Burson Soloist 3X Performance Head/Pre Amp - 8Wpc XLR with MUSE72320 volume control

[Sam Spade]

...

 

[Mozbach]

I have some Marantz gear including a PM80, 25 watt class A switchable to 100 watt class AB. It's an awesome amp but the headphone out doesn't cope with my planers. I'd seriously consider using the Mojo 2 to feed the best headphone amp you can afford. I suspect that's how you'll get the best sound for your dollar

I have the Ares2 and schiit modi multibit to feed the amp just trying to figure out which amp

 

[Sam Spade]

I have the Ares2 and schiit modi multibit to feed the amp just trying to figure out which amp

In that case I can recommend the Sparkos Aries, the Burdon Conductor 3x is great, but as you already have a DAC the Burson Soloist is getting rave reviews and as an amp alone Sandu Vitalie and other reviewers are saying it's best in class for the price.

 

[mynamesjeff]

So I got the GS-X Mini today. I’ve had the Soloist 3XP for a couple months now. I actually just started in this hobby and that was my first ever amp so I do feel a bit attached to it. I’m still forming an opinion on the Gsx. I love the Soloist BUT I can tell in the back of my head the GS-X mini is better. I’m gonna try to stay open minded till I get more familiar with it. Luckily I got the burson from headphones site so I have a year to return it (with a fee)

can i ask specifically what you find better in the gsx mini compared to soloist? Did you have the supercharger with the soloist?

 

[headband]

can i ask specifically what you find better in the gsx mini compared to soloist? Did you have the supercharger with the soloist?

if i had to sum it up in one word... "realism". So far the Burson is comparatively more relaxed, intimate, and has a richer low end, I like the tonality of it as well. Using the GS-X the first thing to notice is how black the noise floor is. GS-X on high gain has the same or less floor than the Burson's medium gain-- while high gain on the Burson has an obvious noise floor. Other than that, the GS-X has comparatively faster bass end, wider and deeper staging, it separates and layers better which then makes it feel easier to pick out transients and timbre. Thing is I can see a reason to keep both of these. Listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tin Pan Alley on the GS-X presents an excellent live and realistic performance. While listening to Nirvana's Teen Spirit on the Burson gives that authentic grunt and force that's supposed to be there. If I absolutely had to choose one over the other... toss up at this point. I feel like I don't 'know' the GS-X well enough yet. (i have not added a supercharger to the burson or rolled op-amps, etc.)

 

[adeadcrab]

if i had to sum it up in one word... "realism". So far the Burson is comparatively more relaxed, intimate, and has a richer low end, I like the tonality of it as well. Using the GS-X the first thing to notice is how black the noise floor is. GS-X on high gain has the same or less floor than the Burson's medium gain-- while high gain on the Burson has an obvious noise floor. Other than that, the GS-X has comparatively faster bass end, wider and deeper staging, it separates and layers better which then makes it feel easier to pick out transients and timbre. Thing is I can see a reason to keep both of these. Listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tin Pan Alley on the GS-X presents an excellent live and realistic performance. While listening to Nirvana's Teen Spirit on the Burson gives that authentic grunt and force that's supposed to be there. If I absolutely had to choose one over the other... toss up at this point. I feel like I don't 'know' the GS-X well enough yet. (i have not added a supercharger to the burson or rolled op-amps, etc.)

I've read that the GSX-mini is leaner in terms of sound; maybe if you tried the Soloist 3XP in power mode, on low or medium gain, it would even up the score.
Remember to turn the volume down on your PC or DAC before entering power mode as it bypasses the volume stage of the amplifier. Power mode is supposed to be cleaner with wider staging. On low gain you should have a black background too.
Please try and let us know how it compares to the GSX-mini.

 

[headband]

I've read that the GSX-mini is leaner in terms of sound; maybe if you tried the Soloist 3XP in power mode, on low or medium gain, it would even up the score.
Remember to turn the volume down on your PC or DAC before entering power mode as it bypasses the volume stage of the amplifier. Power mode is supposed to be cleaner with wider staging. On low gain you should have a black background too.
Please try and let us know how it compares to the GSX-mini.

I already use my soloist in power amp mode. Great suggestion though. I totally agree with it. I think Medium Gain Poweramp mode is the best for the Soloist 3XP.

I hope my impression doesn’t make it seem like the burson is far behind. It’s a fantastic headphone amp with its own character. And technically the soloist and gs-X mini are NOT direct competitors as the GS-X is priced at least 50% higher or more. I have my doubts the supercharger will significantly help the noise floor, but I bet the variety of op-amps for the burson offer a lot of opportunities for different sound profiles.

