Burson Audio Supreme Sound Opamp V5i

Introduction and Background
Burson contacted me about reviewing one of their opamps since I owned a Little Dot 1+. I jumped at the chance to try one of their opamps with the Little Dot 1+ since I've tried many other opamps (all the usual suspects from Burr Brown, Muses, LMI, etc.) in the past with this great performing yet inexpensive tube-hybrid amp. I decided to try the V5i-D.

A few weeks went buy and I received the V5i-D. Initial impressions were this thing is built much better than your typical chip based opamp. I opened up the bottom cover and removed the Muses 8820 I had in place and inserted the V5i-D. Replacement was super easy with no issues.

I connected the Little Dot 1+ to a MHDT Steeplechase DAC and fired both up for warm-up. After warm-up I plugged in a ZMF Auteur Classic headphone and settled in for initial listening. I have to say from the get-go I was surprised with what I heard!


(Little Dot 1+ paired with Topping D50s and Sundara or HD6XX for travel setup.)

I normally prefer to run my ZMFs with pure tube amps whether they are OTL or transformer coupled designs. After spending some time with the Little Dot 1+ with the V5i-D opamp I'm going to have to reintroduce this amp into the regular home rotation. For the last year or so I have been using the Little Dot mainly for traveling paired with a Topping D50s DAC and usually a HD6XX, Sundara, or Aeon Flow X. I could throw everything into a back pack and easily set everything up in a hotel room. The humble Little Dot 1+ is transferred to a higher level when using the V5i-D opamp. It really makes a big difference. More on that and specific aspects of the sound below.

Bass
Both bass quantity and quality are improved with the V5i-D. Bass lines that could be lost in the mix with other opamps are easily heard and followed with the V5i-D. Bass slam also increased as well as speed. Very nice job Burson!

 Mids
Mids become much more lush and liquid while not becoming to slow or losing any detail. Simply put the increased lushness in the Mids while running the V5i-D makes the Little Dot 1+ sound much more like a full tube amp and not a hybrid. That is a very positive change imho.

Highs
Highs become more extended without adding any harshness with the V5i-D. I'm a drummer and enjoy hearing the decay and shimmer of cymbals in well recorded tracks. This makes a recording sound much more life like imho. This shimmer and decay was much easier to hear with the V5i-D.

Soundstage, imaging, and Resolution
Soundstage width and depth both increased with the V5i-D. Imaging also becomes more precise as its easier to place respective instruments and voices. Overall resolution of the Little Dot 1+ also increases when using the V5i-D.

Final Thoughts
I really like the changes the addition of the V5i-D brings to the Little Dot 1+. To my ears it increases the performance across the board to the point where the Little Dot sounds like a much higher priced amplifier. I was only listening to the Little Dot when travelling for the last year or so but now I'm introducing it back into the regular rotation. If you own a Little Dot 1+ you really owe it to yourself to try it with the V5i-D opamp. It really transforms the amp.

I received an offer by John from Burson Audio to try out a set of Burson V5i Dual Op-amps in exchange for my honest opinion. I accepted the offer, but a few days later it was weighing on my conscience whether I should have accepted the offer of the Burson Op-amps in exchange for my opinion. So I backed out of the offer and didn't hear another word about it.

Well, about 6 or 7 weeks later a surprise package was delivered to my doorstep. I didn't even know it was delivered or how long the package had been sitting at my front door because I was out of town when the package was delivered.

I brought the nondescript package into the house and opened it to find a set of Burson V5i-D Op-Amps in a small plastic container. I thought about sending them back to Burson's Fulfillment Center and set the sealed plastic container aside. A few days passed, which turned into a couple of weeks and finally out of curiosity I opened the sealed plastic box revealing 2 metal encased V5i-D Op-amps nestled in anti-static foam and proceeded to replace the MUSES02 Op-amps I've been using up until now with the Burson V5i-D Op-amps.



Equipment: Shanling M3X > Little Bear B4-X. Head gears: FiiO FF3 Earbuds and TTROMSO Tipsy IEMs.

Burson V5i Impressions:

Replacing the MUSES02 op-amp was a breeze. The V5i is clearly marked with a small dark circle on the top of the metal housing which indicates pin 1. After carefully prying out the MUSES02 chip with a small screwdriver it was easy to plug in the Burson V5i Op-amp.



The first thing I noticed was the V5i has a different sound signature compared to the op-amps I had been using until now. To me the V5i has an enhanced midrange. The V5i presents with exceptional clarity, but was lacking some richness of tone due to a reduced bass. Not to say the bass was gone. Bass is present, but was taking a backseat to the clean midrange. I'm not a 'basshead' by any means, but I do appreciate the richness in tone that bass lends to the overall musical soundscape.

I was starting to wonder if the V5i was better suited for certain styles of music and not useful as an all-rounder op-amp. So after reading some V5i reviews I found it was a mixed bag of impressions. Good bass, no bass, enhanced midrange, excellent for vocals, etc., to mention a few of the opinions.

So I thought I would try different things to see if I could get the sound I like out of the V5i op-amps.

My usual setup is to either set the Shanling M3X to line level output to provide the highest source signal level or to set the volume between 60 and 70% of max. I'm pretty sure that everybody that double amps does this same sort of thing to use the full dynamic range of the source. I started thinking about how the Little Bear B4-X hybrid tube amp really works and how it affects the audio signal passing through it.

Even though the Little Bear B4-X is labeled as an amplifier, for the most part it is really a mono tube buffer stage with unity gain op-amp output x2 (left and right channels). There is some amplification in the tube stage, it isn't by orders of magnitude though. This can be proven by plugging in your favorite IEM, flathead earbuds or headphones into the B4-X, making sure the input audio source is set to a low volume and turning the volume knob on the Little Bear to maximum and leave it there. Then start your music and adjust the volume of your DAP, phone or whatever your source is until you get a comfortable listening level. Next stop the music at the source, leave the volume level of the source the same (untouched) and plug your IEM, earbuds or headphones into the source and play your music. What you'll hear is your music with either the same volume or a little lower than what you heard coming out of the Little Bear B4-X. If the B4-X was amplifying the sound a lot you would expect the volume to be much higher from the B4-X than from the source, not equal or just slightly lower. So what is the B4-X doing if it's not amplifying the sound? It's purpose is to give your ears listening pleasure with tube generated 2nd order harmonic distortion and the op-amp stage provides the driving power (voltage and current) for your head gear. Did I mention unity gain op-amp stages... yep, so no amplification from the op-amps.

Borrowed this schematic from the Portable tube amp from China? thread.

The schematic is for the B4, not for the B4-X. The main difference as far as the op-amp circuit is concerned is that instead of using a single dual op-amp, the B4-X uses 2 dual op-amps, one for each channel. The B4-X op-amp is wired in dual parallel unity gain configuration per channel instead of single like shown in the schematic. The other major difference is that the B4-X uses +/- 12 volt rails instead of +12v and 0v (ground).


So what? How does this help us to get better sound out of the Burson V5i op-amps you just installed in your B4-X?

What I found with the Shanling M3X sourcing the B4-X is to turn the volume knob of the B4-X near maximum and leave it there. Control the playback volume at the source. With those two steps you can enjoy the nice midrange and airy treble the Burson V5i is known for and get the added bonus of getting nice smooth richness of bass. This is my own findings (YMMV) and this is how I'll be using the Shanling M3X and B4-X with Burson V5i op-amps from now on.

Final verdict: 4.5 Stars

Burson V5i-D Op-Amp is a very good op-amp upgrade for the Little Bear B4-X tube amplifier. Recommended!

Disclaimer: Burson sent me this product for free in exchange for a full and honest review.


* I'm using the Burson V5i op-amp together with the xDuoo XD-05 BAL dac/amp.



Comparisons:

MUSES 8820

8820's bass is less defined and a tad more present and soft, which ultimately sounds muddy to my ears.
Midrange and upper midrange are a bit dry and are not lifelike as the V5i.
Treble and upper treble extends more on the 8820, but are not as sparkly and detailed like the V5i.
Soundstage is a bit wider on the 8820, as a result of its more neutral midrange.
In contrast, female and male vocals are clearly better on the V5i, due to the more cohesive and intimate midrange and upper midrange.

V5i is the winner here.

OPA1612

1612 will sound warmer, thicker, mellower and darker with most headphones and IEMs. While it still has some treble sparkle, It isn't enough to save its sound of complete mudyness and lack of detail.
The soundstage is the only good part, it's the wider due to the bass boost and upper midrange scoop. However, 1612 has a good synergy with shouty or sharp IEMs and headphones, for obvious reasons. For example, using with my TRI Starlight, which is a super bright sharp V-shaped IEM, the timbre gets more tamed and smooth.
However, pairing with the Kinera Nanna, it becomes a complete mess, because the sound of this IEM is already thick, mellow and average on details. At the end, It's all a matter of synergy. But still, there are better options than the OPA1612 on the market today. You can find better amps and op-amp which are warmer without being dark and muddy.

V5i is the clear winner here.

JRC 5532DD

Dead flat, lifeless and distant sounding. Average to low detail. Worst op amp I ever tried. V5i beats it in every single aspect.

V5i all the way.

FiiO BTR5

I know it's a different kind of comparison, but I find it interesting to make one, due to its huge popularity and efficiency.
BTR5 is more neutral and brighter and its midrange isn't as pronounced and organic as the V5i. Treble and bass extends more on the BTR5 and the same goes to soundstage's width and depth. It's difficult to define a winner here. Again, It's all a matter of synergy: I would choose the V5i when using with a more V-shaped and harder to drive IEM or headphone, because it will give me the fluidity that is missing in the midrange, but I would stick with the FiiO when using a more balanced earphone that doesn't require much power and correction to its sound.

