Burson Super Charger 3A
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Introduction
Today’s review is going to be quite different. We’re taking a look at Burson’s Super Charger 3A, a low-noise power supply built for their devices. Here’s the list of compatible devices:
As you can see, it can be used with most of their current lineup. This is a good thing because even if you’re going to upgrade your current Burson device, it’s very probable that you’ll keep the Super Charger and use it with your next purchase.
We have reviewed Burson’s Playmate 2 and V6 Vivid Opamps recently (here and here), and we’re going to test the Super Charger in this specific configuration.
Burson yet again proves that their devices are meant to last you a very long time. On top of fantastic build quality and sound, you’ve got options for upgrading your current model without hurting your wallet too much. You can either go for better Opamps, the Super Charger…or both. I now have a fully upgraded Playmate 2 on my hand, so let me tell you how much better it got.
This review will be a rather short one. It’s a power supply, I’m not going to write a book about it and give you 5000 words about the sound, because that would have been outrageous. I’ll try to focus on the most important stuff, and most importantly, give you my opinion on whether it’s worth it.
Packaging
The packaging of the Super Charger 3A is very basic, as you would have expected. It comes in a nice-looking black box, which contains the power supply itself, together with different types of connectors, for you people living around the world. It’s a great thing, as you don’t have to choose a specific plug version when ordering or changing your Super Charger if you’ll decide to move to a different country.
This is literally all you need and Burson Audio focused on the most important aspect – for the Super Charger to arrive safely at your door.
Build Quality
The Super Charger is built well. It’s not huge, which is a plus in my book, as it won’t take up too much space, which is always desirable. Having in mind, that you’ll probably put it in your hand for literally a minute, plug it into your power strip, and don’t touch it again for like a year, the actual build quality is not that important.
You’re not going to toss it in your backpack and take it with you on a trip, are you? Well, if you will…then it’s built well enough to easily take a beating. At the end of the day though, it’s a power supply, it’s meant to be plugged in and for you to forget that it’s there.
Tech
I really appreciate the honesty of the folks at Burson Audio. Here’s the first thing that you’re going to read when looking at the Super Charger at their official website:“There are no gimmicks here. We did not invent new elements nor space-tech. And submarines certainly do not use it to lower their noise floor. Instead, it is based on nearly two decades of experience building power supplies for audio, then assembled with the best parts we can find. The resulting improvement is instantly audible and across the entire audio spectrum.”
Audio manufacturers often get lost in story-telling, when you’re getting so many promises that it feels like you’re dealing with alien technology. It’s different this time. Burson Audio is just a group of highly knowledgeable engineers that has one goal and one goal only – to provide high-quality audio for the people.
So, what’s so special about the Super Charger? Lower noise, and Higher Frequency.
Lower noise gives you a blacker background and better overall cleanliness of the sound. This can definitely improve detail retrieval, separation, and resolution. This aspect is pretty self-explanatory, you don’t want any noise in your audio, at all costs.
“Off-the-shelf power units have an operating frequency that’s just above the human hearing threshold. In contrast, the Burson Super Charger works at an even higher frequency, resulting in a much lower DC noise—instantly improving the final noise to signal ratio.
The lowering of DC noise allows a deeper dive into the micro-details. It reveals more texture and decay around each note and more acoustic information in the air between instruments and vocalists.”
Higher Frequency on the other hand is meant to give you better dynamics, bigger sound, and a more expanded soundstage. Here are two cents from Burson on this topic:
“The Burson Super Charger doubles the charging frequency to power capacitors inside the audio amplifier. The resulting sound is more impactful with a bigger and deeper soundstage.”
As you can see, there’s no Rocket-Science in this little guy, but rather simple yet refined technology. At the end of the day, sound quality improvement is essential to evaluate whether the Super Charger is worth your money, so let’s not waste any more time and get right into it.
Sound
I’m not going to say that the Super Charger changed my Playmate 2 into a Summit-Fi AIO, because it hasn’t. Also, I don’t want to try to convince you that you have to get one, because you don’t.
What I can certainly do though is try to give you an idea of an improvement it gives and whether the (not too low) price is worth paying if you have the Playmate 2.
So, the quick answer is – I don’t know. See, there’s always an aspect of diminishing returns. You’ve just spent around $500 on your Playmate 2, then you paid around $150 for these fancy Opamps, and now you’re wondering if you should spend $284 on a dedicated power supply. This comes very close to a $1000 total price, which you could spend to get a Conductor 3P ($1044), a higher, beefier model from Burson Audio.
Is the fully upgraded Playmate 2 going to sound as good or better than the Conductor 3P? Sadly, I don’t know, as I never tried the latter. But you should definitely have this thing in mind before pulling the trigger.
But, I’m here to tell you if the Super Charger 3A actually improves the sound quality of the Playmate 2. Yes, it does, by quite a lot actually. You can immediately hear that it sounds cleaner and more refined with better detail retrieval. It’s like removing a very thin blanket from the sound, giving you a more accurate and more controlled sound throughout the whole frequency range.
