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100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2012
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I was given the opportunity to review, on loan, the Burson 3X GT. I was asked to post my review here. My thoughts were not influnced in any way by outside forces.
My Preferences
I prefer neutral sound. Clarity, proper tonal balance, and good separation are essential to me. If these qualities are sacrificed then I am simply uninterested because it will fail to create realistic sound. The ability to provide slam and great dynamics are also very important, followed by soundstage and imaging. While neutral is my preference I would lean towards slightly bright rather than warm. Also, while v-shaped sound can be done well, I prefer midrange that is present in line with other frequencies, or even slightly forward.
My Headphones
I have many headphones, but did not test all of them with the Burson. I did, however, test some of my best. I tested Hifiman HE1000-v2, Susvara, and HE-560. I also tested what I consider my finest headphone, the Final Audio D8000 Pro. In addition, I very much like and tested my Neumann NDH-30. And finally, I had the opportunity to hear the RAAL CA-1. With some exception, I will describe overall sound, not sound specific to each if the headphones. What I will say, is having the immense amount of power on tap does make a difference.
Genres and Sources
I listened to Tidal, Qobuz, and Youtube. I listened to orchestral, classic rock, heavy metal, and what I would call easy listening, as well as a little jazz. I am pretty diverse in my musical tastes.
I used the Questyle CMA Fifteen as my DAC and also used it with the headphone output to do direct comparisons with the Burson. While I did not do a direct comparison, I also own the GS-X Mk2 amp and the Woo Audio WA5LE, as well as a Teton tube amp. I use an Oppo HA-1 and the Questyle as my DACS to feed those amps. I am very familiar on how each of these sound and feel comfortable talking about how the Burson compares, in a general sense. Due to a combination of convenience and performance, I have used the Questyle most often as both DAC and headhone amp so that should tell you just how highly i regard it,
My Take on Amps and DACs
Generally, if operating properly, I believe DACs are very similar sounding. I believe amps make a bigger difference, but still I would say maybe + or - 5% difference for a max of 10% swing between units - not scientific, obviously, but that's my take. I have many amps and a couple of DACs. I do feel that synergy, due to electrical properties being a match or mismatch, is a real thing and can also account for differences. I say all of this just to let you know where I am coming from when I review and compare the Burson.
UI and Features
The user interface is pretty straight forward. You select your input and gain level and you can select a crossfeed option. Perhaps a nicer/larger display with touch sensitivity could be used to simplify menu navigation but the truth is this is a headphone amp and so there is not a lot going on. In fact one could argue that with a couple more buttons they could do away with the screen altogether.
The crossfeed is done exceptionally well, sonically speaking. I have tried other crossfeed such as on the Chord products and I never cared for it. But I found the crossfeed added to the sound quality, and even added a bit of spaciousness, which is the opposite of what I normally experience with crossfeed. The affects are subtle and you can select how much you want and you can bypass the feature, completely. Being a purist, I typically left crossfeed disabled and so my review is based upon no crossfeed.
I did not try the balance control. Balance control is a great feature, but only if it controls balance on the headphone output and not just the preamp outputs. I have seen others mention that balance only works on the preamp outputs, but as I did not try I cannot say for sure.
Remote Control - I used the unit up close and did not try the remote. But if I was permanently installing this unit in my system I would defintely like the remote control as I listen far away on my main headphone system and value changing the volume without walking up to the unit.
Connectivity
Connectivity is pretty comprehensive. This is a balanced design and I used balanced inputs and a balanced headphone output, but it does have RCA unbalanced and multiple headphone output options. This is not a DAC or streamer so there is no digital connectivity. There is, however, a sub output which I did not use and, frankly, I thought having this feature is a bit strange. This device can be used as a preamp, but I think of it more as a headphone amp and so it's a feature I would have preferred not to have if it could save on cost. But for someone who is using as a preamp to a speaker system and as a headphone amp I suppose it does make this product somewhat unique.
Stock Chipset
I did not swap out the stock chipset but an alternate chipset was provided. I cannot comment on sound differences but I guess I would prefer a different approach to swapping chipsets, one that is more plug and play and does not necessitate opening the amplifier to access the innards.
Sound
Okay, now on to the most important aspect. Afterall, if the unit does not sound good the excellent build quality would be irrelevant. First, I'm not usually in favor of the use of fans, but let me say the fan is absolutely quiet and went unnoticed.
