First off, thanks once again to Burson Audio and Bhav for providing me with the Classic V6 opamps in exchange for providing my honest review. At this point in time, the opamps must have 200 hours of use on them, so this will definitely be a fair assessment of the sound quality that they offer. I will start out by saying that I prefer the sound of the V6 Vivid opamp, but the V6 Classic is certainly amazing sounding as well.
Bass: These opamps have excellent bass extension. The sound is lush, warm, and rich from the sub bass to mid bass regions. In comparison to the V6 Vivid opamps, the Classic certainly has more mid bass emphasis. The difference is not insanely drastic, but is certainly noticeable. The Classic is also a tad looser in its presentation of the bass. I am certainly not stating that this opamp has a loose bass response. It is just that when comparing with the V6 Vivid, that the Vivid is just quicker and tighter in the lower bass region. On the Classic, kick drums reach right down into the lowest registers. These opamps have a lush characteristic that reminds me of listening to a vinyl recording. The mid bass though is a tad too elevated for my taste, and it does bleed into the mids. This does not happen on the V6 Vivid opamps. I am certainly not taking anything away from the Classic. It is an excellent in its own right. The V6 Classic relies more on offering an even deeper bass response, along with a richer mid bass body. Bass guitars and kick drums are rendered with very high resolution and texture. Everything is a tad warmish sounding, yet still very detailed.
Midrange: Burson has decided to offer a more colored sound tuning with this opamp. Interesting enough, even though the mid bass hump on this opamp does bleed a tad into the mids, all of the midrange detail is fully present. This is extremely rare to find. Usually, a mid bass hump will cause a loss of details within the mids. This is not the case with the V6 Classic. Vocals sound stunning on this opamp. In this regard, the V6 Classic beats the V6 Vivid. Vocals on the Vivid are slightly layed back. On the Classic, vocals are perfectly presented. Voices, male and female, sound very natural, resolving, realistic, and engaging. I think that the Classic has the best vocals thus far that I have heard from any opamp. This opamp certainly offers the "singer is in the room" experience". If you close your eyes while listening, it certainly does feel like the singer is within the listening room with you. Guitars, piano, bass guitar, as well as other instruments are presented with a somewhat warmish, yet precise presenation. Instruments are layered, cohesive, and realistic. Soundstage on this opamp is impressive. It has excellent width, height, and depth. However, it is just not at the same level of the V6 Vivid. The V6 Classic is more narrow than the V6 Vivid. Despite this, the Classic still has excellent instrument positioning. Locating where everything is within the recording is a breeze. Micro and macro details are revealed everywhere, and imaging is very impressive.
Treble: The upper freqencies with the V6 Classic are very smooth. There is no harshness present in any regard. There is no way that anyone could possibly find this opanp to be sibilant. The Classic offers the ability to listen for endless hours without ever needing a break. Extension is excellent, but the Classic is not quite as analytical and dynamic in nature as it is on the V6 Vivid. Resolution, cleanliness, detail retrieval, and articulation are all excellent on the V6 Classic. Interesting though, is that the upper frequencies on this opamp are presented with just a hint of warmth as well. This once again adds to the analog feel that these opamps offer in their sound signature. The mid treble region from 6-10kHz on the Classic is clean and revealing. The upper treble though is where I think the V6 Vivid is just more dynamic and detailed, allowing for additional micro details to come through. The Classic offers such a smooth upper frequency response that it honestly does allow for the listener to turn the music up louder and louder without experiencing any fatigue. For my taste, it is just a tad to rolled off in the 14-16kHz region.
I have had an excellent experience with these opamps. They are very resolving, musical, with excellent midrange detail, and with bit of a lush/vinyl presentation. I would say though that the V6 Vivid is still my favorite opamp from Burson Audio. I just love it's dynamic and energic presentation, along with the stunning soundstage width and depth that the opamp offers.
Thanks again to Burson Audio and Bhav for the opportunity to the sample the opamps.
Bass: These opamps have excellent bass extension. The sound is lush, warm, and rich from the sub bass to mid bass regions. In comparison to the V6 Vivid opamps, the Classic certainly has more mid bass emphasis. The difference is not insanely drastic, but is certainly noticeable. The Classic is also a tad looser in its presentation of the bass. I am certainly not stating that this opamp has a loose bass response. It is just that when comparing with the V6 Vivid, that the Vivid is just quicker and tighter in the lower bass region. On the Classic, kick drums reach right down into the lowest registers. These opamps have a lush characteristic that reminds me of listening to a vinyl recording. The mid bass though is a tad too elevated for my taste, and it does bleed into the mids. This does not happen on the V6 Vivid opamps. I am certainly not taking anything away from the Classic. It is an excellent in its own right. The V6 Classic relies more on offering an even deeper bass response, along with a richer mid bass body. Bass guitars and kick drums are rendered with very high resolution and texture. Everything is a tad warmish sounding, yet still very detailed.
Midrange: Burson has decided to offer a more colored sound tuning with this opamp. Interesting enough, even though the mid bass hump on this opamp does bleed a tad into the mids, all of the midrange detail is fully present. This is extremely rare to find. Usually, a mid bass hump will cause a loss of details within the mids. This is not the case with the V6 Classic. Vocals sound stunning on this opamp. In this regard, the V6 Classic beats the V6 Vivid. Vocals on the Vivid are slightly layed back. On the Classic, vocals are perfectly presented. Voices, male and female, sound very natural, resolving, realistic, and engaging. I think that the Classic has the best vocals thus far that I have heard from any opamp. This opamp certainly offers the "singer is in the room" experience". If you close your eyes while listening, it certainly does feel like the singer is within the listening room with you. Guitars, piano, bass guitar, as well as other instruments are presented with a somewhat warmish, yet precise presenation. Instruments are layered, cohesive, and realistic. Soundstage on this opamp is impressive. It has excellent width, height, and depth. However, it is just not at the same level of the V6 Vivid. The V6 Classic is more narrow than the V6 Vivid. Despite this, the Classic still has excellent instrument positioning. Locating where everything is within the recording is a breeze. Micro and macro details are revealed everywhere, and imaging is very impressive.
Treble: The upper freqencies with the V6 Classic are very smooth. There is no harshness present in any regard. There is no way that anyone could possibly find this opanp to be sibilant. The Classic offers the ability to listen for endless hours without ever needing a break. Extension is excellent, but the Classic is not quite as analytical and dynamic in nature as it is on the V6 Vivid. Resolution, cleanliness, detail retrieval, and articulation are all excellent on the V6 Classic. Interesting though, is that the upper frequencies on this opamp are presented with just a hint of warmth as well. This once again adds to the analog feel that these opamps offer in their sound signature. The mid treble region from 6-10kHz on the Classic is clean and revealing. The upper treble though is where I think the V6 Vivid is just more dynamic and detailed, allowing for additional micro details to come through. The Classic offers such a smooth upper frequency response that it honestly does allow for the listener to turn the music up louder and louder without experiencing any fatigue. For my taste, it is just a tad to rolled off in the 14-16kHz region.
I have had an excellent experience with these opamps. They are very resolving, musical, with excellent midrange detail, and with bit of a lush/vinyl presentation. I would say though that the V6 Vivid is still my favorite opamp from Burson Audio. I just love it's dynamic and energic presentation, along with the stunning soundstage width and depth that the opamp offers.
Thanks again to Burson Audio and Bhav for the opportunity to the sample the opamps.