Another thing that you can easily hear is the dynamics and overall size of the sound. The Super Charger makes the sound grander, more epic, and just more natural to your ear. The most important aspect of these changes is that they happen in the entire frequency range, giving you an instant and very straightforward upgrade. This is not witchcraft, nor it is subtle, and this makes it a very easy recommendation if you’re wondering whether the Super Charger is worth getting.
Summary
The name Super Charger is just perfect. This power supply literally supercharges your Burson Audio device, providing a substantial upgrade to the entire sound quality throughout the whole frequency range.
If you own the Playmate 2 and really like it, this is a no-brainer when it comes to upgrading your audio experience. Together with V6 Vivid Opamps it enhances the sound quality by a lot. This is what audio upgrade products should always be about. No audiophile-grade routers, LAN cables, or magical audio stickers, but rather well-engineered and actually meaningful devices that deliver on their promise with no doubts.
Recommended.
Gear used during this review for the sake of comparison and as an accompanying equipment:
- Headphones – Audeze MM-500, Audeze LCD-X 2021, Final D8000 Pro, Fir Kr5, Fir XE6, Unique Melody MEST, HEDDphone
- Sources– Burson Playmate 2 + Vivid Opamps
If you’re in Europe, you can order your Super Charger 3A here, or here via the official Burson Audio website.
Burson - Supercharger - A quick review
Thanks to Burson audio and Bhavneet Matharoo for the review unit of the Supercharger.
The Supercharger is a power adapter that provides clean power from noisy power sources.
Build and package : The supercharger comes in a nice box, with the super charger, and 3 adapters for the various power plug configurations across the world (australia, europe, US). Functionaly and securing the items in the box, as can be seen from the image.
The build quality is good quality ABS plastic and weighs in slightly more than most laptop chargers.
How does it perform
My office power supply comes from a power backup that is extremely noisy. When I connect any audio device (dac or amp), or even charge the laptop. noise creeps into the iems/ headphones. This is the normal state of affairs.
In the Supercharger world, the noise is near completely eliminated, almost like someone closed a very well padded door. The current delivered to the amp is very clean, and the device performs very well, thanks to the super charger.
Whom will I recommend it to - Anyone with poor grounding, noisy power supply and those willing to upgrade the power source of their dac/amp (24V 3A VDC), they are in for a treat with the Burson Supercharger!
Thanks to Burson audio and Bhavneet Matharoo for the review unit of the Supercharger.
The Supercharger is a power adapter that provides clean power from noisy power sources.
Build and package : The supercharger comes in a nice box, with the super charger, and 3 adapters for the various power plug configurations across the world (australia, europe, US). Functionaly and securing the items in the box, as can be seen from the image.
The build quality is good quality ABS plastic and weighs in slightly more than most laptop chargers.
How does it perform
My office power supply comes from a power backup that is extremely noisy. When I connect any audio device (dac or amp), or even charge the laptop. noise creeps into the iems/ headphones. This is the normal state of affairs.
In the Supercharger world, the noise is near completely eliminated, almost like someone closed a very well padded door. The current delivered to the amp is very clean, and the device performs very well, thanks to the super charger.
Whom will I recommend it to - Anyone with poor grounding, noisy power supply and those willing to upgrade the power source of their dac/amp (24V 3A VDC), they are in for a treat with the Burson Supercharger!
Introduction
This review was original published at www.audioreviews.org.Burson are a company out of Melbourne, Australia, which are well known and liked for their innovative opamps, DACs, amps, DAC/amps combos. I have analyzed the Burson Funk and the V6 Vivid & V6 Classic opamps.
Their DACs and amps come with their proprietary Maximum Current Power Supply “MCPS” , an ultrafast switching power supply that minimizes noise riding on the signal – and it lowers resistance and speeds up performance.
With the Super Charger, Burson are going a step further in reducing DC noise which and therefore increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. This should improve (micro-)dynamics and sonic detail. The company claims that the Super Charger doubles the the charging frequency to power capacitors inside the audio amplifier, which results in a more impactful sound with a bigger and deeper soundstage.
I tested this, but before I report my results, let’s first talk about the power-supply technology and common issues with mains power.
Power Supplies and Noise
Power supplies are highly underrated components and frequently put in the snake oil corner. That’s partly because they are external somewhere on the floor or optically unspectacular as “wall warts”…but mainly as they – strictly speaking – do not contribute anything to the sound of a device.What? Surprised? On the contrary, good power supplies serve the purpose of preserving the signal from deterioration through…NOISE. Therefore, sound is “passively” improved by preservation and not by addition.
Three kinds of noise exist that can contaminate and deteriorate the audio signal: electromagnetic interference (RMI), radio-frequency (RFI) interference, and switching noise (which is usually just above the human hearing threshold). RMI and RFI may be transmitted by both USB ports and external power supplies.
What we call noise are not discrete sounds but impurities superimposed on the signal, like dirt mixed in our bathwater. Dirty bathwater does not clean well, and an impure signal compromises sound quality. I speculate that lack of understanding of “noise” in this context contributes to the snake-oil dogma with some listeners.
