looking elsewhere.

I paid right around $80 for my TP41, however the price varies quite a bit on eBay; you might pay more or you might pay less. But at $80, this amp is a steal. Had it been a bit clearer-sounding, I would had given it a 10/10. For this reason, I would gladly buy another Topping amp to power something less-important like speakers in my garage, a kid’s room, or a bathroom. I have also used this amp to power the 6” in-ceiling speakers in my garage for a few months and it’s done a great job.

$80 gets you a surprisingly good finish with this little amplifier. The brushed aluminum faceplate looks stunning and the gloss black steel body is a nice accent. I also really like the speaker binding posts and RCA terminals on this unit. They are beefy, gold plated, and easy to use. Taking it out of the box for the first time blew me away with how solid and heavy it is at just over 6lbs! Build quality really redeems this amp in many ways. Whenever someone asks about this amp they are shocked to hear that I paid less than $200, let alone under $100 for it, considering how it looks and the how solid the rear-panel connections are.

Pros:

• Two switchable RCA inputs with LED lighting on the volume knob (blue or green).
• Excellent build quality and finish.
• High-resolution volume knob; I can always get the exact level I want.
• Speaker posts and RCA terminals are of very high quality.

Cons

• Headphone amp died a year into use, although it had very poor sound when it did work. I didn’t cry to see it go and it wasn’t an important feature to me.
• Noise and distortion at high volumes
• Good luck with an RMA, unless you buy from reputable vendor. These are sold everywhere online so watch out for shady eBay sellers.

The Topping TP41 Desktop Amp is a solid and very compact amplifier for little money. Topping makes some good small form factor desktop amps at very low price points. However, don’t expect to play it loud or deliver the highest audio clarity if you have a discerning ear. Wait for a good deal, the price often drops below $100. If you have the space, I also recommend the larger Emotiva A-100. But if you’re tight on desktop room and have a limited budget, this amp may work for you. The TP41 is not without flaws, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The amp is certainly useful. In fact, I am listening to music right now as I write this over my Topping TP41 because it fits neatly on my desk were no other small amp can. And I am very interested to try out their newer models. Have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!