First of all, I'd like to thank Burson Audio for giving me this opportunity. I really mean it.
Secondly, this is my first review what so ever so please bear that in mind
.
I got home one day and checked my mail inbox. There I saw a PM from Burson (their nickname for, now heh) that they would like to send a review sample to me and in return, they would get my honest opinion and of course, I said yes. Two weeks later or so they arrived at the post office and I immediately picked them up and started to put them in my Xonar Essence STX II. Now here's my review of the SS V5i op-amp.
Packaging
They arrived in this bubble plastic padded envelope which looked safe.
Inside that envelope were two small cases which seemed really durable and good quality as well. Plus point there. One of them with two V5is and another one in the second case. My Xonar Essence STX II (I will refer to it just as STX II) has three DIP-8 sockets. Two of them are the I/V section and the third is the Buffer one (I don't quite understand this myself, all I know is the I/V sockets are for the headphone out port and the Buffer one is for speakers) so just to be sure I asked them to send three.
These op-amps compared to their last V5s are much smaller (or rather shorter) which for me is perfect because now they fit inside my STX II. And as I have never tried op-amps other than the ones included with the STX II (which are MUSES 8820 & 8920 and LME49720), I think these are quality. My other op-amps always bend when I take them out of the socket or when I apply a tiny pressure to the pins but these are on a whole other level.
Price
I, myself, would never pay so much for op amps that barely make a difference but when it comes to the V5is my opinion is instantly changed.
The price at the time when I'm writing the review is $39 for one dual, $69 for two duals and $49 for two single ones. The Supreme Sound V5i is available directly from the Burson Audio website:
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/
To be honest, I wouldn't take a gamble and buy the V5is op amps (same goes for other op amps over 30-40$). But now when I've listened to them I would buy them IF I was older and had a job. I am a 15-year-old guy still attending school in Sweden. Jobless as well. So you could understand that I wouldn't want to put my monthly student grants on a pair of op amps for 70 dollars plus like 30 dollars shipping to Sweden. So once again, I utterly thank you whole-heartedly Burson Audio for sending me this review sample.
Equipment
I do not own a studio or any fancy equipment like you fancy Head-Fi:ers own but I do have a lovely Asus Xonar Essence STX II paired with a Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Black Edition (250 ohms).
I do use an EQ as well.
Sound & Comparison
I've read that op-amps didn't make a huge difference and I agreed when I switched from the MUSES 8820 to the LME47920 and then to the MUSES 8920. I did like the 8820 (even though the 8920 were installed then...) the most out of them but the differences were minor. Even between the 8920 and 8820 the difference were negligible. Note I am going to compare the V5i's with the 8920.
But then I installed the V5is and holy mother of cow, the sound actually did change drastically! Do note that the sound won't change to a completely different headphone. More like give the one you already own more life, happiness.
If we start from the bottom. The low end (bass) just got more hard hitting now. How do I put this into words... It sounds a bit quieter compared to before (which I like IMO), but now I actually feel the bass and quite a lot actually. It also has more punchiness and upper bass. As we get to the mids, they sound airier more natural now. Like all of the singers bought a new microphone and made their voices clearer, crispier. Everything just got more lively, like flowers started to bloom.
And then the highs (treble). There wasn't as a big difference here as it was with the lower tones but all just sound clearer, crispier. Not harsher, just clearer. The sound stage has the same depth as the 8920 but the V5i has a wider sound stage, and when I'm gaming I feel like it sounds more accurate as well. The LME47920 wins here when it comes to depth though as it's amazing at that. It's sounds so dead, though.
Conclusion
The V5is are truly an impressive and a unique pair of op-amps that outclasses anythings in its price range that I know of at least. Sure I haven't tried the MUSES 01 & 02 but I am pretty sure these will still sound better to my ears than them. Sure, they are expensive for lots of people but when you get into this price range of op-amps they're going to sound better and even make a difference.
If you're thinking about changing your STX for example, hold that thought, try these first and then see if you'll change your mind. That's how good these are! These alone will upgrade your sound in all the ways one would want it to. The only thing I missed was a little depth, to be honest. That's it. No complaints about them. They are fully made of metal (and some gold) that screams quality for crying out loud! They look good if that matters to some people? I'm running out of text here but here's the last info you'll need:
I really do recommend them. They're a lovely piece of technology and I hope that my buddies at Burson keep changing the world of audio (and maybe even send me another review sample for their next project
)!