The electricity that comes out of our mains contains RMI and RFI, the amount of which depends on our living environment. It will be worse in a dense city environment than in the sparsely populated countryside.
All electronic circuits work at low voltage/direct current whereas the grid provides high voltage/alternative current.
A power supply is a transformer that connects the AC grid with the low voltage circuit of a device, let’s say a DAC or amp. There are two kinds of power supplies, switching mode power supplies (SMPS) and linear power supplies (LPS). Both kinds principally work with our audio devices.
A good-quality LPS contains a big transformer which makes them bulky, but it has a great price to performance ratio. The power supplies that come with our phones or notebook computers are SMPS. These are generally more compact and cheaper than LPS but noisier – unless sophisticated filtering is used. Basic SMPS will deteriorate the audio signal but a high-quality SMPS is superior to an LPS.
In an SMPS, the incoming AC is first converted to DC by a rectifier, followed by a filter, and then sent to a transformer. An integrated circuit switches voltage on and off at a very high frequency. An SMPS only needs a small transformer as the flow-through currents are generally small. The resulting DC is not very clean as the voltage is not as stable as with a good LPS. But the small devices travels well to hotel rooms (think Apple’s 5V iPhone charger).
In their Super Charger, Burson tackle specifically the switching noise by raising the switching frequency higher above the human hearing threshold. Simple but clever? But, will it work?
USB Noise
I described USB noise in my analyses of the Allo Nirvana and Allo Shanti 5V power supplies review:“Another cause of noise/signal deterioration is our streamer/computer/phone source. The various computer internals are inherently noisy. If our DAC is powered through the USB port, the computer delivers both noisy power and a poorly timed data stream (“jitter”) caused by RMI and FMI, through VBUS and data line, respectively, to the DAC.
Both jitter and noisy power contribute to the deterioration of the audio signal. And if both are transferred into the DAC via an inferior USB cable, there is additional interference between power and data lines…which exacerbates the problem. That’s why you need a well-made, well-shielded, well-isolating USB cable, too.
Using an external PS or a battery eliminates the VBUS problem. When testing the “purity” of the Super Charger (as well as for everyday use), I eliminated the USB noise altogether by using a quasi noise-less source.”
OK, let’s have a look at the Super Charger.
Compatiblity
The Super Charger 3/5A is compatible with almost all current Burson DACs and amps…but also with third-party devices, if they fulfill the specs below.
To find out its compatibility with other products, please follow the steps below:
- Is your current PSU 24Volt with the same amp or less? (eg 3A or less)
- Does it have a 2.5mm DC barrel plug?
- Does it have a centre positive polarity?
Physicals
In the box is the device and three slide-in adapters to fit all power outlets around the world. The design is a simple wall wart without button of switches. Its case is made of some kind of polyethylene (“hard plastic”) like most other such devices. A white LED indicates it is connected to the mains.The Super Charger is slim (leaves space for adjacent power supplies) but sticks out quite a bit – which should not matter too much as it is likely hidden somewhere behind your desk (the stock power supply is on your desk). The chord – against claims in the blogosphere – is NOT detachable (I asked Burson), although the connector rotates.
What Changes are expected?
Improvements depend on the noise contamination. No noise, no improvement. Noise is not only introduced by the ac grid but also by the other electrical components in the chain such as computers and phones. In the worst-case scenario, the benefits of the power supply to the amplifier may be levelled by the other components so that the net improvement is…zero. I experience such as case during the ifi Audio iPower X testing when using a computer as source. We also have to consider permanent fluctuations of the ac grid according to usage and location.Testimonies of the benefits of power supplies by audioreviews.org writers range from a “cleaner signal, better details, better transients” to improved stereo image and bass, better vocals quality” on the blogosphere. Co-blogger Biodegraded, reports better textured and more extended bass and a quieter background throughout in his headphone amp with the ifi Audio iPower. KopiOkaya owns and tested several LPS and also reports differences in dynamics. Some cheap PS sound “uninspired” in his analyses. Co-Blogger Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir tested the ifi Audio Zen Can and had to purchase an iPower X to get the sonic results he expected from it.
Test Setup
For my listening test, I used a low-noise source, one that does not suffer from contamination from non-audio components (computer of phone), and one that does not rely on a power supply connected to the mains. I therefore deployed the Questyle QP1R dap, that runs on constant power/current supplied by its built-in battery. It also has a dedicated line-out. This source obviously avoids USB noise and mains noise. The Super Charger was attached to the Burson Funk via an AudioQuest Golden Gate 3.5 mm to 2 RCA interconnect.My complete test setup was:
- Source: Questyle QP1R dap
- AudioQuest Golden Gate 3.5 mm to 2 RCA Interconnect
- Super Charger 3/5A connected to Burson Funk amp.
Test Results
Wowsa! I was stunned! The sonic difference between the stock power supply and the Super Charger is substantial (in my setup). We are not talking nuances, the whole sonic character changes quite a bit…and to the better. Burson claims better detail and better dynamics…which is true. My impressions – from the first minute – have been: much better transparency, much better note definition, better accentuation. Imaging is improved, there was much better control and organization, which I first recorded in the bass.. In summary, the signal is much cleaner and crisper, and more true to a Class A amp than with the stock power supply.The stock power supply delivers a less orderly, much less controlled sound that I first detected on the more loose low end.
