Tag Archives: Burson Audio

Burson Conductor 3XR Review

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The Burson Conductor 3X Reference is an all in one unit designed with huge power for the most demanding headphones.

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Design and Functionality

The Conductor 3X Reference stands out, its aluminium chassis has rounded edges and acts as a heatsink meaning your unit will run cool too. It’s a unique design but the display on the front is clear and easy to read, the remote is easy to use and the volume knob is a good size. On the back you get digital and analogue inputs along with analogue outputs as it can be used as a pre-amp too. On the front you have a 4-pin XLR balanced output and a 6.3mm single ended output, most power comes from the balanced output as you would imagine.

The 3X Reference is a DAC/Headphone amp that works as a pre-amp too, it’s designed to be the centre of any system and fit in seamlessly. It has USB/Coax/Optical and Bluetooth digital inputs, along with balanced analogue inputs. It also has balanced outputs to use the pre-amp stage for external amplifiers, one fixed voltage and one variable voltage. On the front you also have a microphone input which gets converted by an ADC to be picked up by the PC the unit is plugged in to. The unit runs warm as it is pure class A with fully discrete components, and there are 2 gain settings along with various digital filter settings.

See our full range of Burson Audio products

Sound

The 3X Reference features a true Class A amp section for driving headphones, couple this with a DAC for each channel and you get truly stellar sound quality. The 3XR is smooth and refined backed by plenty of power to bring out impact and punch even when using hard to driver planars. The amp section has a firm hold over the headphones driver, with excellent articulation and snappy dynamics. At the same time the DAC section is well balanced and detailed allowing plenty of micro-detail to shine through.

Burson have put a lot of thought into pairing the correct DAC section with a complimentary amp section, and it really does pay off. You don’t get a perfectly neutral reference style sound, instead I would describe it as mildly warm and sweet. It pairs well with a lot of headphones, but really shines when you pair it with a good pair of planar headphones, that power on tap really does wonders with them.

The Conductor 3XR is designed to allow you to not worry about power output, and whether you are driving your headphones to their fullest, instead it allows you to focus more on the listening. It lets you sit back and enjoy, knowing that you are feeding your headphones with plenty of clean power. It really is a fun and enjoyable listen that is never fatiguing or boring.

Check out our Best DACs & Headphones Amps of 2020 Guide

Conclusion

Ok, so the Conductor 3XR is not cheap and it’s only really justified if you have a good collection of headphones. But if you do want a DAC/Amp that will power your collection and let you enjoy the music, the 3XR does a stellar job and is well worth an audition.

Burson Fun V6 Vivid Review

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Burson Fun V6 Vivid

 

Burson have created an incredibly powerful headphone amp, in a small desktop friendly housing. The sound is simply sublime, helped by its dual mono, Class A topology which is fully discreet if used with V6 op-amps.

 

 

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The Fun, much like the Play, has a more industrial look with a matte black aluminium enclosure with minimal markings. It is definitely not the most luxurious looking amp, but it is what is inside that counts. On the front you have the 6.3mm headphone out, 3.5mm analogue input, and 3.5mm microphone input, and the microphone input is a pass through to the back plate. On the back you have the 3.5mm microphone pass through output, along with RCA inputs and outputs.

 

 

Build quality is excellent; you get a sturdy metal chassis with a metal volume knob too. There are rubber feet on the bottom, and all the inputs and outputs feel excellent. You can take the top of the case off easily to roll op-amps, and you can even install it into a PC tower.

 

 

Features:

The Fun is mainly a headphone amp, using Class A dual mono circuitry for maximum sound quality. It also features fully discreet components if purchased with the V6 series of op-amps. If not, you can always install them in at a later date.

 

The Fun is incredibly powerful for its size, powering all but the most power-hungry headphones out there. It also features RCA outputs to be used as a pre-amp- this feature makes it a perfect match with the Bang power amplifier.

 

There is a microphone pass through which doesn’t touch the internal components but tidies up the cables on your desk if used with gaming headphones.

 

Sound:

The Fun with V6 Vivid op-amps packs a punch. With most headphones, you won’t need to crank the volume up much to get good listening levels. What is noticeable here is the sheer clarity of the amp: it is focused and controlled, yet the lows hit with incredible authority and power. The midrange is detailed and airy, but not upfront and intimate as some people prefer.  The treble has tons of sparkle and extension, but it never comes across as bright or harsh. The V6 Vivid op-amps make this amp a lot of fun to listen to, and it is incredibly engaging, but it never sounds like there are peaks and dips added to the frequency response to make it this way.

 

This amp is balanced with maybe a hint of added body and sparkle, the soundstage is wide and the separation is superb. There is air between instruments, and the dynamism is really impressive.

 

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a powerhouse of a headphone amp, a great pre-amp or just something engaging and enjoyable to listen to, the Fun with V6 op-amps should be high on your list. What it does for the price is truly incredible. We highly advise you to come down to our demo room to test it out, especially with the new Sennheiser HD820.

Review: The Burson Audio Play V6 Vivid

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Burson Audio Play V6 Vivid

The Play is the perfect all in one solution for PC audiophiles, and avid gamers! With a powerful headphone output, super clean DAC section and mic input it has all you need.

