Burson Soloist 3X Grand Tourer Head Amp/Pre Amp w/Sub out - 10W XLR
Oct 1, 2022 at 8:35 PM Post #1,621 of 2,280
Which DAC among Gustard X26 Pro/R26 pair better with this amp and Arya Stealth?
 
Oct 1, 2022 at 11:17 PM Post #1,622 of 2,280
Which DAC among Gustard X26 Pro/R26 pair better with this amp and Arya Stealth?
I would go for Gustard R26 and alternative opamps. The DAC is apparently much better than the X26 but with the R2R warm sound, if you get a transparent sound from the Burson 3X GT with alternative opamps you will have one of the better setups possible for your headphone of choice.
 
Oct 2, 2022 at 12:43 AM Post #1,623 of 2,280
I would go for Gustard R26 and alternative opamps. The DAC is apparently much better than the X26 but with the R2R warm sound, if you get a transparent sound from the Burson 3X GT with alternative opamps you will have one of the better setups possible for your headphone of choice.
Alternate opamps means a mix of vivids and classics right?
 
Oct 2, 2022 at 12:47 AM Post #1,624 of 2,280
Alternate opamps means a mix of vivids and classics right?
Sparkos, SIL, Staccato etc.. see the previous posts in this thread
 
Oct 2, 2022 at 8:13 PM Post #1,625 of 2,280
Okay, I've been playing mix-and-match all weekend between the following op amps:

- Stock red Burson
- JRC 5532D included in the amp box
- SIL 994
- Sparkos SS2590
- Burr Brown OPA2134PA

My absolute favorite combination is... stock red bursons on input and volume, and Sparkos SS2590 on voltage output

Funny how that works, I could have saved myself lots of money :beyersmile:

Still interested in trying those Orange opamps though
 
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Oct 3, 2022 at 12:48 AM Post #1,626 of 2,280
Did a little more testing with my op-amp rolling issues and this is what I found:

1) Neither the 994s or 2590s in the volume control stage result in audio coming out of the amplifier.
2) Both the 994s and the 2590s output sound when in the input stage and vivids in the other 2 stages.

So now I don't believe either set of op-amps are the problem, but I don't understand why neither in the volume control stage will allow for audio out of the amplifier. The volume control stage works when I have vivids in them, but not when I have 3rd party op-amps in them. Very weird.

As for the sound with the 994s vs the 2590s in the input stage, I prefer the 2590s. 994s seem to darken the sound with bringing up the lower end and taming the mids. Not sure if I'm hearing much difference from 2590s to vivids, but I do enjoy the sound I'm hearing with them on the amp.
 
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Oct 3, 2022 at 6:34 AM Post #1,627 of 2,280
Okay, I've been playing mix-and-match all weekend between the following op amps:

- Stock red Burson
- JRC 5532D included in the amp box
- SIL 994
- Sparkos SS2590
- Burr Brown OPA2134PA

My absolute favorite combination is... stock red bursons on input and volume, and Sparkos SS2590 on voltage output

Funny how that works, I could have saved myself lots of money :beyersmile:

Still interested in trying those Orange opamps though


when you hear the Orange Op-amps, you will forget about the equipment and listen to music all day..


1664793283014.png
 
Oct 3, 2022 at 8:22 AM Post #1,628 of 2,280
when you hear the Orange Op-amps, you will forget about the equipment and listen to music all day..


1664793283014.png
Are you saying all 6?

Also have you compared them to others?
 
Oct 3, 2022 at 8:28 AM Post #1,630 of 2,280
yes.

for volume i use -130 db op-amps from alfa rppar . it's a company from Latvia. I accidentally found them via a russian youtuber!

the bursons smear details... in comparison
So are you suggesting orange or alfa rppar? And all 6 of each or a mix?
 
Oct 3, 2022 at 7:36 PM Post #1,632 of 2,280
Final update on my op amp issues. Reached out to Burson audio support and they advised me to not use third party op amps as customers have reported back with burnt headphones or fried units. They don’t cover them through warranty and so only recommend I use their op amps in my unit. Unfortunate as heck, but I suppose I’m just unlucky that my volume stage won’t accept third party op amps. I’ll likely sell my 994s and stick with my 2590s as I prefer the sound with them in the input buffer stage. Might try out the v6 casuals since they should work in the volume stage.
 
Oct 3, 2022 at 10:32 PM Post #1,633 of 2,280
Final update on my op amp issues. Reached out to Burson audio support and they advised me to not use third party op amps as customers have reported back with burnt headphones or fried units. They don’t cover them through warranty and so only recommend I use their op amps in my unit. Unfortunate as heck, but I suppose I’m just unlucky that my volume stage won’t accept third party op amps. I’ll likely sell my 994s and stick with my 2590s as I prefer the sound with them in the input buffer stage. Might try out the v6 casuals since they should work in the volume stage.
I am trialing this config. So far outstanding and the most “tube-like” of anything I have tried. Need more time evaluating, but I really like what V6 Classics bring to the table. It’s the first config where I stop thinking…and just get lost in the music. I can also now explore more of the high gain setting now on the GT without it feeling like overkill. Man, this thing is fun to own.
 

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Oct 3, 2022 at 11:22 PM Post #1,634 of 2,280
Final update on my op amp issues. Reached out to Burson audio support and they advised me to not use third party op amps as customers have reported back with burnt headphones or fried units. They don’t cover them through warranty and so only recommend I use their op amps in my unit. Unfortunate as heck, but I suppose I’m just unlucky that my volume stage won’t accept third party op amps. I’ll likely sell my 994s and stick with my 2590s as I prefer the sound with them in the input buffer stage. Might try out the v6 casuals since they should work in the volume stage.
Im surprised they would say something like that, unless my memory is wrong Im sure they used op amp swapping as a selling point. If that is the case, they need to offer more than 2 options of op amps considering people have seen pretty sizeable improvements swapping out the v6
 
Oct 4, 2022 at 12:33 AM Post #1,635 of 2,280
Im surprised they would say something like that, unless my memory is wrong Im sure they used op amp swapping as a selling point. If that is the case, they need to offer more than 2 options of op amps considering people have seen pretty sizeable improvements swapping out the v6
Attaching my correspondence with Burson audio. Apparently others have complained about the Sparkos.
 

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