Sound is pretty much what I would expect from a high-end headphone amplifier. It doesn't do anything magical, but then again, would you want it to? I prefer it to present neutral sound and that is exactly what it does. But that's not to say that it doesn't possess special qualities. It does some things sonically that sets it apart from many other amps. These superior qualties are subtle but significant. The bass is strong, full bodied, clear, and tight; it is not overdone or bloomy but also not thin or hollow. It has good texture and you can tell the amp has a tight grip on the headphone drivers. Bass adds to a solid sound with excellent foundation, but it is only going to present bass exactly as the music dictates, no more or less. Slam comes from midbass and midrange and this amp possesses the right amount of slam. Slam will never be a limitation of the amp; again, it presents what the music dictates. Midrange is neither forward or recessed. It is present and rich (if the music is rich) and accurate. As with the other frequencies, the midrange is natural and is delivered as thin, thick or however the music is recorded. Treble is also good. Detail is great and is not achieved through excessive treble. Clarity is also very good. The entire frequency spectrum is cohesive. Nothing jumps out in regard to tonal balance. It's just incredibally balanced and satisfying. But there are many amplifiers that qualify as balanced sounding. So what separates this unit from other high-end amps? There seems to be excellent separation/space between instruments. Soundstage is excellent and size and positioning of instruments or people within the soundstage are well done. Depth is also good. There is just the right amount of "air" too - again, dictated by the recording and not be the amp, but the common theme is that the amp is never a limiting factor to musical enjoyment. It has no real weaknesses but does some things special, making this a really good choice for someone looking for a high-end amp, ESPECIALLY if you have a headphone (like Susvara) that requires power. Every headphone I tried sounded really good through this amp. And it isn't only because of power. My friend has a RAAL CA-1 and uses and 18 watt flux with the RAAL interface box. The Burson in this particular case is outpowered by the Flux, but I never heard the RAAL sound so clear and bold. My Susvara also benefited from the Burson. I found it less anemic with the Burson than with other amps that are very powerful like my GS-X MK2 or the Woo WA5-LE. My go-to headphone is the Final D8000 Pro. It's a very revealing headphone and it sounded great though, to be honest, it didn't sound any better through the Burson than it does through the other amps I use.
Comparisons
So I did most comparisons against the headphone amp portion of my Questyle Fifteen. The Questyle is very good. Unlike the Twelve, I find the Fifteen to be more neutral. A friend of mine thought the Questyle was very slightly brighter, but my opinion was that the overall sound of the Burson may have been SLIGHLTY more clear and open, with SLIGHTLY better treble and separation. Again, the differences were subtle. But where the Burson delivers is when you try powering a RAAL or Susvara. The current-driven Questyle does an excellent job and even with hard-to-drive headphones the Questyle is comparable to Burson, sound quality wise, but you are literally running out of power where the Burson has much more to give.
Recommended?
It really depends on what you are looking for. To be honest, if I had no dedicated power headphone amps already, I would say this would be on my shortlist. But while I think the Burson is a worthy competitor and maybe even superior in some ways, it isn't that much better that it warrants me to replace one of my others. And then there is the elephant in the room - what about value? This souped up Burson is good, but it is expensive. More importantly, you can get something like the Questyle that is competitive performance-wise and also includes a DAC, greatly simplifying the system. Sometimes I go over a friends house. Imagine taking the Burson, a DAC, a laptop, and the headphones with wires running all over the place. Now, picture me taking the Questyle. It has excellent bluetooth, but it benefits from wired USB, but for convenience it cannot be beat. Take the laptop, headphones and the DAC/Amp and you are set. Or even better, take a Fiio R7 and headphones and you are done. Fiio is powerful too. My point is that you can get components that have excellent sound quality with more inclusivity for far cheaper prices. And even if we focus on non-transportable systems, I use an OPPO HA-1 DAC with a Apex Teton tube amp, or my Woo, or the GS-X MK2. Woo is more than Burson, but the GS-X MK2 is excellent and powerful and critically acclaimed and competitive price-wise - not sure how much it is going for now and I know it is probably surpassed by more expensive amps but it defintely is compeitive with the Burson, though I must reiterate that I did not do a direct comparison.
So bottom line - Is the Burson excellent? Yes. If I was in the market for a dedicated amp/preamp or needed lots of power, I would defintely try to audition it. But at this point, if I had nothing I would be seeking, at a minimum, a DAC/Amp combo, if not an AIO streamer/DAC/amp combo for not much more. Burson makes those as well but I have no experience and so I am unable to comment on those.
