Michael’s Burson Soloist 3X GT with Meze Elite and beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO

Published on

Sales Burson
January 11, 2022

Post Info

Feedbacks - Soloist GT3 | GT4
beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO, Burson Soloist 3X GT, Dell 32" 4k monitor, Meze Elite, Sennheiser HD 650

I left a very detailed review at https://bloomaudio.com/collections/desktop-amps/products/burson-soloist-3x-grand-tourer

The System

Listening with

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. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO · Headphones: open-back, dynamic (45 mm Tesla), circumaural · discontinued

Impedance: 250 Ω
Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL (1 mW / 500 Hz) ≈ 108.0 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: detachable cable: 3-pin mini-XLR at cup; 6.35 mm stereo jack plug

Matching notes: At 250 Ω and 102 dB/mW, the DT 1990 PRO is a high-impedance load that needs voltage more than current: about 1.3 V (6.3 mW, 5 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 250 Ω rating for the Soloist 3X GT. Its 100 Ω and 300 Ω ratings (3.8 W XLR / 1.9 W SE; 1.3 W XLR / 0.65 W SE) fall either side of it. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/500 of the load. ^{[4] [2] [3]}

Sennheiser HD 650 · Headphones: open-back, dynamic, circumaural

Impedance: 300 Ω
Sensitivity: 103 dB SPL @ 1 kHz, 1 V (as published) ≈ 97.8 dB/mW (calc.)
Frequency response: 10 Hz – 41 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: 6.35 mm stereo jack plug (3.5 mm adapter)
Other: THD <0.05% (1 kHz, 1 V); 42 mm transducer

Matching notes: At 300 Ω and 103 dB/V, the HD 650 is a high-impedance load that needs voltage more than current: about 2.2 V (17 mW, 7.5 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson rates the Soloist 3X GT at 1.3 W (XLR) / 0.65 W (SE) into 300 Ω, which is about 19.7 V / 14.0 V RMS (calc.), roughly 19 dB / 16 dB more than that. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/600 of the load. ^{[5] [6] [2] [3]}

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

^{[2] [3]}

Specs from manufacturer data unless a source below says otherwise. “calc.” values are worked out from those figures (V = √(P × R); 110 dB SPL used as a loud reference level). Gear listed without specs is not in our spec library yet.