Veredict

Burson V5i gives you a significant upgrade from the stock OPA1612, also beating most op-amps from its price bracket. It can be a bit expensive for some people, but it will definitively sastisfy those seeking for a more organic and mid-centric sound.

First of all a big thanks to John from Burson Audio for contacting me and sending V5i for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not a reviewer and this my first review, so please bear me with this review.

The installation is very easy and simple.





My headphones are HD6XX, E5000, Kanas Pro and FiiO EM5 paired with XDUOO-XD05 Plus + FiiO M11 Pro



I was not able to find much differences vs the stock OPA1612 initially but as I spent more time with it the differences became more apparent.

The first and easy difference I was able to find is V5i has a touch more volume at all gains which is definitely a big advantage IMO.

I love warm, thick and lush sound so please take my impressions with a grain of salt.

I loved V5i pairing with all my headphones except EM5 which already has in your face kind of presentation and V5i made it worse for me. I did not like the pairing at all, I liked EM5 more with the stock OPA1612.

Lows:
With V5i the bass is fatter but surprisingly more controlled when compared to the stock opamp. With the stock one the bass is a touch tighter but it has less control with bassy songs.

Mids:
Mids is where V5i has it's charm they are more intimate, lush, thicker and liquid. Notes have the weight to them which I like.

Highs:
The highs have a little more sparkle and airy, with the stock opamp the highs can be harsh on some recordings. With v5i you can push the volume to higher levels without getting that harshness or sibilance.

Soundstage:
This is where things get little interesting. The stage definitely less wider compared to the stock one but the depth increased a little. With HD6XX the stage is less wider but at the same time it's more airy and holographic. It's more of a preference thing than which is better IMO.

The overall presentation is much thicker compared to the stock. It's a clear improvement when compared to the stock opamp on certain things.

If you prefer warm, thicker, airy and holographic presentation, it's a must try.

Introduction

I was contacted by Burson Audio to conduct a review on the V5i a few months ago. The v5i op-amp took a long time to arrive from Hong Kong. I was provided with one Op amp to test them in my Topping D10 dac.

I bought the Topping D10 as a 2nd hand unit for AUD$100, to use as a spare. My main dac(s) are Yggdrasil and Bifrost 2. So why did I buy the cheap Topping D10? One, I could use it as a spare and it's cheap. Can just keep it in the drawer and forget about it. I have always view the D10 as clear but digital sounding - which is another way of saying I don't like it.

I like a dac that is neutral sounding and also have a soul to the tone and the Topping D10 in it's original form isn't it.

The V5i Op Amp
I did not know about this op-amp before it arrives. I did not read up much about it because I want to experience it without being tainted by others impressions.

This is the tiny bugger.



Installing it into the Topping D10 dac is straight forward. Open up the D10 and see the picture below on how to install it.

In the first picture is the dac in it's original form. The black chip 'circled' is the original. In the 2nd picture, you can see the Burson v5i op-amp installed 'circled - and it must be installed with the words facing left like you see it in the picture. This is important as installing it the wrong way will result in no sound and may damage both the op-amp and dac.



Test Setup.
My listening gear consists of :-

Source - PC, Schiit Wyrd > Topping D10 with v5i op-amp installed.
Amps - Ultrasonic Studios Oblivion and McChanson 300b amp for speakers and headphones.
Headphones - Audeze LCD4 ; HiFiMan He1000se

Music

• Fourplay - 101 Eastbound
• Dire Straits - Private Investigations
• Holly Cole - Hold On
• Jennifer Warnes - First We Take Manhattan

Lows
Lows goes deeper now. Quite a marked changed.

Mids
This where it stands out for me. Mid range and vocals are very engaging now and sound organic and natural. Love it !

Highs
Sound a bit rounded off but still very detailed. This makes for a non fatiguing listen especially for longer sessions.


Performance Closing thoughts:
I am used to Yggdrasil for 4 years and I won't lie when I say that the Topping D10 is so far from Yggdrasil's performance scale that it's not worth comparing.

However taken on it's own - Topping D10 with Burson v5i op-amp installed show a marked improvement that makes this cheap dac worthy as a spare dac in case I need one. In the company of my gear, it was still enjoyable and engaging enough. Recommended.


Value
Not knowing how much this v5i opamp cost, I can't comment on the value to performance ratio.

I was contacted by Carlos from Burson and offered an excellent opportunity to try out their product line up in exchange with my honest opinion and I thanked him for this chance, in this opportunity I got two V5i single (V5is) which are plugged on to my HA-02 an excellent price to performance headphone amplifier made by Dethonray. The V5is have gone thru 50hrs of burn in time which in my hearing, there are no longer changes in sound. I have no affiliation with Burson company.

you may find the detail of the V5is https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/



In this review I am using line out from DTR1, connected to HA-02 amp using local made mini to mini. Tin P1 iem. As a music lover the original op amp which are OPA627Ap are good in giving sense of neutrality.



Songs:

Send My Love – Adele .flac 16 bit

No Sanctuary Here – Chris Jones .dsf

Mombasa – Inception OST – Hans Zimmer .flac16 bit

Starting with Send My Love by Adele using Tin P1 which is well known for its power hungry iem has started a good experience with the detail on the Adele instruction voice that has reverb which was never heard in previous OPA627AP, sense spaciousness and clarity are next finding. A pleasant to hear each instrument I sense there are more space, none of it feel congested, this is also bringing out better headstage and well-textured low. Adele voice is more pronounced and at dead center position.

Depth and Imaging is getting better , I can easily pin point each musical instruments position, one example the sound of tambourine started on 00:52 in between the music appears starting on bellow right then quickly shifted to upper left repeatedly, highs are also crisp without making ears tired, pleasant!

Going to the next song, No Sanctuary Here by Chris Jones, yet another pleasant experience of clarity and instrument separation in general speaking. Low notes produced by bass are definitely clearer in sounding; this detail was somehow unheard at OPA627. Mids presented in fairly neutral and no coloration. Details are rich especially when acoustic guitar solo started at 01:51 those sound of the guitar pick against the steel strings are sound realistic while at the same time at the background they keeps on maintaining excellent layering sound of Hammond and bass guitar.

At Mombasa by Hans Zimmer, V5is works very well in giving good dynamics and fast lows, impact of the low in this song felt stronger than before. Again nothing sounds packed or too crowded.

The V5is from Burson has become my new favorite op amp when pursuing for clarity, superb details, clear mids and better definition in low. from what I experience from it at the end, I dont mind to leave the amp naked without its enclosure

Salam!

Introduction

I was contacted by Burson Audio to conduct a review on the V5i, as such I was provided with two Op amps to test them in my Little Dot I+ and My Objective 2 on the output side. Tube rolling aside I found that the GE JAN-5654W which are the military variant are my favourite tubes for ”ME” at the moment. They have excellent clarity without sounding overly digital while simultaneously not being sloppy in the bass department, as a result these were the tubes I chose to use for this review. I am in no way affiliated with Burson Audio, all results are my own findings and personal opinions. For the time being my review is based on the Little Dot I+ since I use it the most, in the near future I will review these in the objective 2 amp. Right now my Little dot has been paired with an AliExpress knockoff of the Muse02 op amp which by itself was decent for what it was.

I started to get into great sounding audio when I 8 years old playing around with mixing tapes and than burning cd’s. When I was 13 I got an iPod mini which is when I started playing with compression only to learn the hard way that it ruined the audio files. When the world moved on to iPods and high compression in favour of convenience I was left behind with my CD’s and portable disc player knowing that this was the best way to listen to music.


I don’t call myself an audiophile but rather a music and gear enthusiast. I have other hobbies and love getting new equipment, tools and gear for each hobby or task, than putting it to good use in my day to day life. If I cant justify a purchase, I wont buy it…simple as that. I’m not interested in high end cables and typically try and find the best value for my money wherever possible. That said, I do like to have certain high end items if I know I will use it daily or often so the definition of ”value” is very subjective. Usually my internal justification entails reading hours of reviews and educating myself on certain products. Specifically how they work and how the engineering principals would apply, aswell as reading between the snake oil marketing gimmicks. In most cases
this has served me well over the years.

The V5i Dual Op Amp
For the sake of this review I will skip the physical, fit and finish of these OP Amps since this is the least important aspect when the equipment is closed up. They are much larger than a standard amp and I would encourage those that have clearance issues in smaller equipment to check the data sheet and measure with a micrometer. These amps do have a nice quality feel to them and a nice laser etching of the manufacture and model on the face. After removing a few screws on the bottom of my Little Dot i+ and popping the little op amp into the slot, I was ready to roll.


Test Setup.
The testing setup I’m using is the little dot i+ (V5i Dual op Amp and GE JAN-5654 Tubes) mated to my Hifiman 400i planar magnetic headphones, and my Ibasso DX120 in DAC mode. I’m most familiar with my DX120 since I use it almost daily. I would love to do an A-B comparison however having only one Little dot makes this impossible, so for now as difficult it may be the review will have to be based solely on swapping the op amp.

Music

• Guillaume Perret- Sirenes
• The Haggis Horns - Stand up for Love
• Jesse Cook - I Put a Spell on You
• Quadro Nuevo - Tango Del Mare

Lows
Those luscious lows are addicting on the 400i's, there is no question about the planar magnetic bass. This is not a night and day difference and unsubstantiated without an A-B switcher, however there is something different that seems to push the lows to dig further. The Melancholy mood in Guillaume Perret's Sirenes paints an eerie atmosphere which is reinforced by the now deeper digging bass. In the haggis Horns - Stand Up for Love, The bass seems more organic and less digital with more soul compared to the Muse02 knockoff, the bass also seems to be better controlled throughout the spectrum.

