Weronika’s Burson V7 Vivid Opamp with Burson Playmate 2 and Edifier S2000MKIII

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I’m absolutely in love with this machine. Coming from the Playmate 2 equipped with V6 Vivids, I already had high expectations—but even so, the performance of this upgraded setup completely blew me away. The deluxe upgrade brings a level of refinement that’s genuinely next-level. From the moment I hit play, the clarity, resolution, and instrument separation immediately stood out—it’s like peeling back another layer of the music.
What truly surprised me, though, was how the V7 Vivid opamps elevated the experience even further. They pair especially well with warmer headphones and speakers, enhancing detail and dynamics without sacrificing that lush, rich warmth. It’s a beautifully balanced synergy that brings out the soul of the music.
The sub-bass is tighter, more controlled, and hits with greater precision, while the upper registers have a sparkling brilliance that especially shines in electronic and ambient genres. There’s an energy and texture that feels alive, drawing you deeper into the mix. Overall, this upgrade feels less like an incremental improvement and more like unlocking the full potential of my gear.

The System

Listening with

Burson Playmate 2 · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp · discontinued
  • Output power (headphone): 16 Ω 3.5 W · 32 Ω 2.5 W · 100 Ω 0.6 W · 150 Ω 0.4 W · 300 Ω 0.15 W
  • Output impedance: <2 Ω (headphone); 15 Ω (pre out)
  • Output voltage: RCA not published
  • Gain: High / Low; dB not published
  • Inputs: USB (XMOS; PCM to 768 kHz/32-bit, native DSD512); Toslink
  • Input impedance: 38 kΩ
  • Outputs: RCA pre out; headphone jack (SE)
  • DAC / chipset: ESS SABRE32 ES9038Q2M
  • Other: Model P171; SE only; THD <0.002%; FR ±1 dB 0-35 kHz; DAC THD+N 0.0018%

[1] [2]

Edifier S2000MKIII · Speakers: active bookshelf, planar tweeter, 5.5 in aluminum mid-bass
  • Frequency response: 45 Hz – 40 kHz
  • Inputs: line in; optical; coaxial; Bluetooth 5.0
  • Other: RMS treble 15 W + 15 W; mid-bass 50 W + 50 W; SNR >=90 dB (A); noise <=25 dB (A); line-in sensitivity 600±50 mV and 800±50 mV

[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

[4] [5]

Burson

Burson V7 Vivid Opamp

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.

  1. Burson Playmate 2 product page
  2. Burson Playmate 2 User Manual V1.6 (Burson downloads)
  3. Edifier S2000MKIII: us.edifier.com
  4. Sennheiser HD 650: us.sennheiser-hearing.com
  5. Sennheiser HD 650: support.sennheiser-hearing.com