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Burson Conductor - DAC/amp successor to the HA-160D - Page 18

post #256 of 388
2/24/13 at 12:06pm

The Conductor is a 160D with a new amp section, and a few extra digital tweaks.  This is what I originally meant. Have to listen to it.

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post #257 of 388
2/24/13 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by King of Pangaea View Post

The Conductor is a 160D with a new amp section, and a few extra digital tweaks.  This is what I originally meant. Have to listen to it.

Actually it isn't. It is a totally different beast. The dac is also totally different than in 160D. It uses another DAC chip (ESS Sabre32) and a brand new design for it (from the burson site ) :

 

 

 

Quote:
At the heart of our DAC is the ESS SABRE32 Reference DAC chip. With patented 32-bit Hyper-stream DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology, the SABRE32 is one of the best and most expensive DAC chips in the world and is truly reference class .
While we are not the first, nor the only, company to use the impressive SABRE32, we are unique in refusing to use IC based building blocks anywhere in our circuitry. Instead, we aimed to unleash the full potential of this chip through the development of tailor designed circuitry. We did not even use our own award-winning discrete circuitry featured in the HA-160D. No, that circuitry was designed and optimised for another DAC chip. We started from scratch and developed a new circuit that is specific to the SABRE32. And the result is a true representation of what it can do when pushed by team Burson.

 

Both amp and dac section are better than on 160D.


Edited by dan.gheorghe - 2/24/13 at 5:30pm
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post #258 of 388
2/25/13 at 7:15am

My main concern is that the Oppo, which I consider to be bass-shy, uses the Sabre32 chip.  I wonder if Burson's redesign of the amp to suit that chip resulted in bass-shy performance in the Conductor as well.  No reason why it should, but something I am going to be cautious about.  I have occasionally been leaping before I look when buying stuff these days, and am adopting an attitude of trying to remember to do my due diligence and research stuff before I get too carried away with buyers hots.  Just bought some B&W P5s, then started reading reviews here on this forum.  Maybe I should have gone down to the Apple Store and listened to them at first like I was going to do, but it was bad weather and a pair were just ending on Ebay, and so I bid and got.  A very good deal, $143 for refurbs, but still, maybe I made a bad choice.  The mailman will let me know.

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post #259 of 388
2/25/13 at 7:44am

The sole chip does not make the DAC's sound.

 

The NFB-7 (NFB-27) has the tightest bass of the DACs I own(ed) (witch include Reference 5.32 & Metrum Quad), hands down. It is based on the Sabre 9018 chip.

It has no mid-bass bump (like the Quad exhibits, when fed by a sub-par digital signal) so the overall sound-signature remains neutral.

 

Actually, the bass is too tight for my taste.

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post #260 of 388
2/25/13 at 8:08am

The Conductor isn't bass-shy, nor was the W4S DAC-2 I used for awhile.

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post #261 of 388
2/25/13 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by driver 8 View Post

The Conductor isn't bass-shy, nor was the W4S DAC-2 I used for awhile.


How is the W4S DAC-2? Is it worth the asking price?

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post #262 of 388
2/25/13 at 8:25am

I feel like it's worthwhile for what it typically goes for used, but a bit hard to justify at 1.5k.  Its USB is kind of problematic, but its other inputs are pretty good. 

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post #263 of 388
2/25/13 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by driver 8 View Post

I feel like it's worthwhile for what it typically goes for used, but a bit hard to justify at 1.5k.  Its USB is kind of problematic, but its other inputs are pretty good. 


How does the DAC in the Conductor compare?

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post #264 of 388
2/26/13 at 1:15pm

I've never tried the Condcutor's DAC with the same amps I used the DAC-2 with, so I'm not really sure.  The Conductor's USB input is less problematic than the DAC-2's, though, and I've never felt as though the DAC was missing detail or anything. 

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post #265 of 388
3/12/13 at 2:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WALL-E View Post

Halo,  I’m going to replace the power cable and also upgrade the fuse in my new Burson Conductor and would like to know what is the fuse rating for European 230V version?
According to User Manual  US/Australian version is 3A Fast Blow type, but I guess EU version will be different?
 

Exactly the same query I sent to Burson customer care  almost one week ago and no answer on my e-mail!?

From what I know, current at 230V is half what it would be at 115V, so the fuse (F3A\250V user manual) current rating needs to be reduced by 50% for the EU I guess.

I checked in my Conductor and it is F2A/250V what it would be correct I think. Can someone check it the Conductor EU version what fuse is in it?
Thanks.

Burson recommended 5x20mm 250V, 3A, Fast Blow:

 

 

Quote:

 

Hi Dan, 

 
Please use 3A fast blow type of fuse. Also a quick update for you also we have updated our Conductor USB driver just now to support Win8. 
 
Warm regards
Dennis

 

 

Quote:

 

Hi Dan, 

 
Yes, the 250v 3A will be fine. 
 
Warm regards
Dennis

 

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post #266 of 388
3/12/13 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dan.gheorghe View Post

Burson recommended 5x20mm 250V, 3A, Fast Blow:

 

 

 

 

Thanks Dan,
It seems like you have no problems corresponding with them in both directions I newer got answer for my one, nevermind I believe the Burson team is busy right now promoting new products and have no time to answers all the emails, thanks again Dan.

I ordered the Conductor from authorized Burson retailer and ask them to set up the right voltage for my country and test it before shipping, that's why my amp fuse is F2A? but Burson says F3A will be fine so I'll use same as per Burson recommendation.

 

I read some rumors on forums that Tenor will release soon (march/this year) new usb driver for TE8802, so I guess the new driver for Win8 is based on it? hope the issue with the intermittent "clicking" during high bitrate playback permanently gone? have no computer with Win8 so can't confirm it, can you? As at this moment the usb driver V1.1.30.1a is available only for Win8.


Edited by WALL-E - 3/12/13 at 3:01pm
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post #267 of 388
3/18/13 at 6:54am
Was ready to pull the pin on one of these until the negative reviews/issues started popping up. Looks like my search continues.
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post #268 of 388
3/18/13 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by deniall View Post

Was ready to pull the pin on one of these until the negative reviews/issues started popping up. Looks like my search continues.

It has a little buggy usb, but it doesn't bother me too much, yet.

 

Actually, besides those problems I think it is a wonderful product, actually even a little under-appreciated. You shouldn't cast it aside so fast.

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post #269 of 388
3/18/13 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by deniall View Post

Was ready to pull the pin on one of these until the negative reviews/issues started popping up. Looks like my search continues.

 

Unfortunately I doubt the issue with the Tenor usb will be resolved, if that is what you're talking about. You could look into getting the Soloist, but using a different DAC. The issues with Tenor USB has been going on for about 1.5 years now. 

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post #270 of 388
3/18/13 at 4:02pm

I've never ran into issues with the latest drivers on the conductor, some guy said that tenor is working on that issue. 

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