Any comparisons to stuff like ifi signature?

What cable are you using on those Variations?

Awesome review, thank you !!!

I had the Eros S cable from Effect Audio on the variations.

Just got a G5 and charging indicator lights fine off the 45W Type C port of a 60W Anker charging block.
Maybe they addressed it in a firmware update.

Interesting, I’ll take a look. I have the last firmware they posted online but I’ll see if anything is new.

I tried the firmware update again and I’m still not able to charge on anything higher than 18W. I have a first run unit and I’m not sure if it’s pre production or not so it’s a thing that happens sometimes as a reviewer. I would like to see the issue being specific to my unit.

Interesting. When I read your review and came across the charging portion, it wasn't a big deal to me since I have a standard charger on the desk. I think that Topping claims 5 hour charge time so not sure that it's even fast charging despite the led lighting up. I don't recall seeing anything about any type of quick charge but who knows. I just know that the led does light up on my Anker quick charger and my standard charger as well.

Yeah, I believe it. It makes a click noise when charging starts, at least on my unit so I don’t hear it on faster chargers. It’s still an amazing device and I continue to use it mainly on my laptop at work, I just charge it off my laptop as needed.

Yeah, it clicks with both Anker fast and standard charger. Tried it on a generic Xoopar fast charger and it clicked and lit up off the 30W PD port of that charger as well. I'm guessing maybe they sent you a pre-production or very early unit. Or maybe some type of fault in the fast charge circuitry of your unit ... if that's even possible.

Is the channel imbalance a unique issue? I know topping is known to have some pretty bad QC on their other products, so I'd imaging the issue is more likely isolated to your unit.

Definitely not a unique issue but it doesn't seem to be consistent either; mine is so absurdly imbalanced at any volume through the "balanced" output that it's completely unlistenable.

Hopefully you can get a warranty replacement!

Update: if anyone else is experiencing channel imbalance at normal listening volume, power-cycling/switching modes several times appears to fix it. On my unit at least it only occurs on the 4.4mm jack so I guess it might be some issue with the firmware and the amp stage?

I don't experience any channel imbalance through either output at normal listening levels. I use almost exclusively the 4.4mm output (with DD 2.5mm adapter).
I believe that channel imbalance at normal volume, especially if it's only occuring through one of the outputs, would most likely be attributed to a fault in the unit.
Personally, I would be looking into having the unit replaced or repaired.