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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.

 

Burson Fun V6 Vivid

 

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.