My Preferences
I prefer neutral sound. Clarity, proper tonal balance, and good separation are essential to me. If these qualities are sacrificed then I am simply uninterested because it will fail to create realistic sound. The ability to provide slam and great dynamics are also very important, followed by soundstage and imaging. While neutral is my preference I would lean towards slightly bright rather than warm. Also, while v-shaped sound can be done well, I prefer midrange that is present in line with other frequencies, or even slightly forward.
My Headphones
I have many headphones, but did not test all of them with the Burson. I did, however, test some of my best. I tested Hifiman HE1000-v2, Susvara, and HE-560. I also tested what I consider my finest headphone, the Final Audio D8000 Pro. In addition, I very much like and tested my Neumann NDH-30. And finally, I had the opportunity to hear the RAAL CA-1. With some exception, I will describe overall sound, not sound specific to each if the headphones. What I will say, is having the immense amount of power on tap does make a difference.
Genres and Sources
I listened to Tidal, Qobuz, and Youtube. I listened to orchestral, classic rock, heavy metal, and what I would call easy listening, as well as a little jazz. I am pretty diverse in my musical tastes.
I used the Questyle CMA Fifteen as my DAC and also used it with the headphone output to do direct comparisons with the Burson. While I did not do a direct comparison, I also own the GS-X Mk2 amp and the Woo Audio WA5LE, as well as a Teton tube amp. I use an Oppo HA-1 and the Questyle as my DACS to feed those amps. I am very familiar on how each of these sound and feel comfortable talking about how the Burson compares, in a general sense. Due to a combination of convenience and performance, I have used the Questyle most often as both DAC and headhone amp so that should tell you just how highly i regard it,
My Take on Amps and DACs
Generally, if operating properly, I believe DACs are very similar sounding. I believe amps make a bigger difference, but still I would say maybe + or - 5% difference for a max of 10% swing between units - not scientific, obviously, but that's my take. I have many amps and a couple of DACs. I do feel that synergy, due to electrical properties being a match or mismatch, is a real thing and can also account for differences. I say all of this just to let you know where I am coming from when I review and compare the Burson.
UI and Features
The user interface is pretty straight forward. You select your input and gain level and you can select a crossfeed option. Perhaps a nicer/larger display with touch sensitivity could be used to simplify menu navigation but the truth is this is a headphone amp and so there is not a lot going on. In fact one could argue that with a couple more buttons they could do away with the screen altogether.
The crossfeed is done exceptionally well, sonically speaking. I have tried other crossfeed such as on the Chord products and I never cared for it. But I found the crossfeed added to the sound quality, and even added a bit of spaciousness, which is the opposite of what I normally experience with crossfeed. The affects are subtle and you can select how much you want and you can bypass the feature, completely. Being a purist, I typically left crossfeed disabled and so my review is based upon no crossfeed.
I did not try the balance control. Balance control is a great feature, but only if it controls balance on the headphone output and not just the preamp outputs. I have seen others mention that balance only works on the preamp outputs, but as I did not try I cannot say for sure.
Remote Control - I used the unit up close and did not try the remote. But if I was permanently installing this unit in my system I would defintely like the remote control as I listen far away on my main headphone system and value changing the volume without walking up to the unit.
Connectivity
Connectivity is pretty comprehensive. This is a balanced design and I used balanced inputs and a balanced headphone output, but it does have RCA unbalanced and multiple headphone output options. This is not a DAC or streamer so there is no digital connectivity. There is, however, a sub output which I did not use and, frankly, I thought having this feature is a bit strange. This device can be used as a preamp, but I think of it more as a headphone amp and so it's a feature I would have preferred not to have if it could save on cost. But for someone who is using as a preamp to a speaker system and as a headphone amp I suppose it does make this product somewhat unique.
Stock Chipset
I did not swap out the stock chipset but an alternate chipset was provided. I cannot comment on sound differences but I guess I would prefer a different approach to swapping chipsets, one that is more plug and play and does not necessitate opening the amplifier to access the innards.
Sound
Okay, now on to the most important aspect. Afterall, if the unit does not sound good the excellent build quality would be irrelevant. First, I'm not usually in favor of the use of fans, but let me say the fan is absolutely quiet and went unnoticed.
