Michael’s Burson Soloist 3X GT with Canton Reference 5K and Sennheiser HD 800 S

Published on

Sales Burson
May 31, 2022

Post Info

Feedbacks - Soloist GT3 | GT4
Benchmark AHB2, Burson Soloist 3X GT, Canton Reference 5K, Dayton Audio SA-1000, Holo Audio May KTE, McIntosh MCD500, Sennheiser HD 800 S, Vertere DG-1, Vertere Phono-1

The Soloist GT is my third Burson purchase. I enjoyed each progression and the last from Soloist 3X P to 3X GT is no exception.

The System

Listening with

Canton Reference 5K

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Headphones: open-back, dynamic, circumaural

Impedance: 300 Ω
Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL @ 1 V ≈ 96.8 dB/mW (calc.)
Frequency response: 4 Hz – 51 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: 6.35 mm unbalanced; 4.4 mm balanced

Matching notes: At 300 Ω and 102 dB/V, the HD 800 S is a high-impedance load that needs voltage more than current: about 2.5 V (21 mW, 8.4 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 18 dB / 15 dB more than that. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/600 of the load. ^{[1] [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]}

Also in the system

Dayton Audio SA-1000

Holo Audio May KTE

McIntosh MCD500

Benchmark AHB2 · Power amp: stereo / bridgeable power amp (THX AAA feed-forward)

Frequency response: 0.1 Hz – 200 kHz (+0 / -3 dB)
Power: 8 Ω: 100 W · 4 Ω: 190 W
Gain: 9.2 / 17.0 / 23 dB
Inputs: 1 pair balanced XLR (RCA via adapter; mid / high gain); 12 V trigger
Input impedance: 50 kΩ
Input sensitivity: 9.8 / 4 / 2 V (low / mid / high gain)
Outputs: binding posts; Neutrik NL4 (incl. bridged)
Other: <0.0003% THD+N at rated power; 130 W / 6 Ω, 240 W / 3 Ω; bridged 380 W / 8 Ω; S/N 132 dB (A); 5.7 kg

^{[4] [5]}

Vertere DG-1

Vertere Phono-1

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.