I am actually really surprised that the difference is so big. Quite frankly, I enjoy the sound with the Super Charger so much more that I don’t want to go back to the stock supply.
Value: should I…?
The question is: is it worth purchasing the Super Charger as it is not quite cheap? Answer: it depends! First, how much is its acquisition relative to the amp you use it with? The more expensive the amp, the more worth is it to invest in a good power supply. At $2500, the Super Charger is only a 10% cost addition (how much did you pay for your rubber phone case?).Second, how “clean” is your chain of electronic devices? If you have a noisy computer or phone and a DAC with a cheap power supply in front of your amp, the Super Charger may not make much or any difference. After all, the golden rule is: garbage in, garbage out.
Some experts are of the opinion that an amplifier benefits more from clean power than a DAC. And they further claim that clean power contributes 70% to an amp’s sound quality. And when you compare the price of the Super Charger against a good linear power supply ($500 plus), it does not look that bad.
In the end, the pleasure you will get out of your power supply will define its value.
Concluding Remarks
To say it in simple terms: when used “properly”, the Super Sharper changes the sound of your amplifier notably, to a point that surprised me. It upgrades my Burson Funk to a real Class A amp. I am just confused why Burson includes a – probably also pricey – stock power supply, which you then abandon for the Super Charger.Wouldn’t it save cost and be better for the environment to give the buyer the choice of picking a power supply upon checkout? Which would bring the total buying price down.
In summary, the Burson Super Charger is for listener who don’t want to make compromises and who are smart enough to implement it properly into their electronic chain.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
The Burson Super Charger was supplied by Burson Audio for my review and I thank them for that. You can get it directly from the manufacturer.Our generic standard disclaimer.
Intro
To start, thanks again to Bhavneet and Burson Audio for having me review this Super Charger locally. This really caught my eye and curiosity as to see for myself if such a change in power supply really affects the sound output without just being snake oil and so here we are and spoiler alert - it was definitely noticeable! For the unitiated, Burson Audio has been around for more than 12 years as one of the few audio specialist brands hailing from the country down under, making their names especially with their discrete opamps being used by DIYers all around the globe. By establishing the Max Current Power Supply (MCPS) proprietary technology, they seem to know their way around the benefits of an efficient power supply and not just come up with a snake oil product.
Build, packaging, and configuration
The main product packaging is a black carton box with print and a clear window in order to see the actual product. Then inside is the actual item itself with various adapters for every outlet need. The Super Charger is in premium black plastic, the cable seem supple and durable, and feels solid overall. The cable itself is 5 feet in length and terminated by a 2.5mm plug for your devices. The one that I received is the 3A version and its compatibility/design seem to be proprietary almost all the current Burson Audio portfolio. If your unit complies with these questions:
Performance - this is not snake oil!
Using the Burson Playmate 2 since it's a DAC and amplifier in one so that the power supply is being used in its holistic nature to power the entire output system - right off the bat, there was definite noticeable improvement switching from the stock powerbrick to the Super Charger. And I thought it was going to be minimal. The sound immediately sounds cleaner and smoother, with details squeezed out of the system. The response of the overall setup was more dynamic and is really quick to catch up with the busiest of music without distortion that you may nitpick from your first time hearing it. And the 3D effect of the soundstage is felt more with this upgrade. Mileage may vary depending on the user but I can definitely say that this is an improvement. Though I cannot speak for those who plan to use this with a non-Burson device if the effect will be more substantial.
Overall
If you're like a tuner who want to maximize and squeeze every potential of your system, the Burson Super Charger fits the bill and is your definite upgrade of choice especially if your system chain is composed of Burson components. Pushing the limits in terms of cleanliness of output, noise reduction, and detail retrieval, this power supply does small wonders to your system and is properly implemented. The only remaining question though is if it is worth it to spend half the cost of a Burson entry-level component such as the Playmate or Funk for such an upgrade and it depends but you may or may not appreciate the mileage of difference you'll hear. But if you do find the time to nitpick every noise or transient you hear and want to extract every potential of your Burson system, then this is a solid purchase even for its price. Thumbs up!
To start, thanks again to Bhavneet and Burson Audio for having me review this Super Charger locally. This really caught my eye and curiosity as to see for myself if such a change in power supply really affects the sound output without just being snake oil and so here we are and spoiler alert - it was definitely noticeable! For the unitiated, Burson Audio has been around for more than 12 years as one of the few audio specialist brands hailing from the country down under, making their names especially with their discrete opamps being used by DIYers all around the globe. By establishing the Max Current Power Supply (MCPS) proprietary technology, they seem to know their way around the benefits of an efficient power supply and not just come up with a snake oil product.