Sound is pretty much what I would expect from a high-end headphone amplifier. It doesn't do anything magical, but then again, would you want it to? I prefer it to present neutral sound and that is exactly what it does. But that's not to say that it doesn't possess special qualities. It does some things sonically that sets it apart from many other amps. These superior qualties are subtle but significant. The bass is strong, full bodied, clear, and tight; it is not overdone or bloomy but also not thin or hollow. It has good texture and you can tell the amp has a tight grip on the headphone drivers. Bass adds to a solid sound with excellent foundation, but it is only going to present bass exactly as the music dictates, no more or less. Slam comes from midbass and midrange and this amp possesses the right amount of slam. Slam will never be a limitation of the amp; again, it presents what the music dictates. Midrange is neither forward or recessed. It is present and rich (if the music is rich) and accurate. As with the other frequencies, the midrange is natural and is delivered as thin, thick or however the music is recorded. Treble is also good. Detail is great and is not achieved through excessive treble. Clarity is also very good. The entire frequency spectrum is cohesive. Nothing jumps out in regard to tonal balance. It's just incredibally balanced and satisfying. But there are many amplifiers that qualify as balanced sounding. So what separates this unit from other high-end amps? There seems to be excellent separation/space between instruments. Soundstage is excellent and size and positioning of instruments or people within the soundstage are well done. Depth is also good. There is just the right amount of "air" too - again, dictated by the recording and not be the amp, but the common theme is that the amp is never a limiting factor to musical enjoyment. It has no real weaknesses but does some things special, making this a really good choice for someone looking for a high-end amp, ESPECIALLY if you have a headphone (like Susvara) that requires power. Every headphone I tried sounded really good through this amp. And it isn't only because of power. My friend has a RAAL CA-1 and uses and 18 watt flux with the RAAL interface box. The Burson in this particular case is outpowered by the Flux, but I never heard the RAAL sound so clear and bold. My Susvara also benefited from the Burson. I found it less anemic with the Burson than with other amps that are very powerful like my GS-X MK2 or the Woo WA5-LE. My go-to headphone is the Final D8000 Pro. It's a very revealing headphone and it sounded great though, to be honest, it didn't sound any better through the Burson than it does through the other amps I use.
Comparisons
So I did most comparisons against the headphone amp portion of my Questyle Fifteen. The Questyle is very good. Unlike the Twelve, I find the Fifteen to be more neutral. A friend of mine thought the Questyle was very slightly brighter, but my opinion was that the overall sound of the Burson may have been SLIGHLTY more clear and open, with SLIGHTLY better treble and separation. Again, the differences were subtle. But where the Burson delivers is when you try powering a RAAL or Susvara. The current-driven Questyle does an excellent job and even with hard-to-drive headphones the Questyle is comparable to Burson, sound quality wise, but you are literally running out of power where the Burson has much more to give.
Recommended?
It really depends on what you are looking for. To be honest, if I had no dedicated power headphone amps already, I would say this would be on my shortlist. But while I think the Burson is a worthy competitor and maybe even superior in some ways, it isn't that much better that it warrants me to replace one of my others. And then there is the elephant in the room - what about value? This souped up Burson is good, but it is expensive. More importantly, you can get something like the Questyle that is competitive performance-wise and also includes a DAC, greatly simplifying the system. Sometimes I go over a friends house. Imagine taking the Burson, a DAC, a laptop, and the headphones with wires running all over the place. Now, picture me taking the Questyle. It has excellent bluetooth, but it benefits from wired USB, but for convenience it cannot be beat. Take the laptop, headphones and the DAC/Amp and you are set. Or even better, take a Fiio R7 and headphones and you are done. Fiio is powerful too. My point is that you can get components that have excellent sound quality with more inclusivity for far cheaper prices. And even if we focus on non-transportable systems, I use an OPPO HA-1 DAC with a Apex Teton tube amp, or my Woo, or the GS-X MK2. Woo is more than Burson, but the GS-X MK2 is excellent and powerful and critically acclaimed and competitive price-wise - not sure how much it is going for now and I know it is probably surpassed by more expensive amps but it defintely is compeitive with the Burson, though I must reiterate that I did not do a direct comparison.
So bottom line - Is the Burson excellent? Yes. If I was in the market for a dedicated amp/preamp or needed lots of power, I would defintely try to audition it. But at this point, if I had nothing I would be seeking, at a minimum, a DAC/Amp combo, if not an AIO streamer/DAC/amp combo for not much more. Burson makes those as well but I have no experience and so I am unable to comment on those.
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