Mids
The mids are probably where I detect the least amount of difference especially in the french horn in Quadro Nuevo - Tango Del Mare, however the total package seems to come together nicely with a sense that the music is live in an intimate studio, yet somehow it sounds more engaging, more alive with the V5i. The closest visual representation I can think of is on an HDR TV where the upgrade allows the colors to pop out a bit more akin to the V5i allowing music to Pop a bit more, the former being more obvious or contrasting. The air around the instruments once again allows the separation to stand out in an impressive way since this track also carries a lot of depth and layers.

Highs
Im a huge fan of Jesse Cook, and unfortunately due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak the live concert I had booked is now cancelled, as a result listening to his recordings will have to do for now. When I play "I Put a Spell on you" I can hear a slight amount more air between the instruments. The twang in the background guitar takes an interesting seat on the stage, while Jesse guitar takes a slight backseat to the lush intimate vocals. I chose this song as its fairly busy with multiple layers without being overwhelming which would otherwise make it difficult to detect discernible differences, it also has vocals which if you may have guessed by now is the least of what I listen to. One would have to spend substantially more money on a better sounding setup for this genre of music (400i, LD i+ with V5i Op Amp). I do feel though however that the highs are somewhat discernibly different not by overall clarity but rather soundstage width and instrument separation or air around the instruments. I would love to at this point do A-B comparison on a stock OP AMP little dot but as mentioned this is unfortunately not in the cards at the moment as I don’t own two LD i+ amps.


Performance Closing thoughts:
The 400i's are a bit of chameleon when it comes to some recordings, they are very transparent and can be picky which makes them a great review candidate for showcasing the V5i. They scale very well with source quality and one thing I've noticed is that there is this invisible wall to the width of the soundstage, where height was never an issue but width can . At times, depending on the source cause the 400i's to sound out of balance or "Off" when the recording hits the "invisible" sound wall for width. This is more depending on the recording than anything else, strange though that I noly hear with the 400i's. That being said I do believe that the V5i has improved the overall width of the soundstage which I believe is the reason why there is a bit more air around the instruments, however this will not fix a sloppy recorded track that has no attention to detail. The V5i does seem to help a smidge with this virtual sound width wall phenomenon in the 400i's as well. Regarding the V5i there is no question though that its arguable one of the best performing op-amps available in its price class. As mentioned these are my findings and im trying to find differences and improvements, if someone was to swap the OP amp without one knowing, I highly doubt anyone would wake up one day and say "Hey! This thing sounds great…What happened?!". The improvements im noting could also be the placebo affect which unless I have a second identical amp that very few do, I cant perform an A-B switch to rule this out. Im still claiming that I notice an increase in air and soundstage in the highs, the lows dig a touch deeper and have more "soul". The music as a whole seems to sound a smidge more lifelike and engaging, more realistic and less digital.

Value
In The quest for value I think the V5i is a great opportunity to step up your game into some high end OP-amps. The price for admission is high compared to some other op amps but low in a world where people spend hundreds of dollars on cables. Once you justify how much you will use the equipment and whether or not its worth it to spend the money, the rest is easy. Since I’m not one to spend unnecessary amounts of money on speciality cables trying to convince myself I hear a difference, I’m far better off spending money on an OP AMP or two to maximize the equipment I already have. There are a lot of pieces of well designed equipment that were produced in china with generic but swappable parts, the little dot having come with a cheap op amp and basic tubes is a fine example. Op amp rolling is also cheaper than rolling the entire amp. Paired with the little dot i+ I think the V5i is a no brainer upgrade since you only need one, pair that with some nice tubes and you will have a winner. Given the opportunity if I got another amp I would likely be looking at installing these OP amps.

Burson V5i-D Review


Shalom,

Hello Head-Fi! In this review, I’m going to do a review on the Burson V5i-D op-amp. The op-amp was sent by Carlos from Burson Audio, so I’d like to give him and Burson Audio a thousand thanks for giving me a chance to try one of the world’s well-known op-amp in the world of audio.



Introduction

Quoted from Burson’s website;

“A Hybrid Audio Opamp with SSV5 DNA
The inception of our latest product originated as a result of our partnership with a leading microchip foundry. Together we have created an integrated version of our V5 FET circuitry. In order to overcome many of the inherent limitations associated with ICs, we have externalized parts of its circuitry and completed those sections with high quality discrete components.

The newly developed Burson V5i is a hybrid audio opamp, which is both partially IC and discrete. It bears the sonic signature of its bigger brother, the V5 discrete opamp, considered by many as the reference in audio application.

Easy & Effective
When designing the Burson V5i, our goal was to create a product that was to manage. Similar to the size of a typical DIP8 opamp, the V5i is the easiest plug-in upgrade for any audio project. Starting at the price of $39.00 USD, the V5i is a fun upgrade with serious performance capabilities.

Unsurpassed Performance & Quality
It is said that we as humans can only hear up to 20 KHz; however, the new V5i has bandwidth of 50 MHz. In other words, you will not be able to hear all the micro details, but you will surely feel them. With the creation of the V5i, music will simply be more engaging and live like.

Holding fast to our tradition of elite service, the V5i is also covered under our Worldwide Lifetime Replacement Warranty. Here at Burson Audio, we maintain a high level of customer service with our commitment to design and quality.

Sonic Characteristics
Like the fully discrete SSV5, the V5i is fast, dynamic, and transparent. Music shines through a peach black background and a wide stage. The V5i pushes IC based audio opamp beyond its limitations and it is truly worthy of the Burson badge.”

Visit Burson Audio official site here: https://www.bursonaudio.com/
SS V5i site: https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/


Product Quality



The op-amp comes in a small, nice-looking box with “Supreme Sound” sealing label wrapped around the little box.



When you open it, the op-amp(s) placed in a Styrofoam. Lift the Styrofoam, you can see and scan the barcode to visit the registration site and register each op-amp you owned. Best thing is, once you’ve registered your goods, Burson doesn’t offer one, three or ten years of warranty, but instead you’ll get a Lifetime Warranty. So no need to worry about aftersales problematic.

The op-amp is made from smooth aluminum(?) shell, and does not get warm quickly.



Sound Quality

Disclaimer:

1. This is a straight-to-the-point review, so don’t expect a long, detailed review on the sound quality.

2. Everything that I wrote here are “IMHO” and as is. I did not get paid for saying something good or bad. This is based on my experience with the V5i-D. And also, Carlos asked for my honest feedback, so this is my honest review on the sound

Head gear(s): KZ ES4, TFZ Series 2

Device(s) used for test: Zishan Z1 (comparison no.1), Zishan Z2 (comparison no.2)

Music genre(s): Metalcore, deathcore, metal, EDM, trap, anime and acoustic.

Volume: Both Z1 and Z2 are on 90 (3 o’clock) volume knob


==========================================================================


First Impression: “Okay…”

At first, it sounds obviously better than my stock op-amps, the NE5532P, LM4562 or the OP297. But, I was like, “So this is the $39 op-amp that everyone is talking about?”

The reason is because it doesn’t blow my mind away. It sounds good but not great. The soundstage has improved, but not much. Lows are fast, boomy but details are a bit lacking. Vocals are thin. Highs have good details, but sound “metallic”.

However, after using it in my Z1 for more than 3 days, things has changed… a lot.


Before 3 days of usage

Comparison 1.1 | Paired with Z1 & KZ ES4



Disclaimer: Z1 sounds neutral to bright and ES4 has a warm sound with laid-back feeling by default

Lows: One thing that I noticed from the start, are the bass textures. Bass are refined here compared to Z1’s stock NE5532P op-amp and OP297. The lows on V5i are fast and dynamic, but not as “round” as OPA627.

Mids: Vocals are great, forward but a bit thin and more wet compared to my OPA627 (SOIC8 to DIP8). More bodied if compared to stock NE5532P.

Highs: Highs are nice and clear, but not more than that.

Soundstage: This is where V5i shows up it’s potential. Soundstage is really good, wide but not “Stadium-sized” stage. I heard that instruments are at their place, but height is still lacking of details. Have to admit this section is really enjoyable. The OPA627 is the only op-amp that I have which can compete the V5-I on soundstage-wise.

Separation: The instrument separations on V5-I are well separated. I can hear the instruments better compared with NE5532P or LM4562, but the OP297 can handle this section better unfortunately.


Comparison 1.2 | Paired with Z2 & KZ ES4

Disclaimer: Z2 sounds neutral to warm and ES4 has a warm sound with laid-back feeling sound by default.

Lows: Not much different with the lows on Z1 (with the V5i). However, on Z2, the bass are bigger than Z1.

Mids: Z2’s vocals by default are a bit pushed backward and a tad more bodied than Z1. Putting the V5i and the vocals are pushed more forward and detailed, more suited to my listening preferences.

Highs: Stock Z2 has already a good highs, so to my ears, not much improved, I can only noticed that there are a bit more details. Compared to Z1, Z2’s highs are smoother.

Soundstage: Wider than stock op-amp, but still lacks of height.

Separation: Similar to Z1 well separated and enjoyable.


Comparison 1.3 | Paired with Z1 & TFZ Series 2



Disclaimer: Z1 sounds neutral to bright and Series 2 has a bright sound signature by default

Lows: Bass’ transients are faster than ones on 1.1, and also well-controlled here. Suitable for metal music. Overall, better than 1.1.

Mids: Aggressive. That is the word that I can describe about this combination. My ears are used to ES4’s warm, laid-back sound. In this pairing, vocals are thin sounding and lacks of body. S2’s mids have a forward sounding by default, while Z1 is also has a good vocal. This combination brings me into a mid-centric experience. In the song “Heart Realize” by Tia, the vocals are… sibilance. A lot of sibilant. Need to turn down the volume to 4 o’clock to enjoy it, unfortunately. More suited to listen to metalcore and deathcore for this kind of sound.