Build, packaging, and configuration
The main product packaging is a black carton box with print and a clear window in order to see the actual product. Then inside is the actual item itself with various adapters for every outlet need. The Super Charger is in premium black plastic, the cable seem supple and durable, and feels solid overall. The cable itself is 5 feet in length and terminated by a 2.5mm plug for your devices. The one that I received is the 3A version and its compatibility/design seem to be proprietary almost all the current Burson Audio portfolio. If your unit complies with these questions:
- Is your current power supply unit 24Volt with the same amp or less? (eg 3A or less)
- Does it have a 2.5mm DC barrel plug?
- Does it have a centre positive polarity?
Performance - this is not snake oil!
Using the Burson Playmate 2 since it's a DAC and amplifier in one so that the power supply is being used in its holistic nature to power the entire output system - right off the bat, there was definite noticeable improvement switching from the stock powerbrick to the Super Charger. And I thought it was going to be minimal. The sound immediately sounds cleaner and smoother, with details squeezed out of the system. The response of the overall setup was more dynamic and is really quick to catch up with the busiest of music without distortion that you may nitpick from your first time hearing it. And the 3D effect of the soundstage is felt more with this upgrade. Mileage may vary depending on the user but I can definitely say that this is an improvement. Though I cannot speak for those who plan to use this with a non-Burson device if the effect will be more substantial.
Overall
If you're like a tuner who want to maximize and squeeze every potential of your system, the Burson Super Charger fits the bill and is your definite upgrade of choice especially if your system chain is composed of Burson components. Pushing the limits in terms of cleanliness of output, noise reduction, and detail retrieval, this power supply does small wonders to your system and is properly implemented. The only remaining question though is if it is worth it to spend half the cost of a Burson entry-level component such as the Playmate or Funk for such an upgrade and it depends but you may or may not appreciate the mileage of difference you'll hear. But if you do find the time to nitpick every noise or transient you hear and want to extract every potential of your Burson system, then this is a solid purchase even for its price. Thumbs up!
Burson Super Charger 3A - Improving Burson Sound by Power Supply
Burson Super Charger 3A is a high-end power supply for Burson products, priced at 284 USD, made to pair with a few of their products. I will be comparing it with the default charger that came with Burson Funk (550 USD).
Introduction
Burson likes to optimize their products, and they are one of the very few companies out there that promotes selling, selling and designing their amplifiers and DACs with interchangeable OP-AMPs, so you can always tweak and optimize their sound. They are also one of the companies that sells reliable products, and you can see every now and then a Burson Play, and old units that are long out of production, but still being sold second hand and used by music lovers, Burson products having the advantage of holding value and making good investments for music lovers.
Burson actually has such a high belief in the quality of their products that they offer a 30-Day Satisfaction guarantee, where they will refund your original payment (minus a 10% fee and postage fees). They also have Lifetime warranty for all their OP-AMPs, as long as you register your OP-AMPs for warranty within one month after purchase.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Burson Audio. I'd like to thank Burson for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with the Burson Super Charger 3A. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it. The purpose of this review is to help those interested in Burson Super Charger 3A find their next music companion.
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
Since Super Charger 3A is a pretty simple and straightforward product, it does not have an overly complex package, but it does come seated in a nice plastic cutout with multiple adapters for different outlet types.
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Functionality
Since at the exterior level, Super Charger 3A looks fairly basic, we should talk about what's going on the inside, before we study how it changes sound and what its effects are. There are two variants of SuperCharger, 3A and 5A, and both work with almost all Burson products, except for Timekeeper 3Ri, which doesn't work with neither, and Soloist 3X GT, which only works with Super Charger 5A. There is a 100 USD difference between them.
After the development of it in 2017, Burson made their own approach to power supply manufacturing, and they started deploying Max Current Power Supply, or MCPS. Those are theoretically better than both transformers and switching power supplies, because they have a lower inherent noise compared to most power supply designs.
The theory is that for all power supplies, electrical current comes in at a 50Hz or 60Hz alternative current sine wave, and they typically use a large coil to lower the voltage to 12 - 30 Volts, and a selection of large rectifiers and coupling capacitors to convert the alternative current into Direct Current or DC that powers the audio circuits. Theoretically, this approach uses an extremely long copper wire, which has an inherent impedance of about 15 Ohms, and has some drawbacks, including a somewhat slow slew rate and dynamic response. Burson designed their MCPS unit to remove the impedance entirely, but using transistors, leading to a circuit that has less than 1 ohm of resistance.
Comparing the MCPS to Linear Power Supplies, the theory states that for them to work, Linear Power Supplies will work by combining a series of large capacitors, along with a source that discharges 50 or 60 times per second. This comes with some drawbacks as well, including a somewhat elevated noise that's within the audible range.
Burson Audio employed a different approach in their MCPS, and has a working frequency of 170kHz, which is considerably above the threshold of human hearing. It also does a conversion, converting the typical sine wave into a square wave, allowing MCPS to charge the capacitors considerably faster than is possible with SMPS (Switching Power Supplies) or LPS (Linear Power Supplies). The resulting sound has a higher power output and comes through as stronger, Burson stating that this is one of the secrets behind their products being so good at driving hard to drive headphones, and a Burson Fun at 2W feeling more powerful than an average 4W headphone amplifier. I can actually confirm that all Burson amplifiers deliver a lot of power and are among the strongest sounding with the least distortions I have reviewed to date, something which you can check in my reviews of Burson Playmate and Burson Funk.
