Radu’s Burson Soloist 3X GT with HiFiMAN Susvara and Abyss AB 1266 PHI

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Post Info

  • Feedbacks - Soloist GT3 | GT4
  • Abyss AB 1266 PHI, Burson Conductor 3 Reference, Burson Soloist 3X GT, Erzetich Thalia, Grado Hemp, HiFiMAN Susvara

The Soloist GT has a true flagship sound :) I am familiar with some amazing combos like Dave + Viva Egoista amp, TT2 + M-Scaler, etc and GT definitely is in the big boys’ ballpark with the sound. A bit worried about the very hot backside. I think this is the most amazing and refined all-in-one on the market, it’s driving my phones very well.

The System

Listening with

HiFiMAN Susvara · Headphones: open-back, planar magnetic, circumaural
  • Impedance: 60 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 83 dB (reference not stated by HiFiMAN)
  • Frequency response: 6 Hz – 75 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: not published (HiFiMAN spec page lists no connector)
  • Other: weight 450 g

[1]

Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC · Headphones: open-back, planar magnetic, circumaural
  • Impedance: 50 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 88 dB/mW ≈ 101.0 dB/V (calc.)
  • Frequency response: 5 Hz – 45 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: 2.5 m 4-pin XLR cable with 6.3 mm adaptor (JPS Labs); other terminations optional

Matching notes: At 50 Ω and 88 dB/mW, the AB-1266 Phi TC is a low-impedance load, and a fairly demanding one: about 2.8 V (158 mW, 56 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 50 Ω rating for the Soloist 3X GT. Its 32 Ω and 100 Ω ratings (8 W XLR / 4 W SE; 3.8 W XLR / 1.9 W SE) fall either side of it. The Soloist 3X GT’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/100 of the load. [2] [3] [4]

Grado Hemp · Headphones: open-back (open air), dynamic, on-ear
  • Impedance: 38 Ω
  • Sensitivity: not published
  • Frequency response: 13 Hz – 28 kHz
  • Plugs / cables supplied: standard plug with braided cable
  • Other: driver matching 0.05 dB

[5] [6]

Erzetich Thalia · Headphones: on-ear, open-back, dynamic (40 mm titanium-coated)
  • Impedance: 32 Ω
  • Sensitivity: not published
  • Plugs / cables supplied: detachable silver-plated OFC cable
  • Other: 280 g (current) / 270 g (original wood-and-metal version); tuned for portable sources

[7] [8]

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

[3] [4]

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

[9] [10] [4]