ChiFi Guru

Your guide in the world of Chinese HiFi

Musician MonocerosvsTopping L70

A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Musician Monoceros and Topping L70 — two popular preamps in the Chinese HiFi space.

Specifications

Spec
Musician Monoceros
Topping L70
Tubes
Topology
Class A Discrete
NFCA (Nested Feedback Composite Amplifier)
Volume
R-2R Resistor Ladder (60 steps)
Inputs
2 × XLR, 1 × RCA
XLR (Balanced), RCA
Outputs
XLR, RCA
XLR Pre-out, RCA Pre-out, 4.4mm/XLR/6.35mm Headphone
Weight
7 kg
Features
Relay Volume Control, Remote Control, Ground Loop Switch
Remote Control
Tube Stage
Phono Stage
Headphone Amp

Price (estimated)

Price
~$1169
~$279
Difference
~$890.00 cheaper (Topping L70)

Things to Know

Musician Monoceros

  • Volume relays make a clicking sound when adjusting level (normal for R2R but can be surprising).
  • Runs warm due to Class A operation.
  • Display is retro LED style which some find outdated compared to OLED.

Topping L70

  • Rear panel is extremely crowded; thick XLR cables can be difficult to unplug.
  • The 'clicking' sound of the volume relays is audible inside the chassis when changing volume (normal but surprising to new users).
  • Display menu system is somewhat cryptic (abbreviations like 'H-G' for High Gain).

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