New: Burson Audio Play Amp/DAC (2W@16Ohm) (op-amp rollers dream)
Mar 22, 2018 at 11:37 PM Post #332 of 1,256
Hi Guys,

Here is the latest text and video review of the Burson Play. : )



https://www.themasterswitch.com/review-burson-audio-play

We are grateful to Rob from The Master Switch for his very kind review. And of course, we are grateful to all of you for keeping the discussion alive. : )

Cheers
 
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Mar 22, 2018 at 11:43 PM Post #333 of 1,256
I've contacted Alex and ordered V6 Vivid for IV stage, for LP ill use something you guys recommended above.
For guys that did not know, Burr-Brown is owned by Texas Instruments (from year 2000?) so whenever you order TI OPA627, you'll get them with BB marking on top.
Photo for reference:
IMG_20180322_135852.jpg
every one know that sir do your testing and put the result we need result
 
Mar 24, 2018 at 12:26 PM Post #335 of 1,256
Is this better than Asus Essence STX for overall sound? Music, movies and games? It has gotten fantastic reviews but its also advertised and beeing great for games and im wondering how? It doesnt seem to have any software or surround emulation? Or is that the point, stereo is supreme? :) I know some games have theyre own surround implementation but many dont like Playerunknown Battlegrounds. With this you would just get stereo.
 
Mar 25, 2018 at 7:17 AM Post #336 of 1,256
Is this better than Asus Essence STX for overall sound? Music, movies and games? It has gotten fantastic reviews but its also advertised and beeing great for games and im wondering how? It doesnt seem to have any software or surround emulation? Or is that the point, stereo is supreme? :) I know some games have theyre own surround implementation but many dont like Playerunknown Battlegrounds. With this you would just get stereo.

Hey!

This was my first problem too, cause I have an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude soundcard with a V6 Vivid Opamp, and I just love it how does it sounds, tho of course I am using software emulation like the Chrystalizer, and some Custome EQ as well to fine-tune my music / gaming experencies. As I read from the reviews the lot of Opamps, and also the ability that you can "roll" your Opamps in the Play! it gives some kind of "fine-tuning" experencie without software emulation. It's a bit expensive cause every time you have to buy a new Opamp, but this gives endless possibilities.

Somebody posted a review (and also I read it too) that the play literally destroyed an upgraded Asus Essence STX (V5 or V6 opamps) under Playerunknow Battlegrounds, and in Witcher 3 too.


One question:

Somebody can recommend any good music player software for the Play? Do I have to use ASIO? What does the ASIO shortly with the games and music? Any advantages to use it? Any tips how I should set up a good gaming and music listening "background" for the Play! ? Like which software should I use for music listening, and things like this? I read after the jRiver and also the foobar2000 but I am kinda lost, and I did not mentioned the ASIO :)

Sorry for the too much question, I read way too much about this topic, and I am kinda lost now ^^'

Cheers,
kebcy
 
Mar 25, 2018 at 9:12 AM Post #337 of 1,256
Hey!

This was my first problem too, cause I have an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude soundcard with a V6 Vivid Opamp, and I just love it how does it sounds, tho of course I am using software emulation like the Chrystalizer, and some Custome EQ as well to fine-tune my music / gaming experencies. As I read from the reviews the lot of Opamps, and also the ability that you can "roll" your Opamps in the Play! it gives some kind of "fine-tuning" experencie without software emulation. It's a bit expensive cause every time you have to buy a new Opamp, but this gives endless possibilities.

Somebody posted a review (and also I read it too) that the play literally destroyed an upgraded Asus Essence STX (V5 or V6 opamps) under Playerunknow Battlegrounds, and in Witcher 3 too.
Do you remember the URL? Would be interesting to read. Really high price for this DAC but my STX now is probably 6 years old so its probably time to invest as well. But i still having a hard time understand how it can be better for games as it has no DSP possibility. It would be plain stereo.
 
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Mar 25, 2018 at 10:02 AM Post #338 of 1,256
Do you remember the URL? Would be interesting to read. Really high price for this DAC but my STX now is probably 6 years old so its probably time to invest as well. But i still having a hard time understand how it can be better for games as it has no DSP possibility. It would be plain stereo.

Hey!

One of them is this!

https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/233484-burson-play/

And the other what I found kinda useful is this!

http://www.just-hifi.com/New-Burson-Audio-Play-Amp-DAC-2W-16Ohm-op-amp-rollers-dream_10480825.html


I hope I am not violating any rules here with the linking.
 
