Burson Conductor 3 Performance & Conductor 3X Performance

[Swisshead]

So Burson 3XP after 4 months already defective!

This morning I listen to beautiful music via MacBook Pro 16 and Burson. Suddenly in the middle of the song termination of the connection. Hear nothing more! So restart Burson and MacBook. Nothing... is also no longer displayed under speakers, everything disappeared! Currently it runs via display hub. So plugged directly into the MacBook, nothing! Then everything dismantled and tried on the iMac. Nothing. Also tried with other USB cable, nothing. USB connection is definitely not working.

Then switched to BT, there everything runs perfectly, but via USB nothing more. Does anyone know what this could be? USB module defective? I will now write to Burson. Hope the device must not send in, would be tedious from Switzerland to Australia and probably take 1 year until back again!

Does anyone have the same experience or a tip?

 

[Sam Spade]

So Burson 3XP after 4 months already defective!

This morning I listen to beautiful music via MacBook Pro 16 and Burson. Suddenly in the middle of the song termination of the connection. Hear nothing more! So restart Burson and MacBook. Nothing... is also no longer displayed under speakers, everything disappeared! Currently it runs via display hub. So plugged directly into the MacBook, nothing! Then everything dismantled and tried on the iMac. Nothing. Also tried with other USB cable, nothing. USB connection is definitely not working.

Then switched to BT, there everything runs perfectly, but via USB nothing more. Does anyone know what this could be? USB module defective? I will now write to Burson. Hope the device must not send in, would be tedious from Switzerland to Australia and probably take 1 year until back again!

Does anyone have the same experience or a tip?

I have found bursons service is very good. I'd email them the details straight away but they might be closed for a few days over Xmas. I've found bluetooth sound quality really close to usb cable so you can keep using it while you work it out. Express post / courier can be two weeks to Australia when i buy things from US or Europe. But it is more expensive.

 

[Swisshead]

Yes hope for answer in early January. At the moment I hear about BT. Will continue to use it now times so. But yes, is annoying!

 

[raoultrifan]

USB module defective?

Might be, but you could also use a magnifier glass and a flash light to check the inside of the plug too. Also, look on the USB transport board for cold joints on the USB connector too.

BTW, does the Optical and Coax work well?

 

[walkmanforever]

So Burson 3XP after 4 months already defective!

This morning I listen to beautiful music via MacBook Pro 16 and Burson. Suddenly in the middle of the song termination of the connection. Hear nothing more! So restart Burson and MacBook. Nothing... is also no longer displayed under speakers, everything disappeared! Currently it runs via display hub. So plugged directly into the MacBook, nothing! Then everything dismantled and tried on the iMac. Nothing. Also tried with other USB cable, nothing. USB connection is definitely not working.

Then switched to BT, there everything runs perfectly, but via USB nothing more. Does anyone know what this could be? USB module defective? I will now write to Burson. Hope the device must not send in, would be tedious from Switzerland to Australia and probably take 1 year until back again!

Does anyone have the same experience or a tip?

Did you try using a different cable?

 

[rmsanger]

does anybody have a link to step by step instructions or a vid on how to changes out the op amps? I have a demo unit for a bit and would like to try rolling a few.

 

[raoultrifan]

Maybe this would help: . Basically, turn off the power, wait for few minutes to ensure that all capacitors have been depleted of voltage, discharge yourself by touching a metallic case properly grounded (a PC case connected to a power outlet with real Earth), then use a dedicated tool to pick-up the opamps from their socket (or a regular screwdriver, but take lot of care).

 

[rmsanger]

Thx Raoul! Since this is a tour / demo unit I won't feel comfortable going this far and potentially damaging it. If it were my property no problem but don't want a $1300 bill for something I have for such a short time.

 

[raphaelchan]

Thx Raoul! Since this is a tour / demo unit I won't feel comfortable going this far and potentially damaging it. If it were my property no problem but don't want a $1300 bill for something I have for such a short time.

please take a long at the composers 3x manual page7 magnified the picture. there is a pin 1 indicator. then take a look at your spare op amp take note of the logo and before you switch out the op amp in the chasis take note on where the logo or pin 1 indicator is. just put the spare op amp in the same as the one you are taking out. it is just like tube swapping. hope that help.

