Himalaya’s Burson Soloist GT4 with Sennheiser HD 800 S and Focal Clear

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Post Info

Huge thanks to Nelson for setting me up with the incredible Soloist GT4 Deluxe package—what an outstanding upgrade. My journey with Burson began with the Playmate 2. While the DAC section didn’t quite suit my preferences, I was immediately drawn to Burson’s unique and engaging sound signature.
After adding the Chord Qutest to my setup, I knew I wanted to pair it with a Burson amplifier, and I was fortunate to receive a fantastic deal from the team. The combination of the Silent Power and Supercharger is especially impressive—it significantly reduces background noise, resulting in a cleaner, more refined listening experience.
The V7 op-amps truly elevate the performance, delivering greater detail, depth, and soundstage. On top of that, the build quality is exceptional—solid, sleek, and clearly built to last. Overall, it’s been a thoroughly rewarding upgrade and a setup I’m genuinely excited about.

The System

Listening with

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Headphones: open-back, dynamic, circumaural
  • Impedance: 300 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL at 1 V (dB/V) ≈ 96.8 dB/mW (calc.)
  • Frequency response: 4 Hz – 51 kHz
  • Plugs supplied: 6.35 mm unbalanced, 4.4 mm balanced

Matching notes: At 300 Ω and 102 dB/V, the HD 800 S needs voltage more than current: about 2.5 V (21 mW, 8 mA) for 110 dB SPL. Burson rates the Soloist GT4 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 GT4’s 0.5 Ω output impedance is 1/600 of the load. The supplied plugs are 6.35 mm and 4.4 mm; the GT4’s balanced output is 4-pin XLR. [4] [1]

Focal Clear · Headphones: open-back, dynamic (40 mm Al/Mg ‘M’ dome), circumaural · original model, discontinued
  • Impedance: 55 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz (dB/mW) ≈ 116.6 dB/V (calc.)
  • Frequency response: 5 Hz – 28 kHz
  • Cables supplied: 4-pin XLR balanced, 6.35 mm and 3.5 mm unbalanced

Matching notes: At 55 Ω and 104 dB/mW, the Clear is a low-impedance, efficient load: about 4 mW (0.47 V, 8.5 mA) for 110 dB SPL. Burson does not publish a 55 Ω rating for the GT4. Its 32 Ω and 100 Ω ratings (10 W / 8 W XLR, 5 W / 4 W SE) fall either side of it. The GT4’s 0.5 Ω output impedance is 1/110 of the load. The supplied 4-pin XLR cable fits the GT4’s balanced headphone output. [5] [1]

Burson

Burson Soloist GT4 (Deluxe version) · Class-A headphone amplifier / preamp
  • Output power (XLR / SE): 32 Ω 10 W / 5 W · 100 Ω 8 W / 4 W · 150 Ω 3.8 W / 1.9 W · 300 Ω 1.3 W / 0.65 W
  • Output voltage (calc.): 300 Ω about 19.7 V / 14.0 V RMS · 32 Ω about 17.9 V / 12.6 V RMS
  • Output impedance: 0.5 Ω (headphone), 25 Ω (pre out)
  • Gain: 3 levels, stated as power: High = full power (XLR 10 W / SE 5 W), Medium = 50% (5 W / 2.5 W), Low = 10% (1 W / 0.5 W, for IEMs). Gain in dB: not published.
  • Inputs: 2 × XLR (4 V+ line level), 2 × RCA (2 V line level); input impedance 38 kΩ
  • Outputs: 4-pin XLR and single-ended headphone jacks; XLR and RCA pre out; RCA subwoofer out
  • Frequency response: ±1 dB, 0 – 48 kHz · THD: <0.0015%
  • Deluxe version: V7 Vivid opamps, SP02 Silent Power modules (0.8 µV RMS noise, 10 Hz – 100 kHz), Super Charger 5A power supply (24 V / 5 A, noise floor <1 µV)

[1] [2] [3]

Also in the system

Chord Qutest · DAC
  • Output: RCA only, 1 / 2 / 3 V RMS (selectable at start-up)
  • Output impedance: not published by Chord (Stereophile measured 0.4 Ω at 1 kHz)
  • Inputs: USB-B (to 768 kHz / 32-bit, DSD512), 2 × BNC coax (to 384 kHz; 768 kHz dual-data), optical
  • Connection to the GT4: RCA (the Qutest’s only analogue output)

Matching notes: Burson lists the GT4’s RCA input as 2 V line level (38 kΩ). The Qutest’s 2 V setting matches that; its 3 V setting is 3.5 dB higher. [6] [7] [2]

Source feeding the Qutest: not stated.