Dana’s Burson Playmate with Meze 109 Pro

Published on

Sales Burson
January 7, 2025

Post Info

Feedbacks - Playmate 02 | 03
Arctic Cables Aegis, Burson Playmate 3, Meze 109 Pro

This is my first experience with a Burson product, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations! I’ve heard a lot of great things about Burson’s reputation for high-quality audio gear, so I decided to take the plunge and try out the Playmate 3. I’m absolutely thrilled with it! The performance has been exceptional, and it’s already clear why Burson has such a loyal following. I’m excited to continue exploring everything this product has to offer.

The System

Listening with

Meze 109 Pro · Headphones: open-back, dynamic (50 mm), circumaural

Impedance: 40 Ω
Sensitivity: 112 dB SPL / mW @ 1 kHz ≈ 126.0 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: dual 3.5 mm TS cup sockets; 1.5 m and 3 m 3.5 mm cables; 6.3 mm adapter

Matching notes: At 40 Ω and 112 dB/mW, the 109 Pro is a low-impedance load, and an efficient one: about 0.16 V (0.63 mW, 4 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 40 Ω rating for the Playmate. Its 32 Ω and 100 Ω ratings (2 W SE; 0.5 W SE) fall either side of it. The Playmate’s under 2 Ω headphone output impedance is less than 1/20 of the load. ^{[1] [2]}

Burson

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

^[2]

Burson Playmate 3 · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp

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: 16 Ω 3.5 W / 1 W; 32 Ω 2.5 W / 0.8 W; 300 Ω 150 / 80 mW; dB not published
Inputs: USB (XMOS; PCM to 768 kHz/32-bit, native DSD512); Toslink; 3.5 mm AUX headset with mic
Input impedance: 38 kΩ
Outputs: headphone jack (SE); pre out; DAC out (fixed line level)
DAC / chipset: ESS ES9039 (manual: ES9039Q2M)
Other: THD <0.002%; FR ±1 dB 0-35 kHz; versions Standard (NE5532, SP01, 24V3A) / Deluxe (V7 Vivid, SP02, Super Charger 3A, remote)

^{[3] [4]}

Also in the system

Arctic Cables Aegis

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.