Burson Audio Product Guide

This week we talk about Burson Audio's line of DACs, Amps, and DAC/Amp Combos, and provide an overview of what each product does.

[WorldView]

Burson current line up is a hidden gem.

[Hongkizzle]

Thanks! It was so confusing but I think your video really clears it up. They should just share your video on their website lol

[cristi]

IMO Burson themselves could clear up the confusion with a simple product chart, just copy paste a format from every other manufacturer and replace with their products. The whole 3 X/P/R/GT thing is way more confusing than it needs to be. Especially when they do more/less things and aren't just improved versions of the same thing.

What I can't figure out from their manuals is if you need to unplug the headphones in order for the pre-amp output to work on their units, or is there a button on some? The Soloist 3XGT has an ouput select, but is it only for the stuff on the backside or does it also switch off the headphones if you pick XLR/RCA output except the one with the sub?
The Playmate has no buttons, so I assume you need to unplug the headphones? Or is it all on all the time and they expect the user to turn off whatever is connected to the pre-out?
What about volume and gain? Does it apply to the pre-out the same it applies to the HP outputs? So if I'm blasting the speakers and then plug-in headphones, did I just connect a pair of IEMs to a 7W amp with the volume at 60? User caution is obviously important, but it's good to know before buying what to expect from the product.

They should work on their manuals a bit more. They went through the trouble of designing amazing gear (from what I could tell from the reviews, I don't own any yet) but the manuals are very amateur. They're mostly copy/paste between products with different pictures and specs, and little to no details on how the product actually functions.
But hey, at least we know they're using the "legendary MUSES72320 controller"... whatever the heck that is.

[JasonDkiran]

I have the Conductor 3 XR and its an amazing all in 1, sounds amazing and built like a tank

[buffalbilious]

I see the Soloist 3XP / Composer 3XP stack (which people speak highly of) is about the same price as the Conductor 3XR. I can see how the use cases / upgrade paths are different, but given they're nearly the same price, I'm curious to know how they compare sound-wise.

[joshswanedits]

Did you manage to listen to the arya on the playmate 2? very interested in that combo?

[carlosalvarez]

No doubt the Playmate 2 is a great device, however it has a critical problem which may be a deal breaker for many... no SPDIF digital input! Honestly how would Burson prioritize toslink over SPDIF? Of course Conductor has the option... at twice the price...