 

[caliber8]

Many thanks for your interesting field report. I like it very much.

I can only support all this. Processing extremely good. Visually beautiful. Fits on any desk. Not such a big binge. With the aluminum it fits perfectly to Apple computers.

I've heard it for two days and already a lot. The first day I was rather disappointed. My brain is fully adjusted to the iFi. It sounds completely different than the iFi. Be it the iCan or the micro iDSD BL. Completely different sound. In the first moment you lack the power, the feeling of power without end.

In a headphone theme I described it as follows. The iFi is the American muscle car. The Burson is the discreet luxury limousine. Totally relaxed, no showmanship, nothing. But the longer you listen the more you like it. Think love only at second or third glance.

Where I had to get extremely used to it is the volume control. In the iFi you turn from 0-40 degrees and maximum tolerable volume. With the Burson, you have to turn the crank. It takes a lot more than that. The volume display also doesn't show dB, but simply goes from 0 to 99. With low impedance I'm between 20 and 35, with high impedance between 30-50, at most a bit more.

With high impedance I miss a little bit the power that the iCan brings. With the Burson it feels as if it is simply underpowered, you have to accelerate more. Just iFi the muscle car. You can feel the power already in the accelerator. A racehorse that always has to jump off. The Burson is more of a relaxed riding horse. It's hard to describe.

What harmonizes extremely well is the Burson and the LCDi4. I was extremely surprised. A dream combination. With the i4 I like the Burson better than the iCan. But with the ZMF the iCan. The Burson feels more like a big caravan attached to a rather small car.

But it takes time to listen to it. Every day you think that today it sounds much better. No, I don't think it has anything to do with burn-in, I don't believe in that with amplifiers. But just get used to it.

Right now I'm listening to Burson on Clear. That works great too!

But what you can clearly say is that for the price you ask, you get an absolutely outstanding amplifier. It is clearly better, as the price range suggests. When I think what other manufacturers write on their price tags!

Just bought a C3XP to drive my Focal Clear as well. How are you getting on with your setup?

 

[caliber8]

Has anyone tried the 3 Performance or 3X Performance with Focal Clears?

I just bought a C3XP to drive my Focal Clear. I’ll post my impressions once I get the unit.

 

[realmassy]

I’m demoing a Conductor 3 Performance and I have to say I’m quite pleased with it, good pair with the HEDDphone and the Ananda. It’s difficult to say how good the dac and amp sections because of the lack of analog input...I’d have liked to compare the DAC with my RME.
Anyway, I’ve got a question about the usb input: I’ve tried a few usb-c to usb-c cables, between the Conductor and my MacBook, but none of them worked. I had to use a usb-c to usb-a with an adapter. I was wondering if anyone had the same issue, and if anyone can recommend a usb-c to usb-c cable that works with a Mac.

 

[Hamlap]

Any experience with Verites and the 3XP here ?

 

[davesday]

I just bought a C3XP to drive my Focal Clear. I’ll post my impressions once I get the unit.

I had the Conductor 3X Performance for a 1-2 months now to pair with my HD820 and Black Dragon XLR cable. I also received the Clear Professional but the Focal XLR (new version) cable is on backorder. I'll comment back when I have sufficient time with them. All I can say now is that the Conductor 3XP is very very good when paired with my HD820. The Bluetooth receiver also exceeded my expectation! It maintained the same overall tonality while dropping down from the 'quality' you would expect when on USB mode.

 

[davesday]

BTW quick question for you folks here who owns the Conductor 3 (X or XP). My start up and shut down sequence has always been to plug the headphones in (stereo jack or XLR) prior to turning on the amp. The instructions caution about plugging in the stereo jack when it is turned on especially when you have music playing. So I decided to just plug in before turning on the amp and turning off the amp before unplugging. However doing so produces pop. I know it is somewhat normal and my iFi iDSD BL does this too. But I wanted to be sure, that this is also normal for the Burson? It pops when turning on and off. The only way to reduce this, is to turn the volume all the way down to 0 and the mute it. Its still there but not as loud.