Burson also takes great pride in the fact that their MCPS is small, elegant and does not weigh a ton, plus is considerably more environment-friendly compared to the traditional audiophile approach, where just the power supply weights at least one KG, and that's one KG of copper.
Sound Quality & Comparisons with Default Power Converter
For the whole concept of a Burson Power Converter improving sound to make sense, and why it would help Burson products a lot, we need to take into account the fact that Bursons's approach to power supply is different, and their products benefit greatly from power supplies with a high operating frequency, and that it allows the charging rate of the capacitors inside Burson DACs and AMPs to double, practically improving the noise floor, and overall performance of their products. As long as it matches the plug, Super Charger 3A works with other audio products as well.
Now, the actual result is pretty interesting. I always said that Burson Funk has a really strong power output, and that they can be a glass cannon, shots a lot of power, but at times, can lack control. Super Charger 3A helps greatly with this, and creates a considerably more controlled sound for Burson Frunk. It also helps contour the overall definition of Funk, improving the dynamic range, overall perceived bass depth, and seems to deepen the soundstage, creating a more holographic effect for music that's played when using it.
The bass of Funk is deep, but using the Super Charger 3A seems to give it a slightly more natural decay, also seems to improve the nuance and overall depth it is able to reach. As I cannot do quick switching between the power supplies, and it takes me more than 30 seconds to switch between the default power supply and Super Charger 3A, my impressions are highly subjective, but the bass of Funk seems to be better controlled, deeper and more imposing when employing Super Charger 3A.
The midrange of Funk is more detailed, and has a cleaner overall presentation. There are certain background elements, including background voices and synths in both metal, rock and orchestral music. I noticed more of a difference in sonics with bands that have a high difference between flac and MP3, for example Sirenia, where a lot of the background information and a lot of the upper treble information tends to get lost, because the band has such extreme dynamic compression and is recorded extremely loud. Adding Super Charger 3A to Funk helps a lot with Closure in Moscow and Dance Gavin Dance too, makes background instruments and effects more clean and stand out better. I had the experience where iFi's iPowerX also helps some devices, but less than Super Charger 3A helps Burson Devices, here we have differences big, to the point where songs feel like a veil has been taken off.
The treble is actually pretty similar when using Super Charger, it doesn't get smoother, and actually it gets a bit brighter and more peppy, more sparkly. There's more soundstage information, more width and more height, more depth too. Imaging gets a bit better, and so does overall separation, so I consider Super Charger 3A a good investment for those who want a wider, more airy presentation.
Value and Conclusion
At the end of the day, if you purchased one of the high-end flagship Burson units, the Super Charger 3A or even 5A won't cost very much in comparison to the original unit, but comparing it to the default price of funk, both are about half the price of the unit. They are a good investment for sure, the improvements they bring to Funk as well as the other Burson units is high, and they make the sound more live, more peppy, and more detailed.
The package is simplistic, and so is the unit as well. This is an elegant device with a simple task: improve sound and disappear from the scene. It does this fairly well, and I can safely recommend Super Charger 3A to basically anyone who's looking to get a better sonic performance from their Burson unit without investing in an entirely new unit.
At the end of the day, if you're into details, if you want a more controlled sound with better staging, more treble sparkle, and more depth in the lows, Super Charger 3A is a really neat way to improve your listening experience.
Burson Super Charger 3A is a high-end power supply for Burson products, priced at 284 USD, made to pair with a few of their products. I will be comparing it with the default charger that came with Burson Funk (550 USD).
Introduction
Burson likes to optimize their products, and they are one of the very few companies out there that promotes selling, selling and designing their amplifiers and DACs with interchangeable OP-AMPs, so you can always tweak and optimize their sound. They are also one of the companies that sells reliable products, and you can see every now and then a Burson Play, and old units that are long out of production, but still being sold second hand and used by music lovers, Burson products having the advantage of holding value and making good investments for music lovers.
Burson actually has such a high belief in the quality of their products that they offer a 30-Day Satisfaction guarantee, where they will refund your original payment (minus a 10% fee and postage fees). They also have Lifetime warranty for all their OP-AMPs, as long as you register your OP-AMPs for warranty within one month after purchase.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Burson Audio. I'd like to thank Burson for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with the Burson Super Charger 3A. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it. The purpose of this review is to help those interested in Burson Super Charger 3A find their next music companion.
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
Since Super Charger 3A is a pretty simple and straightforward product, it does not have an overly complex package, but it does come seated in a nice plastic cutout with multiple adapters for different outlet types.
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Functionality
Since at the exterior level, Super Charger 3A looks fairly basic, we should talk about what's going on the inside, before we study how it changes sound and what its effects are. There are two variants of SuperCharger, 3A and 5A, and both work with almost all Burson products, except for Timekeeper 3Ri, which doesn't work with neither, and Soloist 3X GT, which only works with Super Charger 5A. There is a 100 USD difference between them.