Highs: Better details, airy and sparks are more audible. Overall, not as aggressive as the mids.

Soundstage: Wide and open

Separation: Good


Comparison 1.4 | Paired with Z2 & TFZ Series 2

Disclaimer: Z2 sounds neutral to warm and Series 2 has a bright sound signature by default

Lows: Punchy, strong rumble, fast

Mids: Really forward, thin, transparent, not too sibilant.

Highs: Airy, detailed, quite aggressive.

Soundstage: Wider than 1.3 with better height

Separation: Good


After 3 days of usage

Sound has improved… a lot.

Comparison 2.1 | Paired with Z1 & KZ ES4

Disclaimer: Z1 sounds neutral to bright and ES4 has a warm sound with laid-back feeling by default

Lows: Details on sub-bass are clearer than before. Better punch, fast bass transient

Mids: Forward, more bodied (not as thin as before). Acoustic guitars sound crunchy, while guitar distortion sounds more “rusty” and real than before (which is a good thing for metal music)

Highs: Airy, great details. Much clearer than 1.1. Nice treble presentation. Really improved after 3 days of usage.

Soundstage: Wide and open, now with detailed height, not just width.

Separation: Improved. Better separation (cymbals, high hats, bass kick and thumb bass are well separated)


Comparison 2.2 | Paired with Z2 & KZ ES4

Disclaimer: Z2 sounds neutral to warm and ES4 has a warm sound with laid-back feeling sound by default.

Lows: Rumble. Bigger.

Mids: Now vocals are forward, more full and bodied.

Highs: Improved! Now I have no complain on Z2’s treble. Open, detailed while still smoother than Z1.

Soundstage: Wide

Separation: Well-separated, a bit better separation than 1.2


Comparison 2.3 | Paired with Z1 & TFZ Series 2

Disclaimer: Z1 sounds neutral to bright and Series 2 has a bright sound signature by default

Lows: Faster than 2.1. Better sub-bass presentation! Better bass punch details.

Mids: More full and bodied, even though still thin sounding to my ears. Mid-centric experience.

Highs: Sparks, details. Good treble presentation. Really airy treble! But can be aggressive in some songs, especially in deathcore music.

Soundstage: Wide and open with better height

Separation: Great


Comparison 2.4 | Paired with Z2 & TFZ Series 2

Disclaimer: Z2 sounds neutral to warm and Series 2 has a bright sound signature by default

Lows: More punch! Not just dreary rumble. Good bass texture. Pretty fast too. All rounder bass.

Mids: Forward, but fuller and more relax compared to 2.3. Great details!

Highs: Airy! Open! Better details while still smoother and “calm” compared to 2.3. Overall really improved on treble section

Soundstage: Really wide with great height extention

Separation: Great! Best separation among the four combination


Conclusion

Burson V5i-D sound signature (After approx. 100 hours of burn-in process): Mid-centric sound signature with great bass and detailed highs

Suitable for: Pop, jazz, classical, proggressive metal

So, is it worth it? Does the V5i worth it? Well, first, depends on you. Are you willing to spend 39 bucks for a small op-amp that has a mid-centric sound signature? If you are, then go ahead, it’s worth it, especially if you’re already have real Hi-Fi equipment class. But for people like me, who likes to search cheaper op-amp(s) with good sound, well, I’d save my money for better things to buy (IMHO, no offense). I am more into “cans player”, because output is the most affecting matter when it comes to sound (IMO).

Once again, many thanks to Carlos and Burson Audio for giving me a chance to try this op-amp! Really appreciate it!


Thank you very much for reading my simple review!

God bless us all.

About me:

I am an average Joe on a budget chasing audio excellence. I am not able to drop huge cash on audio gear so I have to be conscientious of my purchases. However when I found a deal on the Burson Audio V5I-D on my local marketplace I had to jump on it simply on Burson Audio’s reputation.

Packaging:
The chips come in a very appropriate box, fully protected and sealed looks professional and more than appropriate.

Installation on Biosciencegeek Cmoy :

Yep a Cmoy. It is really a great Amp that is portable and budget friendly. The installation is extremely simple, you just have to remove the original OpAmp, and place the V5i-D correctly. it is pictured hear sitting atop my dusty Little Dot MK3

I have rolled a lot of OP-amps they are…were cheap and fun. There are sound differences for sure! Some sound like ass, some just meh, and some are bombastically awesome!

The top competitors for the Burson where the Muses 8820, 8920 (close enough to muses 1 and 2 without bleeding money) and the best of the bunch the OPA1622.

Very Subjective sound analysis:

If you looking for the review by a mad scientist with oscilloscopes and other high tech magic you may want to stop reading . I will give you the impression of an average Joe who happens to love great music produced exceptionally without spending the equivalent of a Bugatti La Voiture Noire. If you are one of those guys who has the disposable income I envy you, I truly do, and if you have any cast offs I would surely put them to good use but I digress.

What do I want? I use my amp and headphones (Sennheiser Momentum/Beyerdynamic dt 1350pro) through my work computer using a Essence STX sound card most of the time while working at my desk trying to avoid conversations around my workmates various ailments and leakages which I guess any old amp and headphones would do however why settle? Mostly though I want something that takes me as close to “there” as I can be. Soundstage, ambiance, clarity and moments of having my breathe taken away by an exciting passage or movement in a song. I listen to a huge range of music from sub genres of metal to muddy waters.

I will save me some typing and say that the Burson V5I-D is in a league of its own. It destroys the Muses on all counts and bests the OPA1622 especially in ambience and soundstage. With the Burson in the amp I am catching myself noticing the “air” around the performers. What? I know right? It is like going from a 3d image to looking at a hologram. So much more realism and texture. There is moments when I am simply listening while working and I am forced to pause as the goosebumps creeping up my arm will not be ignored. Some tracks that I suggest you give a run:

Pinapple Xpress-Audiomatic Phaze- With its driving beat I find my head bouncing almost uncontrollably and a smile creeping across my face. The headphones are bouncing off my head with a clear precise reproduction of Bass.

Shall rise/Shall be dead – Invictus- Heart palpating drumming and speed. This may not be your cup of tea but worth a listen if you want to hear one of the best drummers on earth. No machines it is all him. The Burson makes this poor recording better but you’re not listening to Invictus for micro details, your listening to blow your mind with amazing metal and the Burson and Invictus delivers.

Falling apart-Great Lake Swimmers- these guys are all about Ambience and the Brunson clearly separates itself from the others while comparing and listening to this song.

Moving Pictures Silent Films-Great Lake Swimmers- Again these guys are all about Ambience. This was recorded in an old church on vintage gear. This track clearly is simple but puts any system to the test to recreate the feeling of the moment and the ambiance of an empty church. The Burson once again clearly separates itself from the others while comparing and listening to this song however I sense that there is more there to be resolved-perhaps Burson V6 Vivid Dual X 2 is the answer?

I searched the forums for quality recordings to test my gear out on and created a playlist on Spotify of all the suggestions I found for myself -Audiophile-Headphone Test Tracks- check it out if you want to save some time there is some real jewels in there.

Conclusions:
I know that buying an Op-amp that is twice the price of the amp it is being used in is silly. However what you should extrapolate from my budget audiophile experience if the Burson can elevate my simple set up what it will do to your dampened, chrome alloy, tuned and ported, twin waffle banger set up will be extravagant. Actually ignore everything I said you may not want to leave the house after you upgrade to the Burson and I don’t want to be the one responsible for you turning into a shut in.

I bought the Burson due to it being a good deal on my marketplace, however having listened to it I would happily go tell my past self it is worth the price new.

The Burson is clearly a worthy upgrade if transparency, color and texture, dynamics and sound stage are something you enjoy and really who doesn’t.

Before Christmas holiday last month, I was listening to Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arnesen’s great work – Magnificat recorded in Nidaros Cathedral by the award-winning 2L Studio. I also found an Youtube video of the live recording of Magnificat 4. Et misericordia. It was very helpful to better locate the instruments/vocals as well as the “dimension” of the sound stage. 2L studio had won multiple awards for its “Immersive Sound” recording – a three dimensional enveloping sound recording system. I once used 2L Audiophile Reference Record dvd to set up a Linaeum speaker system at home.

Right around that time, Charles of SS-Audio contacted me and offered a free trial of their Burson V5i op-amp in exchange for an unbiased review. Charles “caught” me at the right time so I agreed to the offer.

I don’t consider myself an audiophile or an engineer. I am just fascinated by the 3D sound concept however. Over the years, I have evolved into a budget-minded portable DAP listener. The equipment used for this test reflect that.

Equipment in the test

* DAP : Zishan DSD (AK4497eq DAC)
* IEMs: KZ ZS10 (1DD, 4BAs) , Tennmak Pro (6mm + 9mm DDs)
* Op-amps: Burson V5i, LM4562 (stock), LME49860NA, AD8066AR on SOIC DIP adapter

Sound Tracks Used for General Testing
* 2L: Nordic Sound – 2L Audiophile Reference Record, 24bit 192khz, flac
Tracks consist of modern jazz, opera, strings instruments, church organ, and more.

Music Genres testing Sound Tracks

* Instrumental/Orchestra
- Selected tracks from 2L Audiophile Reference Record
* Orchestra/Opera
- Delibes: Lakme – Duo des fleurs Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa (dsd256)
- Arnesen: Magnificat 4. Et misericordia Lise Granden Berg, soprano (dsd256)
* Rock/Pop
- Santana: Evil Ways (dsd256)
* Vocal
- Eva Cassidy : Autumn Leaves (16 bit 44.1k flac)
* Jazz/Blues
- Oscar Peterson Trio In a Mellow Tone (dsd64)
- selected tracks from 2L Audiophile Reference Record
* Synth-pop
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Relax (dsd256)

I was planning to use my well-worn Sennheiser HD439 for this test. However, the HD439 sound just too “different” from other IEMs to complicate this test. So I used KZ ZS10 (hybrid 1DD+4BAs) and Tennmak Pro (6mm+9mm DDs) instead.

