Burson Timekeeper 3X GT – In Dual-Mono We Trust!

Video Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Looks & Build Quality
02:40 - Controls
03:17 - Tech inside them
04:54 - Sound Performance
08:31 - Imaging & Soundstage
11:03 - Transient Response
13:26 - Detail Retrieval
16:21 - Noise Floor
17:11 - Bass
17:58 - Midrange
18:48 - Treble
19:44 - Timekeeper 3X GT VS Benchmark AHB2
19:58 - My Conclusions

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#burson #timekeeper #gt

[ANGEL]

I currently own the Burson Timekeeper 3i and am wanting to upgrade to separates. For the amp I have narrowed down the choices to the Timekeeper 3x gt and the benchmark AHB2. My concern is that the AHB2 has better SINAD and SNR measurements, would you say that the Timekeeper 3x gt is just as resolving when it comes to detail retrieval when compared to the benchmark AHB2?

[Flavius]

Even from a distance A BURSON IS A BURSON! Shiny, elegant, unique. Not a speaker guy myself, but I appreciate well done gadgets. By the way, 0 CHANNEL CROSSTALK sounds amazing! :))

[hhsymons]

As usual, this was a great and through review in which your subject matter expertise really comes to the surface.
I do have a question. You mentioned that crosstalk can limit the width and depth of the soundstage, and that is why monoblocks can help deliver a better soundstage. Can the quality of the preamplifier also limit or increase crosstalk?

[richtubby]

Thank you for the detailed review. I have a question for you about Burson Timekeepers versus Kinki EX-M7 as you have reviewed both positively. I just bought an ex demo Burson 3GT at a massive 50% discount direct from them and now need to go up chain and start replacing my breaking Peachtree amp and then my Martin Logan Motion 40s.

Firstly, which amp would you suggest? The Burson mono amps are about $1200 more unless I can get a discount, both products have a 3-year warranty and ship direct which I like. I prefer rock and music that sounds live if that helps.

After the speakers, any ideas for suitable speaker upgrades for around the $7K to $10000 mark? Being in Japan I cannot test equipment so need to make good decisions. I hope you can help.

[mimofi]

Oh, forgot to mention this but I went with Speakon connectors and very short speaker cable (~1.5ft) runs and may be my imagination but damn I think it is even faster and slams even more!

[mimofi]

Great upload, thanks for sharing! I have a question though, re preamping, ie what did you use? I ask as in large part due to your reviews (and my personal experience with Burson), I upgraded my Soloist to the GT and I also purchased a pair of Benchmarks that I use as monoblocks and OMG it is heaven and gobs of bass. I was surprised to hear your comments re bass/sub-bass given my experience so wondering is preamping with the Soloist GT helping? I came very close to buying the Timekeepers vs. the AHB2s and in the end went with the Benchmark amps due to power rating. My speakers are Canton Reference 5K towers and these have a lot of bass too so maybe that is a synergy thing where I am not seeing the lower bass. Anyway, sorry for long email but please do share how you were preamping the Burson amps (I'll check your online article as well as it may have this detail).
Have a great day and thanks again for these uploads!
Michael

[psysword]

How big is your tv and which one? I bought the time keepers. Insane amps

[dougg]

The tiny blue LED’s in the front should be a lesson to others on how to implement them. Perfect. The vertical stands kind of bug me, maybe a tasty rack that frees them up in all directions while maintaining horizontal position.

[aceofspades]

sweet these monos look amazing! I'd love to add a pair and soloist GT into my chain and likely will at some point. Did you try driving the Susvara with them? 😉 I know you always mention the dual ahb2s have been the amps that have driven them best previously (outside of Trafomatic). Looking forward to reading the written content.

[neilsnyder]

can the amps be used with headphones such as the susvara or are they to powerful. I would use the soloist GT as a pre-amp.

[mmmadog]

What sucks is so many speakers like my Buchardt s300 are 4ohm meaning you cannot run most monoblocks with them.

[Paulisrock]

Hi, I have a B&W 702 S2. Do you think it is a good match with Timekeeper 3xGT with Soloist?

[goodsound]

Which Preamp did you use and was it connected by XLR or RCA to the mono blocks?

[frederf]

Good review, but that's a lot of money for an op amp. I doubt the first 30 watts in class A; probably 15 watts each (MB), which is still good if accurate.

[jharismaiden]

Thanks for the review! I really enjoyed that. Did you try the Soloist GT as a preamp? Burson seems to give the option to buy it as a combo with the Timekeeper GT amplifiers so they must think it’s a good pairing. Was wondering if it would he a “bottleneck” given that Soloist GT is first and foremost a headphone amplifier.

[RyuMasterEX]

Bursons can always scale higher with better op amps :)

[Tealc]

$4k? Now I understand how they can afford to go with Noctua fans.

[ShorbyEK]

4K for these seem crazy. I hope someone sends a pair to ASR for a test.