So far the main objective difference between the two is noise floor. Hands down the GS-X has a better noise floor even in high gain mode. Which is not a deal breaker for the Burson in my opinion.

 

[Mozbach]

It’s a fantastic headphone amp with its own character

And how would you define the characteristics difference between the two?

 

[headband]

I've read that the GSX-mini is leaner in terms of sound; maybe if you tried the Soloist 3XP in power mode, on low or medium gain, it would even up the score.

poweramp (PA) in low and high gain with the soloist comparison to gsx. PA low gain does have a black noise floor, but then I end up having to crank the pre on my DAC way high, and the quality of the sound itself is a little narrower than my usual PA medium gain. PA high gain, achieves better dynamics (a some beefy bass, not out of control though) and i think that contributes to a bigger stage, but then the noise from the burson comes into the mix. I was using a track with lots of dynamics and a live setting feel-- i am sure that if I were listening to a more modern 'wall of sound' track, then my brain would eventually 'remove' the noise floor in all but the more sparse parts of songs.

 

[Sam Spade]

I already use my soloist in power amp mode. Great suggestion though. I totally agree with it. I think Medium Gain Poweramp mode is the best for the Soloist 3XP.

I hope my impression doesn’t make it seem like the burson is far behind. It’s a fantastic headphone amp with its own character. And technically the soloist and gs-X mini are NOT direct competitors as the GS-X is priced at least 50% higher or more. I have my doubts the supercharger will significantly help the noise floor, but I bet the variety of op-amps for the burson offer a lot of opportunities for different sound profiles.

So far the main objective difference between the two is noise floor. Hands down the GS-X has a better noise floor even in high gain mode. Which is not a deal breaker for the Burson in my opinion.

Hi headband, how can you tell that the noise floor is due to the amp vs the source or the recording? Cheers, Sam

 

[headband]

And how would you define the characteristics difference between the two?

it's still too early give a good comparison between the two. i have some early impressions if you scroll up higher though. i'll definitely give my best assessment of the two after a few weeks.

 

[headband]

Hi headband, how can you tell that the noise floor is due to the amp vs the source or the recording? Cheers, Sam

that's a good/fair question. even with nothing playing and/or nothing connected to the amp, if I put it in high gain mode the noise floor comes through. then when playing music, yes, the noise floor of the recording comes into play. i'd say that the burson in medium gain, has a noise floor low enough that most recordings would have noise that eclipses it. however, in high gain, the burson's noise floor surpasses the recording noise floor.

 

[Sam Spade]

that's a good/fair question. even with nothing playing and/or nothing connected to the amp, if I put it in high gain mode the noise floor comes through. then when playing music, yes, the noise floor of the recording comes into play. i'd say that the burson in medium gain, has a noise floor low enough that most recordings would have noise that eclipses it. however, in high gain, the burson's noise floor surpasses the recording noise floor.

That makes sense. I'll pay attention next time I listen to my Conductor 3x and Sparkos Aries.

 

[adeadcrab]

poweramp (PA) in low and high gain with the soloist comparison to gsx. PA low gain does have a black noise floor, but then I end up having to crank the pre on my DAC way high, and the quality of the sound itself is a little narrower than my usual PA medium gain. PA high gain, achieves better dynamics (a some beefy bass, not out of control though) and i think that contributes to a bigger stage, but then the noise from the burson comes into the mix. I was using a track with lots of dynamics and a live setting feel-- i am sure that if I were listening to a more modern 'wall of sound' track, then my brain would eventually 'remove' the noise floor in all but the more sparse parts of songs.

Are you sure the high gain is not just louder, making the stage seem bigger?

I double check volumes with something like this:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294931889221?hash=item44ab4f7c45:g:JSwAAOSwlYViXJrZ&frcectupt=true

 

[headband]

Are you sure the high gain is not just louder, making the stage seem bigger?

I double check volumes with something like this:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294931889221?hash=item44ab4f7c45:g:JSwAAOSwlYViXJrZ&frcectupt=true

I first turn my pre way down before switching to a higher gain on an amp. Then I have to bring it back up to a comfortable level. I’m not trying to be scientific though and buy measuring equipment. All I can say is louder volumes make it harder for me to hear differences in sound and character so I critically listen at a more relaxed level then when I’m just enjoying the music.