Mar 25, 2018 at 1:08 PM Post #339 of 1,256
Do you remember the URL? Would be interesting to read. Really high price for this DAC but my STX now is probably 6 years old so its probably time to invest as well. But i still having a hard time understand how it can be better for games as it has no DSP possibility. It would be plain stereo.
play is much better than ASUS XONAR STX i own creative zxr,essencestx ll,xonar phoebus play is good in every way if you ask me give score to my set ill give even score to BURSON Audio Play and asus xonar phoebus since play build quality top notch same Phoebus top notch qualtiy and main reason im giving score to Phoebus because its launched in 2012 and drivers are updated every year and CM8888HT legendary chip support native dolby home theater and i own 3 BURSON PLAY with different set of opamps and play its EPIC and its class A device and fits inside computer 5.25" bay and clean mic input
 
Mar 25, 2018 at 11:42 PM Post #340 of 1,256
Mar 26, 2018 at 12:46 AM Post #341 of 1,256
Hi William,

In the previous pages many of us did rolled-up lot of opamps on the PLAY and also in my review (https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/burson-play.22702/reviews#review-19746) I was testing lot of opamps I had lying around my desk and I decided my choice would be:
- 2 x SS V6 Classic dual in I/V + 1 x SS V6 Classic dual in LPF + 2 x V6 Classic single in pre-amp (if you have BURSON opamps purchased already) - neutral sound with very good soundstage (with Vivids sound is too detailed for my ears).
- 2 x AD8599 (soic-to-dip8) in I/V + 1 x AD8599 (soic-to-dip8) in LPF; for the pre-amp stage you can go for AD797 if you have it already, otherwise LME49710 or any other single-opamp will do, though I would go for SS Classic V6 single if possible (duals with adapters might go there too: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...mp-rollers-dream.860882/page-17#post-14039752) - I got a bit lower noise-floor with these AD opamps when used in I/V stage.
- also, 2 x MUSES8920 (or better: 2 x MUSES01) in I/V can be a very good choice too, especially if DIP8 opamps are needed; for the LPF you go with MUSES8820 or 8920 (of course, MUSES02 or 01 might sound better to your years) - also a bit lower noise-floor when used in I/V stage.

Best!
 
Mar 26, 2018 at 1:24 AM Post #342 of 1,256
Hi William,

In the previous pages many of us did rolled-up lot of opamps on the PLAY and also in my review (https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/burson-play.22702/reviews#review-19746) I was testing lot of opamps I had lying around my desk and I decided my choice would be:
- 2 x SS V6 Classic dual in I/V + 1 x SS V6 Classic dual in LPF + 2 x V6 Classic single in pre-amp (if you have BURSON opamps purchased already) - neutral sound with very good soundstage (with Vivids sound is too detailed for my ears).
- 2 x AD8599 (soic-to-dip8) in I/V + 1 x AD8599 (soic-to-dip8) in LPF; for the pre-amp stage you can go for AD797 if you have it already, otherwise LME49710 or any other single-opamp will do, though I would go for SS Classic V6 single if possible (duals with adapters might go there too: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...mp-rollers-dream.860882/page-17#post-14039752) - I got a bit lower noise-floor with these AD opamps when used in I/V stage.
- also, 2 x MUSES8920 (or better: 2 x MUSES01) in I/V can be a very good choice too, especially if DIP8 opamps are needed; for the LPF you go with MUSES8820 or 8920 (of course, MUSES02 or 01 might sound better to your years) - also a bit lower noise-floor when used in I/V stage.

Best!
Thanks for the reply, though what I wanted to ask is what opamp in what slots would make the most efficiency in terms of sound improvement- in case when you have many opamps lying around but not all are of the same quality.
Also, your reply seems to be in conflict with the diagram I found in a previous post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...amp-rollers-dream.860882/page-3#post-13757929
 
Mar 26, 2018 at 1:43 AM Post #343 of 1,256
Hi William,

- 2 x SS V6 Classic dual in I/V + 1 x SS V6 Classic dual in LPF + 2 x V6 Classic single in pre-amp (if you have BURSON opamps purchased already) - neutral sound with very good soundstage (with Vivids sound is too detailed for my ears).

Best!

HI, are you sure you need to use 2x Dual opamps for I/V? In manual it shows that low pass filtering is done on 2 opamps and I/V is using only one.
 
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:28 AM Post #345 of 1,256
[...] Also, your reply seems to be in conflict with the diagram I found in a previous post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...amp-rollers-dream.860882/page-3#post-13757929

HI, are you sure you need to use 2x Dual opamps for I/V? In manual it shows that low pass filtering is done on 2 opamps and I/V is using only one.

Hello,

I found a Chinese website with K2M's pin-out; looks like DAC out for the I/V stage is between pins 9, 10 and 13, 14.
ES9018K2M_pinout.png

Here's one working in I/V mode: http://audiophonics.fr/img/cms/thumbs NJM 2114D_2_1.jpg and also, here's one working in voltage-mode instead of current-mode: https://hifiduino.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/dsc04759.jpg.

In the ES9018 data-sheet found here I found this recommended schematic:
ES9018_recommended_design.png

Some good readings could be found below:
- https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/sw-control-for-es9018k2m/
- https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/building-the-diyinhk-es9018k2m/
- a good I/V opamp that could also be used in LFP is AD797, just no sure if you can fit it inside the PLAY (more info here: https://hifiduino.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/iv.png), but probably LM4562 should do the job pretty good (PopcornHour A-500 diagram: https://www.cloudmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ess_sabre_diagram.jpg).

Bottom of line, placing the same dual-opamp in all 3 DIP8 sockets (I/V and LPF) will make the sound more neutral than mixing different opamps. Also, BURSON SS V6 Classic was my favorite of all BUSON opamps I've tried because of it's sound neutrality and soundstage.
 

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