Bobby’s Burson Conductor 3X GT with HiFiMAN EF400

Published on

Sales Burson
October 8, 2024

Post Info

Feedbacks - Conductor 3R | 3XR, Feedbacks - Conductor GT3 | GT4, Feedbacks - Playmate 02 | 03
Aune, Burson Conductor 3X GT, BURSON Playmate 1, Burson Playmate 2, HiFiMAN EF400, HiFiMAN EF600, SMSL

I recently discovered Burson, and I have to say, I prefer their products over many other brands I’ve tried. I’m now on a mission to collect as many of their offerings as I can! The build quality is outstanding, and I love how easy it is to swap out the op-amps to fine-tune the sound to my liking. Overall, they deliver a fantastic product paired with excellent customer service.
It’s refreshing to see a company that prioritizes quality, especially since many manufacturers cut corners by outsourcing to the cheapest producers, often in China. From what I understand, most of Burson’s products are still made in Australia, which makes a noticeable difference in quality. It’s great to support a brand that stands by its craftsmanship!

The System

Listening with

HiFiMAN EF400 · DAC / headphone amp: balanced desktop DAC / headphone amp (Himalaya R2R DAC)

Output impedance: not published
Inputs: USB; (see owner’s guide)
Outputs: 4.4 mm + 4-pin XLR balanced; 6.35 mm + 3.5 mm SE headphone; line out
DAC / chipset: HiFiMAN Himalaya R2R (discrete)
Other: max output 4.4 W per channel (load not stated); line-out THD+N 0.002-0.004%; channel separation 125 ±3 dB; SNR 118 ±3 dB (A); 3.08 kg

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Burson

Burson Conductor 3X GT · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp · 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 · 150 Ω 1.3 W / 0.65 W · 300 Ω 0.64 W / 0.32 W
Output impedance: 0.5 Ω (headphone); 1 Ω (pre out); 25 Ω (DAC out)
Output voltage: RCA 2 V (DAC out)
Gain: High / Low; dB not published
Inputs: 2x XLR; 2x RCA; USB (XMOS; PCM to 768 kHz/32-bit, native DSD512); Toslink; coaxial (24/192); Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD; microphone
Input impedance: 40 kΩ
Input sensitivity: line level
Outputs: XLR/RCA pre / DAC out; subwoofer pre out; 6.35 mm + 4-pin XLR headphone
DAC / chipset: 2x ESS ES9038 (suffix not stated)
Other: Model R-181X (“GT3”); THD <0.0015%; FR ±1 dB 0-58 kHz; 24V/5A PSU

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Burson Playmate · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp · discontinued

Output power (headphone): 16 Ω 1.8 W · 32 Ω 2 W · 100 Ω 0.5 W · 150 Ω 0.3 W · 300 Ω 0.1 W
Output impedance: <2 Ω (headphone); 15 Ω (pre out)
Gain: 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 ES9038 (suffix not stated)
Other: Original Playmate (Playmate 1); THD <0.002%; FR ±1 dB 0-35 kHz

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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%

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Also in the system

HiFiMAN EF600 · Headphone amp/dac: balanced desktop DAC / headphone amp (dual Hymalaya Pro R2R modules, Bluetooth)

Output power (XLR / SE): 32 Ω 5.12 W / 1.8 W
Gain: high / low (with NOS / OS filter modes)
Inputs: USB-B; USB-C; coaxial; Bluetooth (AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC); XLR balanced; RCA
Outputs: 6.35 mm SE; 4-pin XLR balanced headphone; XLR + RCA line out
DAC / chipset: 2x HiFiMAN Hymalaya Pro R2R modules (discrete)
Other: S/N 118 dB (A); channel separation 131 dB ±3; THD+N (line out) 0.0014% (-8 dB); approx. 2.86 kg

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SMSL

Aune

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.