Before I receive the offer from Burson, I have already ordered two new op-amps – LME49860NA and AD8066. LME49860 is a plug and play, but both AD8066 and Burson V5i are too tall for the Zishan DSD to be put back into the case. So I conducted most of the test without the case.








Testing

The performance of the stock op-amp LM4562 is best characterized as clean, lean, fast, but relatively laid back. May be that is reason why LM4562 is popular with many OEMs. Most of the listeners would be perfectly happy with it. To me, the sound is just too laid back. The “width” of the sound stage seems fixed and artificially (too) wide. It was very noticeable in the Oscar Peterson Trio’s In the Mellow Tone track. The actual stage was small and tight, but LM4562 “expands” the width of the soundstage way too much. That just messed up the sound in my head. Also Vocal is sitting in the middle, between the listener’s ears. LME49860NA is actually in the same family with the stock LM4562 (identical to LME49720). LME49860NA has a wider operating voltage range, but for reasons unknown to me, its bass is fuller and louder. It also shifts the vocal to the front of the listener ever slightly. It still have the same sound stage width issue the LM4562 has. But I consider LME49860NA a slightly improved version of the stock op-amp.

AD8066 is very much the opposite of the LME49860. It has a v-shaped profile, superb accuracy, high resolution and dynamics. It has more realistic spaciousness than LME49860. Base noise level is slightly higher than LME49860. One big bonus: it also offers thick but fast bass. Extra “punch” in bass occurs around 80-200 Hz, however the kick drum range at around 3,000 Hz is lacking in weight. It has an asymmetrical V-shaped sound with extra emphases on the sub bass end. Bass-head listeners will find it very pleasing.

Burson v5i is a semi-discrete op-amp in a beautifully-crafted metal casing. There are many detailed technical write-ups in this Review section so I will skip writing one. V5i is very different from LME49860 or AD8066. First, it is slightly louder across the entire range yet maintain a very low base noise level. I can praise v5i’s accuracy, high resolution and dynamics all day, but its mid-range that steals the show. V5i manages to retrieve and reveal mid-range details without losing the overall tonal balance. The bass and treble qualities are still tactile and rhythmic. The goosebumps inducing details in the mid range creates a more intimate sound stage, closer to the listener. Sound tracks focusing on vocals and solo instruments (as in jazz jamming or orchestra featuring soloist performance) really shine.


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Testing Summary

General Property
- Volume - v5i > AD8066 > LME49860
- Airiness/Sound stage v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Brightness LME49860 > AD8066 > v5i
- Analytical sound LME49860 > AD8066 > v5i
- Intimacy v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Transparency LM49860 > v5i = AD8066
- 3D sound v5i > LM49860 > AD8066

Musical Instruments
- Drums v5i > AD8066 > LME49860
- Bass/double Bass AD8066 > v5i = LME49860
- Vocals v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Cello v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Acoustic guitar LME49860 > v5i=AD8066
- Electric guitar v5i > AD8066=LME49860
- Violin v5i > AD8066=LME49860
- Piano v5i > LME49860 > AD8066

Music Genres
- Instrumental/Orchestra v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Rock/pop AD8066 > v5i=LME49860
- Vocal/opera v5i > LME49860 > AD8066
- Jazz/Blues v5i > AD8066 > LME49860
- Synth-pop LME49860 > v5i > AD8066

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Conclusion:

The music genres I listen to are Jazz/Blue, classical/orchestra and Latin jazz/pop. 5vi shines in these genres. True and accurate presentation of the details and textures, and realistic sound stage is what I want. I suspect that is what most of the listeners want too. Burson 5Vi upgrade is a easy decision to make.

First of all, forgot about "hybrid" marketing statement, it is just a regular monolythic IC with correction.
The metal can around the socket is really bigger than it should be to use it in parallel schemes.

After these disclosure statements we can go forward to my little review.

I've got two duals charge free from Burson audio in exchange of honest review in my audio stuff, so here it is:

I've used

• Centrance Mini-m8 with OPA1612 LPF, Fiio Q5 with Muses8832 LPF and Hiby R3 as LO sources
• Auglamour GR-1 with ADA4627-1 double stacked in preamp to check V5i potential as headphone power buffer used in parallel with another V5i (double dual) under reasonable ±7v power supply
• iBasso PB2 Pelican full stock with Muses03 buffers to check V5i potential as preamp with ±6V battery only power supply
• Etymotic ER-3XR, Meeaudio P1, Meeaudio Planamic, Fostex T20RPmk3 as headphones to listen

Sorry Charles, I have really not enough time for my hobby, even to write a review

Well, an intro finalized.
The music only matters, so I've used my tidal hi-fi and went through everyday music like Dance With the Dead, The BossHoss, Infected Mushrooms, AnnenMayKantereit, Eminem, some classics e.g. Crazy Town, One-T, ACϟDC etc

Compared to LM4562, OPA2604, NE5532 and other "popular" opamps V5i is a big deal.
Clear and crisp sound with rich tembre extended at the edges down to deep bass and up to vivd highs.

When we're talking about more complex opamps like ADA4627\OPA627 or OPA1612...it is not really easy to say that V5i really overtakes, I didn't realize yet what makes V5i + Muses03 sound better than 4627 + Muses03, but yea, it sounds more comfortable.

Buffer test was failed, low impedance iem are too hard for V5i to handle, P1 were at the edge, 56 Ohm average but low sensetivity.

I didn't measure them yet and no LPF \ I/V application test as well, but I wll complete this review soon, I hope.
Be ready for Asus Xonar Essence One, Burson...

To be continued (with photos, yea)...

Before writing this review I would like to say many thanks to Mr Charles from Burson Audio for sending me the hybrid op amps for review purposes.


now lets see and talk about my Audio Gears for testing V5i:


with dual to mono adapter somehow I managed to install the 2 V5i Single inside the well known LD I+ hybrid tube amp.


unlike sparkos ss3602 the v5i dual sits tight inside the LB B4 without any extra pressure.


I think the v5i was really made for xduo-xd05 and it is a part of this amp.


I love to have a music player that can give me a bit retro vibe so I decided to use my Colorfly C4 for music(wav and flac files)source and used it's digital output to feed in to the digital in on xdo5 and for warm sound I used Aux out from xd05 to LB B4s input and for this review I used my headphone ATH-R70x.


Now lets talk about the sound:

If I try to remember the first impression I heard was on LD I+ and on LB B4 the sound was even more dynamic and had extended deep bass compare to the stock op amp.

I think i enjoyed the sound on LD I+ more than LB B4 because it was more relaxing and soft treble(without rolled off) and felt more airy sounding, I can still remember that Jazz music oh yes I think Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue and JOHN COLTRANE Lush Life (2007 DSD Japan Remaster)Albums impressed me a lot and with R70x sound signature I was able to feel the rumble.

But on LB B4 it was indeed dynamic but wasn't really relaxing like ld i+ but instead more aggressive(maybe it's good/bad for some people), but in some songs I felt like the bass was even more extended which I really enjoyed.

xDuo-xd05 on High gain mode I think at first the sound was aggressive but cleaner than water, More Dynamic, sound stage was bigger than before Bass was there but still for some heavy metal track I felt like I should use the bass slide but unfortunately for some reason it failed (goes to PROTECT mode), but after I fused it with LB B4 overall the sound impression was excellent and it was warm and more air in the sound and I was able to enjoy the music even more.

Carlos from Burson asked if I would be interested in trying out the V5i in combination with the Walnut F1. The V5i was provided free and does not have to be returned.

Please note: this review should only be applied to the V5i as installed in the F1. I don't have any other amps available with swappable opamps to try the V5i in, and the F1 is...quirky.

I bought a Muses02 to have another point of comparison in addition to the stock opamp, which in my F1 is labeled OPA2134PA. You can't really A/B opamps in a single amplifier, so I compared each opamp to the other amps I have and tried to use that to triangulate the differences between the opamps themselves...

Amps: TEAC HA-250, Phatlab Phantasy, ALO CDM (Sonotone tubes)
Sources: Onkyo DP-S1, iPhone SE
Headphones: Modhouse Argon (ZMF protein pads), HD800 (Dekoni velour pads), B&O H6 (Rapha pads), iBasso IT01. (The IT01 was mainly just used to check hiss levels.)



tl;dr

Stock (labeled OPA2134PA): Generally unobjectionable, but feels a bit closed in compared to the other two. Hissy. A bit grainy?
Burson V5i: Slightly v-shaped. Bass hits a bit harder. Slightly more prone to sibilance. Even higher noise floor/hiss than the stock opamp. Soundstage/imaging slightly improved?
Muses02: Smooth. Some might find it too soft? Lowest noise floor of the three, more suitable for use with IEMs.

Note: I don't want to oversell the distinctions here, because the differences between amps are quite subtle. Also, my comparisons were made pretty casually, volume matched only by ear.

