Neil’s Burson Conductor 3 Reference with Buchardt Audio S400 SE

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Post Info

I’m appreciating the sonic performance & aesthetics of my Conductor Reference 3. I wish there would be more non-tech friendly info on the users manual and/or in the website. The tech info is always better supplemented with descriptive inputs. This way, listener or buyer gains fuller listening appreciation.

The System

Listening with

Buchardt Audio S400 · Speakers: bookshelf (stand-mount), passive radiator · discontinued
  • Impedance: 4 Ω (minimum not published)
  • Sensitivity: 87 dB (reference not stated)
  • Frequency response: 33 Hz – 40 kHz ±3 dB (in-room)
  • Recommended amplifier power: 40 – 200 W

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HiFiMAN Ananda · Headphones: open-back, planar magnetic, circumaural · discontinued
  • Impedance: 26 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 93 dB (reference not stated)
  • Frequency response: 8 Hz – 55 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: 3.5 mm sockets on cups; 1.5 m cable with 3.5 mm plug
  • Other: 399 g (original guide)

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Burson

Burson Conductor 3 Reference · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp · discontinued
  • Output power (headphone): 16 Ω 7.5 W · 32 Ω 5 W · 100 Ω 1.75 W · 150 Ω 1.16 W · 300 Ω 0.58 W
  • Output impedance: 0.5 Ω (headphone); 1 Ω (pre out); 25 Ω (DAC out)
  • Output voltage: RCA 2 V (DAC out)
  • Gain: High / Medium / Low; dB not published
  • Inputs: 2x RCA; USB (XMOS; PCM to 768 kHz/32-bit, native DSD512); Toslink; coaxial; Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD; microphone
  • Input impedance: 40 kΩ
  • Input sensitivity: line level
  • Outputs: RCA pre out; RCA DAC out; 2x 6.35 mm headphone
  • DAC / chipset: 2x ESS ES9038Q2M
  • Other: Model R180 (3R); SE only; THD <0.0015%; FR ±1 dB 0-58 kHz

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Also in the system

Bluesound Node 2i · Streamer: network streamer with DAC, headphone out (BluOS, MQA, aptX HD) · discontinued
  • Output voltage: RCA not published
  • Inputs: Wi-Fi / Ethernet; USB-A; optical / 3.5 mm analogue combo; Bluetooth aptX HD (bidirectional)
  • Outputs: RCA (fixed or variable); coaxial; optical; subwoofer; 3.5 mm headphone; 12 V trigger
  • DAC / chipset: 32-bit / 192 kHz DAC (chip not named)
  • Other: SNR -110 dBA; THD+N 0.005%; 16-24 bit / 32-192 kHz; 4 W idle

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Cayin A-88T MK2 · Integrated amp: push-pull KT88 tube integrated amp (triode / ultralinear switchable) · discontinued
  • Power: 8 Ω: 45 UL / 25 triode · 4 Ω: 45 UL / 25 triode (4 Ω tap)
  • Inputs: 3x line RCA; 1x pre-in
  • Input impedance: 100 kΩ
  • Input sensitivity: 0.3 V (line); 1.0 V (pre-in)
  • Outputs: 4 and 8 Ω speaker taps
  • Other: tubes 2x 6SL7, 2x 6SN7, 4x KT88 (EL34/6550 compatible per Cayin); FR 10 Hz-42 kHz (-3 dB); THD 1% (1 kHz); S/N 93 dB; bias meter; 420x382x195 mm; 28 kg

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