I’d add the Arya SE to the above recommendations by krude for those genres. I actually don’t mind the Susvara with them too, but it’s a softer presentation.

That sounds like a cracker of a deal mate! I’m using a Bifrost 2 as a DAC.

You’re actually right, I also commented in the section below as I know Burson sent him and Lachy their two GT demo units - I saw the amp scores after I posted the comment here. I’m fairly certain the GT will get a highly favourable rating then, considering he loved the Soloist 3X. It matters...

I also just watched the HiFiMan Susvara review from Soundnews (Sandu) who showcased the best amps he’s heard paired with the Susvara. Surprisingly the Burson timekeeper (that he rated highly previously) didn’t make the cut. He’s got two Benchmark AHB2s bridged in mono, a Keces S300, and two HP...

What did you think of the sound from the combo?

Enjoy

@krude meant to ask… empyrean, compared to the Susvara how much ear time does it get? I’ve heard the resolution isn’t upto par for the price, is this true? Any regrets? I’m a huge Arya fan, and almost swapped my HE1Kv2 for an Empy.

100% SlothRock... absolutely endgame amp sound... if you can put up with some quirks. The more I listen the more I find to love.

Agreed, I’m never sending mine back! It just sounds incredible doesn’t it, any headphone I’ve thrown at it I’ve heard stuff I’ve never been able to hear before. No harshness at all on any track. By the way the volume control is studio grade, just their implementation of how the numbers go up...

Not that I’m going to return mine, but is Burson returning the full amount for unhappy customers? Or are they keeping 5% or whatever the fees are and returning the rest?

Quite honestly even the volume control thing is a non issue, they’re very small steps so generally you’re turning the volume knob quickly in which case you’d never even notice it sometimes goes the other way in the numbers. The fan noise honestly isn’t an issue the moment the music starts...

To investigate some of the concerns that others were reporting I did some of the above measuring tests - they’re in no way foolproof or free of external conditions influencing the noise etc… and to your point the moment my headphones go on my ears and music starts playing (even at a low...

FYI shipment comes directly from China

I didn’t want the noise from the airflow entering my phone’s microphone to mess with the actual dB of the noise generated. Hope I’m making sense? Like the air from a pedestal fan is louder when it’s directly hitting your face rather than if you’re around it.

Yeah ok if it’s 50dB that’s quite a drastic difference. Assuming you’re on top of a solid wood desk or something you shouldn’t be getting that sort of fan noise. I wonder if the fan isn’t on properly or something?

Right on top of the fan, microphone perpendicular to the airflow, I get 35dB.

Using Decibel X I got 29dB at 50cm horizontally measured from the top of the amp. Next to the fan it’s 30.4dB. Still a non-issue.

I’ve heard the HPA4, and although I like that it’s uncoloured, it reminds me most of the drop thx 789 - with all the advantages and disadvantages that that amp brings to the fore.

I honestly have not missed a selection yet with the knob (and I don't have the most stable hand), but I do find the volume numbers going up and down a bit weird - although apparently this is common with all Burson Amps. I still find using the knob glorious and silky smooth and I guess I tune in...

I just went to medium gain, and using it with reasonably sensitive headphones in the DCA Aeon 2 Noire - there is not even the slightest amount of hiss. Again no harshness either and wow the bass comes alive on the Noire.

Weirdly enough, even though the knob does jump back and forth, I actually don’t mind it, I usually tune in by ear. It is odd to have a few quirks like a fan and a volume control knob that jumps volume levels for a premium audiophile product I agree, but the sound is so nice I don’t know whether...

If you hunt for the fan noise you’ll definitely hear it. But if any music is playing even on low listening levels I honestly can’t hear it at all. It’s a complete non issue for me.

I’ve got the GT being driven off a Bifrost 2 which outputs 4V max via XLR. Gain is set to high, volume about 40 to hear all the details in the music - playing Apple Music lossless via an iPad Pro to ensure automatic bit rate switching. There was always a sense of harshness and compression when...

Guys.. I have just received this amp, and honestly the Susvara sounds nothing like it does on the Jotunheim 2. There is a depth and dimensionality that just isn't there on the Jot 2. All sense of compressed dynamism or harshness in the highs is gone. The Susvara sound like a concert hall on this...

This is correct.