 

 

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The Play is a more industrial looking unit, with a simple black aluminium casing that feels sturdy and well finished. It is not a fancy looking unit, but it is functional and the size is excellent for desktop use. The LED display on the front looks great, and the volume knob fits in well with the overall design.

Build wise all the sockets are high quality and everything clicks into place tightly, there are sturdy RCA outputs on the back along with the power input. Burson offer a 5-year warranty on their products, so you know this is a unit that is built to last.

 

Features:

The Play is a DAC/Amp, it only has a USB input so you cannot hook up analogue sources unfortunately. On the upside, you can mount the Play in a PC tower by removing the case. It also has a Molex power connector to hook it up to your PC power supply and a backplate with the RCA outputs on it for use as a pre-amp.

The Play has a mic input on the front, which is not a simple pass through but it contains a high-quality pre-amp inside along with an ADC so it shows up as an input when plugged in via the USB. The quality of the mic input is really impressive, super detailed and quiet too.

 

Sound:

The Play with the V6 Vivid op-amps is one super combo, the Vivid op-amps are like the name would suggest. They inject a dynamism into your music and gaming experience like no other amp, and yet it doesn’t sound overly coloured either. The Play has an incredibly powerful class-A output stage that will drive the majority of headphones on the market with ease; it isn’t the best match for sensitive earphones though, and favours full-size headphones.

The sound is crisp, clean, and above all punchy. It has an engaging and highly enjoyable sound without becoming fatiguing. There is a tiny bit more body down low, but nothing that is excessive and the midrange is not affected by this. The same with the treble, there is a tiny bit more sparkle but without becoming harsh, as the sound is very natural.

With the Play you can roll op-amps to your heart’s content, but if you are looking for a great all rounder that injects a little fun into your listening, the V6 Vivid model is perfect.

 

Conclusion:

The Play with V6 Vivid is a versatile and powerful DAC/Amp that fits into a PC tower and includes a great mic pre-amp. Burson know how to make an excellent sounding and well built DAC/Amp, the Play is really an excellent piece of kit for the price.

Getting Amped Up for Autumn

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Getting Amped Up for Autumn

Our top recs for seriously impressive headphone amplifiers.

 

Stick a pin in it, summer’s just about done for.

Now we’re staring down the barrel of the big chill, and we’re gonna have to get serious about our indoor entertainment if we want to get through it without  either losing our marbles or freezing them off. What else are you supposed to do, take in the beautiful changing foliage? Get really into trick-or-treating?  As if.

It doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom, though! Whether you’re looking for something to complement your perfect gaming rig or a punch of power for your juice-hungry headphones, we’d be willing to bet we’ve got something for you to get excited about.

Pick 1: The Burson Audio Play with V6 Vivid

Settle in for a long winter’s night with this awesome, customisable amplifier from Burson. This is one of the most powerful headphone amps around, and it’s perfect for anybody looking to upgrade their gaming setup to include a serious sonic boost.

No high end soundcards in gaming feature the DAC chip found in the Play, which means PC gamers have to settle for distortion, poor sound quality, and noisy power supplies. Who wants subpar audio dragging you out of the moment when you’re trying to keep an ear out for raiders lurking in the capital wasteland?

The Play is perfect for users wanting to roll their opamps, which means you can tweak that sound to your exact specifications and lose yourself completely in whatever world you’d like to substitute for the cold, wet one outside.

Pick 2: The iFi Audio Micro iDSD Black Label with USB DAC

You’ve gotta show your face in the real world eventually, but why resign yourself to a less-than-stellar listening experience while you’re making moves?

The Micro iDSD Black Label is a perfect portable companion for those wanting to maintain a high standard both at home and on the way to your friend’s ill-advised homemade fireworks display. Drown out the sounds of his self-inflicted injuries with three power output modes to make it the perfect match for the most sensitive headphones all the way to the most power-hungry. What’s that? You need more options? It’s got you covered- the 3D+ option allows you to focus the stereo image, and the XBass+ gives you control over deepening and tightening bass frequencies.

This amp is a real ride-or-die. You’ll get 6-12 hours of power out of it depending on use and settings, and the USB port means you can charge your phone or other electronic devices as well! Do your other friends put in this kind of effort for you? Ricky won’t even lend you £5 for lunch. Serves him right about the fireworks mishap.

Pick 3: JDS Labs ‘The Element’

 

 

Treat yourself to a slice of simplicity in the form of The Element, a deceptively powerful unit from JDS Labs. You don’t need anything too showy- not like your neighbours already throwing their Christmas lights up. The Element’s gentle copper-coloured ring of light beneath the volume control will inspire plenty of warm cozy feelings.

The Element’s minimalist design houses absolute reference quality perfection in a body that doesn’t fight for attention, but will probably get it, because- let’s face it,  it looks good.

And it’s more multifaceted than it appears- just turn the amplifier off and use the analog jack inputs to turn The Element into a standalone DAC. The gift that keeps on giving!

So whether you’re dreading the change of the seasons or welcoming it with open arms, it’s more fun to do things with a buddy. Or three.