Robert’s Burson Soloist 3X GT with KEF LS50, Meze Elite and Meze Liric

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Post Info

I appreciate getting the free Supercharger & Cool Stand with the pre-ordered Soloist GT. I would have liked to see configuration instructions for the Cool Stand, but figured it out.

The System

Listening with

KEF LS50 · Speakers: bookshelf, two-way bass reflex (Uni-Q) · discontinued
  • Impedance: 8 Ω (minimum 3.2 Ω)
  • Sensitivity: 85 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
  • Frequency response: 79 Hz – 28 kHz (±3 dB); 47 Hz – 45 kHz (-6 dB)
  • Recommended amplifier power: 25 – 100 W
  • Other: max output 106 dB; 7.2 kg; crossover 2.2 kHz

[1]

Meze Elite · Headphones: open-back, planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array), circumaural
  • Impedance: 32 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 101 dB SPL / mW @ 1 kHz ≈ 115.9 dB/V (calc.)
  • Frequency response: 3 Hz – 112 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: dual 4-pin mini-XLR cup sockets
  • Other: max SPL >130 dB; Aluminium and Tungsten editions share figures

Matching notes: At 32 Ω and 101 dB/mW, the Meze Elite is a low-impedance load, and an efficient one: about 0.5 V (7.9 mW, 16 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson rates the Soloist 3X GT at 8 W (XLR) / 4 W (SE) into 32 Ω, which is about 16.0 V / 11.3 V RMS (calc.), roughly 30 dB / 27 dB more than that. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/64 of the load. [2] [3] [4]

Meze Liric · Headphones: closed-back, planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array MZ4), circumaural · discontinued
  • Impedance: 30 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 100 dB SPL / mW @ 1 kHz ≈ 115.2 dB/V (calc.)
  • Frequency response: 4 Hz – 92 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: dual 3.5 mm TS cup sockets (current page)

Matching notes: At 30 Ω and 100 dB/mW, the Meze Liric is a low-impedance load, and an efficient one: about 0.55 V (10 mW, 18 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 30 Ω rating for the Soloist 3X GT. Its 16 Ω and 32 Ω ratings (10 W XLR / 5 W SE; 8 W XLR / 4 W SE) fall either side of it. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/60 of the load. [5] [6] [3] [4]

Burson

Burson Soloist 3X GT · Headphone amplifier / preamp (Class-A) · discontinued
  • Output power (XLR / SE): 16 Ω 10 W / 5 W · 32 Ω 8 W / 4 W · 100 Ω 3.8 W / 1.9 W · 300 Ω 1.3 W / 0.65 W · 600 Ω 0.64 W / 0.32 W
  • Output impedance: 0.5 Ω (headphone); 25 Ω (pre out)
  • Gain: High / Medium / Low; dB not published
  • Inputs: 2x XLR; 2x RCA; mic bypass
  • Input impedance: 35 kΩ
  • Input sensitivity: line level
  • Outputs: XLR + RCA pre out; RCA subwoofer out; 4-pin XLR + SE headphone
  • Other: Model R-120X (“GT3”); THD <0.0015%; FR ±1 dB 0-48 kHz

[3] [4]

Also in the system

Chord Hugo M Scaler · Upscaler: digital upscaler (1,015,808-tap WTA filter) for Chord DACs
  • Inputs: galvanically isolated USB-B; 2x coax BNC; 2x optical
  • Outputs: dual BNC (to 768 kHz); BNC S/PDIF; optical
  • Other: PCM 44.1-768 kHz, 16-32 bit; 15 V 4 A PSU; 2.55 kg

[7] [8]

Chord Qutest · DAC
  • Output impedance: not published (Stereophile measured 0.4 @ 1 kHz)
  • Output voltage: RCA 1 / 2 / 3 V (selectable)
  • Inputs: USB-B 768 kHz/32-bit DSD512; 2x BNC coax 384 kHz (768 kHz dual-data); optical
  • Outputs: RCA

Matching notes: Burson lists the Soloist 3X GT’s analogue inputs as line level (35 kΩ input impedance). The Chord Qutest is rated at 1 / 2 / 3 V (selectable) (RCA) output. [9] [10] [11] [3] [4]

OPPO BDP-105 · Universal Blu-ray / SACD player with ES9018 DAC and headphone amp · discontinued
  • Output power (headphone): 32 Ω 0.137 W · 60 Ω 0.091 W · 150 Ω 0.044 W · 300 Ω 0.023 W · 600 Ω 0.012 W
  • Output voltage: RCA 2.1 V · XLR 4.2 V
  • Inputs: disc; USB; HDMI; coax / optical; asynchronous USB DAC input
  • Outputs: stereo RCA + XLR; 7.1 RCA; 6.35 mm headphone; HDMI; coax / optical
  • DAC / chipset: 2x ESS Sabre32 ES9018 (stereo / headphone); TI TPA6120A2 headphone amp
  • Other: stereo out THD+N <0.0003% (48k/24b), SNR >115 dB (A); headphone THD+N <0.001%, SNR >98 dB (300 Ω)

[12] [13]