Installation

Changing out the opamp is a pretty easy affair, even for an entirely nontechnical user like me. Here's the process:

• You only have to remove the top four screws (two front, two back) in order to remove the top of the F1's case
• But the screws are tiny and VERY easy to lose
• It's not particularly hard to remove the opamp from its socket, but a cheap "IC Extractor" tool can be handy. It's like tweezers with hooked tips that slide under the body of the chip and let you pull straight upward instead of having to lever it out from one side or the other.
• Once you have the top panel off, make a note of the direction of the dot or circle on the opamp. When you install the new opamp, the dot should face the same way
• Disconnect the battery. The IC extractor actually helps with this part, too.
• Remove the opamp, trying not to damage the legs.
• Install the new opamp. The V5i is sturdier than the stock opamp or the Muses02 and has nice strong legs, which makes it much easier to install and remove.
• Reconnect the battery

Unfortunately, the next step is not to reinstall the top of the F1's case, because it won't fit. The V5i is just a bit too tall, unfortunately. There are some possible solutions here. I believe Burson sells adapters/extenders ("Extension Lead"?) that would let you reposition the opamp and lay it on its side. I'm pretty sure this would let you get the top of the case on, but I don't have one to try. Otherwise, if you're DIY-inclined, you could source a new case. For testing purposes, I just gaffered-taped the case together to prevent inadvertently damaging the internals. That wouldn't be a very good long-term solution, however.

Impressions

Here are my notes. Please take with a mega grain of salt, b/c I'm not the most technical listener, and I don't normally review stuff.

Stock (labeled OPA2134PA): Generally unobjectionable, but feels a bit closed in compared to the other two. Hissy. A bit grainy?
Burson V5i: Slightly v-shaped. Bass hits a bit harder. Slightly more prone to sibilance. Even higher noise floor/hiss than the stock opamp. Soundstage/imaging slightly improved?
Muses02: Smooth. Some might find it too soft? Lowest noise floor of the three, more suitable for use with IEMs.

The Muses02 probably suits my personal preferences the most, but the V5i would make sense for anyone prioritizing bass over mids. Might be good in combination with a dark/warm heapdhone, also. The F1 is a great cheap option as a portable amp for Fostex RP driver headphones like the Argon, and for those who are running that or similar combinations and want a little more bass impact/detail, the V5i would make sense -- with the substantial caveat that you have to figure out a solution for the height problem.



In comparison to other amps I had available, I found that the stock F1 was very, very similar to my TEAC HA-250, which is a decent but outdated portable DAC/amp. (The TEAC uses an OPA1642 opamp, for whatever that's worth.) The only notable difference in sound is that the HA-250 has a lower noise floor. This isn't really useful information for this review, but it did make my comparison process a little easier. : )

Comparison to my tube amps is very unfair. They're bulky, expensive transportable units. That being said, the F1 stands up surprisingly well when it comes to hard-to-drive headphones. (If you're curious: the Phantasy (SET Class A) is very tube-y and mid-centric, with a surprisingly black background. The ALO CDM (hybrid)'s amp section is clean and clear, with particularly good separation, but a bit of a noise floor with sensitive IEMs.)

The F1 had no difficulties driving either the HD800 or the Argon with any of the opamps installed. The sound of the V5i is better suited to the Argon than the HD800. The B&O H6 doesn't really benefit from an amp, and in fact it picked up a fair bit of hiss, so I didn't spend too much time with it in testing. The IT01 does like amping (oddly) but it's quite hiss sensitive. The noise floor with the V5i in the F1 was too high for me to want to use the IT01 with it. (I would have tested the IT01 using an iFi IEMatch, but sadly my IEMatch disintegrated a few weeks ago.)

1) Introduction: A little while back I was contacted through PM by Carlos from Burson Audio who offered me a free sample of the v5i opamp in exchange for a review, an offer which I accepted. I would like to thank Carlos and Burson Audio for this opportunity.

2) Setup: I have attempted to ABX as much as possible the v5i against the LME49860 and for doing so I used two DAC/Amp devices using an LME49860: a) An Audiotrack Prodigy Cube Black Edition which uses the LME49860 natively and b) An xDuoo XD-05 whose default opamp had been replaced by an LME49860 a while back as I didn't like the default sound. As per diagram below, the Prodigy Cube is connected to the PC via USB and its optical output goes into the optical input of the XD-05. I volume matched the device by successively connecting their headphones output to the input of my PC internal soundcard, an ESI Juli@, and measuring their output volume with software. In that configuration and setup both devices essentially sound the same.



I then replaced the LME49860 of the Prodigy Cube by the v5i as can be seen on the following image.



Using my current favorite earphones which are the Simgot EN700 Pro, Toneking Nine Tails and Whizzer A15 Pro I then proceeded to test out the differences between the two opamps.

3) Testing: What struck me first was the bass response, tighter, punchier, better defined and seemingly louder with the v5i. Since the bass seemed louder I proceeded again with connecting the headphone outs of the devices to my Juli@ input in order to measure the frequency responses using a white noise file for playback. What I found out, using Voxengo SPAN in VSTHost for measurement, is that there was no difference in frequency responses, the earphones output of both devices being dead flat along the whole spectrum. So, unless I did something wrong or the testing methodology isn't adequate for a reason that escapes me, it appears the bass only seems more elevated and this feeling is certainly due solely to its significantly increased tightness.

After that I soon stopped "ABXing" and carried on with just listening to my favorites playlists using the Prodigy Cube/v5i only. As I was primarily using the Prodigy Cube/LME49860 before and was very used to its sound I sure went into a few more wows, mainly due to perceived increase in separation, soundstage and detail retrieval. At some point I felt the treble was sometimes grainy and running a sine sweep soon convinced me otherwise and that the "grain" must be treble texture/details.

4) Conclusion: This is in my opinion a very worthy upgrade and the v5i stays in my Prodigy Cube Black Edition. I'll certainly be purchasing a couple more of those opamps in the near future for putting in my less used devices, the XD-05 and Audinst Hud-MX1 (which also uses LME49860).

UPDATED ON February 23, 2019

Carlos (Burson Audio representative) has kindly offered me a free trial of the Burson V5i op-amp in return to my honest feedback.

Burson Audio is famous for its discrete V4 and V5 op-amps, but many applications cannot accommodate them due to their larger size. Thus, they made the V5i which is smaller comparatively. I would still prefer an even smaller size, i.e. to use it in Zishan DSD.

The V5i can be used to substitute for many op-amps of different models. A nice bonus provided by Burson Audio, an Australian company, is the lifetime warranty for the V5i.

The two op-amps came in a plastic container secured with strong scotch tape. This eliminated the chance of damage during shipment.

I used the V5i in Zizhan Z3. The song I listened to was “So Far Away” from “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits in DSD format. I picked that song as it has all the ranges of frequencies with good air between instruments.



Of course, any review of this kind is subjective as reviewer’s taste in music varies. Thus, it is very subjective.
With this in mind, I will outline the changes in the sound quality compared to the LM4562NA op-amp.



The soundstage appeared wider to me. It sounded enhanced.

Zishan Z3 with LM4562NA op-amp had recessed bass and highs. I look for headphones which are V-shaped to satisfy my liking. The V5i is more flexible in that I can use a wider range of phones. With the V5i I can use studio headphones as these ranges are quite good. The bass with the V5i is more emphasized, sounds deeper and thus, the general tone is warmer. The lower frequencies become more layered and the instrument separation (bass guitar and drums) is more defined. The bass and sub-bass rumble, but they do not bleed to other frequencies and do not suppress them. They are controlled and textured quite well.


The mid-range is almost the same. It is more focused as compared to the LM4562NA. The vocals are more vivid and defined. On the other hand, they are forwarded a bit (which may not appeal to some). Due to this, the vocals sound more emotional and engage a listener.

The high frequencies are less accentuated, but they are still present at a good level. They have the right balance and are sparkly with a transparency tone. They are not piercing and quite airy. The treble is smooth. It sounds more open and dynamic.

I've tried 10 different op-amps (OPA 1642, JRC 4580, TLE 2082CP, LME 49860NA, OPA 2604AP, NE5532AP, NJM2068M, NE5532P, LME49720, NJM4556AD) but V5i is by far much better than these as far as SQ is concerned.



There are some cons for the V5i as well. The sound is a bit distorted at high volumes and it is slightly noisier.

To conclude the review I can say that in general the sound is less analytical as compared to the LM4562NA , but more musical which is more to my preference.

I am so grateful to Carlos for the possibility to open a new world of op-amps.

P.S.
Carlos was kind enough to send me two more op-amps and I will extend my review here with Walnut V2 and Zishan Z1.

Here you go.


Now let’s see how V5i installed in Walnut V2 changes the SQ. Let’s not get into details about the pricing as everybody knows that just the opamp (V5i) costs more than the whole player itself. For me it is justified and I will try to explain why.

The Walnut stock opamp (RC5532A) sounds a bit rough to me (especially in the treble part) and lacks the depth as far as the lows are concerned. I’d say that the player makes a good match with warm and dark headphones which manages or compensates for the annoying and aggressive treble. The presentation is rather edgy.

With the V5i installed, the Walnut ends up having a more organic presentation. Besides, there’s a distinct improvement in the sound stage width, as well as in the instrument separation and layering.

I was so much impressed how V5i was able to give a richer output with more robust bass presentation. It also smoothed out the treble range, and enlarged the sound stage (I have already written about that above). With V5i you can pair almost any kind of earphones, including treble prominent ones.


Now about Zishan Z1 paired with V5i.

The stock op-amp is NE5532P. I was told that modding Z1 is a mug’s game. But fortunately it was the other way about.

V5i gives Z1 more well-rounded sound as compared with the stock op-amp. The sound is clearer, fuller and more dynamic. The highs are sweet and more refined. The mid-range is much thicker. But what is improved the most is the bass. It is really robust and powerful. The soundstage is wider and deeper. At least the way I perceive it. It sounds natural and not super exaggerated, though. It’s just amazing to me. The instrument separation is very pleasing. You can feel physically where the musicians are. I can immerse into music with Burson op-amp.

I know that it’s hardly possible to get all the benefits the Burson V5i can offer in budget gears but definitely you can hear and feel the difference in the sound as compared with stock op-amps. Who knows, there can be another step to SQ improvement after trying Burson V5i op-amps.