Pictures:
Clearly, this picture does not contain the V5is but hey it looks sexy af
Secondly, this is my first review what so ever so please bear that in mind
.I got home one day and checked my mail inbox. There I saw a PM from Burson (their nickname for, now heh) that they would like to send a review sample to me and in return, they would get my honest opinion and of course, I said yes. Two weeks later or so they arrived at the post office and I immediately picked them up and started to put them in my Xonar Essence STX II. Now here's my review of the SS V5i op-amp.
Packaging
They arrived in this bubble plastic padded envelope which looked safe.
Inside that envelope were two small cases which seemed really durable and good quality as well. Plus point there. One of them with two V5is and another one in the second case. My Xonar Essence STX II (I will refer to it just as STX II) has three DIP-8 sockets. Two of them are the I/V section and the third is the Buffer one (I don't quite understand this myself, all I know is the I/V sockets are for the headphone out port and the Buffer one is for speakers) so just to be sure I asked them to send three.
These op-amps compared to their last V5s are much smaller (or rather shorter) which for me is perfect because now they fit inside my STX II. And as I have never tried op-amps other than the ones included with the STX II (which are MUSES 8820 & 8920 and LME49720), I think these are quality. My other op-amps always bend when I take them out of the socket or when I apply a tiny pressure to the pins but these are on a whole other level.
Price
I, myself, would never pay so much for op amps that barely make a difference but when it comes to the V5is my opinion is instantly changed.
The price at the time when I'm writing the review is $39 for one dual, $69 for two duals and $49 for two single ones. The Supreme Sound V5i is available directly from the Burson Audio website:
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/
To be honest, I wouldn't take a gamble and buy the V5is op amps (same goes for other op amps over 30-40$). But now when I've listened to them I would buy them IF I was older and had a job. I am a 15-year-old guy still attending school in Sweden. Jobless as well. So you could understand that I wouldn't want to put my monthly student grants on a pair of op amps for 70 dollars plus like 30 dollars shipping to Sweden. So once again, I utterly thank you whole-heartedly Burson Audio for sending me this review sample.
Equipment
I do not own a studio or any fancy equipment like you fancy Head-Fi:ers own but I do have a lovely Asus Xonar Essence STX II paired with a Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Black Edition (250 ohms).
I do use an EQ as well.
Sound & Comparison
I've read that op-amps didn't make a huge difference and I agreed when I switched from the MUSES 8820 to the LME47920 and then to the MUSES 8920. I did like the 8820 (even though the 8920 were installed then...) the most out of them but the differences were minor. Even between the 8920 and 8820 the difference were negligible. Note I am going to compare the V5i's with the 8920.
But then I installed the V5is and holy mother of cow, the sound actually did change drastically! Do note that the sound won't change to a completely different headphone. More like give the one you already own more life, happiness.
If we start from the bottom. The low end (bass) just got more hard hitting now. How do I put this into words... It sounds a bit quieter compared to before (which I like IMO), but now I actually feel the bass and quite a lot actually. It also has more punchiness and upper bass. As we get to the mids, they sound airier more natural now. Like all of the singers bought a new microphone and made their voices clearer, crispier. Everything just got more lively, like flowers started to bloom.
And then the highs (treble). There wasn't as a big difference here as it was with the lower tones but all just sound clearer, crispier. Not harsher, just clearer. The sound stage has the same depth as the 8920 but the V5i has a wider sound stage, and when I'm gaming I feel like it sounds more accurate as well. The LME47920 wins here when it comes to depth though as it's amazing at that. It's sounds so dead, though.
Conclusion
The V5is are truly an impressive and a unique pair of op-amps that outclasses anythings in its price range that I know of at least. Sure I haven't tried the MUSES 01 & 02 but I am pretty sure these will still sound better to my ears than them. Sure, they are expensive for lots of people but when you get into this price range of op-amps they're going to sound better and even make a difference.
If you're thinking about changing your STX for example, hold that thought, try these first and then see if you'll change your mind. That's how good these are! These alone will upgrade your sound in all the ways one would want it to. The only thing I missed was a little depth, to be honest. That's it. No complaints about them. They are fully made of metal (and some gold) that screams quality for crying out loud! They look good if that matters to some people? I'm running out of text here but here's the last info you'll need:
I really do recommend them. They're a lovely piece of technology and I hope that my buddies at Burson keep changing the world of audio (and maybe even send me another review sample for their next project
Pictures:
Clearly, this picture does not contain the V5is but hey it looks sexy af