After the development of it in 2017, Burson made their own approach to power supply manufacturing, and they started deploying Max Current Power Supply, or MCPS. Those are theoretically better than both transformers and switching power supplies, because they have a lower inherent noise compared to most power supply designs.
The theory is that for all power supplies, electrical current comes in at a 50Hz or 60Hz alternative current sine wave, and they typically use a large coil to lower the voltage to 12 - 30 Volts, and a selection of large rectifiers and coupling capacitors to convert the alternative current into Direct Current or DC that powers the audio circuits. Theoretically, this approach uses an extremely long copper wire, which has an inherent impedance of about 15 Ohms, and has some drawbacks, including a somewhat slow slew rate and dynamic response. Burson designed their MCPS unit to remove the impedance entirely, but using transistors, leading to a circuit that has less than 1 ohm of resistance.
Comparing the MCPS to Linear Power Supplies, the theory states that for them to work, Linear Power Supplies will work by combining a series of large capacitors, along with a source that discharges 50 or 60 times per second. This comes with some drawbacks as well, including a somewhat elevated noise that's within the audible range.
Burson Audio employed a different approach in their MCPS, and has a working frequency of 170kHz, which is considerably above the threshold of human hearing. It also does a conversion, converting the typical sine wave into a square wave, allowing MCPS to charge the capacitors considerably faster than is possible with SMPS (Switching Power Supplies) or LPS (Linear Power Supplies). The resulting sound has a higher power output and comes through as stronger, Burson stating that this is one of the secrets behind their products being so good at driving hard to drive headphones, and a Burson Fun at 2W feeling more powerful than an average 4W headphone amplifier. I can actually confirm that all Burson amplifiers deliver a lot of power and are among the strongest sounding with the least distortions I have reviewed to date, something which you can check in my reviews of Burson Playmate and Burson Funk.
Burson also takes great pride in the fact that their MCPS is small, elegant and does not weigh a ton, plus is considerably more environment-friendly compared to the traditional audiophile approach, where just the power supply weights at least one KG, and that's one KG of copper.
Sound Quality & Comparisons with Default Power Converter
For the whole concept of a Burson Power Converter improving sound to make sense, and why it would help Burson products a lot, we need to take into account the fact that Bursons's approach to power supply is different, and their products benefit greatly from power supplies with a high operating frequency, and that it allows the charging rate of the capacitors inside Burson DACs and AMPs to double, practically improving the noise floor, and overall performance of their products. As long as it matches the plug, Super Charger 3A works with other audio products as well.
Now, the actual result is pretty interesting. I always said that Burson Funk has a really strong power output, and that they can be a glass cannon, shots a lot of power, but at times, can lack control. Super Charger 3A helps greatly with this, and creates a considerably more controlled sound for Burson Frunk. It also helps contour the overall definition of Funk, improving the dynamic range, overall perceived bass depth, and seems to deepen the soundstage, creating a more holographic effect for music that's played when using it.
The bass of Funk is deep, but using the Super Charger 3A seems to give it a slightly more natural decay, also seems to improve the nuance and overall depth it is able to reach. As I cannot do quick switching between the power supplies, and it takes me more than 30 seconds to switch between the default power supply and Super Charger 3A, my impressions are highly subjective, but the bass of Funk seems to be better controlled, deeper and more imposing when employing Super Charger 3A.
The midrange of Funk is more detailed, and has a cleaner overall presentation. There are certain background elements, including background voices and synths in both metal, rock and orchestral music. I noticed more of a difference in sonics with bands that have a high difference between flac and MP3, for example Sirenia, where a lot of the background information and a lot of the upper treble information tends to get lost, because the band has such extreme dynamic compression and is recorded extremely loud. Adding Super Charger 3A to Funk helps a lot with Closure in Moscow and Dance Gavin Dance too, makes background instruments and effects more clean and stand out better. I had the experience where iFi's iPowerX also helps some devices, but less than Super Charger 3A helps Burson Devices, here we have differences big, to the point where songs feel like a veil has been taken off.
The treble is actually pretty similar when using Super Charger, it doesn't get smoother, and actually it gets a bit brighter and more peppy, more sparkly. There's more soundstage information, more width and more height, more depth too. Imaging gets a bit better, and so does overall separation, so I consider Super Charger 3A a good investment for those who want a wider, more airy presentation.
Value and Conclusion
At the end of the day, if you purchased one of the high-end flagship Burson units, the Super Charger 3A or even 5A won't cost very much in comparison to the original unit, but comparing it to the default price of funk, both are about half the price of the unit. They are a good investment for sure, the improvements they bring to Funk as well as the other Burson units is high, and they make the sound more live, more peppy, and more detailed.
The package is simplistic, and so is the unit as well. This is an elegant device with a simple task: improve sound and disappear from the scene. It does this fairly well, and I can safely recommend Super Charger 3A to basically anyone who's looking to get a better sonic performance from their Burson unit without investing in an entirely new unit.