I have received this burson v5i-d free of charge in return for an honest review

I know sound is subjective and this is my first review so I will try to do my best.


My first impressions was wow, I spent a week listening and in general am very happy with how it sounds in my zishan z3. The z3 has a bit of a roll off in the bass and highs , I used the kz zs5 (good combo) for this review and ty hi z hp150. I also try it in my Walnut F1(beautiful combo) and my wife's zishan dsd but for this review I will use my zishan.


For most of this review I used a few songs and albums that I know and listen to often. Here is a list of some of these;


Pink Floyd's dark side of the moon (whole album) the subbass in opening track is wonderfully defined (better then all the opamps I have heard)

And the clocks in time really come alive!


Rush's caress of steel ( necromancer) soundstage is wider then before, some small details seem better pronounced and the drums sound beautifully separated and kick a bit harder


For bass and subbass

21 Savage's issa (close my eyes) bass hits hard and rumbles but never bleeds into the rest, vocals seem less veiled and better defined


Beastie boys's hello nasty special edition (stink bug) the percussion is very well defined, the rumble from the sub bass has more control but everything stays clean and crisp


DJ Shadow's the mountain has fallen( three Ralphs) the bass reaches deeper without overwhelming, bass hits with better depth and definition and rumble, soundstage seems wider, separation seems more defined and the metal coin at the end of the track is really textured, just the right amount of highs


For mids

El gran combo de puerto Rico's sin salsa no hay paraíso, the brass instruments, and percussion seem better defined, vocals more emotional, Made me want to dance across my living room!


For the highs

The beatles’ sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band, adds a bit of sparkle that the z3 is missing, not much but a bit more and seems smoother and yet more outlined, instruments seem more discernable


And for vocals all of the above plus

Portishead's portishead, the vocals come alive, become more emotional, bass never takes away from the vocals, highs are just right, and Beth gibbons voice sounds beautiful


I compared the burson with the original opamp and my budget favorite the now obsolete lme49720ha


To me it seems as the v5i brings the vocals forward a bit, not in a bad way, in a nice way, more emotional, intimate, but doesn't take away from the rest of the range, the lme49720ha seems to have a bit more bass and highs but not as well controlled or textured, and against the original opamp they both are better but the v5i seems to separate and control the frequencies much better, soundstage is wider even though the lme49720ha is pretty close the v5i takes the cake and the original opamp simply doesn't compare, seems a bit too aggressive in the mids, bass is not as hard hitting and sub bass seems less controlled and a tiny bit muddy and highs are a bit too harsh compared to the v5i


For the hell of it I compared it to my wife's zishan dsd, I remember it being I jump ahead of my little z3 but with the v5i it seems the z3 catches up, I was baffled, didn't expect that


I would say the burson v5i has a slight focus on mids, they seem more emotional and intimate but doesn't take away from lows or highs, and the sub bass and bass is very well controlled and textured reaching deeper, having the perfect amount of rumble but never sloppy. highs are nice, sparkly, and have a bit more air but never piercing even with the kz zs5. Brass instruments are really a joy to listen to, honestly I would recommend this opamp it really is a step up.

Greetings,

Today we're checking out something I've had no prior experience with, an op-amp swap!

Burson Audio is an Australian company founded over 20 years ago who specialize in the design and construction of audio equipment and various components within. When Carlos from Burson Audio reached out to see if I would be interested in checking out the V5i for use in my Walnut devices, I had to do some research. Swapping op-amps was an aspect of the hobby I was aware of through forum discussion where people showed off their swaps and other various upgrades to budget devices like the Walnut V2S, but it wasn't anything I had personally participated in. My device use is generally a little more straightforward, with my efforts towards modding going to headphones instead.

The Walnut V2S and F1 are awesome little devices and quite capable for the price, but they're also a little rough sounding in the treble and lack depth in the low end. If the V5i could address this it would make for a very appealing upgrade, though in truth it costs more than either one of the players used during my testing. I decided to dig a little further to see if it would be worth both my time and Burson's to send the V5i to someone with no hands on experience in this particular field.


Checking out the V5i product page (https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/), it was touted to be fast, dynamic, and transparent. Fast and transparent were, for the most part, already addressed by the Walnut bros' stock op-amps, though I found dynamics lacking, particularly in terms of bass. Both of Walnut's devices have a clear mid-range and treble bias in stock form, making them best suited for pairing with neutral, warm, and/or dark headphones which manage or compensate for the aggressive treble and edgy nature of their presentation. The V5i sounded like just the thing to deal with this. I replied to Carlos to advise I'd be interested, and two weeks ago a V5i dual-SS op-amp showed up on my doorstep.

**Keep in mind that this is a purely subjective review. There are no measurements, there are no in-depth comparisons with competing products. I don't have any experience in this area of the hobby beyond this, though I'm definitely going to be diving in further after this experience. Op-amp swapping was fun and seems to be a great way to give new life to an old device.**

Installed in the Walnut F1 and V2S:

Starting with the Walnut F1, note that my testing only applies to the 3.5mm unbalanced output. Also note that I didn't realize the V5i would be so tall. With it and the battery in place, the top half of the case no longer fits. If you decide to get this op-amp for use in the F1 you're going to have to fabricate a new way to fit the device back together. Of course, you could always run it with the internals exposed, though that probably isn't the most brilliant idea in the world.

The stock OPA2604 op-amp is described on a certain retailer's site as having a “warm and delicate” sound with a low frequency that has “quality and quantity”. I personally wouldn't agree with any of that, unless talking about low end quality, at least not when it's plugged into the F1. The stock sound is fairly cold and treble aggressive. You need to use the built in EQ presets to bring up the low end and make it sound anywhere close to warm and delicate. That, or pop in the V5i. With Burson's op-amp in play, the F1 took on warmer sound with a stronger, punchier mid-bass presence. An increase in sound stage width was immediately apparent, as was the V5i's reset on your default position relative to the music. Where the stock op-amp is fairly intimate, the V5i sets you back a couple more rows, pulling you away from the artist and giving the F1 a more open and spacious sound. It's not a night and day difference, but it is noticeable and makes for a much better listening experience, especially once you realize the F1's edginess in stock form is mostly gone.

The V2S comes with the Texas Instruments (TI) NE5532P, which from what I understand is a pretty well-respected op-amp. Still, replacing it nets similar changes as those experienced with the F1, though not quite as drastic. With the V5i installed, the V2S ends up having a more organic presentation. Texas Instruments' op-amp applied a colder, more digital feel to the music. I heard a similar improvement in sound stage width, though without as much change to your “sitting position” within the music. There was also improvement in instrument separation and layering.

The most notable thing to come away from my testing was that the V5i gave both players a richer output with a fuller and more robust bass presentation, smoother treble, and a larger sound stage. They come across more open and dynamic with the V5i, and simply put, sound a heck of a lot better. Before, I wouldn't have bothered pairing either with treble prominent earphones like the ADVANCED GT3 or Echobox Finder X1. With the V5i in place, treble heavy gear is no longer a painful experience.

Packaging and Build Quality:

The V5i arrives in a nice little plastic case sealed shut via a plastic lock and a Burson Audio branded sticker. Inside, the V5i is set within a secure foam block with cutouts present for two op-amps. This case is a great way to ship the V5i because not only do you have a custom tailored area to store it when not in use or during transit, but you also have a place to store the op-amp the V5i replaces, as well as an extra.

The V5i is interesting in that it is a hybrid op-amp; part integrated circuit, part discrete. This probably explains the size since under that sturdy metal casing, which I'm guessing doubles as a heat sink given this little guy gets somewhat toasty during operation, are two micro chips. The 8 pins are gold plated and also pretty tough, unlike the pins on the stock op-amps which required the most deft of touches to keep from bending. It all looks and feels well constructed and durable, handy given the way I conducted testing.

How I Tested and Compared Stock op-amps vs. V5i:

It was very scientific *cough-sarcasm-cough*. First, I removed the top half of the shell of the Walnut device I was testing. I then listened to a song with the stock op-amp. Once that was up, I unplugged the battery and carefully pried the stock op-amp up and out with an itty bitty screwdriver, careful not to bend anything. Then I popped in the V5i, making sure the half-moons were lined up. The battery was reinstalled and I proceeded to listen to the song again. During my listening I noted a few key moments. I would return to these, quickly unplug the battery, swap op-amps, plug the battery back in and listen to that moment. This would be done three or four times per op-amp to note the differences, then I would move on to the next track.

Some Test Tracks:

First up was BT's “Angels On My Broken Windowsill” from his experimental opus 'If The Stars Are Eternal Then So Are You And I'. This song was used to test dynamics, sound stage, instrument separation, and layering.

Next was Supertramp's “Rudy” from 'Crime of the Century' for male vocals, timbre, and general tone.

Last was The Crystal Method's “Grace feat. LeAnn Rimes” for femal vocals, sibilance, and general treble edginess.

I also ran through my regular gamut of tracks for more general testing when I wanted to sit and enjoy the sound of the V5i without analyzing every little aspect.

Final Thoughts:

I wasn't really sure how much of a difference a new op-amp would make to the Walnut Bros, but after spending some time with the V5i in place I came away impressed. It gives both of these devices more well-rounded signatures than they have in stock form. It warms them up to give them a full, dynamic sound with more refined highs, a thicker mid-range, and a more robust low end.

At 39 USD it may seem weird to spend more on a single component simply to enhance a device that costs less than 35 USD. This hobby isn't always logical and you don't always do things because price dictates it. If that were the case, then no one would be “upgrading” their budget earphones with cables costing twice as much, or more. When it comes to these Walnut devices, they are desired for their simplicity, durability, and ease of use. They are basic devices, free of complication, and I've gotten plenty of use out of them in stock form. The V5i is a great way to improve their sound quality, bringing new life to a device that maybe you were otherwise ready to move on from. And when that time to move on inevitably comes, the V5i will be right there with you.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler

The Burson V5i is lovely looking op-amp, and, by all accounts, contains some impressive technology. Unfortunately, the amplifier I have, the Little Dot I+, supplies 3.7V of the recommended 5V minimum. It's generally better to operate closer to the voltage maximum than minimum, let alone below the minimum. That said, as I was requested by Burson to review their product, I plugged it in and gave it a listen over two pairs of cans, the He400i and ATH-MSR7's.

The sound is fairly neutral, but lacking the textured mids I prize in an op-amp (or any other component of the sound chain, for that matter). The mids actually sounded a bit recessed--though this could well have to do with the voltage. It has a slightly larger soundstage than the LME49720NA I normally use, and very, very detailed treble. Bass wasn't lacking or obviously missing anything, but I fear I cannot offer a fair review of this op-amp, owing to insufficient voltage.

Foreword:
I would like to express my thanks to Carlos from Burson Audio for reaching out to me and offering me a free trial of the V5i op-amps in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The impressions in this review are entirely my own and I will stand by them. I am in no way affliated with Burson Audio.

The dual version V5is were used in this review. The price for one V5i is $39 and $69 for two. They can be purchased directly from Burson Audio's website.
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5i/

Introduction:
The Objective 2 is a transportable solid state amplifier designed by NwAvGuy who set out to create a truly neutral amplifier at a low price. It is a highly regarded entry level amplifier due to its sound and low price tag. The Objective 2 amplifier used in this review is manufactured by massdrop and aside from the inputs and outputs, is identical to other Objective 2 amplifiers available in the market.

Source and Headphones/iems used:
Source: Xduoo X10 (AK4490)
Headphones: HIfiman Sundara, HIfiman HE-1000v2, Meze 99, Audeze LCD 3
Iems: Echobox Finder X1, QDC Neptune, Shure SE846 (only for testing noise/hissing)

Specifications:
Operating Voltage: +-5V to +-16V
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005%
Corosstalk distortion: >95dB
Slew rate: 45V/µS to 50V/µS
Gain Bandwidth: 50MHz

Full specifications available here : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxn23njCr8VCWGh4bHBZYTVLYWs/view

Impressions:
Gain stage

Swapping out the stock NJM JRC2068D with the V5i, the most distinct difference is the change in dynamism. If you thought the Objective 2 was too boring then the V5i is definitely for you. The sound changes from being cold and strictly neutral to being dynamic, vivid and lively while still being neutral. With most headphones/iems, the tonality shift is so subtle its imperceptible, though as always, there are exceptions. More on that later.

The sound also gains more weight and slightly more body but surprisingly the treble is also crispier! This is a testament to the speed of the V5i as typically, a more full bodied sound will negatively affect the crispness and result in a less defined and more sluggish sound.

The V5i has better bass extention compared to the stock op-amp. The sub bass goes lower and has noticeably more rumble compared to stock. This leads to a percieved increase in bass quantity. The bass does gain an analogue feel and isnt as tight sounding as the stock op-amp.

Soundstage wise the V5i widens the soundstage but the stock op-amp has better depth due to it being cleaner and generally more analytical. Along with the soundstage, the instrument separation has improved. Despite being less clean sounding than the stock op-amp, individual sounds are better separated with more air between the instruments resulting in a more revealing and nuanced sound.

The V5i is noticeably noisier than the stock op-amp. While the stock op-amp starts to hiss at 80% on the volume pot, the V5i will start to hiss at 60%.

Another thing to keep in mind with the V5is are that they are noticeably more power hungry than the stock op-amps. Combined with its 1v higher minimum operating voltage you may see a 30% reduction in battery life. This wont be an issue if you only use the Objective 2 with desktop power.w

Notable pairings
Etymotic ER-4S

Only with iems like the reference flat ER4S do you hear the tonality shift from dead neutral to very slightly warm. And with the ER4S, you can also hear that the bass quantity isnt simply increased but rather better extended. The more analytical nature of the stock op-amp is also more pronounced here but the improved instrument separation with the V5i still reveals more of a recording overall.

Audeze LCD 3

An interesting thing about this pairing is that the LCD 3 sounds less grainy compared to the stock op-amp. That is an additional benefit of the V5is to consider.

Aside from that the above impressions stiil apply.

Meze 99

The Meze 99 is the only headphone i would recommend using the stock op-amp over the V5is. It benefits more from the analytical and cold nature of the stock op-amp compared to the V5is. Even if you decide to go with the V5is, keep in mind that the improvements will be subdued compared to other headphones.


Output stage

Personally i dont see any reason to swap the stock op-amps in the output stages with the V5is unless you want to add a slight increase in warmth over the stock op-amps.

Even then, keep in mind that using the V5is in the output stage will cause oscillation and distortion of the sound at volumes above 60% in the volume pot.

Conclusion:
What more can I say, the V5i is a superb upgrade over the stock op-amp. Doubly so if you feel that the Objective 2 is boring. It is more dynamic, vivid, textured with better extension yet retains the neutral sound of the Objective 2.

If you want a worthwhile upgrade of the Objective 2 amp without spending much, the V5is are for you.

Burson Audio Supreme Sound Opamp V5i
---------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer & Backgound:

I was contacted by Charles (SS-Audio) due my posts in Zishan DSD thread. and was sent the opamps in exchange of honest review. here we go.
I'm just an enthusiast in portable hifi, especially in DIY DAP/AMP including many collection mostly nameless, rising chinese brand IEM and Earbuds.
Trust your ear, as my review is based on my perceptions and listening experience. so your result may be differs from my observation.


Gear for testing:
1. Zishan Z1
2. Zishan Z3
3. Zishan DSD (open case testing), then finally mount it permanently
4. Earbud FAAEAL 64ohm & 150ohm
5. Custom DIY 300ohm Earbud, Toneking TO180 (150ohm)
6. KZ ZSR, KZ ZS10, KZ ZS5, KZ ZS3

OPAmp for Comparison
1. MUSES 02 and 8920D
2. BB OPA2134PA
3. LME 49720NA and LME49990
4. AD 823A
(other opamp in my collection is not quite worth of comparison)

Songs for Testing:
1. Susan Wong - My Live Stories
2. Jamie Valle - Round Midnight
3. George Benson - Guitar Man
4. and some TWICE K-Pop Songs (yeah.. ok i know.. these are my daugther fav, but you can easily get high sibilant from the songs here)

Built:
Came in enclosed plastic box which padding can accomodate 2 of these..
This may be one of the best OPAMP built.. to me it looks like a hybrid regular DIP8 with CAN opamp..




but this thing is bigger than standard opamps.. so DAP with tight space will not fit at all.. including my Zishan DSD which i'm testing this Opamp in open case condition.. due to very lack of space...
(my attempt of creating extended adapter also failed, due to said limitation..., the only way to mount this opamp on Zishan DSD seems to solder directly onto the PCB, which i'm going to do soon.)
<updated, see below>



Looking at the V5i-D itself. i believe Burson can easily made a mod to this opamp, the need to trim gold feet, and remove the plastic.. more like a browndog's adapter approach.

On Zishan Z1 and Z3, no issue plenty of room here..



On Walnut V2s


This opamp generate less additional heat.. and still only slight warm to touch after extended period of usage.


Sound:
Firstly noticable that on my Walnut V2s, Zishan Z1, Z3, and finally Zishan DSD, when using this Opamp there is not loud thud when powering on.. compared to my other opamp (excluding the MUSES)

Overall sound to my ear this Opamp is significant improvement over BB, LME and AD.. as Instrument seperation is clearly impoved. highs were improved but noticed no sibilance compared to LME49720NA. Lows are more puchy and extend well.. but not bring overall warmt like the 2134, which to some may color the overal experience..

Now comparing to the MUSES02 and 8920.. honestly i cannot distinguish between both of my MUSES they perform the same.. high, mid, low, and seperation... this also applies to the Burson V5i.. A-B them , i really cannot tell the difference..

Overall the sound is a welcome improvement over your common "famous" Opamps in the market, you will get no wrong choosing this as your main goto opamp for upgrade.. (maybe slight competition over the MUSES, but the built quality excel in the Burson V5i)..

PS: this opamp's price seems maybe overkill for budget DAP.. but well worthed for more pricier DAP..

----

UPDATE (23 Aug 2018)

After think it over and perform multiple rolling this V5i-D op-amp vs my collections (with case opened, due cannot be closed when using this opamp.. too big .. ) .thn Finally i decided to put it permanently on my Zishan DSD (AK4497EQ version)

First thing to do.. is to remove the original DIP-8 socket, with the right tools (solder, flux, wick) .. its easily done.


After that.. i need to trim the Burson V5i-D golden pins.. to make it flush, no protruding pins on the back of the PCS as it may puncture the battery..

(compared trimmed pins with stock)

a bit of soldering... and DONE..


Even-though after this opamp is put without dip-8 socket.. the size is still a tad bigger than normal opamp+adapter/socket.. i still need to push hard the PCB to fit in the case...

after closing the case.. turn it on.. immediately appreciated the choice to put it permanently on my zishan DSD..
Zishan by nature (due to AK DAC) is a slight warm DAP.. with this opamp i felt the character is a bit different.. more flat .. but powerfull sounding..

for those who want to have better sound in the zishan..and sacrifice the option for rolling opamp.. then this is the opamp for you... Highly Recommended..

and for the big footprint.. please Burson Audio, make it smaller (to standard dip-8 size.. )
also if i may suggest.. Burson Audio need to include a sticker, something like Intel Inside approach.. but with "Burson V5i Insided" / "Burson V5i Infused" / "Burson Powered" or any similar message

Thank You.