At the end of the day, if you're into details, if you want a more controlled sound with better staging, more treble sparkle, and more depth in the lows, Super Charger 3A is a really neat way to improve your listening experience.
Introduction:
Burson is an Australian brand that took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' lineup DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game-changer for audio equipment.
Super Charger 3A is a power supply bespoke to Burson devices operating at 24V/3A. This proprietary tech by Burson changed the way role of power supplies in the audio setup for good and forever.
By the looks of it, it’s a simple device. A black square box which you plugin from one side and get the output from the other side. The plugin side comes with 3 different adaptors for different geographies in the world. I got an EU adaptor, a UK adaptor, and an AU adaptor. The output goes from a 2.5mm barrel plug.
Disclaimer:
I have received Burson Super Charger 3A by brand in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources.
Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to DROP + THX AAA™ 789 LINEAR AMPLIFIER which has been fed input using Hiby RS6 as a fully balanced architecture. I have tested this stack on various IEMs like CA Solaris, Sony M9 as well as with full-sized cans such as Focal Clear, Hifiman Ananda, HD800s.
Technology:
The quality that makes this power supply truly special for not just Burson's equipment but any device that uses its 24V /3A DC supply is its ability to reduce the noise that creeps into the audio circuitry through the power supply. The functionality of a power supply is to convert the AC of the main supply to DC supply by flipping the negative cycle of current giving a smooth positive supply. They generally operate at a frequency that is audible to human ears. This device is operating at a frequency higher than a human's hearing threshold thus reducing the noise.
This increase in frequency also increases the charging frequency of the capacitors inside the audio equipment.
Sound Quality:
The architectural improvements sound simple in theory but the impact they have on the overall sound quality of the setup was astounding. The devices used indeed have a much bigger role in creating the overall experience, but using adding this power supply further refines the sound and improves the listening experience of an existing setup.
The sweeping noise floor gets lower. The lower noise in operating circuitry smoothens the glare and shrill ends of the high frequencies without rolling them off.
There is this complete dark background, making even the slightest of dynamics change noticeable. The notes became more textured and felt more refined than before with all the added clarity and micro detailing. This is a minute but quite noticeable enhancement one can only feel when comparing the same sound with an off-the-shelf power supply.
There is also a noticeable improvement in the sound stage, both height and depth enhanced a bit and with added depth made it quite holographic with even better dynamics output.
I enjoyed listening to works of "Yosi Harikawa" be it "Vapor" or "Spaces" the experience become the next level that I have never expected would have been delivered using my current system with so much dynamic fluidity. All credit goes to Burson Super Charger 3A which made me feel that the entire setup is working so seamlessly and effortlessly.
Burson is an Australian brand that took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' lineup DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game-changer for audio equipment.
Super Charger 3A is a power supply bespoke to Burson devices operating at 24V/3A. This proprietary tech by Burson changed the way role of power supplies in the audio setup for good and forever.
By the looks of it, it’s a simple device. A black square box which you plugin from one side and get the output from the other side. The plugin side comes with 3 different adaptors for different geographies in the world. I got an EU adaptor, a UK adaptor, and an AU adaptor. The output goes from a 2.5mm barrel plug.
Disclaimer:
I have received Burson Super Charger 3A by brand in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources.
Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to DROP + THX AAA™ 789 LINEAR AMPLIFIER which has been fed input using Hiby RS6 as a fully balanced architecture. I have tested this stack on various IEMs like CA Solaris, Sony M9 as well as with full-sized cans such as Focal Clear, Hifiman Ananda, HD800s.
Technology:
The quality that makes this power supply truly special for not just Burson's equipment but any device that uses its 24V /3A DC supply is its ability to reduce the noise that creeps into the audio circuitry through the power supply. The functionality of a power supply is to convert the AC of the main supply to DC supply by flipping the negative cycle of current giving a smooth positive supply. They generally operate at a frequency that is audible to human ears. This device is operating at a frequency higher than a human's hearing threshold thus reducing the noise.
This increase in frequency also increases the charging frequency of the capacitors inside the audio equipment.
Sound Quality:
The architectural improvements sound simple in theory but the impact they have on the overall sound quality of the setup was astounding. The devices used indeed have a much bigger role in creating the overall experience, but using adding this power supply further refines the sound and improves the listening experience of an existing setup.
The sweeping noise floor gets lower. The lower noise in operating circuitry smoothens the glare and shrill ends of the high frequencies without rolling them off.
There is this complete dark background, making even the slightest of dynamics change noticeable. The notes became more textured and felt more refined than before with all the added clarity and micro detailing. This is a minute but quite noticeable enhancement one can only feel when comparing the same sound with an off-the-shelf power supply.
There is also a noticeable improvement in the sound stage, both height and depth enhanced a bit and with added depth made it quite holographic with even better dynamics output.
I enjoyed listening to works of "Yosi Harikawa" be it "Vapor" or "Spaces" the experience become the next level that I have never expected would have been delivered using my current system with so much dynamic fluidity. All credit goes to Burson Super Charger 3A which made me feel that the entire setup is working so seamlessly and effortlessly.
